Check Out Tyler Wirken’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Wirken

Hi Tyler, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My dad is credited with getting my passion for photography started. He was a hobbyist photographer but got me started taking photos of cars when I was young. In high school my newspaper teacher must have seen something in me as she gave me full reign of the photo department which made a lasting impression on me as well. When it came time to go to college and choose a major I had little idea what I wanted to do with my life but knew I loved photography and photojournalism. The decision to major in Photojournalism was solidified when I stepped foot into the Journalism building at the University of Kansas. That place just felt right and the next thing I knew I was spending all of my time in the newsroom. My passion for photojournalism was cemented from my time working on the school newspaper and taking photo classes. I got an A- in my advanced photo class my senior year. The only A I ever received while at KU. I knew this is what I wanted to do. I graduated in 1997 and went on to work for the Columbus Dispatch, The Lawrence Journal-World, and the Kansas City Star as a freelance photojournalist. After leaving photography to work for a small time for my dad as an electrician I returned to photography after realizing it was what I was meant to do. In 2002 I started my own business Wirken Photography and have been running that with my wife Pam Wirken ever since. I have spent the last 23 years documenting weddings, families, businesses, and nonprofits with an emphasis on using that documentary storytelling approach I learned from my time as a photojournalist to tell stories. I approach anything I photograph with the same mindset of authenticity over perfection. I believe life is beautiful as it is. I want to preserve and celebrate life’s moments as they are without direction from myself. I want to make the ordinary extraordinary. Around 2005 I got a chance to be a teacher at the Foundation Workshop teaching photographers how to see and think like a photojournalist. It opened up a new passion for me that I never imagined, teaching. Since then I have taught all over the world including Spain, Mexico, The Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, and the UK. I love teaching and am now running the Foundation Workshop with my wife Pam. We host the workshop each year in Lawrence, Kansas bringing my photography journey full circle back to where it all began.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is a smooth road. 🙂 Running a business is always a challenge. I would say that is the biggest struggle is simply finding work and having to constantly reinvent my self. As I get older my passion for having my photos matter and make a difference grows stronger. I want to give back using my photos to make a difference in the world. Shifting the emphasis of my business over the years to using my story telling abilities to help businesses and non profits further their missions has been a bit of struggle to get off the ground but it is so very rewarding to see my photos make a difference. Starting another division of our business in my 40’s proved to be challenging. It is all worth it however to continue my journey.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and specialize in real, authentic documentation of life’s events. I would say we are known for the way we capture moments and our real authentic approach to what we photograph. Wirken Photography is our wedding and family photo studio. Started in 2002 we have documented hundreds of weddings for amazing people as well as documentary family photography. We approach every shoot with the idea of letting life happen and celebrate the realness of life. We believe in showing it like it is as that will be what we need to remember years down the road. The photos we make are ultimately not for the people who hire us but for people that don’t exist yet. We are family historians and believe our photos can bring people together.

I am proud of so many parts of my career but as of late I am most proud of the non profit work I have done for clients like Camp Encourage, The Trevor Project, as well as non profits in Lawrence that we serve through the Foundation Workshop that we run every year. Seeing my work make a difference in the world helping these organizations further their missions is the ultimate reward.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Be true to yourself. Life is too short to not do what you love. Jim Carey did a speech once where he said “you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wirkenphoto.com
• Instagram: @tylerwirken
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wirkenphoto
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-wirken-0970a113/