We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashton Drake. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashton below.

Hi Ashton, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I believe coming up with a name for a business is difficult because you want something that reflects you and a name that would stick. At first, I didn’t know what I was going to name my business, because I didn’t know what I was trying to do with photography. So I named my business Soul Wealth Productions because I believe when you take a picture you should feel natural, comfortable, and truly you. I want to capture a person’s soul and have them show their true wealth. When I hear souls wealth, to me it means the inner currency that makes your soul flow, like happiness, love, kindness, experiences, history, and stuff like that, which makes your soul truly alive. This name fits me because I went into photography to give people, businesses, and even products the opportunity to capture them, their moments, and tell their stories. When going into a photoshoot or a video project I want everyone to feel comfortable and to show me who they are.

Ashton, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Ashton Drake Im a senior college student at North Carolina Central University from Nokesville, Virginia and I’m a proud member of the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. I’m a creative who likes to try and learn new things, I have interests in photography-videography, marketing, content creation, sports, and entertainment. My career goal is to work as a Marketing or Public Relations Executive, or as a photographer-Videographer for a music artist, athlete, or the fashion industry. My business is called Soul Wealth Productions and it provides photography, videography, and graphic services. I got into this work because I enjoy telling people’s stories in a creative way, while also giving them the chance for their visions to come alive in a picture or a video. I started by taking pictures on my phone around campus and charging people like $5 for some pictures, I would edit them on my phone and send them right back to them, and that’s how I started. What sets me apart from other businesses, is that I’m open to doing all different types of photography and videography, like sports, cars, studios, weddings, music, and more. I don’t just stick to one lane, because each one can inspire growth and new opportunities. The thing that I am most proud of is the opportunities and connections I have made along the way, from meeting comedians to pro athletes, famous artists, and business owners, it has been amazing and an honor to do so, and I look forward to meeting more people along the way. The thing I’m most proud of is all the people who were happy to see the finished product, I’m always proud to have another person satisfied with their pictures or videos. The main thing I want people to know about me is that I’m open to new ideas, I will work with you to bring your idea to life, my business is built on acceptance, love, and pride, so no matter who you are I will work with. I want to keep growing as a business and I want to work with you.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The connections and new opportunities are amazing, being able to do what I do on a greater scale is a dream of mine, and through these connections I make, my dream becomes more and more visible, but the most rewarding thing about what I do is the satisfaction and happiness of the people I do this work for. To make peoples visions come to life is always the best reward.

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

What helped me build my reputation is my personality, quality, and consistency. Everyone I work with i want to give them the best experience and a great atmosphere when it comes to taking pictures or making videos. I make sure to give my all in everything I do when it comes to this business, I want everyone to get the best quality I can give them no matter what, the better the quality, the more satisfied they are, and that will bring in more business. Last thing is consistency, i try my best to be consistent on social media so that I will be able to keep bringing in more light to me and my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulwealthproductions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashton-drake/

Image Credits
Instagram of people in pictures: @_teamdarksin_ @debz.c @kvngbrooks__ @Charmantstudios @purinsesusempai