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

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

It is often said hindsight is 20/20 and I agree with that on somethings and this is one of them. If I could go back I would have started my business sooner. I started my business later in life, after college, after starting a career in Cyber Security and after understanding how that world operates. Growing up you don’t think that a passion and something you enjoy can be a career that sustains and provides the future you want. As I got older and learned more I learned that it was a possibility. If I would have started earlier I would have grown through learning what I like and do not like to photograph. I would have learned how to operate a business all while still going through school and not having to rely on a job to support my life. I would have been able to network sooner and intern to set me up for success once I completed school. Looking back I wish I would have started sooner but I am happy that I have started.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am Ashley a Washington D.C. area photographer specializing in corporate events and sports. Photography has always been a passion of mine growing up. I was always the one with the camera in hand at family events or just around the house. After working in Cyber Security for several years the pandemic allowed me some down time to pick the camera back up and do what I love again. I was able to create my business AJ Mitchell Creations.

I spiralize in events and sports with a passion for women’s sports. Both areas allow me to capture the moment and raw emotion of what is happening. With everything there are posed photos but the candid moments are my favorite to photograph. I have a great dedication to women’s sports and sharing the stories of women athletes. As a former athlete I enjoy all sports but I have a desire to promote and spread the stories of women athletes. There is a gap with media coverage with women and men sports and if I can help close that gap I will do what I can.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Personally the best source has been word of mouth and reputations. As a service provider I always strive to provide an excellent experience for my client. There are so many people my clients could have selected but they decided to choose me and that is always an honor. To trust me with capturing images that will last forever and be shared to portray a moment for them is a big deal so I like to make it as enjoyable as possible. As a result my clients often share my name with others who become clients as well.

Marketing is vital to business and I believe word of mouth ranks high on the marketing list. When a client can personally express their experience with someone that is priceless value. As a potential consumer when I have someone I trust recommend something to me I am more likely to try that out.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Art is subjective. That single statement is one of the greatest things I was told as I was growing and continue to grow as a creative. I believe with a lot of things in life there are fads from fashion to advertisements to cars there are fads. Social media has a special way of drowning you in the current fad of photos, music, or videos. As a creative especially a growing creative you can get caught up and thinking that your work has to look like that to be liked and appreciated. Your work has to be what is popular right now but it doesn’t.

Hearing this statement reminds me as a creative and artist that I don’t do this to please others. My creative work especially is for me and it is what makes my work mine. Validation feels good but it is not required. If I post something on social media and it gets a ton of likes that feels great but if it doesn’t that does not invalidate my work.

It already takes courage to share your work with the world. At least it does for me so I keep this statement in the forefront of my mind when I do decide to share. Like the amazing Erykah Badu said I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my [work] ;).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ajmitchellphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajmitchellphoto/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJMitchellPhoto