Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Painter.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I come from the human services world and work with children and underserved families. Never in a million years did I picture myself (no pun intended) as a photographer, but here I am! Growing up, my grandmother always had a camera. She would be the one taking photographs of the family gatherings and making sure everyone was seen. She lost her son, my late uncle when he was only 21 years old. I don’t know if that’s why she always had a camera when I was a child, but I know it plays a role in how sentimental she is. I was raised by my grandparents when I was a young child, so many of my grandmother’s characteristics are ones I have today. When I discovered I would be a mother, I first purchased a fancy “point-and-shoot” camera and an HD video camera. I knew I wanted to document my kid’s life like she had tried to do with mine. I would always use my little Canon point-and-shoot with my first son. It was always on my mind that I wanted a professional camera, but my husband and I were so poor. We had $25 in our bank account the day our son was born, and we lived paycheck to paycheck because we knew we wanted me to be a stay-at-home parent. We sacrificed a lot, but we made it work, and it was all worth it. Staying home enabled me to indulge in my crafty side, which led me to be able to purchase my first professional camera after our second son was on the way. I sold all my crafting materials and made the leap to photography. I started slow but quickly began being able to make money for my sessions.
I had so much support from friends and family, especially my husband’s family. They helped me with private locations to use, allowing me to have sessions specific to me and my business. My father-in-law and grandfather-in-law allowed me to use their property, which boasts numerous Ford vehicles from as far back as the 1930s. This was such a cool thing to have as “props” it allowed me to grow my content and share it with the world. A friend also connected me with the very generous owner of a beautiful, secluded barn, which I’ve used several times for engagements and family sessions because people love its look. Even so, I was still working extremely hard to find my style, and did I mention I was 8 months pregnant by this point? My first wedding was completed when I was three weeks away from my delivery, and my second wedding was completed just 10 days before I gave birth to my son. I knew that I couldn’t take time off if I would stay relevant, and I couldn’t turn down weddings if I were going to gain experience. I put my heart and soul into starting my business, and it’s not something that ever stops. Today, I’ve surpassed the one-year mark of officially being in business. I’ve learned so much. I’ve enrolled in professional coursework and scoured the internet for never-ending tips and tricks to improve my photography and business skills. I am constantly thanking my supporters for their support. I could go on for a long time about everything that got me to where I am now, but I’ve gone on too long already!
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This road has been anything but smooth! It’s no secret that starting a business is hard, but they need to tell you that it’s way more complicated than just registering as an LLC and paying your taxes. They also don’t tell you that securing funding is near impossible for new business owners if you’re a stay-at-home parent with no previous income. Unfortunately, I had to rely on previously opened credit cards to make many of my major purchases (especially when getting into weddings). I say, unfortunately, because I would have preferred a startup loan with a lower interest rate, but I could never get approved. I didn’t want to use a co-signer (a.k.a my husband) because I wanted to do this independently. Money has been the biggest struggle for me, but aside from that, learning the ins and outs of the business world has also been complicated. I spend a lot of time learning about marketing, pondering how to advertise cost-effectively, and learning which advertisements work for me. Facebook has been a huge help in analyzing my client demographics, giving me some insight into what kinds of people are looking at me. One year ago, however, I was clueless! All I had was a camera and a dream. I had to (and still do) read, research, study, and learn by trial and error.
Thanks – What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My passion is wedding and engagement photography. I also love family photography, but weddings have my heart. Many photographers see weddings as too high risk because there are no do-overs. I admit this is a scary thought, and I almost allowed it to keep me from doing weddings altogether. I chose not to let it scare me away from the industry. I embraced it and let my natural organization skills take the lead with my wedding clients. I am a natural planner and take my weddings as seriously as if they were my event. I work closely with my clients to finetune the wedding day schedule and figure out their vision. Not every wedding is the same, so aside from my editing and shooting style, I treat each wedding as its own. I was never a fan of the conveyor belt style of doing things, and my clients appreciate that. Many have thanked me for paying special attention to what they want and don’t want. They appreciate my candid style and ability to pose them when needed. I consider my client’s personalities when working with them, and people admire that. I read body language and have awesome people skills. I owe that to my college education. I studied Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work. Ethics, equality, kindness, and being unbiased have been engraved in my soul. I am proud that I have incorporated those teachings into my business.
What sets me apart from other businesses is my emphasis on the humanity of us all. It’s that mindset that also enables me to see the moments that my clients want to remember. For example, I photographed one of my grooms with his grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s. I don’t know how to describe it, but I was drawn to the moment. And their conversation. Because of this, I froze the moments in time when the groom told his grandmother who he was, and I captured the smile on her face when she remembered. It was the first and only time I had cried at a wedding.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Please share something that might surprise us.
When I was 19 years old, I tried out for The Voice and got a callback, but I choked at my call back! I love to sing. I’ve been told I sing well. My anxiety is so horrible, though! I was a wreck and forgot the words to the song, just like in a real-life nightmare. The only people I sing for now are my children and my husband. My oldest son takes after me, so I hope his nerves aren’t as bad as mine!
Pricing:
- Three wedding packages for all kinds of budgets
- Regular session prices are around $425
- I work with non-profits for fundraisers
- I give hefty discounts to Foster children
- Military/First responder discounts are available
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleypainterphotography.com
- Instagram: @ashleypainterphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleypainterphotography526/
Image Credits
All images were taken by me, Ashley Painter, of Ashley Painter Photography LLC
