We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Redding recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think hard work and dedication are an absolute must in success. You have to believe in yourself, even when times are tough. You have to keep throwing yourself in there and proving to yourself and the world around you that you are strong, capable and never give up! Success doesn’t come easy, but with dedication, you can strive!

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

Hi! I am Ashley, your favorite (or soon to be!) family & lifestyle photographer! While I love capturing your memories, meeting you and your family or simply making your babies coo, I realize you might not know a lot about me behind the lens. Photographer is just one of the things that I enjoy doing with my time.

I have been married to my best friend for 15 years and together we have two handsome boys. In 2016, my husband and I started our own lawn care business, Cutting Edge Outdoors, LLC. I manage this business, while running my own photography company, as well as managing Smokey Row in Carlisle! I know, I have a lot on my plate, but it keeps me going!

I have always had a passion for working with people and capturing moments of time. My venture began when my son was a baby and I knew that I needed to document the little moments that we forget all too soon. I cherish getting to see your true emotions come through in my work. This is why photography is so special to me.

I love that photography allows me to meet so many people – I get to work with photographers that I always dreamed of making friends with & my clients aren’t just a client, they are the people that I get to spend my time with & get to know. I love when a client becomes a friend! I also love to see my creative side pour out in my set ups and back drops. Behind the lens isn’t the only place that I get to be creative!

Outside of work, I love spending time with family and friends, reading and loving on animals. Animals are my passion and if I could rescue them all I would! Even though sleeping with four 35-100 pound dogs might be a struggle, I swear they are worth it!

I am a collector of vintage and eccentric pieces. These pieces get to become staple pieces in my in home studio! My favorite colors are burnt orange and forest green and I hope to see all of the National Parks in the United States, someday. I grow plants, love White Chocolate and Lavender Iced Lattes and the mountains, any and all mountains.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, I think the most rewarding aspect of being a photographer is seeing you share your images with your loved ones – posting them on socials or hanging them in your home and reminiscing on the memories that we have made. Seeing a smile in an image is only part of this job, but seeing true love and true emotions shine through is the most rewarding. Knowing that you connected with your client on a level where they felt comfortable enough to fully be themselves with you.

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

The best source of new clients for me has truly been past clients and word of mouth. Clients that I have worked with in the past that see my dedication to bettering my work and are excited to share! Social Media also plays a big part – Clients share their images with all of their friends and loved ones and pretty soon they are sharing it too!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashleyreddingcreative.com
• Instagram: Ashley Redding Creative
• Facebook: Ashley Redding Creative

Image Credits
Maggie Gulling