This week I am so excited to bring to you 2 interviews! Earlier this week, Melissa Love shared some amazing insight on branding and websites with Showit. Today we have another fabulous photography interview with a fellow Showiteer, Ashley Swallow, owner of Live. Laugh. Photograph. in Texas. Ashley is an amazing photographer with a creative eye and unique flair to her modern style. We hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as you enjoy looking at her gorgeous images! :) Enjoy!
My name is Ashley Swallow and I am a Portrait and Wedding Photographer based in Dallas, TX.
What are 3 things we should know about you?
1) I am a proud United States Navy Wife.
2) I am a Mommy of two beautiful little girls named Addison Jane and Lillian Kate. They inspire me each and every day!
3) I believe that everyone is born with unique traits and that life is all about discovering them!
Define your style in 5 words:
Fierce, Fabulous, Fun, Flirty, Fashionable
What is your specialty?
I currently specialize in lifestyle photography however I’m looking forward to upcoming weddings as I really love working with couples and gravitate more toward the wedding photography industry.
What inspires your work?
Music, art, magazines, blogs, nature, my children, and my desire to capture real emotions with a creative flair. Lately, I have been keeping a journal filled with new ideas, lots of lists, and whatever random thoughts my imagination brings me. I am a daydreamer and often see photographs in my head before creating them.
Where is your dream location to do a shoot or wedding?
I would *LOVE* to shoot a destination wedding in Hawaii for obvious reasons.
Divulge one of your dreams for your business:
Oh SO many I dream of booking 25 weddings per year. I dream of shooting destination weddings. I dream of mentoring other photographers. I dream of inspiring others. I dream of Promise Tangeman designing a one of a kind look and website for my brand. I dream of having my own studio and office outside of home!
What do you love most about being a photographer?
The one thing that I love most about being a photographer is having the ability to create a photograph that is reflective of real emotions oh and dont forget the beauty of sunshine!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I cant believe how far my business has come and it hasnt even been a full year yet so it really excites me to think about where my business will be in five years. In five years I envision my life somewhere new (wherever the navy sends us), with a back seat full of happy and healthy children, walls filled with beautiful photographs, a blog archived with my journey and a schedule that is booked solid. :)
As a fellow Showiteer, tell us what you love about Showit:
I love Showit for so many reasons! Their forum, online hang outs, customization features, slideshows, and having the opportunity to connect with other Showitters via the facebook group = PURE AWESOMENESS! If you dont use Showit, you should check them out. All the cool kids are doing it.
If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be & why?
If I could meet anyone in the world it would be Oprah! I have been a huge fan of her show for years and can totally see us having a great conversation about life and inspiration while drinking some freshly squeezed lemonade over lunch by the beach. One can dream right?
What advice do you have for new photographers?
Learn how to shoot in manual, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and most of all BE AUTHENTIC!
Ashley, thank you so much for a fabulous interview! You are absolutely amazing and we are so honored you chose to be a part of Be Inspired. :)
Be sure follow Ashley:
Website: http://www.livelaughphotograph-llc.com/
Blog: http://livelaughphotograph-blog.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Live-Laugh-Photograph
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AshleySwallow