Arielle Vey X Grow Wild
MEET… Arielle Vey
Photographer + Life Enthusiast- San Diego, CA
Website: ArielleVey.com
Instagram: @ariellevey
Arielle is a brilliant and colorful photographer on an ever-changing, wild, freelance creative ride! We’ve known and followed and loved her for years, but got to know her even better this past spring at Grow Wild 2.0… Arielle is just like her work: real, down-to-earth, and jaw-droppingly impressive. She’s figured out how to make a living with her passion (photography) and continues to have fun with it, years later (not always easy when you turn a passion into a profession).
The Growth -
I took photo class during my junior year of high school and fell in love with it. I knew after the first year that I wanted to be a photographer and ended up going to the Art Institute of Seattle where I got my degree in commercial photography in 2009. I started freelancing full time in 2012 shooting weddings, portraits, events, food + drink, commercial work, product…you name it! I started to narrow everything down in 2016, only taking on product shoots and content production for social media. From there, I worked towards starting my print shop which launched in 2017.
The Weeds -
The most challenging part is turning it all off. When you have your business and you’re really passionate about it, it can be difficult to determine when it’s time to take a break. This especially rings true with social media thrown into the mix. Turning off is essential and it always propels me into a more clear state of mind when I jump back in. I find that if I’m in a creative rut, it’s typically because I haven’t taken a break in a long time.
The Seed (aka the WHY) -
Doing what I love every single day! When a client is so excited about the outcome of a shoot that I get a thank you email or if someone writes to me who just received their print from our shop saying how thrilled they are to have it. Another really rewarding part is starting something from scratch and watching it grow. I still can’t comprehend that I get to do what I do.
A Day in the Life -
I wake up around 6:30, go for a run, and spend a lot of time on the computer answering emails, editing a shoot, or working on creative concepts for projects. When shooting, I might be at home taking pictures or out on location for the majority of the day. I love getting outside for walks, making dinner, visiting with my family, and getting out of town!
The Bloom -
In 2014 I won a social media contest with Netflix called Grammaster and I travelled to the east coast for two weeks photographing celebrities, different Netflix sites from movies or shows, visiting sets, and exploring different cities from Boston to Miami. This was a DREAM job for me. Another moment was when my husband quit his job in 2018 to work with me full time. He runs our print shop and handles a lot of stuff that allows me to spend more time being creative which I am so grateful for.
What it Takes -
A lot of motivation and thick skin. I’ve learned over time that there shouldn’t be any emotion when it comes to business especially when an exchange with a client doesn’t go as planned or something happens that’s out of your control. Whatever it is will pass and you will be better because of it. You have to be kind to yourself and potentially never putting on real clothes (JK but that’s me...haha!). Be prepared for the most overwhelming feeling of fulfillment. You did something that you’re passionate about because YOU wanted to!
What I Wish I Knew -
I wish I had asked for help when I needed it most. I spent the majority of my career working on my own (I’m glad I did for many reasons and every journey is different!) but in hindsight, I should have been asking for guidance on certain things that I was stuck on or too shy to bring up.
Wild Flower Advice -
Be bold and patient. Go with your gut and don’t look back. Ask lots of questions and stay curious. Take from what you already know and be open to learning 1,000 times more. Be yourself and stick to what you love. Persistence, consistency, and practice will lead you to your dreams and it will be because of you!
