We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Lindsey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I had just quit my job and was floundering. I’ve always taken photos for friends and family and was doing just that. I was talking with my friend during this session and she said “why don’t you do this?” I said “do what?” She looked at me like I was an idiot and said “PHOTOGRAPHY!” I just kinda stood there. I had never thought about it as a job or career. It was just for fun

I thought about it the rest of the day. Bought a copy of “Small Business for Dummies” that next day and jumped full in! I did everything I needed to LEGALLY start a business (thanks Dummies book and Google!)

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

Hi! I’m Ashley Lindsey — a photographer, creative, blogger, and chronic-illness advocate who has built a career around storytelling, connection, and helping people feel truly seen. I run ashley lindsey photography, where I specialize in raw, conversational, black-and-white portraiture. My entire approach is built around making people comfortable enough to show their real selves — the expressions, emotions, and quiet truths that usually don’t make it into “posed” photos.

I’ve been a photographer for 13 years, but it stopped being just a job the moment I realized how powerful it is to give someone an image that feels honest — not curated, not perfect, but them. That’s why I created projects like SCARS: Seen or Unseen, a collaborative art series that explores internal and external scars through portraits, poetry and pottery. I’m proud that my work helps people tell their stories in a way that feels safe, empowering, and beautiful.

My chronic health journey — including living with gastroparesis and undergoing a spinal fusion in 2024 — changed how I show up in the world and in my business. It pushed me toward authenticity, accessibility, and compassion in everything I do. It also inspired my blog, where I write about chronic illness, mental health, crafting, and daily life in an honest and approachable way. I’m passionate about making others feel less alone, whether they’re searching for connection, creative inspiration, or simply someone who “gets it.”

Outside of photography and writing, I’m obsessed with crafting (embroidery currently owns my heart), and I love sharing the joy, mess, trial-and-error, and therapeutic side of making things with your hands. I also create digital products, tools, and resources to help other creatives and small business owners — from AI prompt packs to posing guides to branding templates.

At the core of everything — the photography, the blog, the creative tools, the chronic illness advocacy — is the same mission: to help people feel understood, supported, and celebrated. Whether someone books a portrait session, reads a blog post, downloads a digital resource, or simply follows along, I want them to feel like they’ve found a space that’s warm, real, encouraging, and deeply human.

What I’m most proud of is that my brand isn’t built on perfection — it’s built on people. Real people, real stories, real moments. And that’s the kind of work I hope continues to draw the right clients and community my way.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

In person networking. As boring of an answer as that is, it’s the biggest truth. Getting out in front of people, asking them questions, getting to know THEM, is the best thing you can do. Find your local chamber of commerce and go to every event you can. Also look for b2b networking groups and go visit each of them.

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

Like, know and trust. It’s the core of how I network. People need to like you, know who you and then trust you if they are going to work with you. Showing up, asking questions, and being engaged help with that. Once there is a familiarity, they are more likely to tell others about you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashleylindseyphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleylindseyphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyLindseyPhotography

Image Credits

ashley lindsey photography