Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashton Sotiro

Hi Ashton, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I first picked up a camera in 2017, with the purpose of creating content for a club that I was a part of in college. I didn’t think much of it at the time – my main focus was just marketing. However, this changed fairly quickly when I was invited to cover an on-campus concert, and I fell in love with the images I captured. Growing up, I was often labeled the “creative” child, so it didn’t take long for me to discover photography as an art medium. I began asking my friends to model for me, and I tried my hand at photographing everything from graduation portraits to proposals. What was constant was my dedication to cherishing photography as a creative outlet first, a business second. I valued my work’s style and strived to be unique, even when moving to Washington DC, where the majority of the market here is corporate, business professional, and loves the classic “bright and airy” look. Because of this, you could say I was reluctant to turn my craft into a full-time career, so for a while it remained my side hustle and artistic outlet. I believe this approach might’ve been what I needed to secure confidence in my work and my brand, eventually leading me to go full-time in March of this year by remaining authentic to myself and attracting a clientele who resonated with my approach and my art. I am proud to introduce myself as a creative portrait photographer for artists and couples, and my firm belief that creativity and individuality should be valued above all has propelled me to where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

In hindsight, the road to where I am now wasn’t taken intentionally, and I’m quite grateful for that. I was adamant about keeping my creative business as a side-hustle to supplement my full-time career in marketing, mainly for that exciting gratification toward owning my own business and doing what I loved. I allowed myself what I felt was an appropriate capacity for photography while understanding that there was no real pressure to take my business full-time if I didn’t want to. I was able to get all of my business needs straightened out at my own pace, like accumulating the necessary gear, hiring a brand designer, revamping my website a few times, figuring out taxes, and things of that nature that I would have been incredibly stressed dealing with all at once. Admittedly, when it came to figuring out a work-life balance, some nights were long and some weekends were far too booked, so I struggled in that aspect for quite a while, trying to learn how to avoid biting off more than I could chew. Now, I’ve been learning to adjust to my new full-time routine and fill in the gaps that my old corporate job had left. I feel confident and excited about the new challenges.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

As a photographer, I specialize in creative portraiture for artists and couples – this includes brand work, live music, album art, as well as engagements and elopements. I like to say that I offer photography experiences rather than photography services. I work very collaboratively and intimately with my clients to ensure we’re creating a photography experience that is stimulating, comfortable, and exciting all at once. I rely on questionnaires, planning calls, and visual mood boards to create experiences that are unique and identify most with my clients. My style leans toward that moody, editorial and romantic feel, and I’m proud to set myself apart from the many, more classic photography styles that are so prevalent in the Washington DC area.

One of my most cherished projects have been my Greek Mythology series, where I style portrait sessions based on my reimagining of different myths and figures from Greek myth and antiquity. Many of these are reimagined through a modern lens, so it’s quite fun to put my own spin on famous legends that have influenced thousands of other artists before me.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

The belief that creativity and individualism should be held above all. I would not be able to create an authentic and passionate approach to photography if I did not put my individual creativity at the forefront and let it take the reins, putting my full trust in that it would steer me toward the right direction. I find myself preaching that creativity should be shared and exercised, and through my work I try to influence others to discover their own creative selves, and harness it to celebrate their individualism. I see how it impacts my clients and those who are close to me, and that very transformation is what I aim to bring out in whoever my art touches.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashsotiro.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashsotiro.photo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashsotiro
• Other: TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashsotiro.photo (i would choose this over facebook tbh)