We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Sturkie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

I think it is important to encourage your friends and family to support your business. I think it’s appropriate to encourage their support in ways that are free and convenient for them. Asking them to engage on social media and to refer potential clients are great options. A large portion of my new clients come from friends and family sharing my marketing ads or tagging my business page when they notice someone is looking for a photographer on social media. I offer a referral discount as an incentive to participate which has been successful in my experience.

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.

My name is Ashley Sturkie. I grew up in the midlands of South Carolina. I am married to my best friend and we have three beautiful girls together. My passion for photography started at a very young age. My grandmother was a photographer for a large portrait company. I grew up watching her in the studio. Everything about the industry intrigued me. After years of considering photography my hobby, my friends and family urged me to pursue my dream and make it my career. In 2022 I took their advice and started my journey. I have worked hard building my clientele, portfolio, and social media following. I offer a wide variety of services for my clients. I photograph couples, families, and individuals. I also photograph weddings and events. I am dedicated to provide my clients with excellent customer service. I offer free consultations to educate my clients on my services, pricing, and what to expect when booking a session. I encourage clients to communicate their expectations and their vision for their session or event. During a session I take my time and communicate with my clients. I discuss posing and ensure that everyone participating is comfortable while I am photographing them. When working with children, I make sure to involve them in the process. I spend time between posing to get to know the children and letting them be silly. I strive to make the session as laid back as possible to encourage participation. As I continue to grow my business, I am working diligently to improve my client experience. I offer an online booking system, digital galleries, and a wide variety of payment options. I am excited to continue to expand my services and the opportunity to work with new clients.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I began marketing on social media and created business accounts I added my friends and family. When I decided to start building my audience I created a marketing add encouraging followers to add new members for a chance to win a free photography session once my group reached a certain amount of followers. I found this to be successful and continue to offer giveaways for followers to participate in growing the accounts.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source for new clients has been referrals. Referrals are essential in growing my clientele. When a client shares their photos on social media it introduces a brand new audience for my business. If someone recommends my services to a friend or family member because they had a good experience or enjoyed working with me, it gives potential clients confidence that I am able to provide efficient services. I appreciate every referral that has helped me grow my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashleysturkiephotography.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleysturkiephotographysc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275291284654711