Meet Ashley Nash | Owner & Photographer

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

Hi Ashley, what inspires you?
My clients are my inspiration! There is nothing more inspiring than being able to break down barriers that many of my clients have put up. For some, it’s personal insecurities surrounding having pictures made of themselves. Especially as women, we oftentimes have a hard time believing that we could possibly look as gorgeous as what we see on social media. Almost always, the first thing a female client will say to me at the start of their session is, “I’m not photogenic at all!” or “Girl, please tell me that you can photoshop my stomach out of my images.” As I begin shooting, I get to watch their guard slowly begin to come down. By the end of their session, they carry themselves differently – more confidently. When they see their final images, I’m able to watch them come alive as they realize that they too are just as beautiful as any image they’d been comparing themselves to. It’s truly one of those ‘goosebump” type moments for me.

The same can be said of the families that I shoot. Moms come to me almost defeated at times when it comes to having family portraits made. From past experiences of feeling rushed during their session, to previous photographers completely missing the mark when it comes to capturing their family’s true personality, too often they have yet to fall in love with their images. I love seeing their surprise when not only are their kids laughing and having fun during their shoot, but they are as well! The icing on the cake for me is hearing, “You get us! Finally, our personalities are shining through in our images!” How could that not inspire me?!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up, art was always a love of mine. I can remember being in daycare/after school care in 2nd grade and drawing detailed pictures of houses along with blueprints. While everyone else played, I spent my time drawing. I leaned into my creativity even more once I hit Middle and High School, joining Art Clubs and taking A.P. art classes. When it was time to head off to college I knew that I wanted to major in Art. However, I quickly questioned the longevity and earning capabilities of drawing and painting so sadly, I put it down. It wasn’t until I had children and began taking pictures of them that I realized it was possible to invoke emotion and express myself artistically through my a lens.

Soon, friends began asking if I would take pictures of their children as well. That’s when Ashley Nash Photography was officially born. However, I only dove into it on a part-time basis. It wasn’t until last year when I found myself lying on my sofa, recovering from my third heart surgery that year, that I began asking myself if I was truly following my dreams and living life to the absolute fullest. I decided right then and there that it was time for me to stop only living and it was instead time for me to start loving every single day. I began pouring myself into learning the ins and outs of my passion spending hours on end each day teaching myself everything from camera settings to editing. I went all in. Not only on my business but on myself.

You know the old movie line, If you build it they will come? I believe that it’s only half true. If you build it YOUR way, if you put ALL of yourself into it, and you TRULY stop holding back, that’s when they’ll come. I quickly found that my people were out there, they were just waiting on the true me to appear. I believe that being my true, authentic self and putting my vision out there is what sets me apart. When meeting me and diving into their session, my clients quickly see that I don’t focus on the posed smiles as they’ve experienced before. Instead, I facilitate genuine emotions. I encourage their kids to actually jump in puddles, for them to dance in fields, and to just be themselves! That’s when I’m able to see the genuine emotions ooze from a session and the magic happens.

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 am a sucker for a great atmosphere, especially if it’s outdoors! My go to areas are Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands. I love how eclectic and diverse Little Five Points is. You can eat lunch on a rooftop while chatting with people from all walks of life. Teaching my children that it’s okay to be whomever they want to be is super important to me and Little Five Points embodies just that. From street vendors selling handmade jewelry, musicians singing on street corners, and artists painting custom pieces, there is something for everyone. Virginia Highlands has a laid back vibe that puts completely puts me at ease.. Within only a few blocks, you can dine outside at one of the many yummy restaurants, grab a beer at one of best dive bars in the city, and enjoy a slower pace that we all can appreciate from time to time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For me, believing in myself and my work was a hurdle that wasn’t easy to jump over. As an artist of any sort, it’s easy to question your ability and worthiness and to frequently ask yourself what makes you good enough. There is no coursework one must complete, no required certification, and no degree or diploma that is required to prove that you are indeed qualified. Your art is completely subjective. You may have one person that loves your your work while another may absolutely hate it. It’s easy to compare yourself to others in your field and convince yourself that your vision and capabilities couldn’t possibly measure up. Or that if you put yourself out there, truly out there, you’ll be criticized and laughed right back into your studio. That’s tough to move past. Questioning if you’ll be seen as just another makeshift photographer can be daunting, especially starting out.

That’s where your people, your true cheerleaders, make all the difference. I’ve been lucky enough to have a select few people in my corner that have pushed me to believe in myself and to know my worth. They go out of their way to encourage me and to remind me to put all of myself into what I do. They remind me that it’s okay to include my sometimes loud self and crazy ideas into my work because they believe that those things are what makes my work, and me, unique in the best of ways.

Website: www.ashleynashphotography.com

Instagram: @ashleynashphotography

Facebook: @ashleynashphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ashley-nash-photography-Dallas

Image Credits
All images taken by Ashley Nash Photography.