This week we interviewed a seriously incredible & inspiring TGS Photographer!

ASHLEY JOANNA

CONTINUE READING TO LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT ASHLEY, HER AMAZING TRAVELING STORIES AND HER CREATIVE JOURNEY SO FAR...

Tell us about us yourself!
I'm Ash :) born in NJ, but find 'home' when I am out traveling the world. I specialize in portrait, travel, and fashion photography. My creative journey began 5 years ago when I worked as a photojournalist for a newspaper in a town outside of Philadelphia. I quickly became obsessed with documenting people & life around me... which sparked my nomadic lifestyle and freelance career. I now travel the world documenting photo stories, as well as taking on portrait & fashion work in NYC, LA and Hawaii.

What inspired you to pursue your current creative path?
There's a fire that lights up inside me every time I pick up a camera. Photography allows me to capture how I see the world and tell stories. It lets me freeze moments in time we will never get back. I am able to dive deep and capture the essence of a person's soul and who they are. I also love to help other creative's visions come to life. To me, there is no better feeling than that!

How did you find out about TGS?
I found out about TGS through a member on a shoot I worked in Denver, CO. I did some research and immediately felt how passionate the CEO, Alex, was about what she had created. She wanted creatives all over the country to join forces and I truly admired that. I contacted the team, joined TGS, and a year later I am fortunate enough to be signed with their talent agency. It couldn't have worked out any better!

Why did you decide to join TGS?
When I found out about TGS, I checked out the website and absolutely loved the 'bad-ass, real authentic' vibe it had. You didn't have to look or create a specific way to be a part of the team. You could just be yourself and that was enough. It really resonated with me that they had photographers & models from all over the country in their collective. Since I move around and travel very often, I was having a hard time finding a solid group of creatives to network with and TGS is very supportive of that.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My mind feels clear & my soul feels inspired when I am swimming in the ocean. I feel instantly free when I have the salt water on my skin and see the sunshine all around me. The sound of waves ignites a spark in me and my creativity seems endless.

Fave aesthetic, look or theme when shooting?
Capturing emotion is always the goal. I want people to look at my images and be able to feel whats happening and understand the story.

Black & white images have also stolen my heart. Grain. Noise. Light. Shadows. High contrast. It doesn't get much better than that!

Do you have creative friends you like to meetup and brainstorm with?
There is nothing better than creating and brainstorming with other people. It is the best way to grow and find inspiration. Everybody is creative in their own way and see's light, style and emotion differently. Not to mention how much fun brainstorming with other artists can be... we are a pretty strange breed. And being weird is the best! :)

Most interesting story revolving around your creative medium?
I will never forget when I was in Indonesia in a tiny town called Ubud. I rode 30 miles into a small, Balinese village where I got to spend time with the families that lived there. With open arms, they let me into their village and introduced me to how they live their life. I must have taken 5,000,000 images that afternoon (slightly dramatic but you get the idea haha.) Portraits, lifestyle, details. It was the first time I had ever taken images in a different country. I'll never forget how welcoming & lovely those people were and we didn't even speak the same language. It was a true, life-changing experience.

Random stuff about you?
I'm extremely spontaneous and the first person you call for an epic adventure. You can find me watching live music any day of the week. I'm usually getting lost in the woods or swimming in the sea. If you love food.. we are destined to be soul mates. I also read tarot cards and love all that spiritual stuff. My life's motto is to trust the process and always believe in yourself!

FOLLOW THIS TALENTED BABE HERE:

@ASHLEYJOANNAPHOTO

P.S IF YOU LOVE ASHLEY’S WORK AS MUCH AS WE DO, MAKE SURE TO RSVP TO HER AND DANIEL BRITTAIN’S GALLERY SHOW WITH CANON (YES, CANON!!) & ARTIST TALK IN JUNE!

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