Wies den Ouden is a Dutch photographer, artist, and curator based in Amsterdam. In 2016, she graduated from the Fotoacademie. After graduating, Wies pursued two postgraduate years under the guidance of Niels Stomps in 2018 and Jenny Smets (Story Development & Impact) in 2019 and 2021.

She has published two photobooks. Her debut, ‘1 December 1995’ (2016), was very well received and made it into the top 20 of De Volkskrant's Best Photobooks. Her second book, ‘Voor als ik eens een feestje geef’ (2018), which she again self-published, was sold by various renowned bookstores.

Wies co-founded Self Publishers United in 2017 and was its chair until 2024. She has since stepped back a bit and now focuses mainly on curating books and sharing her knowledge.

In addition to her work as a photographer, Wies has also established herself as a curator. She was involved in various exhibitions, including ‘Ne me quitte pas’ at the Rietveld Pavilion, where she also exhibited her own work. For Galerie De Ploegh, she served as co-curator for the exhibition ‘Roots,’ where she also showcased her own work ‘Paradise Lost.’ Additionally, she participated in a group exhibition ‘Connected’ with two other artists at the Suzanne Biederberg Gallery in Amsterdam.

Wies enjoys sharing her expertise and experience by offering coaching and advisory sessions to students, emerging photographers, and self-publishers. Her broad knowledge makes her a beloved mentor and inspiration for upcoming talents.

In 2024, she was an Artist in Residence at Château du Fresne, France, where she worked on a new project. This project is still in the research phase and she hopes to further develop it in the near future.

Wies den Ouden remains a dynamic force in the photography world, both as an artist, curator, and mentor, with a lasting influence on the next generation of photographers and artists.