We recently connected with Ashley Taylor and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

It took me a while to go full-time with modeling, especially living in Chicago. It’s expensive to be here.

I worked as a dental assistant for a year just to get established and have a stable income.

I was unsure of all the opportunities because of my 9-5. It can be scary in this industry because you never know where your next paycheck is coming from. However, going full-time opens the door to freedom and flexibility so you can take all the jobs you want.

Being a creative person, it’s best to have multiple sources of income because sometimes work can be slow. Having many skills and talents surely makes you more marketable for jobs.

All of this is a significant risk, but to be successful you have to take that leap of faith and put all your time into it. Not to mention I’m freelance and don’t have an agent helping me book jobs. So I actively have to search for the next opportunity. Building your network and putting yourself out there is crucial in determining how far you’ll go. It takes a team.

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’m a petite freelance model and aspiring actress.

I started modeling 5 years ago when a photographer scouted me on Instagram. This is where my love for being on camera began. It’s fun to capture moments in my life and it has built my confidence so much. I enjoy working with photographers and creating captivating content that makes you feel emotion. I grew up a shy and insecure girl. Modeling got me out of my shell and helped me discover myself.

Now, I use those passions to create content that elevates brands.

I do many types of modeling like print, commercial, promotional, and even runway. I understand the bigger picture of modeling which is selling. I have experience with this directly as well as creating appealing content for brands.

My dedication to self-growth and the success of my clients is what makes me distinctive. The amount of energy I put into my work is exceptional. I have strong persistence and courage. This is demonstrated by how far I’ve come and I hope to inspire others to have this outlook on life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I’m still unlearning is being a people-pleaser. I’ve always been afraid of speaking up and upsetting people. Especially in this industry, at times I find it hard to stand up for myself in terms of payment and consideration. I’m sure many people have had experiences being underpaid or not paid at all for the work proved. Overall, I feel it’s hard to put a price on yourself. This is critical because you don’t want to be used or else that’s how people will perceive you. That you’re a pushover and cheap. Also fighting for representation has been a struggle for me. However, I learned this lesson with castings. I want to walk in a runway show even though I don’t fit the measurements. I’ve done many auditions where I’ve been rejected but I don’t let that stop me from advocating for myself even when it’s uncomfortable. I’m walking in my first fashion show in October and I’m very excited. If I had let myself get discouraged over rejection, I wouldn’t have attended more castings and therefore not walk in this upcoming show. You don’t always get what you want but I promise something better is in store for you. So keep trying!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Be consistent and authentically yourself. There’s always going to be people who resonate with you and look to you for motivation. When you’re consistent that means you are reliable and people can come to you as an outlet of positivity and learning. My advice would be to post as much as you can and always update your audience on what’s going on in your life. Your existence and soul are unique and influential. This is your power, use social media to express yourself. I enjoy posting what I’m doing day-to-day, recent work I’ve done, my thoughts and opinions, as well as adventures I go on. It all starts by creating a page that’s a reflection of you to attract like-minded people. Let it be whatever you want to make of it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_tay7/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashley_taylorx Email: pr.ashleytaylor@gmail.com

Image Credits
it_me___jp joze.whoa edydaphotographer exposuretwohundred myfridayfilms