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

Alright, Asha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Starting a photography company and becoming a full-time entrepreneur is an exciting journey, but it involves significant risks and challenges. We all know some of the most common risks are
1. Financial stability
2. Personal sacrifice
3. Marketing.
I, myself, have had my fair share of these. But taking the risk was the best decision i ever made. I wasn’t always necessarily sure how i would do the things that i wanted to do & what needed to be done… But i always trusted the process along the way. I recall one time where my corporate job decided to file bankruptcy abruptly. Imagine loving what you do so much, and then its snatched away overnight. I was hurt by the decision of higher ups but i turned that pain into passion. I took the risk of opening my company and actually going full time into my entrepreneurship fueled by the let down of these big box companies that don’t care about their employees. It was scary and a tricky navigation. I have not one single regret.

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

Asha is a self taught licensed& certified professional. She first took interest into photography through her late father as he was a hobbyist photographer for quite sometime before his untimely passing. It was 2014 when she first picked up a DSLR. After that, she worked diligently and effectively to work on her craft. She continues to do so today.
In 2015, Asha started working for Lifetouch as a full time photographer. Once that journey ended, she then became an assistant manager-eventually becoming studio manager- for Picture People. This was a turning point in her career path & it was at that moment, she knew that heading down the entrepreneurial path as a photographer was a passion and a calling for her.
Having 11 years of experience in the industry has given Asha the opportunity to grow and learn a handful of different types of photography. While still very much well versed & capable of capturing all the moments, she has since niched down to accommodate a targeted audience.
Not only is she a mother of 4 , Asha Alessandra is a full-time multicultural/traveling photographer, educator, & creative director based in New Jersey. Her work is best described as vivid, illustrious, and fresh. Asha brings a “wow” factor to all of her imagery. Her photography is primarily centered around showing diversity throughout and bringing creative concepts to life while bringing an opulent experience to every session.
Asha has since opened up a multicultural media company that focuses solely on culture named R.I.C.E Media.
She’s been internationally published as well as gained recognition from some of the most influential people in the United States. Asha Alessandra Images LLC is a MWBE/SBE CERTIFIED business since 2022. Liability insured.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There definitely is. I want to give everyone a professional photography experience and give them art to take home of themselves the same way they see it in stores or even in magazines. I want to preserve peoples culture through my lens, something they can cherish and pass down for multiple generations.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When i started photography, I worked for companies that required photography and creativity in order to continue to grow outside of when i was on the clock. Keep in mind, I’m a mother as well. My time was something i couldn’t waste. I was able to work for them while working diligently by myself on my craft. This gave me a lot of time to actually practice and be intentional.
Eventually i took the risk, the leap of faith into full time entrepreneurship. I quit my last job 4 years ago abruptly and never looked back. I like to say the pandemic gave me the extra boost because i realized, yet again, the larger companies didn’t respect or acknowledge everything i poured into them.
It was scary. Because how do i go from a consistent biweekly paycheck to sometimes, all while raising kids?
There were times i wanted to go back to working for some corporate company. I simply didn’t give up. I buckled down and did the work. its not easy but its so worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,ashaalessandraimages.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashaalessandraimages
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashaalessandraimages
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashaalessandraimages/
• Other: www.ashaalessandraweddings.com
  www.thericemedia.com
  www.instagram.com/thericemedia

Image Credits

Asha Weal
Asha Alessandra Images LLC