May 1, 2017

Meet Ashley Biess of Artistrie

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Biess.

Ashley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
There are a few versions of this story; the long version begins with me in an elementary school photography club, learning to use a camera at the age of 8 years old. Holding that camera is still the closest thing I’ve experienced to love at first sight.

Fast forward 16 years: I was fresh in my marketing career, and doing wedding photography as a side hustle. Wedding photography took off unexpectedly, and I soon found myself shooting 30 weddings a year while also working 50 hours a week. All I wanted was more hours in the day to dedicate to my photography business, because I knew how much potential it had. Every time I thought about making the leap, a great opportunity would come my way with the marketing career. I was torn. Then, one day, my boss presented me with an unexpected ultimatum: 1) Keep my job but give up my photography business in its entirety (Did I mention that my marketing job was with a national wedding photography studio?), or 2) quit my job. Within minutes, I found myself quitting my job. In that moment, I honestly didn’t give it a second thought; the decision was surprisingly easy.

And then reality hit. Followed by panicking. And maybe irrational crying. And then some wandering around without having a clue what to do. I counted every cent in the bank to make sure I could actually pull this off without ending up on the streets. I took a few deep breaths. Slept on it. And then finally came to the conclusion that everything was going to be alright.

I committed myself to pursuing my wedding photography business for one year without any distractions or additional work. My plan was if in a year, it didn’t work out, I’d go back to marketing. But if it was successful and I loved it, I’d give it everything I had.

As of today, I’ve been running this business full time for 5.5 years, with the business growing more and more each year. I realize that almost anyone can become a photographer these days, but running a successful and profitable business is a whole different game. I’ve worked hard over these last few years to build my Artistrie Co. brand and feel proud of my accomplishments so far. The story isn’t over. If anything, I think it’s just beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing where I end up in another 4 or 5 years.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Far from it! When I first started my business, I didn’t even own a single camera or lens. I had to either borrow or rent equipment until I finally had the money saved up to purchase my own gear. That took a year. On top of that, I didn’t have the proper editing software or computer and found myself driving 150 miles back to my alma mater to use their library computers to edit. There were years when I was working a full time job in marketing plus running a full time wedding photography business. I didn’t sleep much back then!

Working in the Chicago wedding industry as a photographer full time certainly has its ups and downs. For me, the hardest part is weddings happen so seasonly here. May through October is typically busy with a steady cash flow, but the winter season can be slow and unpredictable. Go figure – no one wants to get married during the Chicago winter!

As a single woman, I rely completely on my own income, and there are many days when I miss the steady paycheck. I’ve had to learn to save a nest egg that can get me through the dryer months. When I first started this business, I was in my young 20’s and I didn’t have a real concept for the importance of savings or managing money. I’ll never forget the day when my accountant told me I owed about $25,000 in taxes. At once. Writing that check was painful. I immediately stopped spending money on anything, tried to sell everything I could, and ate nothing but cereal for a few months. It was not my best moment.

There have been plenty of times where I felt defeated in my business, but I learn from each failure and come back twice as strong. Sometimes you have to take a small step back to take a giant leap forward.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Artistrie Co. – what should we know?
Because my favorite images always happen “in the moment”, my studio prefers to shoot in a natural, unobtrusive style. On the wedding day, our clients hardly notice we are there. We work closely with our clients throughout the engagement, and plan every detail and photo op weeks before the wedding so that the day is captured with intention and style. We’re always inspired by our surroundings, and love working in outdoor settings, loft spaces, art museums, and historic locales.

After the “photography magic” happens on the wedding day, my specialty really shines when I collaborate with my clients to showcase their favorite photos inside their homes. The last thing I want is for my clients to have a bunch of files that sit on their computers. Photos are meant to be printed! My graphic design background really comes into play here. In my previous career, I had the opportunity to design, execute, and install ads of all shapes, sizes and materials. The most notable ad I created wrapped around 3 out of 4 sides of a building! I know printing, matting, framing and designing albums can feel overwhelming to most people, but for me, it’s a piece of (wedding) cake.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I owe a debt of gratitude to my parents for teaching me that I can do anything I set my mind to. While that may sound like a cliche, most parents would have been uneasy about their 24 year old daughter quitting her full time job after recently moving to a big, expensive city. Mine never doubted me for a moment.

My elementary school art teacher, Ms. Morgan, was the person who put a camera in my hand in the first place. She planted the seed that grew from passion to profession. I’ll always have a deep appreciation for educators, especially those who teach the arts. After all, not every child becomes a lawyer or doctor. Some of us become wedding photographers!

Lastly, my team, Aimee, Chelsey, Emmalee and Hannah, deserve praise beyond words for going above and beyond for me and my clients every single wedding day. I’m incredibly lucky to work with women who are dedicated, talented and just all around good people. They make my job more fun!

Contact Info: