Check Out Aspen Young’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aspen Young.

Hi Aspen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey with photography began in childhood, capturing the lilies in our family garden. From that moment, I was hooked. I freelanced for school newspapers and yearbooks, documented trips, and photographed my dog as my constant muse through engineering school and beyond. Even when life pulled me away from photography, I always found my way back.

While my background is in mechanical engineering and entrepreneurship, I always knew I’d eventually chase my passion for art. Half my family is in STEM, the other half in arts and humanities. I like to think I’m the perfect blend of both, which gives me a unique perspective on the world. I find beauty in the precise within the imprecise, and the imprecise within the precise. It’s this contrast that engages me, blending art, nature, science, and engineering together.

I was encouraged by my partners and friends to pursue my art more fully, and last October I converted my business, Zion Designs (named after my 11-year-old Germanic Hovawart, who’s named after our incredible state park), to focus on photography. I still work full-time for an architectural manufacturer, designing beautiful and artistic work that actually fuels my photographic passion.

Colorado has been my home for almost a decade, and this gorgeous state is my primary subject. I focus on landscapes, florals, and portraiture, with plans to expand into pet photography. Since starting this journey, I’ve been featured in galleries throughout the metro, local businesses, and festivals across the state. Each day brings new opportunities to learn and grow as both an artist and business owner, and though I’m at the start of this path, I have high hopes for the future.

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?
Definitely not a smooth road! One of the biggest challenges has been learning that a photography business is still a business. I’m constantly working to balance the business side with the art and not lose passion for either. There’s so much more to learn beyond just taking great photos.

The transition itself has had lots of ups and downs since I started in October. Moving from engineering and project management into the creative world requires a completely different mindset and skill set. I’ve had to learn everything from marketing and client relations to pricing and portfolio development.

Another ongoing challenge is time management. Working full-time while building a photography business means every spare moment counts. I have to be strategic about when and where I shoot, especially since I love getting out to Colorado’s high country, which requires significant time investment.

I’ve also faced the typical struggles of any new business owner – building a client base, establishing credibility, and figuring out which opportunities to pursue. Getting featured in galleries and festivals has been amazing, but it’s taken time to understand which venues align with my artistic vision and business goals.

The learning curve has been steep, but each challenge has taught me something valuable. I’m grateful for the support from my partners and friends who encouraged me to take this leap, and I’m finding that my engineering background actually helps me approach problems systematically, even in the creative world.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in fine art photography, focusing on landscapes, florals, and portraiture, with Colorado as my primary subject. What really stands out in my work is how I use color and composition. I love the idea of “color memory” – you know how things are often more intense when you remember them? The golden aspens in fall, the richness of a sunset, the deep greens of a forest. I try to capture that feeling in my photos.

My florals seem to be what people notice first. I use light in ways that make them look more like paintings than typical flower photos. People love the colors and the imperfections – they feel real instead of like stock images. One piece I’m really proud of is a photo of purple columbines where I actually removed all the purple in editing and was left with this almost haunting blue that people find captivating.

I recently shot an orange and purple iris that I’m calling “Citrus & Plum,” and it really shows what I’m going for as an artist. Everything about it – the colors, the composition – it just clicks. It’s my new baseline as an artist and my metric for future growth.

What sets me apart is that I’m always willing to explore and experiment. My work ranges from intimate florals to sweeping Colorado landscapes to architectural details, but there’s something that connects it all. I don’t have formal photography training – I capture the world the way I see it. I think perfection is boring, honestly. I don’t want a perfect flower; I want one with a story. Something a little imperfect that shows it’s actually alive. Life is messy and imperfect, and I want to celebrate that.

Coming from an engineering background, I think I see the world a little differently than most photographers. I’m drawn to that contrast between order and chaos, structure and wildness. It’s probably why I love finding those perfect moments in imperfect subjects. The new Nikon Z7II I picked up has been a game-changer for actually capturing what I see in my head. I finally feel my artistic vision is being captured fully through my lens, and it’s a delight to share that with others.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve been diving into Michael Freeman’s “The Photography Bible” to really lock down my fundamentals – things like composition theory and technical skills that I never formally learned. It’s helping me understand why certain shots work and giving me a stronger foundation to build on.

Norah Levine’s “Pet Photography: The Secrets to Creating Authentic Pet Portraits” has been incredible for shaping my vision for the pet portrait side of my business. She focuses on capturing the personality and connection between pets and their families, which aligns perfectly with what I want to offer. I’m planning to launch pet portrait sessions soon, especially since I have firsthand experience photographing my own dog Zion – he’s been my patient model for years. The goal is to create portraits that show the real character of each pet, not just posed shots.

I’ll be honest – I don’t listen to many podcasts because I’ve spent the last year and a half working my way through the Wheel of Time series. As a fantasy lover, that series is a masterclass in world-building and creativity, which actually feeds into my artistic vision in unexpected ways. Jordan describes subjects in incredible detail that other authors might ignore, and those details add richness to his world – I try to do the same thing for our world through my photography.

For daily inspiration, I’m a big supporter of public radio and listen to CPR regularly. Colorado Matters with Ryan Warner is usually my morning commute companion. There’s something about staying connected to what’s happening in Colorado that keeps me grounded and gives me ideas for local subjects and stories to capture.

And of course, there’s the inevitable scrolling through Instagram and TikTok for quick tips and inspiration. It’s amazing how much you can learn from other photographers sharing their techniques and creative approaches in those short bursts.

The combination of technical learning, creative storytelling, staying plugged into my community, and connecting with the broader photography community really helps fuel both my photography and my perspective on the world around me.

Pricing:

• I price my fine art to be accessible to all, starting at just $15 and going up from there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ziondesignscolorado.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziondesignsstudio/

Image Credits
©Zion Designs LLC