Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Banich.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a California born gal that was mainly raised on the East Coast in NorthEast Pennsylvania. I have a gypsy soul with traveling and venturing; trying new things and learning about different cultures or what drives people. A lover of sunsets, all things small: babies, animals, and the little things we need to hold onto – a hopeless romantic and always striving to find the good in people. My heart urns to make people happy – whether it’s a simple gesture or giving the shirt off my back; I try to make sure that humanity is still very much alive and around. I am a Mother to 6 beautiful children (1 being a bonus!), and my oldest has special needs (Angelman Syndrome to be exact), and a partner to my best friend who is the yang to my ying. Following in my late Grandmother’s footsteps, Nursing became my main profession before endlessly capturing others’ lives and their memories. Prior to where I am now, I struggled with juggling my career and being a single Mother. I was working endlessly to not only fulfill my dream of giving others forever memories, but also to the point where I needed to support my family to not only provide but also obtain the necessary gear to further myself in this industry. Tight funds, and balancing life with my career, I was afraid to take the leap of making this my primary source of income and becoming a self-employed person. I did a lot of free “shoots”, just as a hobby and had a lot of people who saw something in myself that I could not see at that time nor did I know what I even had while holding a Nikon D5000 crop censored lens at my fingertips. With many “freebie” sessions under my belt, a bunch of novice photographers seeing something in myself I did not yet, I was able to gain skills, confidence and continued to fulfill my passion by giving everyone forever memories which led me to continue my love for what I currently do. Lesson: NEVER give up on your dreams. I still have a ways to go and am always evolving but I also taught myself to never give up!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think there is a smooth road. I think owning or striving for your own business is nothing but rocky; however, with research and much education, and consistent learning, anyone can achieve their goal of becoming successful. There were times when I wasn’t sure how to balance, not charging enough leaving myself upside down because I wanted to make others happy and wanted to just book and get my name out there. In the end, after realizing my worth with investing with not only gear but education and courses, I learned that I had a value, I had the tools that I saw in other photographers around the country and I needed to apply those if I dared wanting to become successful. Confidence was a huge struggle of mine. With constantly comparing myself to others, I had to learn, and learn quickly how to love myself, my work and the time and dedication that I invested within my career that others see and have seen where I lacked. I had to learn to love my work and see it through a different set of eyes and not just my own. We are our own worst critics after all, right?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I photograph anything that brings joy to my life. That fuels my soul – from weddings to babies, from seniors embarking on a new journey through life to children chasing butterflies in a field and watching their inner child be free. This is what I specialize in. Those untold stories that you see in a beautiful magazine and say in your head “I wish I had those photos on my wall” – that is what I specialize in, capturing those forever memories that can not be replaced. I specialize in those memories that you trusting me with – to grow with you, to give you those frozen moments in time that you may not get back or can reflect on that will forever strike a sentimental moment to you that brings you the most raw emotion taking you back to that very exact time.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking…sure! If you do not take risks, how are you going to say that you became successful and tried your most in the industry you are in? I have taken a risk of stopping my weekly paycheck career, to dip into a field that only receives income when servicing a session or booking that wedding. I took a risk by leaving my family for a few days to photograph a wedding in California hoping to get my name out there. I took a risk by deciding to make my own business and becoming the sole owner of it and taking on full responsibility for anything that could go wrong or right. And I wouldn’t change it any other way. Although I have missed out on some of my children’s functions, I have also given them memories with family getaways that allowed myself to travel to locations and bring them along, I have been there for them and provided with them a more secure environment that I did not think I possibly could by doing this. I have gained confidence in myself and my business by teaching myself that without the risk of changing directions in my career path, I probably would not be sitting here filling you in on my background for an amazing magazine that saw potential in my photographs. That is risk taking…
Pricing:
- Elopements starting at $2,000.00
- Weddings starting at $2,500.00
- Lifestyle Sessions at $200.00
- Travel Sessions at $400.00
Contact Info:
- Email: adphotography.nepa@gmail.com
- Website: www.adphotographynepa.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/adphoto_nepa
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/adphotography.nepa
Image Credits
Ashley Danielle Photography
NEPA & Destination Photographer
Pic #1: Instagram @sofilovu
Pic #2: Instagram models: Tashiena & Tyler Rollins
Pic #3, 4,& 5 : Instagram @letsgoeverywheretogether
Pic #6: Kimberly
Pic #7: Instagram @casrehberg
Pic #8: Jamie Uchic & Daughter Arya
