Hi, I’m Tristen Aque. I make real life pictures that stand up to the test of time.
TRIS-ten AH-kay (n.)
Rhymes with sake.
INFJ, Enneagram 4, Ravenclaw, self proclaimed psychology quiz nerd.
Translated, my full name means “Noisy little helper is here.” That was an accident, resulting from a Brad Pitt movie my mom liked and a 500 year old Filipino typo.
I was born and raised in New Mexico, and fell hard for the land of entrapment. This is where I got grounded for reading instead of cleaning, where I brought the dog inside when my mom wasn’t home, and where I accidentally graffitied my own fence. This is where I met the love of my life, got married in my parent’s backyard, and found the best steak to eat on anniversaries. This is where I found out I was going to have twins, where they were born too early but didn’t know it, and where they will soon be ruining their outfits on their fifth birthday.
I was absolutely NOT born with a camera in my hand. When I was a kid I wanted to be a scientist. (I think we all did at some point.) Then I wanted to be so many things after that, I lost count.
At one point I didn’t really want to be anything- I just wanted to pursue my curiosity and listen to lots of stories. So I did. Trying to take all this wonder and turn it into something tangible became my obsession. Brown eyes hiding behind uncut hair; a smile before they see the blood on their lips; silk handkerchiefs being saved for a future bride; the quiet after a long drive home. Through weddings and kids and hospital stays and pandemics - you all have become my obsession. Photography was a tool that fueled this obsession. Sure I call myself a photographer, an artist, a documenter, a story teller. In a way I am all and none of this. In a way I’m just a curious little kid looking at stuff with a magnifying glass. But like, really cool stuff.
In recent years my obsession has gotten me featured in Corrales Neighbors Magazine, Balanced Focus Magazine, the This Can’t Be That Hard Podcast, and best of all the walls of some truly incredible families.
Today I’m re-reading Paulo Coelho and eating an entire tub of green chili dip that I don’t have to share with my kids because it’s Spicy™. I’m listening to my husband’s obsession with cars and subconsciously retaining some of it, which is really scary. And honestly I’d just love to hear from you so you can tell me a story.
One day, we will all be nothing but stories. But they will be the stories worth telling.
Photo by Tish Goff
Photo by Christian Aque