Meet Aubrey Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Lee. 

Hi Aubrey, 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.
Whew, umm… where to start? I’ve loved photography and writing ever since I was a kid; I always thought I was a little “off” because of how I saw/interpreted/or viewed things. At age 8, I became a published poet. Nothing fancy, just a contest our elementary teacher had us enter into. From there, journaling became a type of “emotional release.” My home life was a bit unstable; I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 9, and I was not quite sure how to grow up so quickly, but I didn’t have a choice. I was also infatuated with the way people described their experiences, the words they used, and where they put emphasis on what they were speaking of, like public speakers. “How were they so captivating?” I wanted to be that! As a teenager, music became a very vital piece of my life, the way the artists would express how they felt in song inspired me. With all of that being said, at age 14 I was sure I wanted to be a journalist for “Rolling Stones” Magazine. I wanted to travel, write about music, meet these inspiring artists and just relish in the opportunities I assumed I would be having. As high school goes, when you find a post-high school educational track you desire, the guidance counselors would put you into classes that vaguely had to do with your career aspirations. I was put into Newspaper & Yearbook classes. That is when my photography passion really uncovered itself. I submitted some of my photography into small/local contests and won a handful, … again nothing “out of this world,” more so just confirmation of who I was becoming as an adult. I often remember my instructor giving me feedback like, “that is an interesting perspective,” or “maybe elaborate on why you see [it] that way.” 

Fast forward, I went to college for Photojournalism. Well, started college in the photojournalism track. I found out that curriculums don’t allow much freedom in what you get to write about. I HAD to write about things I was not passionate about. Eventually, this passion diminished, and I changed my major to Communications. In college, I also played women’s rugby, sustaining many head injuries & nocturnal seizures. This is important because as time went on, the more seizures I have, the less I tend to remember. This initiated taking more photographs to remember the experiences I had. Something to look back on and reminisce, if you will. 

(With a large gap, lol) Here I am today; I recently broke a drinking addiction, I am grieving the passing of my stepfather, I moved states, and I work in corporate America. I decided there was a part of me not being as fulfilled as I wanted in life. I started attending more community events; Slam poetry, free art exhibits, exploring natural trails, just simple things I hadn’t yet taken advantage of in my new city. In doing all that, it snowballed into talking with my friends/spouse and deciding to start taking pictures of the things around me and writing my perspective on what I felt in that moment. When I say writing, I genuinely mean… just thoughts, poetry, song lyrics I relate to, how I felt in the moment, and/or self-reflection or “shadow work.” In this process, I have started to uncover a lot of details about me I guess I never knew or paid any attention to. The way I think or view things, perceptions I have, lack of education on situations/words/categories that were never introduced to me, literally anything and everything I think, I tend to shove in a journal. 

In addition to my friends talking me into opening up this dusty old hobby of mine, I started personal therapy. My therapist encouraged me to continue doing this as I learn about myself and grow into the person I desire to be. And then, one day, I just made a website. Initially, it was to sell my photos, but that did not really take off, so now it exists just for people to enjoy. To read & to view. I put minimal amounts of my work on there and got some inquiries, interests, and traction, but really, it is just about me and how I view, see, or feel things… in life, if you will. Since then, I have just been taking photos at community events, for weddings, things I see that catch my eye, and run with it from there. I do very minimal editing, instead, I call it “enhancing,” as I feel the objects in the photo are exactly how they are supposed to be. I’m just in the beginning stages of a “business” I suppose, but I most definitely have a lot more to learn and experience. 

I do want to mention that everything I do, all photos I take for others are completely free. I’m there just for the experience, the additional perspective. LGBTQIA+ audiences have priority when booking events as I am a member of that community. (Insert wink here) But the purpose of my website/business/art is to gain perspectives from those around me. No 2 individuals experience life in the exact same way, and to me, that is WILD to think about. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I stated earlier, I am just in the beginning stages of this endeavor. Right now, some of the biggest obstacles are gaining an audience, finding time to consistently post, balancing corporate work with personal tasks for the website… etc. 

I also feel the POV of my work is very niche, therefore not a lot of online traction. 

I do not solicit for events to attend for the benefit of my work, it just comes as it comes, and I flow from there. 

Income is not the end goal, growth is. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This is a loaded question. “What sets me apart from others?” Interesting. 

I myself, am different. I’m just me. Authentically Aubrey. After all, that is why my business is called Peculiar Perspectivez. 

I know this is about what sets my work apart, but I think I am what sets my work apart. More about my life — I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 9. My birth parents separated when I was the ripe age of 6. I have 2 half siblings, 1 ten years older than I am, 1 ten years younger than myself; I do not have a relationship with either sibling. My real father (Ty) who I call my “sperm donor” was not a part of my life. He passed away of brain cancer in 2016. My stepfather, Mike who I deem my “real father,” also recently passed away in 2019, also of cancer. I’ve lived in Costa Rica and Australia for extended periods of time. I went from being active in a traveling competitive cheer team (yes, like Bring It On) to playing college rugby. I knew I was gay at age 13 but did not come out until I was 19. My other brother is also gay. (Interesting fact) I’ve been “the fat friend,” my entire life until I pursued weight loss surgery in 2020 (in Mexico actually). I had a “bout” of cancer around my uterus taken out in 2020. Umm… I don’t know. 

Something that makes my work different is the idea that anyone is allowed any perspective they want from what I publish. It is meant to make one think, to ponder. I want your mind to wander and enjoy literally whatever it is right in front you. I want you to feel like you, not what society has molded you to be. Freedom, love, and light. 

What were you like growing up?
Yikes, growing up. I don’t remember much of who I was. I was diagnosed with T1D at 9, so I had to grow up and take care of myself fairly young. At that age, needles are pretty much your biggest fear. I was inserting needles into my body 4 times a day to stay alive at that age. A lot of my childhood was spent at home alone. My mom was never home, and my older brother was already out of the house. My parents divorced when I was 6 and from there on out, I had to essentially raise myself. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peculiarperspectivez.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peculiar_perspectivez/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083605740968
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubreyklee/ 

Image Credits
Aubrey Lee