We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Guzman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Growing up, I saw my mother go back to school at the age of 27 with two children. She got her license as a radiology technologist and continued studying to get multiple certifications. Due to her hard work, she was able to save up money and move us out of our tight one bedroom apartment in Washington Heights into a house in Bergen County, New Jersey. Witnessing her hard work provided me a great example on how hard work pays off.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
AMG7 Photography and Photo Booth consists of photography and rentals (photo booth, audio guestbook and flower wall). Working as a nurse in the pandemic, I realized I needed to find what brings me joy. I tried a few things but nothing ever stuck. One day I picked up my camera that had been collecting dust and I never put it down. Every photoshoot provides a chance for me to exercise my creative muscle, something I don’t really get to do in the health field. Having photographed at New York Fashion Week this past September, I am excited to continue integrating fashion with each photoshoot. Love for fashion and luxury led to recently creating a VIP package. The VIP package is designed for the business owner and content creator who wants a luxurious experience while creating months worth of content in one day. Makeup artist and studio are included in this package, with an option to add on a fashion stylist. I had a similar photoshoot experience not too long ago (without the luxury) and now I want to create the same experience for others but in a more elevated manner.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Tenacity, motivation to learn and seeking help/guidance were the three qualities that helped me get to where I am now. I am a self-taught photographer. I have taken courses, done a lot of research and learned from many photographers to gather the skills I have today. When I dont understand something, I google it, learn it and practice it. I love to learn.
The internet is an endless supply of knowledge, use it for good. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who you can learn from. Lastly, be courageous in seeking help/advice/criticism. All of these elements have helped me improve the quality of my work over the years.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
The tasks to complete when being a business owner can be overwhelming. Prioritizing has been really helpful when trying to stay organized and carry out each task necessary. When the overwhelming feeling is too much, I take a day to do absolutely nothing so that I can clear my head and recharge. Church, quality time with family/friends and fitness have been great ways to stress relieve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amg7photography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amg7photography
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