We snap billions of photos annually—1.3 trillion worldwide in 2017 alone—but most vanish into digital storage, forgotten amid the flood.
As professional photographers and sisters Jenna Walker and Katie Thurmes know all too well. For years, they ran a Denver studio with Jenna's husband, Matt.
"Our clients weren't printing their photos, and the available options fell short," Jenna explains. "We felt the profound emotional ties we all share with our images and were driven to safeguard them with meaningful, high-quality products."
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In 2012, they launched Artifact Uprising, prioritizing premium craftsmanship and sustainability over mass production. Fine art prints use museum-grade archival paper; cards and photo books offer 100% recycled options; wooden displays repurpose beetle-damaged pine.
The business has achieved over 50% compound annual growth since launch, boasting more than 500,000 Instagram followers—five times Shutterfly's. In 2015, VSCO, a leading photo-editing app and community for pros and enthusiasts, acquired the rising star.
"We're in an era of unprecedented tech change," Jenna notes. "The benefits are immense, but as tech evolves, what tangible pieces of our lives will endure?"
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This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
