We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Payne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Empowering every subject that walks through my doors is not only my passion, but it is my whole mission. I find it vital in life to embrace every chapter of our stories. Embracing those chapters often means being in the here and now, and falling in love with the present. It takes a safe place to allow that vulnerability to be present. I truly feel like this is my gift in the world, and I absolutely love creating that space for each client to JUST BE.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a self proclaimed talented bad ass. Speaking that into the universe so it can hear me one more time! HAHA

I am a photographer of 7 years who has blended my love for storytelling, connecting with people, and art in a career. There are often times that I wake up, and show up to work like…”is this real life?”

Before photography, my creativity resided in theatre. I loved EVERYTHING about it. The whole process from trying out to opening night when everything magically came together for production.

My life took a turn when I got pregnant at an early age, and as most of us millennials we were caught in the generation that didn’t quite hit the entrepreneur era. I was raised by parents who believed in 9-5 jobs that were “reliable and had benefits”.

With a new baby on the horizon, I chose to go the route of science and medicine. It was another interest of mine, just not the one that evoked passion and purpose.

After 5 years of working in the operating room, I felt a void. One that I could no longer escape.

It was my creative side needing an outlet.

I honestly never expected it to be photography, and to this day I feel like the camera chose me.

My step-mother, someone who has molded more of me than I could put into words, ALWAYS had a camera. After she passed, I took note of all the times she reminded me that one day I would wish moments would stand still.

She wasn’t wrong.

After my very first photoshoot, I fell in love. The camera allowed me to create those same productions from theatre. It allowed me to connect with people from all over capturing their stories, embracing their chapters, and making those moments stand still.

From there the rest is history.

Seven years later and I still love all of these aspects of my career.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was not allowing the journey and trajectory of others in the field to define the timeline of my own path.

I think following other creatives, watching their creativity bloom, and their businesses rise is so inspirational ;however, as artists we all know that imposter syndrome exists!

It is so important to put blinders on. Comparison is a thief to not only your journey but your creativity.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The experience.

How you treat your clients from the beginning to the end will make or break you.

I do agree that balancing art and business sometimes feels unnatural, but the two have to co-exist to create a word of mouth reputation to keep you alive.

It all goes back to kindergarten people….
TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.anpaynephotography.com
• Instagram: /anpaynephotography
• Facebook: /ancpphotography

Image Credits
All of my images taken by Ashley Payne with A.N. Payne Photography Image of me: Carly Marmen