Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Kidder. 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. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I didn’t always know I was going to be a photographer. I had always enjoyed the medium as a hobby when I was in high school and college, but didn’t connect the dots that this could be a bonafide career.

My professional life began in 2009 with a teaching job, where I taught high school French for five years in a 5A school about 20 minutes north of Denver. During that time, my love of photography as a hobby began to flourish. I used my time off in the evenings, on the weekends, and in the summers to build my network and expand my craft. I did this each year I was in the classroom, which provided me financial support while I began to grow my business.

At the beginning, this worked out nicely enough; teaching filled a large portion of my cup from 5a to 4p Monday through Friday, and then photography filled the rest of my spare time. In the early years, there was a nice balance, as I didn’t have enough of a clientele for photography to overtake my teaching career, and it provided me stability to not have to desperately rely on a business in its infancy. Because I had income elsewhere, I was able to experiment with my photographic style, marketing strategies, and general business operations because the risk was rather low at the time.

But starting around 2013, I realized I was effectively working two full-time jobs. Summers would hit and I’d have a full calendar of weddings on top of professional development trainings and trying to take an actual summer vacation after cleaning up my classroom for the year. When we almost went on strike as a district that year, I decided the next school year would be my last.

By this point, I had enough of a client network to go out on my own. I had been slowly building my online presence on social media and on Google that I felt comfortable leaving education entirely. And in 2014, that’s just what I did. I’ve been self-employed ever since, but it wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t have my teaching job to fund my photography hobby at the beginning.

A lot of people think you should blindly jump in and commit your every waking hour to your business idea right from the start. For some, that works, and I think that’s awesome. But in my personal experience, having financial stability from a separate endeavor while you work out the kinks of a new business venture is paramount. I would have been penniless had I started my photography business back in 2009, when I first picked up a camera. I didn’t have nearly enough of a client base and marketing know-how to put food on the table consistently back then. I do now, but that’s only because I was allowed to make mistakes and gradually build a business from the ground-up in my off time from my day job.

I say this because I want to encourage anyone out there who might be in the same situation as I once was. It doesn’t mean you are any less of an artist, or a business owner, or an entrepreneur if you have a day job while you’re building your empire. Don’t let anyone shame you into thinking you are anything less because your craft is not 100% of your income at the moment. Good things take time!

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

My specialty is boudoir photography for women who want to celebrate the strength, beauty, and power of their bodies. I’m incredibly proud of the studio and experience I’ve created in the comfort of my own home, where my second bedroom has been transformed into a welcoming boudoir space. Every year, I have the honor of photographing 70–80 remarkable women who step into this space to embrace their vulnerability, whether for themselves or as a gift for a partner. It takes tremendous courage to walk into a random photographer’s home and bare yourself for something so intimate, and I’m proud to have cultivated an environment where every client feels safe, celebrated, and empowered.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation as a Denver boudoir photographer grew because I committed to a clear, recognizable style for my clients: dark and moody with rich shadows and soft sensuality as seen through the female gaze. It is more than an aesthetic; it is a feeling that draws people in, and many of my clients have commented on this when they book with me. The shadows create depth, the light embraces every curve, and the result is art that is as bold and unforgettable as the women I photograph. By staying true to this vision and avoiding whatever the trendy editing style du jour happens to be, I have attracted clients who connect deeply with my work and cannot wait to experience it for themselves. They know exactly what they’re going to get from me when they walk into my home studio.

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

Not every photographer has to specialize in one genre of photography. In my opinion, that is a myth that has been circulating in the industry for years. I do not believe in it, but I also know this approach is not one-size-fits-all.

While the bulk of my income comes from boudoir clients, I also bring in a steady stream each year from fall family mini sessions. Many of these families have been with me for over a decade, and I love seeing them return each fall for updated photos. Scheduling a few days of minis gives me a welcome income boost before the holidays, and I am always grateful for that.

I also take on headshots, branding sessions, and elopements throughout the year. If I had listened to the photographers in 2014 who told me to pick one genre and only focus on that singular genre, I would have missed out on the wealth, retirement savings, and fulfillment that come from taking on the clients who inspire me most.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashleykidderboudoir.com, ashleykidder.com
• Instagram: @ashleykidderboudoir, @ashleykidderphoto

Image Credits

Headshots: Adena Rossiter, Austin Kimbrough