Meet Ashley A. Miller | Mediographer & Public Health Professional

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

Hi Ashley A., how do you think about risk?
When I think about risk, I immediately think ‘opportunity.’ Not every opportunity is a good or rewarding one. But I tend to think of every risk like the old saying says, “Nothing beats a failure, but a try.” My friends tell me all the time I take too many chances but most of those risks are very successful plots.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ll start by introducing myself. My name is Ashley A. Miller but everyone knows me as AAMillzz (A-Millz). I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana; Uptown, Third Ward, New Orleans to be exact. I’ve ALWAYS been fascinated with art, cameras, films, music, and photographs especially. Being a very curious child, I found my dad’s old camera he rarely used. I never knew my dad to take photos because he never replaced his camera; I did hear he loved taking pictures in the past. I learned how to photograph on my own. His mother, my maw-maw had a den at the back of her home, where she would sit in her rocking recliner and sew, listening to her hymns on the radio, or she’d be watching a gospel sermon on the television. In this den, my maw-maw had a lot of framed portraits on the wall. Every time I’d go over to her house, I would want to go over pictures and ask which relative was who. These are the only and few memories I have left of her. This is where my joy of photo memories began.

I started my photo journey in Middle school. I would buy a disposable camera on the weekends when I would goto the store with my mom on Saturdays. I’d take the camera to school, my friends and I would take turns taking photos of one another. I would then take my allowance to get the photos developed at the nearest photo development store. I still have a lot of those photos throughout middle school until this day.

I purchased my first digital camera when I was 14. This was right after Hurricane Katrina. I was living at my cousin’s house with 17 others at the time in Baton Rouge since the storm. We were all family and for my gift, Christmas of ’05, my dadd took me to Walmart. Where I picked out a Kodak Easyshare camera with the printer to go with it. It was on sale the day after Christmas. I downloaded the software to edit my photos and began using the frames and filters built into software and that’s when it all started. It was also the start to the infamous myspace era.

I was so good at coding and mastering my myspace page. I always had a great selection of music playing in the background as well. That’s when I was truly able to express my creativity. I often took photos on the yard in High School. I was always creative with everything I ever did, always standing out and not on purpose.

As a little girl I loved to color, draw, paint, basically illustrate. I loved anything art. I love colors. Remember the Lisa Frank collection? Do she still make things? Those colors she used ALWAYS caught my attention. I love creative & colorful things. It always helps me express myself.

I have always been surrounded around positive role models; whom which instilled confidence in me from a youth. They always gave me positive sound advice to go through with anything my mind became set on. The courage to just do it. I find myself taking risk often and am very lucky most of the time.

However, sometimes I would take a lesson or two from not being as smart about the chance(s) taken. Notice how I referenced ‘lesson’ and not loss.

On this journey, in my adulthood I want to say at about the age of 23 I began my professional journey with photography. I purchased my DSLR in 2013 for a wedding opportunity I collaborated on with a colleague of mine. I did not get my end of the deal, Lesson one was learned. In business I’ve experienced an awful lot. Some necessary, some self-inflicted, and some completely unnecessary I think; in both business and personal.

I finished my high school career in 2009. I started College in June of ‘09 at Xavier University of Louisiana. I got suspended from the university my first year. I flunked out all of my courses that took discipline & dedication. Why, because I was not yet dedicated. I had many distractions around me. I started at Xavier as a Chemistry Pre-Pharm major, but I finished my B.S. in Public Health Sciences with a double concentration in Art & French in May of 2020.

My college career was by far the most challenging thing I have EVER experienced. But it has molded me into the woman and creative that I am today. I sat out twice to earn my degree. I did not give up and I love that about myself. The fact that I never give up on my dreams or myself, or anything I truly believe in. I had financial difficulties EVERY TIME fall registration came around. I had no scholarships, maybe a few grants but they weren’t enough to cover my tuition. Everything was loans. Many of my friends tried to convince me of transferring schools but I refused. I had 4 semesters left. Why would I do that?

