Rising Stars: Meet Wren Holzinger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wren Holzinger. 

Hi Wren, 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?
I started taking photographs when I was fourteen after buying one of my Nana’s old camera bodies. She’s an avid wildlife photographer and I had always been interested in learning more about how she took the beautiful photos she showed me. I fell in love with portrait photography throughout high school, learning more about studio lighting through my tech program and planning creative photoshoots with friends, who were always more than willing to model. In my junior year, I started taking senior photos for classmates and had the amazing opportunity to take proposal photos and eventually capture the same couple’s wedding. In the last few years, I’ve taken a short break from these types of shoots, instead, focusing on traveling and expanding my creative horizons. I enrolled in Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design this past fall and am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. I’ve felt the calling towards portrait photography again and am working on building a creative enterprise capturing moments that we share as humans and making beautiful portraits for all occasions. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve struggled to maintain consistency in my business as I’ve moved several times in the last four years. Every city has a different demand for portrait photography and finding what makes me stand out in the crowd has been difficult. Despite that, I know that this path is for me. Each time I get to engage with new clients and send them their final images my heart is filled with joy. Being able to see the moments that are so cherished by a client and capture them so that they have a long-lasting memento of the occasion is something extremely special to me. Photographs have the ability to transport us to days long gone and there’s comfort in those images. This is why I keep shooting; this is why I am still working to create a business that makes me proud and brings joy to those around me. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mentioned previously that I am pursuing my BFA. I am excited about my education as it exposes me to different forms of art-making that I have not previously engaged with. Broadening my horizons and learning to see the world through different art forms has inspired me within photography again and I believe this is part of what sets me apart from others. I have learned how joyful it is for me to create and having an outlet such as portrait photography that allows me to do what I love while serving others is a hallmark of who I am as a person and creative. I have an innate desire to support and engage with my community and creating through the time-honored tradition of photography is such a beautiful way for me to do that. When a client reaches out to me, I view it as much more than just income, it’s the development of a new part of my community and I strive to understand not just what they want photo-wise, but who they are as a person and how this can translate into the photos I create. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am a huge advocate for taking time to the self to recharge and reflect on life. I believe when we are truly taking care of ourselves, the best versions of us come out. Yoga is an activity that does this for me, it gives me a space to process my emotions, move my body in an intuitive way, and take time away from the daily distractions of life. Similarly, getting out into nature and spending time with friends each have a way of rejuvenating me in ways that nothing else can. As far as outside resources, Aubrey Marcus’ and Rich Roll’s podcasts both inspire me to be a better person, to think deeply about the world and the way I am creating my life within it in a different way. I’ve also been reaching for poetry lately, the most recent being Savannah Brown’s book Sweetdark. She writes in such beautifully constructed prose that fills my soul. For me being my best self is a lifelong journey of self-healing and discovery coupled with engaging in thoughtful discord. 

Contact Info:

• Email: holzinger.lauren@gmail.com
• Instagram: flyingwrenphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyingwrenphotography