Inspired, A Very Special Project | Ashley Spaulding Photography

Today I am bringing a off schedule but equally special edition of The Inspired Project! Ashley Spaulding is obviously talented but beyond that she is one of the sweetest, kindest people I know!! Being able to network in this community is a very awesome thing but making friends is even more amazing and I would indeed count Ashley a friend of mine! I just adore her! Her work is a breath of fresh air. True, Pure, Honest and all her own and I am so excited to get going on this interview so I will stop my incessant rambling and get down to business!!

You can find Ashley’s Website HERE.

Heya Sweet Ashley!!

Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

I’m a girl who just loves life.  I’m surrounded by such a loving family and such amazing friends, and I’m grateful to be able to say that.  Though I’m definitely still a work in progress in these regards, I try to live life to the fullest, to be happy and positive more often than not, and to appreciate all of the things that make my life what it is.

What sparked your passion for Photography?

I’ve always had an interest in taking pictures.  I was never too interested in the technical side of things early on, but I’ve always liked the creative side and thinking about composition and such.  Like many others, my interest in photography really took off when we had kids.  I bought my first DSLR because I didn’t want to keep missing moments waiting for my point-and-shoot to focus.  I’m primarily drawn to lifestyle work, and that interest really came about in 2010 when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  I’m so fortunate that it’s a highly treatable cancer, but being diagnosed with any type of illness makes you realize that life truly can change in the blink of an eye.  After that experience, I developed an even stronger desire to document my kids doing regular everyday things in their everyday environments, doing all the things they love to do, doing all the things that make them so ‘them.’

Whats in your camera bag?

A rarely used Nikon D90, a D700 that I adore, a 24-70, a 35 1.4, and a 50 1.4.

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

I bought my first DSLR – a Nikon D40 – in 2007.  I used that with the kit lens for about two years.

If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?

Since I’m drawn to lifestyle types of images and to the storytelling aspect of photography, I would have to say my 35mm.  I just love the focal length of that lens and the ability it gives me to capture so much of the scene behind the stories in my images.

What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?

As a hobbyist, I feel awkward offering any sort of business advice, but I would tell someone just starting out that it’s okay not to instantly dive into the business side of things.  Oftentimes, I think we feel like the business side is what validates us as photographers, what justifies our expensive photography-related purchases, and what makes us ‘true’ photographers, and that’s not the case.  It’s alright to pour your heart into something that’s just for you.  It’s fine to pursue a hobby with incredible passion.  Of course, it’s great to know that you want to be in business and to set that as a goal for yourself, as long as you’re doing it for the right reasons, and as long as you’re truly ready to go into business before doing so.  But, in my opinion, it’s also okay to get into photography simply for the love of it without feeling like you absolutely have to start a business.

 

What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?

Jody McKitrick (http://www.jodymphotography.com/blog/) and Patti Schmidt (http://www.pattischmidt.com/).  I adore Jody’s subtle tones and the ways in which she composes her images.  I actually had the pleasure of meeting Jody at a workshop last year and am thrilled to be able to call her a friend now.  And I absolutely love Patti’s clean processing and her gorgeous black and whites.

 

What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?

Since I am a hobbyist, I’m always taking photos just for myself, which is one of the things I cherish so much about being a hobbyist.  I love simply documenting our day to day…everything from learning to tie shoes to cleaning up toys at the end of the day.  All of those little things that we take for granted…I want my images to instantly bring those everyday moments back to me when I look at them 20 years from now.

 

If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?

My grandpa.  My mom’s dad was a painter in California.  I have some of his paintings hanging in my house, but he passed away when I was little, so I never had an opportunity to know him.  I know that some of my creative side comes from my grandpa, and my mom has told me that he would be proud of me and my photography.  I’d love to have been able to photograph him in his element while he was painting, doing what he loved to do most with his own creative side.

 

Describe your style in 3 words.

bright, joyful, timeless

 

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

Since I really only do ‘sessions’ with my kids, I haven’t had many embarrassing moments.  Don’t get me wrong…I’ve probably embarrassed myself in front of my kids, but they love me anyway.

Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?

