Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aurrie Janelle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Aurrie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
“Our mission is to remove limitations to creative initiatives. Aurrie Janelle the brand means “Original.” Original and unique solutions, creativity, encouragement, and expressions to uplift individuals and communities. “We are all created by the creator to create!”
Aurrie Janelle Photography as of now is a small business in it’s beginning stages. Small businesses generate revenue that go towards local taxes that help feed the local economy. My company impacts the local community presently and projected to futuristically in an even greater way. I offer “Quality,” affordable photography services across several demographics. I know professional photography services are quite expensive. I offer season’s of free photoshoots to underserved communities as well as a scholarship for discounted services that can be used for wedding photography for those who can’t afford the standard rates of wedding photography. I also plan on utilizing proceeds from my events and business towards promoting domestic violence awareness as I am a survivor. I also will be raising donations for the homeless community as I also have been homeless in my past. I have overcome so much as a divorced, domestic violence survivor, previously homeless, single-mother of 3 children, and I want to do all that I can to uplift those going through hard times, to encourage them if I can make it out, so can they.
Aurrie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Jene` Gray but my artist and brand name is Aurrie Janelle. Aurrie Janelle means “Original.” I believe we are all created for a purpose and one of my main purposes is to encourage others to pursue purpose, the reason they were created.
I am multi-faceted and multi-talented. From a young age I was always creative, artistic, and musically inclined. Through life’s ups and downs I let go of all of those things. In my past I have dealt with so many hardships such as domestic abuse, divorce, addiction, homelessness, and depression and suicidal thoughts. By the Grace of God my life has taken a complete 180. I changed my life by seeking God and by this I came to the revelation that we are all created with a purpose. As I sought God and learned of him I also learned of myself. When I was trying to be what society and culture tries to program people into being I was left hopeless, miserable, and empty. When purpose was revealed to me I discovered life. The talents and gifts I had as a child became revitalized and I began to trust God and took a leap of faith.
Right before Covid God told me to quit my job and use my last pay check to start an official legal business. I was surpised and a little fearful, but I decided to follow the strong leading that I had. I started Aurrie Janelle 87 L.L.C. in March of 2020 and God provided everything I needed for my business. Originally I was just operating as an inspirational clothing line. During the process of creating my website I needed photos but didn’t have the funds at the time to pay a professional photographer, so I picked up a camera and began to do my own product photography. Little did I know, that was the birthing of a new business. I absolutely fell in love with photography and began to practice and teach myself from watching Youtube videos and became better and better. I launched my Photography Business, Aurrie Janelle Photography, in 2022 and it has been growing ever since! My photography business was recently awarded a scholarship with CoHatch to operate my business out of their locations until December of 2024! This was such a blessing and I am so grateful to CoHatch and their mission to help start up businesses and non-profits.
As well as photography I am also a National Recording Artist, TV Host, Creative Writer, and Clothing line. I write for two magazines, RAWCON Magazine and Prayze Factor Magazine. I am also a Christian Hip Hop Artist as well. I create positive music to uplift and encourage. I tour every summer performing in several different states. My favorites are Atlanta Georgia and Beautiful Orlando and Tampa Florida! Through my music I was given the opportunity to be a presenter for The Prayze Factor Awards in Atlanta Georgia. They liked my presentation and researched what I do as a business and gave me the opportunity to have my own TV Show called, “The Aurrie Janelle Show!”
“The Aurrie Janelle Show,” is about Purpose,Faith, Fashion, Photography, and Music. I interview guests who have overcome obstacles yet are living their lives in purpose through various means and industries. My Tv Show can be viewed on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple Tv, through downloading the PGN TV NETWORK channel. It can also be found through the PGN TV NETWORK app and website. With all of these accomplishments I want those hearing my story to know with God ALL things are possible and the word is true that your gift will make room for you and bring you before great people. You just have to believe and trust God.
With my business I am able to serve many demographics but I focus on serving underserved communities and creating affordable yet quality solutions to their creative needs. Aurrie Janelle Photography offers scholarship packages to those facing financial hardship, which can be used for Wedding Photography as well. What sets me apart I believe is that I truly trust and follow God and I believe he can provide anything I need. I also have been at the bottom, I have gone through hard times and I am very humble, empathetic, and transparent. I truly have a passion to see people succed and be who they were created to be. I have the awesome opportunity to use every gift and even my business, to encourage others even my clients. I am so excited for the future and I have goals to grow and build more opportunities not just for me but for others. I am currently looking for sponsors or those who would want to support Season two of “The Aurrie Janelle Show,” so I can continue to provide a platform for other businesses and individuals to share their stories and promote what they are doing as well. If you are interested you can reach me at 614-951-9230. Feel free to leave a message if I am unable to answer and I will contact you at my earliest convenience. I am dedicated to being an example to the world that no matter what hardships you face you can overcome them, you can succeed, you can be healed, and you can follow your dreams. Trust the process and never give up. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my story thank you so much CanvasRebel!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is that you absolutely have to go to college to be successful. That is not true. Now let me leave a disclaimer, I am not saying everyone should not go to college, but it is not absolutely necessary either when you know what you want. I unfortunately was discouraged by school counselors and other’s opinions not to pursue a creative career because not everyone, “makes it.” Also because it’s not financially stable. None of those things have been true for me and I wish I would have followed my dreams immediately after high school. I would’ve saved a lot of time, heartache, disappointment , and pain. I was persuaded to go to college and I was unfulfilled and ended up, because it was not my purpose or passion, just racking up student loan debt. I was told you had to have a degree to be afforded certain opportunities, but that is not true. I did not go to school for journalism, yet I have my own TV Show and write for two magazines. I didn’t go to school for music yet I am a National Recording Artist. I did not go to school for business or photography, yet I am CEO and Owner of Aurrie Janelle Photography. I am 100% filled with joy doing all of these things. It has been such a benefit to my mental health. My business brings steady income and is growing even more. It is better to do what you love because it doesn’t feel like work and you can adhere to things you actually enjoy.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I started building my social media presence by doing social media video challenges. I think that is a great way to create content. You don’t have to create the foundation of the content because it’s already there for you. You just have to create the content to answer the challenge. The challenges I began to do were music challenges. These helped me build my Instagram following a lot. I also did a few dance challenges. I recommend tagging people that inspire you sometimes with the challenges you choose and to hashtag anything relevant to the challenge you are doing.
If you don’t go the challenges route, I encourage you to just make as much content as you can about things that you are passionate about. Your passion will translate through video and people will appreciate that and be more inclined to follow you. As listed above make sure you tag and hashtag things relevant to your content. Do your research and find out what’s trending. Even if it’s something you’re not immediately pulled to, how can you put a spin on it to make it relevant to what it is you are passionate about? Make sure you brainstorm and jot down content ideas as well. The biggest thing to do is not overthink it and just start somewhere. Sometimes we get too worried about what people will think or the quality, but that will keep you frozen and stuck not creating anything. I’ve posted things that to me weren’t the greatest quality or outside of my comfort zone and those videos got the most views. You’d be surprised what people enjoy watching. Create accountability and set a goal to create a certain amount of content a week and stick to it. Treat yourself when you follow through. You got this just start!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aurriejanellephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurriejanelle87/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jene.n.gray
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurrie-janelle-bb57a2226
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AurrieJanelle
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@aurriejanelle87
Image Credits
Aurrie Janelle Photography