Meet Sharon Asby

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sharon Asby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sharon below.

Sharon , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

For me, creativity comes in waves, so I’ve learned not to force it. I keep it alive by stepping away when I need to and living life outside of work. Sometimes that means taking a walk, cleaning my space, organizing my closet, or doing something completely different like painting or thrifting. Those little things recharge me more than staring at a screen ever could.

I also get inspired by people. Real connection, real emotion. When I’m photographing someone and they let their guard down, that’s when the creative magic happens. I feed off of those moments. That’s why I don’t just show up to take photos. I show up to connect, and that’s what keeps things feeling new every time.

The biggest thing is letting myself evolve. What inspired me years ago may not be what fuels me now, and that’s okay. Creativity grows and shifts, and I’ve learned to grow and shift with it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a full-time photographer based just outside of Nashville, specializing in newborn, maternity, family, and milestone sessions. What makes my work different is the experience I create for my clients. I focus on connection, comfort, and real emotion. I’ve taken newborn safety and anatomy courses, and I pay close attention to how babies and parents respond during a session so everything feels calm and supported.

My studio is located in Mount Juliet inside a historic building that used to be a bed and breakfast. It’s a quiet, cozy space where families can relax, and I’ve made sure every detail is thoughtfully designed, from the snacks and changing table to the comfortable seating and natural light.

Right now I’m focused on growing my newborn and milestone offerings. I’ve recently started incorporating more artistic digital backgrounds and updating the overall experience to feel more elevated, while still keeping it simple and stress-free for parents. I’m always learning, always adjusting, and always working to create something meaningful for every client who walks through my doors.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three biggest things that shaped my journey were consistency, intuition, and people skills.

Consistency is everything. Even when things were slow or I felt discouraged, I kept showing up. I posted. I networked. I stayed visible. That steady effort over time is what built my business more than any single moment ever could.

Intuition helped me learn when to pivot, when to say no, and when to trust my gut. There’s a lot of advice out there, but learning to tune in to what actually feels aligned for you is a skill worth developing.

People skills matter more than you think. You can be incredibly talented, but if people don’t feel seen, safe, or understood, they won’t come back. Learning how to read energy, communicate clearly, and make people feel comfortable has been just as important as knowing how to use my camera.

My advice for anyone just starting out is to keep showing up, stay true to who you are, and don’t underestimate how powerful it is to simply be kind and present with the people you work with.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, the first thing I do is stop trying to push through it. I’ve learned that forcing myself to keep going only makes it worse. Instead, I pause. I take a walk, clean something, light a candle, or just step away from whatever is stressing me out. A reset moment always helps me breathe and come back with a clearer head.

I also write everything down. When my mind feels scrambled, I dump all my thoughts onto paper so I can see what actually needs attention and what’s just noise. Nine times out of ten, it’s not as bad as it felt in my head.

My advice is simple. Don’t wait until you burn out to take a break. Take one early. Give yourself space to reset, even if it’s just five minutes. And remember that rest is productive too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thenashvillephotographer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_nashville_photographer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNashvillePhotographerTennessee