Meet Audrey Tjahjono | Wedding & Family Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Audrey Tjahjono and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audrey, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my photography business because I wanted to make something meaningful again. I’d been working full-time in a high-pressure analytics job, and after months of back-to-back meetings and endless reports, I realized I hadn’t picked up my camera in a long time. It was a gift from my parents in Indonesia, and it had always been how I slowed down and decompressed. Realizing I’d lost touch with that scared me. It felt like I was losing the part of myself that pays attention.

That changed everything. I realized there was a real need for honest, documentary-style storytelling, especially for families who don’t always see themselves represented with care. And interestingly, my background in ad analytics became one of my biggest strengths. It taught me how to understand audiences, how people search, click, and connect. Skills I now use to reach clients who truly value this kind of storytelling. I learned how to position my work so it resonates with the right people

That’s when it stopped being a side project. I wanted to create a business that could stand on its own and one that’s built on empathy, intention, and integrity. My goal has always been twofold: to document people’s lives as they truly are and to build a practice that can keep doing that for years to come

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is rooted in storytelling and not the perfectly posed kind, but the quiet, in-between moments that feel real. I photograph families, couples, and everyday life in a way that’s honest and intentional. What makes my work different is that it’s not about chasing perfection; it’s about capturing what it felt like to be there

I’m really proud of building something that feels so personal yet connects with so many people. I started this business during a time when I was completely burned out from my analytics job. What began as a way to slow down somehow turned into a six-figure business built from word of mouth, storytelling, and a lot of heart – and I’m genuinely proud of that

It definitely wasn’t easy. Balancing a full-time job while growing a creative business meant long nights, lots of mistakes, and plenty of moments of doubt. There were times I wasn’t sure I could do both, but I’ve learned that my two worlds actually support each other. My background in data helps me understand my audience, find the right clients, and build a business that runs smoothly behind the scenes. My creative work, in turn, reminds me why human stories matter in the first place. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that consistency matters more than perfection. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just have to keep showing up for what feels true to you

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Blue hour is always underrated. I’d start there. We’d take a long walk, sharing a playlist through one pair of earphones, just wandering and catching up as the light shifts

I’d bring them to Tofu Tofu, my favorite Korean spot in town, comfort food, nothing fancy, just warm and satisfying. After dinner, we’d find a cozy jazz bar nearby, the kind with dim lights and live music that makes you forget what time it is. And to end the night, we’d grab ice cream from Anita’s, because….. why not?!

If it were a weeklong trip, I’d fill it with the same rhythm. Simple pleasures, slow mornings, film cameras in hand, exploring neighborhoods without rushing anywhere

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who deserve credit for where I am now, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d dedicate this shoutout to my dad. He was the one who gave me my first camera, a gift I didn’t fully appreciate until years later when I picked it back up after burning out from my day job. That simple act of giving me something to see the world differently ended up shaping everything I do now

I’d also shout out the families and individuals who’ve trusted me to photograph them. Every session is a reminder that storytelling is a collaboration. Their openness, their willingness to be seen as they are, is what makes my work possible

Website: https://www.audreytjahjono.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreytjahjono/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreytjahjono/