We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ellie Aldrich a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellie, thanks for joining us today. What was one of the most important lessons you learned in school? Why did that lesson stick with you?

I am in my final semester at Western Michigan University earning my bachelors in fine art. I have learned so many creative lessons that have pushed my creativity. One of my favorite classes I have taken in my undergrad is called “Writing About Art” it sounds boring, but it really helped me talk about my own art and learn to evaluate the art of others. Jeff Abshear was my professor for this class and he worked hard to help us fall in love with artists. For me, it worked. I was constantly inspired by the art of others, and it really changed my own work. I was specifically moved when we studied Pablo Picasso. I know his name can be a cliché in the art community, but he was revolutionary. I just loved how the direction of his art was always changing in content, medium, and style. He believed taste was the enemy of creativity. This stopped him from creating art that looked like the standard on the Art Market at the time. Learning about Picasso changed the way I create art and approach my creative process in photography. I refuse to sacrifice my creativity so my work can look like what is currently on the market. Instead, I strive to follow the creative voice in my head. I let that guide me, and it hasn’t let me down yet.

Ellie, 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?

I got into photography by random happening, and I still can’t believe I get to do this! When I was in middle school I was always asking my parents to use their point-and-shoot camera on vacations. I would go through so many SD cards and my parents had no idea what to do with all the photos. My dad would make them his computer desktop for a while but that was the extent of my photography in the beginning. I became obsessed with the idea of getting a DSLR camera. I was always researching them and I saved every dollar I made to get a camera. One day my family went to the grocery store and I asked my parents if I could go look at the cameras, they said yes. When I went to look at the Canon T3i (the camera I wanted to buy) it was $200 discounted, and I knew it was my time to purchase it. I was elated! I immediately started taking photos of myself with a tripod and timer in the corn field in my parents back yard. I also joined my school’s yearbook team and took all the sports photos. I was just totally in love with the process of taking photos, editing them, and sharing them. Then one day someone at church asked if I would help take photos of her wedding. I just couldn’t believe it! So there I was, 14 and photographing a wedding. After this I began taking senior photos for my peers in choir and marching band, and it all just continued from there. It all started with a 14 year old who was fascinated with a camera. My parents still can’t believe it wasn’t just a phase.

These days I focus most of my work on couples and wedding photography. It started with the people I took senior photos for getting married, but it has turned into much more now. I adore partnering with couples to help create timeless photos to remember their day by. I got married in 2020, and my wedding planning process was a complete roller coaster as you can imagine. Something I love providing my clients with is a listening ear when they need it, and advice when they ask for it. I had to overcome so many obstacles when it came to my own wedding, and I have been able to help others do the same. When someone books me for their wedding they are not just getting a photographer, but a friend who is willing to listen and help when asked. Each of my wedding photo packages includes engagement photos as well as wedding timeline preparation to make sure we are all on the same page. I simply want to help my clients have the best day ever. I also take family, maternity, graduation and senior photos. I love being able to take photos for families and their friends repeatedly. It is so special to see people grow and change, and it really encourages me to do the same. There are so many milestones in life worth celebrating and I feel privileged to be trusted with photographing these amazing moments.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The most difficult thing I think newly self employed people run into is how to balance passion and discipline. For the first four years of my business I was running it on the high of passion. I was in high school, I thought it was so cool that I was taking photos, and nothing else mattered to me. How did I balance school and business? I loved it so much the late nights editing didn’t even phase me. It was after graduating high school and entering into college that doing photography as my job became a struggle for me. I had run out of passion, and I did not have self-discipline skills at the time. I read the book “Make your Bed” by Admiral Willam H. McRaven. I think that book is a great one for everyone to read, but it introduced me to the importance of routine and self- discipline. What is going to run your business when passion runs out? My answer now is self-discipline. You have to push through the moments you aren’t feeling inspired, because inspiration doesn’t work unless you’re working too. It is so much easier said than done, but my business started growing when I learned the value of self-discipline.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My business grew almost exclusively through word of mouth, especially in the beginning. Nothing is better advertisement than a happy client. My advice to new business owners is to work hard on those client relationships, because it will pay off. I even find that these client relationships turn into treasured friendships. I just love that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fairnheight.photography
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairnheightphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairnheightphotography
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fair.n.heightphotography?_t=8Udvxz7odXG&_r=1

Image Credits
All photos by Fair’n’Height Photography