Meet Ashley Wilhardt | Photographer & owner of Cayenne Agency

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

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Cayenne because at the time I was really looking for a community of creatives that were passionate and eager to come together. I had also just come from working at a magazine in LA, so print was really exciting to me. I wanted something tangible, and although in the beginning I didn’t know exactly the direction Cayenne would go, I knew I wanted a big enough umbrella to contain my many passions and ever changing ideas… Cue Cayenne Agency, a creative agency that makes art, publishes print, and keeps it spicy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a photographer, I love to create even when it’s not for a client or a job. However these creations many times would just sit on Instagram or on social media. Soon you scroll past and it’s over. The goal was always to create something and have it go further. Have your work live somewhere more permanent and lasting. Make it tangible, build a community around it. I am really proud of the platform and community that Cayenne created.

Cayenne serves as that platform for new ideas and artistic ventures. It introduces people to each other and grows a family of artists and entrepreneurs, that may not have had the chance to meet otherwise. Cayenne allows others to present their work and gives them a voice as well. You can tell stories, introduce someone new, photograph something incredible. When it started as just a magazine, I would be so excited to see people who submitted to the first issue (and didn’t know each other) would end up working together for a submission in the next issue. It can be hard to meet people! This became such a fun way. Whether we are making magazines, or love books, or hosting parties or events, the platform and community that is at Cayenne’s core, will always be the most important.

On that note, we are pivoting a little. I discovered I really love a theme… and planning parties. A fond memory I have is from before I had even really started. I was sitting down with my friend Sahand and telling him the idea I had for a spicy new publishing house that would soon become Cayenne. I told him the dream was to start a magazine… I then quickly pulled out the party flyer I made, for the release of a magazine not yet created. We still laugh about that often.

While keeping three main themes, art, culture, and spice, Cayenne is evolving a little! This past year we focused on love, creating our first ever hard cover art book, Spicy Love. It was 100 pages of ideas and notes and memories of what love means to sixty nine different people. Each artist, friend, entrepreneur, waiter, football player, photographer, wine maker, sealed their love note with their own lip print. People shared the first time they said “I love you,” what love feels like to them, a pickup line, a song lyric, and more. All ages, jobs, ethnicities… it was so special to see everyones idea of love within these pages.
There will be more of this moving forward! The concrete themes and layout worked really well for us this year and also helped to keep us motivated and inspired. Cayenne’s next book will be another Spicy Love, and will compile sixty nine make-out photoshoots, with long meaty interviews. I’m learning I love love. And I love hearing about other peoples love. So this is a project I’m really excited about.

Something else happening soon which I haven’t released anything about yet is an event! Drink Like An Italian. This October we are hosting a 3 day event that people can attend an evening (or a few!) that will bring our community together to experience a cultural exchange while enjoying good food, paired with wines originating from all over Italy. Massimo Coppetti, my wine professor from Florence, Italy, and now dear friend, will be coming out to Orange County to host this event with me. Thursday, October 13th starts the series off with an Aperitivo at The Lido House in Newport Beach. Friday the 14th is a family style dinner at Trenta Pizza & Cucina in Costa Mesa. And finally, Saturday the 15th, we finish with a wine pairing dinner at Arc Bottle Shop in Newport Beach. With menus created by various chefs, and wines curated by expert Massimo Coppetti, we will be transported to an evening in Italy. Here, we can learn about history, tradition, tasting techniques, and most importantly… how to drink like an Italian.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this question, I did a whole issue on food & wine in the area so this might take a while. And this weekend would consist of all food and drink so come hungry. Arc Butcher & Baker in Newport Beach and Arc Food & Libations in Costa Mesa is a must. Honestly one of my favorite restaurants that I could go to every single day and never grow tired of. The food is incredible, the wine is delicious, and the people who own the restaurant and who work here are so lovely. Noah and Marin (owners) are visions and such a dream team duo! They have really created something special here. Whether you’re enjoying brunch at the outdoor patio in Newport, or cocktails at the bar in Costa Mesa, Arc is the spot. I can’t rave enough about this place. The chicken nuggets are a must. My favorite cocktail is the Indian Summer.
Trenta Pizza & Cucina is my happy place. Owned by my favorite Sicilians, Trenta is the Italian restaurant that makes you feel like family and welcomes you home. Spend your birthday here, and Marco will sing a song to you.
At The Lido House, whether you are getting a sunset drink on the rooftop, or enjoying dinner at The Mayor’s Table, you are sure to impress any out of town friend!
Buddha’s Favorite for sushi on the water. So romantic with a fun atmosphere and delicious fresh fish. The owner Nicole is so sweet and is always sure to reserve a bottle of rosé for me. A magnum one of course.
Oak & Coal recently opened The Oak Room next door. Just double the amazingness that Oak & Coal has to offer, plus fun new cocktails! I love this spot right on 17th street. Incredible small bites, fresh fish, shared plates…. and the bao buns!! Enough said.
Mario’s Butcher for some bomb sandwiches, burgers, and burritos. This place is a treasure. The meat selection is amazing, and they always have some fun cheese, olive oils, or spices to get.
Lastly, I’d end this visit with a home cooked meal in my backyard. We’d get almost all ingredients at Growers Ranch, which really is a Costa Mesa gem. The best produce, fun and interesting finds, and unreal prices. I love this grocery store. And we’d get some beautiful bottle of wine or interesting liquors from Hi Times, a family owned liquor store that is an attraction in itself. People here are helpful and knowledgeable, and you’ll leave with the perfect bottle for any occasion.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first boss, Amber Asaly, really rocked my world. She had confidence like I had never known and really opened my mind to the fact that you can be an amazing photographer even if you just had an iPhone. Which at 19 years old or so, and only the budget for a little point and shoot, that was really important. It didn’t matter if she was working with a phone, a disposable, or a huge, fancy professional camera… she could make anything look incredible. That really shaped the way I worked for years to come. Focusing more on the art of it, the vision, the dream behind a photo… it took me so much further than I would have been had I started out with the best of the best camera and assumed that’s what it took to make something amazing.

Website: www.cayenneagency.com, www.ashleywilhardt.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashwilhardt, www.instagram.com/cayenneagency

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-wilhardt-a661921a5/