Today we’d like to introduce you to Wednesday Aja.
Hi Wednesday, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It was those early rituals that instilled a fascination for photography; my dad’s light meter held close to my face, the timer and tripod set up for a family portrait. Stopping time. Saving a moment. Crafting the collective family memory.
I was born in East LA into a family of artists and craftsmen; an architect, a jewelry designer, a furniture designer, a world steeped in art with a deep appreciation for beauty. I earned my Art History degree from UCLA, enhanced by classes in design theory and darkroom technique. Later a month long cross-country road trip became a move to Austin, TX, where I worked as a graphic designer at advertising agencies, design shops, and a letterpress studio.
A move to Paris, France reignited my passion for photography; collaborating with fashion designers and photographers, documenting the fashion scene and shooting behind-the-scenes photos for fashion magazines. But perhaps the biggest inspiration came late one night at a friend’s atelier. The studio shared the block with the historic Cirque d’Hiver, on this night with the wind just right, and the city quiet, you could hear the roar of the tigers. Renewing an old curiosity, it was a call to explore the world of the circus. Now back home I regularly shoot for circuses from California to Florida.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
A road paved with bumps and forks makes for an interesting journey; the search for stories, the hustle for access, finding your niche… and then there was the pandemic prompting a bit of a pivot. With live events on hold for over a year, I started documenting family and friends as they moved through their day in their environments, often outdoors and at a distance. Out of that came the “Day-in-the-Life” portrait sessions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I shoot branded content and event photography for a variety of clients. I am also an editorial photographer, and was a contributing photographer at the OC Weekly for several years.
But I am best known for my body of work documenting circuses and entertainers… and things that go bump (and grind) in the night! I am enchanted by those worlds of sequins and makeup, drag performers and trapeze artists; my work reveals the magic that transforms for a song, or a season, inviting the viewer to come along and get lost. Fine art photography with a documentary edge.
What does success mean to you?
Certainly one measure is when I am able to share my work with a larger audience. In 2019 I was honored to be the artist-in-residence at DTLA‘s Hotel Figueroa. Thirty-two photographs were displayed in the hotel’s gallery for 3 months.
…and this holiday season if you happen to find yourself at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, take a moment to view my solo exhibit. I’ll have twenty photographs on view from December 16, 2021 – January 20, 2022.
Pricing:
- “Day-in-the-Life” portrait sessions starting at: $950.00
- 20″ x 16″ Limited Edition Prints: $425.00. Contact me for availability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wednesdayaja.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wednesdayaja/
Image Credits:
All images ©Wednesday Aja
