Daily Inspiration: Meet Ivy Owens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivy Owens.

Hi Ivy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and have always had a knack for anything and everything creative. I grew up immersed in fine arts, dancing for 17 years, and taking every art class I could get my hands on throughout middle and high school. I started at the University of North Texas in the fall of 2018, intending to pursue fashion design, but towards the end of my freshman year, I felt like that wasn’t the best fit for me, becoming incredibly interested in my school’s studio art program – specifically the photography program. Throughout my time as a photography student, I knew that it was the right path even began working as a photography lab assistant, immersing myself into the program even further. Most of my work during these years took place within my University’s photography studio. I adored having hands-on access to so much equipment and would spend hours every single week shooting with models and crafting highly detailed still lifes using the most mundane objects. I found it so fascinating that I could create concepts out of something so seemingly normal.

After graduating with my B.F.A. in May of 2022, I felt so incredibly lost, having no idea where the next chapter of my life would take me. I moved to Denver two months later on a whim and can happily say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I started interning for OUT FRONT Magazine (OFM) in March of 2023, started photographing local events, and then got my first press pass at Denver Pride Festival that same year. Not long after starting at OFM, I began designing the magazine’s monthly print issues, meshing my passion for photography with my love for graphic design. Music has always been a big part of my life, and my first taste of live music photography was at the Meow Wolf Vortex festival, shooting a lineup of EDM artists. Now, if I’m being honest, I’m not the biggest fan of EDM music, but the feeling I got while capturing live music stuck with me. In October of 2023 I reached out to Mannequin Pussy (one of my all time favorite bands) seeing if they would be interested in OFM covering their upcoming show in Denver. The feeling that I got standing in that photo pit is something that I will never get over and still leaves me speechless to this day. It felt like an adrenaline rush as I gripped onto my camera, weaving in and out of other photographers trying to get as many shots as I could during those first three songs. I remember being SO nervous to photograph that first show and in awe that I even had the opportunity to do this. Looking back now, I am so proud of how far I’ve come and the community I’ve found within the music scene here in Denver.

In 2024, I photographed over 70+ artists and dove into my passion for live music photography, developing a distinct style that reflects my personality and the contagious energy found on a stage. Along with my work for OFM, I also started covering shows for New Noise Magazine in March of 2024, whilst taking on the role of Assistant graphic designer, remotely assisting the artistic director in designing the publication’s print issue. I am so incredibly grateful for all the creative opportunities I’ve had since moving to Denver and the amazing people I’ve met along the way, and can’t wait to experience even more as I continue to grow as a photographer, designer, and visual storyteller.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been a lot of ups and downs in my creative journey, which I feel like most creatives can relate to. My motivation to create ebbs and flows sometimes, and some of my biggest struggles have honestly been dealing with impostor syndrome and comparing myself to others. In this day and age of social media, it can be really hard not to compare yourself to others and have this sinking feeling that you’re not doing enough. In the end, I am confident in the work I create and have chosen to instead find inspiration in others, using that to continue to grow as an artist instead of knocking myself down. Pursuing a creative field can be incredibly stressful, but I have known since a young age that this is what I wanted to do. I am honoring that younger version of myself by not giving up, and I think she would be really proud of me if she could see how far I’ve come and all of the creative experiences I’ve already encountered at the age of 24.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a live music, portrait, and event photographer with a passion for all things creative. Alongside my photography, I am also a graphic designer who specializes in editorial design and visual storytelling. I’d say I am known the best for my live music photography, having grown exponentially over the past year and a half since I photographed my first show in August of 2023. I have experimented with various styles of photography and feel like I have found my niche in shooting concerts. I am obsessed with capturing the emotion found within a venue packed with people who can bond over an artist. Music has always had such a special place in my heart, and it has grown to even bigger heights since meshing it with my creative passions. I also love shooting portraits and highlighting the LGBTQ+ community in Denver. Through my work with OUT FRONT Magazine, I have had opportunities to shoot drag shows, various queer-events, the Denver Pride Festival, and to get to know and work with so many talented and inspiring people. I’d say that what sets me apart from others is my editing style and eye for detail. I try to find unique and dynamic perspectives in all the work I create, am proud to have an eye for capturing images that don’t feel lifeless.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love living in Denver so much! I moved here from my college town, Denton, Texas, after I graduated in May of 2022, and have found a community here that I’m SO grateful for. My friends and family have been my #1 supporters in my creative pursuits, and I don’t know what I would do without them. One of my favorite things about Denver is the music and arts scene; you can really immerse yourself in it any night of the week, and the city is full of so many like-minded creative people, it’s just a fun place to live in your 20s. I also love the nature aspect of living in Denver, coming from Texas where there’s 110 degree summers and a lack of outdoor activities, I have found so much peace in having such easy access to parks, hiking, camping, and views that still take my breath away even after living here for almost three years. Being outside is so healing to me, so living in a city where I can get the best of both worlds has been such a cool experience. My least favorite thing about Denver is that I wish the city were even bigger! In comparison to other cities, I’d say Denver is pretty small, so I feel a little stuck sometimes and have been wanting to travel a lot more recently. I love living here and think it was the perfect place for me to move at a time in my life when I was unsure of my future, and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had since moving here. I really do have a very special place in my heart for this city and have seen myself living in Colorado since I visited for the first time when I was 16.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivyjune.art
• Instagram: @ivyjune._.jpg