At the peak of my journey, I hit rock bottom. This was my second time dropping out from school. It was in February of 2015 I withdrew from the university. I was going through a really depressed state. I remember sitting with my academic advisor Dr. Mincey in her office explaining to her that I just couldn’t stick it out any longer. It would be a repeat of my freshman year, I would have flunked every course yet again. Xavier is no walk in the park. I had to withdraw to save my GPA and academic standing. It had seemed like everything was against me and everyone around me misunderstood me. Every time I tried to express myself I was being rejected. The depression caused me to gain all of the weight I had lost right back. All of my hard work just seemed so far away from me and so delayed. Everything I had worked so hard to manifest, I watched it get taken from me like it had been flushed down the drain. I was so overwhelmed with my studies, trying to juggle my everyday relationships, work a full-time overnight position, as well as an internship. I was also attending Dillard University to take extra courses I could take at Xavier to save my GPA. I thought it might be easier to take some courses at a different institution. All of that, on top of sustaining my photo business and being a people pleaser, I lost my way.

I returned to XULA in the Spring semester of 2017. I pushed through. I was a pandemic grad. I never got the chance to physically walk across the stage. I also experienced hardships during my very last semester. It was tough and I had to fight so hard to get to where I am, to overcome those depression triggers, to become this decent woman I suppose, and to become this BOMB a*s Artist.

In the last year as 2021 is closing out; I’ve relocated, found a job to help fuel my company and doors have been opening for me. Many of which were hindered in New Orleans due to so many underlying factors. I feel like I’ve reached my peak yet again. I’ve gotten over so many things that could have sent me right back to that depression. But I stood strong through it all. I found peace within myself to keep everything above the water. I mastered the art of maintaining.

I suppose many assume otherwise but I make this look ever so easy and its so not. I have had SO many restless nights, going days without sleep. Just up grinding late nights trying to write down ideas, therapy sessions where I need to release stress. Meditation & prayer. Self reflections daily to make myself a better & understanding human being. I totally encourage anyone out there, to continue chasing your dreams. Whether you know it or not, there’s beauty in the struggle. You will discover parts of yourself you never knew existed. Limits you never thought you’d surpass. Strengths you never knew you had.

Keep it going no matter how hard it gets. Pressure always produce diamonds or it causes explosions. Don’t be a ticking time bomb. Be an assurer and be completely gentle with yourself. Never self sabotage. Stay strong, stay wise, and most importantly always follow your first mind because that is the spirit guiding you along the way. Never second guess yourself and there will never be an I should’ve, could’ve, or would’ve because you did it, you tried, and that’s the only thing that counts.

Stay blessed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, back in my city NOLA, I’d first take my friend to grab some great food & drinks, because I love to eat. I love seafood dishes and pasta so I would most likely goto Neyows or Deanies. I’m really not a club type of person but I love a good bar. We’ll hit up downtown off Frenchman Street there’s a variety of bars there. We’ll slide through The John for a cool vibe to play songs on the jukebox and enjoy some shots and cocktails. I enjoy staying in. I guess I would consider myself a social introvert. I know a lot of people and I am a socialite but I prefer being at home lol. So as far as outings would go, I’d find cool laidback places and activities for us. I like to stay transparent when I’m out. I never like to be too noticeable always running into someone I know lol.

Definitely check out Barcadia, The Peacock Room, The John, Blue Nile, Dragon’s Den and Round2Reloaded for a nice kool vibe for great food and drinks.

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?
Okay, so I would have to give my number 1 shoutout to my main source… GOD. For blessing me with the capability I have to be able to share, inspire, create, and explore. Also, a beautiful thank you wish to my courageous mother and loving family. Also to my dear friends and peers, teachers and spiritual influencers. In every path of my journey I’ve met some beautiful individuals. Some whom taught me things which I will never forget, lessons I will never forget, and advice, encouragement, prayers, and words of wisdom. I take it all in with grace. It has definitely empowered my drive to simply KEEP GOING.

Website: www.aampkodachrome.com

Instagram: instagram.com/aamiillzz & instagram.com/aampkodachrome

Facebook: AAMP Kodachrome

Youtube: AAMP Kodachrome Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8eooKr17hDaqase0qjLY8Q

Other: My business email: aamillzz@aampkodachrome.com personal: AAMillz19@gmail.com For some of my music my soundcloud is: AAMiillzz link: www.soundcloud.com/ashley-a-miller-3 Definitely could use some audio producers and engineers help to assist me with mixing and mastering my tracks. So def hit me up!