A is for Ashley. A is for Awesome. A is for Albatross. A is for Algebra.
Ashley is living the dream right now. She’s out and about traveling all over the place. I’m very jealous of her gypsy life right now.
I’m also jealous of her lips.
And her hair.
I’m grateful that she took time out of her adventures to play my q&a game. Enjoy!
-Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you
wanted to explore.
I started a small blog on tumblr just taking photos with my iPhone, and I think
it was a combination of learning how to make composition special even on
that tiny camera & being exposed to all these incredible photographers with
their own, strong voices. I fell in love.
-What camera did you learn with?
iPhone 3Gs & Canon Rebel T1i
-What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?
I was in contemporary fashion wholesale sales, and for a hot second (6 years)
thought I would become an executive in that field and work in either nyc, l.a.
or paris my whole life.
-Is there a post processing trend that you thought looked phenom, but now
makes you
cringe?
oh god yes. I went overboard with TRA. why are these people yellow??
-A session or series you’ve felt most proud of?
portraits I did of my friend erin – I became obsessed OBSESSED with tri-x on
my contax. and her glasses…
-If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically? What
do you dream of shooting before you die?
travel or wildlife photography. I dream of going back to africa with my newly
developed mad skills
and photographing the hell out of the most beautiful
place on earth. specifically, I think I’d go back to the okavango delta.
-10 years from now- where would you like to be? Doing what?
on a farm in Tennessee, chasing my children, riding my horse and doing steady
photography work that I enjoy.
-Your favorite lens/camera combo.
contax 645 w/80mm/2.0
-Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.
5D classic with 50mm/1.2L
-Any preferences between film/digital? Favorite film stocks?
I love both, but currently my work with film is producing the work that I’m
most proud of. I’m challenging myself in the near future to translate that look
to digital.
favorite film stocks: tri-x 400 (120) & fuji pro 400h (120)
-Biggest horror story, a medium sized horror story or just a sucky story related
to photography.
so far, knock on wood, I haven’t had any scary things happening when
shooting what I wanted to be shooting. I’d say my most uncomfortable
moment was assisting Tec Petaja last summer at a wedding in the hamptons,
and realizing after he wound the film that I loaded 220 into the contax with
the pressure plate on 120. thankfully I realized it before he started shooting,
but I was mortified.
-Who/what lights your fire? Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….
mitchel issel’s black and white photos, the music of needtobreathe & taylor
swift, the thought of a warm summer sunrise watched curled up on a porch
with a cup of coffee, people who make me want to do more & be greater,
and my studio space board on pinterest.
-When is the last time you have had personal prints done?
within the last few months. before leaving nyc, I had photos taken in our
neighborhood with my hubby, plus a shoot in central park with my best
friends. it means to me what I expect it to mean to my clients.
-How often do you shoot for fun? Have you noticed a theme/consistency in
what you shoot for enjoyment?
not enough, but anytime I go somewhere new or have a burst of inspiration. I
have not noticed a theme or consistency because, in general, when I pick up
my camera I want to shoot something. always.
-How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?
I offer free shoots to friends who have just had children, and give all friends &
family a 25% coupon to purchase prints or files. it never stops being awkward,
and I should probably be more generous, but I spend a lot of time and money
on what I do for them, so…it is what it is.
-If you could only make two Photoshop adjustments/actions. what would they be?
with the release of VSCO film, I don’t really need any new actions. I just need
to get more comfortable tweaking the actions to my style (less heavy handed).
-What is your favorite type of paid session/assignment?
couples who make each other laugh.
-Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love
of photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a
profession?
nope. this came out of nowhere for me, and family & friends were doubtful
until I started producing work I was proud of.
-Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having
helped you grow?
not yet, though just being a part of the FIND (film is not dead) group prior to
attending the workshop (coming Oct 2012) has been incredibly valuable.
-Are there any particular things you like to have when you sit down to edit?
sugar free red bull, good music on loop and flowers on my desk.
-Have you gotten more or less comfortable having your own photo taken?
more
-Would you rather shoot:
• Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?
Burt.
• A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and
spandex?
Half shirt & spandex. I hate feet.
*The cover of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone or National Geographic?
National Geographic with a Vanity Fair vibe.
* A UFO or Sasquatch?
Sasquatch.
-You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far.
What does it say?
awesome.
work I’ve done that makes me happy.
Ashley’s “about me”
nothing scares me as much as letting fear hold me back. I don’t have all the
answers, and don’t trust people who think they do. I also don’t trust people
who don’t like cheese (free passes to the truly lactose intolerant…and I
suppose vegans).
I see others as a challenge, but I won’t ever tell them; I’ll just push myself
harder. I’m amazing at spelling and embarrassingly bad with geography
(especially the central u.s.). I love my freckles, but I’m still jealous of your tan.
I would commit a crime for a friend without blinking, but don’t worry, the
charges won’t stick.
there isn’t anywhere in the world I don’t want to travel at least once (and so
many I can’t wait to see again). I have a strange obsession with sharks that
may one day be the death of me. a desert sunset will always make me cry,
because it feels like a home that slipped through my fingers. I laugh too loudly,
but you’ll grow to love me for it.
I found photography by accident, and now I can’t turn back.