We all have challenges in life, of course, but I’m fortunate to say that I really don’t feel like I’ve had to overcome anything in my life.  I’ve had experiences that have definitely shaped the person I am today – and that have affected my photography – but I don’t necessarily look at them as challenges I’ve overcome.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

Any time.  I shoot indoors a lot since one of my main loves is documenting my kids’ lives, and I like the challenge of always trying to find the best light at any time of the day.

If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?

Cry.  Seriously, my photography has brought so much to my life that I honestly can’t imagine having to stop taking photos.

 

Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?

I do not have any formal photography education.  I’ve learned everything I know about photography primarily through the incredible photography forum I belong to, Clickin Moms (www.clickinmoms.com), and through lots of reading.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

My biggest photography related goal and dream for this year is actually taking off this month!  I’m running my first workshop on Clickin Moms – Lifestyle Photography with Kids (http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmu/archives/listing/shooting-101-lifestyle-photography-with-kids) – and I could not be more excited!  I taught for a couple of years when I was in grad school and loved it, so to be able to combine my love of teaching with my passion for photography on a forum that means so much to me is honestly a dream come true.

 

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning? Any Big Aha! Moments?

That’s one of the things that is so intriguing and attractive to me about photography; no matter how much you learn and grow, it seems like there’s always more learning and growing to do!  And I love that; it keeps photography exciting and fresh for me.  Right now, I’m participating in the Clickin Moms CMpro Daily Project (http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/), which has been such an inspiring push for my own work.  I’m 236 days in right now, and I’ve seen a lot of changes (for the better) in my work in that time.

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

I sometimes feel like I’m never going to feel 100% good about my work.  Since I am always learning and growing as a photographer, I feel like I’m never quite ‘there.’  But then I tell myself that I really don’t need to be ‘there’ anyway…that’s a big part of what’s so appealing to me about photography.

What do you love most about photography?

I love that photography has made it so that my kids are going to be able to look back one day and see a lot of their childhood through the eyes of their mom.

If you could shadow a photographer for a day who would it be and why?

Barb Uil (http://www.jinkyart.com.au/).  She captures childhood so beautifully.  She truly captures the essence of it, and I love that her style is so vivid and so fresh and so fun.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color: green

Favorite Season: fall

Biggest Guilty Pleasure: Ice cream; ridiculously large bowls of it.

Pet Peeve: chewing with your mouth open

Favorite Pandora Station: Is it okay to admit I don’t listen to Pandora?!?  😉

Studio or On location: on location

What did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher or a veterinarian (until I realized vets had to put animals to sleep)

One thing no one knows about you is: Many of my friends already know this…I sucked my thumb until I was 10!  Oh my goodness!  Did I just put that on the Internet?!?

Pc or Mac: PC

Lightroom Or Photoshop: Lightroom

Film or Digital: Digital

Props or No Props: no props

If you could travel anywhere it would be: The Seychelles

Glass Half Empty or Half Full: Definitely half full!

Favorite photo ever taken: One of my kids together when our son was a baby.  I had not learned a thing about my camera yet and took this in Auto, but I’ve loved it from the moment I took it.  Our son was a difficult baby, and he was generally unhappy more than he was happy, so this image of him smiling as my daughter spontaneously leaned over to kiss him just melts me.  It’s hanging in our foyer where I can see it every day because it makes my heart happy.

Raw or Jpeg: RAW

Favorite Music to Edit to: I have very eclectic taste when it comes to music.  I listen to everything from Adele to Maroon 5 to Sara Evans when I edit…and lots in between!

Favorite Quote: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Most valued material possession: I have two.  My wedding ring.  And a small wooden heart that my mom gave me when I was younger.

Processing Style: Squeaky-clean.  🙂

Coffee or Tea: Coffee in the morning; chai spice black tea in the afternoon

If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be? Reese Witherspoon.  I think she seems like such a down-to-earth, genuinely sweet person.  She seems so beautiful on the inside, which is part of what makes her so beautiful on the outside.  And I think she just seems fun, so I think it would be a blast to hang out with her!

What kind of Camera bag do you rock? I love my ONA Venice bag!  (http://www.onabags.com/store/shoulder-bags/the-venice.html?color=stone#stone)