I’m Ashley, a branding + web designer for all types of creatives from photographers to artists to life coaches. 

I definitely considered copying and pasting my bio here since, in typical 3 fashion, that would be efficient. But I guess laying here at 1:21am, I could write a little more about myself and what I do. 

I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma…okay, that seems a little too much. Let’s fast-forward and start in 2020 with a lovely little thing we all call a pandemic. Ah yes, that. That little thing that sent the world into panic and devastated so many jobs and lives. Well I feel a teensy bit guilty reporting 2020 was one of my best years yet. 

I was working at a church as the Creative Director, killing myself day in and day out. I mean 60-hour weeks at the beginning of the pandemic. Totally working my ass off and simply spinning my wheels. This carried on for months until I had nothing left. I was drained of all desire to push forward, to do better, to see anything positive, to be creative, and drained of all purpose. 

In the dead of summer, while also 7 months pregnant, I resigned. 

Now this couldn’t have happened if my oh-so wonderful husband hadn’t also just resigned from the church and went back to a job that not only paid him so much better, but gave him a desire to get up and do better everyday. He was able to financially support us while I sat around being pregnant, hanging out with our 10-year-old, and getting ready for our new babe.

In September, our little girl, Blake, was born and dear Lord is she perfect. As I write this she’s now 4 months old and just started giggling.

I’m dying, people.  

In October I decided I was done resting from having a baby and it was time to work. I made it a whole month. And this is how I know I’m a 3.

Ok, let’s take a quick break for me to explain what I mean when I said “I’m a 3.” 

I’m obsessed with the enneagram. Obsessed. And I’m a 3w4. A 3 would be defined as “The Achiever”. We are driven, image-conscious, charming, want to impress, and are authentic. Now, throw in a 4 wing for fun and I become “The Professional” or “The Expert”. This adds a creative and emotional side that allows me to do my particular career very well and really feel with my clients and their struggles. So when I said “in typical 3 fashion”, I’m usually meaning “in workaholic, overachiever fashion…” 

Back to my novel.

I took a WHOLE 4 weeks off and had the itch to go back to working my butt off. This wasn’t without some major internal work to build myself back up after having been knocked down a few pegs. Luckily, I have my 3 confidence to help with that. I KNOW I am good at what I do and I know my weak points to. I’ve worked on those weak points heavily since and am proud to say I am finally at a point where they aren’t an intense daily struggle anymore. This doesn’t mean I’ve perfected them by any means, but I’m drastically better. 

I started picking up clients and moving forward, chugging along with all sorts of drive and determination. THIS is what I was meant to be doing all along. But I know I had to experience all the things I had in the last 10 years to be where I am now. There’s no shortcut to that. 

Ok hold up, another detour. 

I forgot to mention, in 2010, after my oldest was born, I had decided to pursue a career I had always wanted, but was honestly too scared to try: photography. So I worked and worked and worked on it and found myself in 2016, shooting weddings nearly every weekend. I photographed everything from families to cake smashes to headshots to concerts, but weddings were my jam. I’ve since (mostly) retired from doing this because it’s just not my jam anymore, but this experience was necessary to put me in the position I’m in now, working with you fine folks, the crazy-talented photographers of the world! 

Back to the story.

So here I am, working my butt off yet again, but this time so crazy excited to get up and do it everyday. I love seeing my growth and progress and purpose, but even more, I love seeing my clients over-the-moon excited when they get their new branding or website handed to them. It’s a step toward feeling legit in the massive world of photography and really putting themselves out there as a brand and being PROUD of their business. Proud enough to blast it on social media, to your friends and family, to the world. It’s huge for so many and I get to be a part of it. How cool is that? 

Needless to say, I freaking love what I do and this is just the beginning.