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

Laura Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I think for me, I learned photography over a long period of time, through trial and error. I used photography as a tool in my other creative practices, but never saw it as it’s own practice until 2 years ago. It’s like that saying, “it happened slowly, then all at once.” Looking back in my life, I see multiple points where I picked up cameras and I was interested in taking photos, and in many ways I used photography as a way to showcase my other work; I see how I was always drawn to it. Two years ago, I came across a woman film photographer from British Columbia after researching an upcoming trip to Whistler. Her photos were everything I wanted to express. I had access to a couple film cameras and just decided to buy some film and figure it out. Since, I’ve studied by way of online platforms, podcasts, and photographer meetups. I think what kept me from finding photography in this way for so long was a lack of representation. I didn’t know you could, I never saw anyone do it. No one ever encouraged me or offered this path to me. It really took me being open and diligent in my pursuit of knowledge to believe this could be a successful path for me, trying new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Laura Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I found myself seeking out photography as a career about 2 years ago, after spending most of my life using it as a tool for my other artistic practices. I sort of decided to be here, I saw something in myself I wanted to pursue and I made a choice to learn and grow and put myself and my work out there. Film photography really was that catalyst for me. It gave me this safe space of quiet intimate creativity. I can share what I see and how I experience the world as an introvert and highly sensitive person. Because I was lucky enough to have access to film cameras and film, I think this gave me more freedom to just try, without an expectation of myself. I provide photography services that include digital and 35mm film and I work with experiential environments: landscapes, lifestyles, interior and architecture, and travel. These environments align with my own passions and I offer my clients my unique perspective of safe intimacy, inviting viewers to join me in the quiet places, that this is a safe space for anyone. I want my clients to feel connected to the experience I’m capturing, I want them to feel inspired to look around and create those experiences for themselves, that it is part of them and a place they can always come back to. I’m the most proud of how I connect to people. It’s my true gift in this life and I want that to show in my work, and I think I’m doing that.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Mentorships and apprenticeships. This is a big one. I wish I had a mentor in the beginning, in the very beginning. In this new (I say new because I’m old) age of social media, there is less community. We share so much of ourselves and our work, but it is excruciatingly ever more difficult to truly connect or be truly seen in this community. I mean seen in a way where someone sees your talent and helps you, offers a hand or reaches out to connect. Or you are one in a million wanting to connect to someone you’re inspired by, but all they see is another DM trying to get at them for something for free. It’s challenging. I think there was a time where apprenticeships and mentorships thrived in creative fields, but now anyone can learn anything from anyone anywhere and it has sort of diluted the paths. I think there’s something to be said for having someone in your corner who believes in you, teaches you resilience and pushes you to better your craft and yourself simply for the art and I think social media has truly impacted this focused style of learning.

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

The absolute most rewarding part of being a creative is being able to connect with anyone. Literally anyone. Because I’m interested in everything and can find inspiration everywhere, I am able to talk to anyone about their passions, life, goals, and thoughts. I love this, because I find this human experience so fascinating. This is what I’m portraying in my work, experience. How we experience this world and I’m able to draw out of anyone their observations of their world. It’s so special because everyone is so different and unique. No two people’s experiences are the same. How magical is that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.apotropaicstudio.com
• Instagram: @laura.apotropaic @apotropaicfilm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauraashleysmith

Image Credits

No credits necessary.