Conversations with Aujanae’ Wilkes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aujanae’ Wilkes. 

Hi Aujanae’, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I believe my love for the art of photography started as a kid in high school. I took my first photography class where we didn’t do a lot with an actual camera, but we got to play around a lot with photoshop. It was fun to see how I can manipulate photos and make them literally whatever I want! My journey as a photographer started shortly after I had my daughter in 2012. I was new mom trying to find me again and my camera helped me do just that. I remember my mom bought me my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel t3. She wasn’t the hottest buy on the market, but I worked that kit lens like it was one of the big boys lol. 

I started off shooting my dancers at their competitions and taking their team photos. From there my little sister connected me with a lot of her high school friends and I took their senior photos. Since then, a lot of my clientele came from word of mouth. I got my first studio in October of 2013, and I’ve been creating in the same building ever since. After years of trying to teach myself, I decided to take photography seriously and go to school for it in 2015. I attended Brightwood College right here in Dayton where I learned how to manipulate light, pose my subjects, present quality work, and more. It was so rewarding to actually go to school for something I KNEW was my passion. Not only did it help me polish my work, but I met some pretty dope people that I am still connected with today. 

This past year I decided to bet on myself and let go of my 9-5 to be a full-time entrepreneur and although the process hasn’t been easy, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve been able to tap in more with my clients and meet their specific needs. I’ve also found a new love for helping other small business owners build their brand even if taking photos isn’t their “thing”. Within the last 9 months I’ve revamped my business so many times, but with the intentions of making every session an enjoyable experience for my clients. While I know I’ve already created some dope work with some amazing people, I’m nowhere near done! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Becoming a business owner has not been easy! Starting out it was super hard to book work without doing jobs for free. I gave away a lot of my time just to get work to show. It took some time, but I no longer have that problem lol. Now my biggest struggle is balancing my work & home life. A lot of times it gets hard to prioritize my time because as a photographer my job isn’t done after we shoot, but having 2 kids and a fiancé, being a dance coach, and full-time boss I really had to manage my time better. It sucks turning down work sometimes because I’m not available, but I don’t have a problem referring my clients to a fellow creative. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in family/maternity & senior portraits, branding photoshoots, and wedding photography. I shoot in my studio, but also travel anywhere in the Dayton area to help my clients achieve the look they’re going for. My favorite type of sessions are maternity photoshoots. It’s just something about the beauty and rawness of creating life that amazes me! I think being a mommy of two helps me connect with the new mommies on another level. We see each other lol. What sets me apart from others is my overall vibe and connection with my clients. I spend a lot of my time trying to figure out how I can give back because I genuinely appreciate how hard they ride for me. I’m very accommodating, patient, funny, and worth every penny lol! 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years I hope to be sowing into the youth & junior level photographers all over teaching the art of photography. While I don’t think I’ll ever fully put my camera down, I do eventually want to get from behind the camera and own a space where creatives like myself can all call home. I might even dabble in some landscaping photography, which is the complete opposite of my style, but why not. No limits this way! 

Pricing:

• Portrait Sessions start at $150
• Branding Sessions start at $150
• Event Coverage stars at $250
• Weddings start at $1,000

Contact Info:

• Email: info@awilkesphotography.com
• Website: www.awilkesphotography.com
• Instagram: awilkesphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/awilkesphotography

Image Credits
Courtney Simone Photography