Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Houghton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work for the past year. My primary focus is wedding photography, which I consider my full-time creative career. Alongside this, I also teach printmaking and art history as an adjunct professor at a small art school in Chicago.

My journey into wedding photography began in grad school, when I started my business. It took about 2-3 years of offering free sessions and second-shooting for more established photographers to build my portfolio. Slowly, I started booking my own clients and growing my business to a point where it became profitable enough to support me. After graduating, I juggled teaching as an adjunct, working weekends as a photographer, and holding part-time roles at two non-profits.

The biggest milestone in my career was letting go of the traditional 9-5 jobs and allowing my business space to grow. It was a leap of faith, but it was essential step in order for my business to grow to what it is today. I trusted that the gaps in my schedule would eventually fill if I continued working hard and sharing my work—and they did!

Today, I consider photography my full-time job and teaching my “jobbie,” a job that also a hobby. It’s unfortunate that many university positions are so unreliable and underpaid, but I’m passionate about teaching, researching, and creating fine art. My teaching role allows me to stay connected with these passions. My teaching career and career as a photographer are symbiotic. Being a photographer enhances my skills as an artist and teacher, just as teaching and studying art enriches my photography.

There wasn’t any way to speed up the process of becoming a full time creative, even knowing what I do now. Every step of the journey was an important learning experience and there’s no way around it—only through it. It’s important to savor each phase and learn from every step along the way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I enjoy experimenting with various photographic formats, documenting most weddings with a mix of digital, 35mm film, medium format film, and Polaroids. The tactile and nostalgic qualities of analog formats complement the sharp, high-resolution digital images, creating a final gallery that is both distinctive and timeless.

From the start of my career, I knew I wanted to create a space where my clients felt safe to be authentically themselves—whether that means an extravagant and glamorous wedding or eloping in a park and grabbing hot dogs afterward. The best moments happen when you are truly present.

This is especially true for the queer community, where many of us have felt excluded, uncomfortable, or even harmed by the wedding industry. A poignant example comes from my fiancée herself. While shopping for my engagement ring, she walked into a store, and when she inquired about a ring, the salesperson asked, “Oh, why are you buying a ring? You didn’t like the one he got you?” Though not overtly offensive, this comment highlights the ignorant assumptions many vendors hold about who gets to participate in the wedding industry.

That’s why I take pride in being a visibly queer vendor. It’s crucial to create spaces where people feel seen, understood, and accepted, especially during the planning process and on their wedding day. As queer individuals, we have the opportunity to redefine tradition, choosing which customs to uphold and which to leave behind.

I love that my career allows me to foster positivity, document my clients’ core memories, and experiment creatively.

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

Perfectionism. When I first began pursuing photography professionally, I struggled to give myself grace while learning new skills. I believed that everything had to be perfect from the start—an expectation that, as anyone who has ever tried something new knows, is impossible to meet.

My background in Fine Art, particularly as a printmaker, only made this lesson harder to learn. I was accustomed to seeing a vision in my mind and translating it into a visual form. But as a novice photographer, translating my vision perfectly was much more challenging. When I couldn’t meet that ideal, it was extremely frustrating and made me consider quitting several times.

To continue on, I had to drop the perfectionist mindset and embrace the process of learning and experimentation. While I still occasionally struggle with the pressure to be perfect, I’ve learned to identify the source of that pressure, journal about it, and take it as a learning opportunity if it’s something within my control. I also remind myself that it’s a privilege to work in an industry that encourages constant growth and experimentation.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is the connection I build with the people I work with. While the daily practice of creativity is fulfilling, and the security of wedding photography enables me to continue my work in fine arts and teaching as an adjunct professor, it’s the relationships that truly make this career meaningful. Hearing my clients’ stories, understanding their emotions, and having the privilege to document their most intimate moments is more rewarding than any technical aspect of photography. These connections, and the trust people place in me to capture their memories, are what keep me passionate about my work day after day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unabridgedphoto.com/
• Instagram: @unabridged.photo