We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Whitesell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I always knew I wanted to do something creative with my life. For the longest time I wanted to be a photojournalist but as I got older that dream slipped away. I tried other paths but they never felt right and thankfully didn’t work out. When I found myself at a really low point in life, unable to work and overwhelmed with health issues, I spent my time digging myself out of this darkness that was consuming my life. I did everything I could to overcome so many challenges and found a way to rebuild my life. For me, this meant spending time meditating, journaling, going to counseling, and taking better care of myself.
It took a while, I didn’t think I’d ever get to where I am but I was determined to change my life. As I spent my time on self care, reflection, and healing, I finally started to feel like I could do more and wanted more for my life. I began to re-explore my creative side that I had lost sight of. Writing, crafting, painting, drawing, and photography became my outlets and allowed me to recenter. Realizing how much I loved these activities and how helpful they were, I started looking for ways to make them useful to others.
It wasn’t until my husband and I took our first trip to Colorado that I really discovered what I was meant to do. While exploring the tops of the Cheyenne Mountain, camera in-hand, it just hit me with an overwhelming sense of relief that this was it; I needed to be a photographer. There is something so serene and almost magical when you’re connected to nature. All of life’s worries melt away, the beauty around you rejuvenates your soul, and you finally hear what the universe has been whispering to you all along.
Feeling excited to start this new chapter in my life, I began making plans to turn this into reality. I found an amazing program at a local college where I learned more about myself and how to use photography to help others. Since graduating, I have built my own business and get to help people with the skills I’ve learned. I specialize in commercial photography, photo restoration, and nature photography. This means I get to help business owners share their passion and tell their story, I help families and communities keep loved ones and memories close, and I get to share my story and view of the world with everyone.
Having found my purpose in life has given me confidence, more peace, and a sense of direction that I had been longing for. When I look back on how far I’ve come I am proud of myself for making it to this point in my life, to be in a place I never thought possible. It’s truly amazing what we are all capable of when we give ourselves a chance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I love photography and its versatility so much, the possibilities are truly endless! As a commercial photographer I get to meet new people and learn about their businesses. This is such an amazing experience! These business owners are so passionate and excited about what they have to offer and each one has a unique story. For them to get to see their products, services, or themselves showcased in a professional manner that they can share with the world is truly something special. This is especially true when it comes to new local businesses or artists who have never experienced this. I recently photographed artwork for an emerging artist who had never seen her work in this way before. To share in her excitement and be able to give her a new perspective on all the hard work and passion she puts into each piece she’s made, was so heartwarming and beautiful!
Nature photography is quite literally the experience that brought me to all of this. I love to be in nature connecting with everything around me and being fully present. Life and our environment are constantly changing so when you’re photographing nature, you’ll never get the same photo or moment twice. I enjoy taking photos of landscapes, water, plants, sunsets, and especially the night sky! It takes a lot of practice, patience, and good timing to get beautiful nightscape photos. My favorite things to capture at night are the milky way, star trails, and the moon. Each nightscape photo is an experience in itself. You’re out there shooting in the darkest sky you can find, long exposures are needed so you don’t always know how the photo will turn out, and some of them may take months to photograph. I recently started selling my work at art festivals and one of my most popular pieces is a photo of the moon phases. This project took me at least 6 months just to shoot due to the weather being uncooperative.
Photo restoration is another great passion of mine. People come to me to digitally repair photos of all kinds-veteran and military photos, images of towns and cities for historical societies, and of course family memories. Each photo I receive has a different story and purpose. I find myself getting lost in these photos wondering what these memories are, who these people were, and what life must have been like for them. These captured moments in time are often brought to me to be shared with family as gifts and are a way to help people cope with grief. About a year ago I was contacted by an elderly man who had recently lost his wife. He gathered his favorite photos of her and their family so I could restore them and were shared as Christmas gifts. Moments like this are so intimate and can be healing. To be able to provide this service to people and get to know about their life is such a unique and humbling experience.
I love photography, but really it’s all the people I get to meet and lives I get to touch that make it so special!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Determination, compassion, and patience.
To go after something completely new can be hard and scary but if it’s something you really want or have to try, it’s worth finding out. We all have moments of determination and we don’t let anything stand in our way. When you are going after your purpose in life it shouldn’t be any different, it’s your life! Find a way to go after what you want, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and set yourself up for success by getting rid of thoughts and patterns that are holding you back.
Without compassion, I wouldn’t work as hard as I do for others and I would have given up on myself or never even tried. Compassion is a necessary tool to get through life. We need it for ourselves and to share it with others. If we’re not being compassionate with ourselves we’re not going to get very far. All the doubt and self defeating thoughts win until we either give up or change it! When we show ourselves and others compassion, we are able to learn from mistakes rather than judge or condemn, we are able to heal, and we are able to move forward with a healthy mindset. For me compassion is a structure in my life that my whole world is based on from my mindset and self talk to every client experience. Always be kind to yourself, learn from mistakes rather than beat yourself up for them, and do your best to respect and understand others. We all need compassion.
No one likes to be patient. I think this is especially true when we’re doing things that are new, exciting, or scary. Life has a way of getting us to where we are supposed to be when we’re supposed to be there. Somehow, all the skills we learned but thought weren’t useful and roads we took that felt more like roadblocks were put there to prepare us for what we’re meant to do and help us do it well. When I look back on the jobs I’ve had and big life experiences, I can see how each of those things became a part of who I am and what every situation taught me.
If you feel lost or not where you think you’re meant to be, keep exploring. Finding what you love to do and are meant to do is a journey, it’s not meant to be fast so be patient. We create our own opportunities and experiences in life. Keep making new ones and you’ll figure things out as you go.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Overcoming imposter syndrome. This past year has been full of so many new experiences and pivotal moments for me as an artist. When life changes so quickly it can be hard to get used to all the new doors we’re opening. I kept finding myself thinking, “I’ve never done this before. How am I supposed to do this? Should I even try?”. I am somewhat of a perfectionist so I worry about “getting things right”. This year I’ve had to take a hard look at things and realize I don’t have to get everything right or perfect. I am always going to do my best, be kind to myself, and whatever is going to happen will happen.
The more positive experiences I have had and meeting so many incredible people has really helped me feel that I do belong where I am and have something unique to share with others. I have found such a strong sense of community and connection with other artists when we come together. They have helped me feel more comfortable and confident in these new roles. I also realized fulfilling my purpose will have many steps to it and each one is going to be a little different. Somehow we have a way of figuring things out and can settle into the comfort of not knowing the rest. It might take some getting used to but this journey is mine and it’s right where I belong.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleywhitesell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywhitesellphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleywhitesellphotodesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-whitesell-40b057242
Image Credits
Ashley Whitesell
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