We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashlyn Saffle a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashlyn, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
Owning a creative buisness in a small, rural area, often comes with criticism and nay-sayers. It took a long time for me to overcome the paranoia of constantly caring what people thought of my creative decisions with buisness. My favorite quote that is sitting above my desk is “The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt. It reminds me that I would always rather be the person trying, striving, failing, and succeeding, than the person who is sitting back and criticizing the doers of the world. I think with time, you realize that nobody doing more than you cares enough to hate on what you are trying to achieve.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a photographer from the Midwest who is trying to transition to exclusively storytelling content. I have done family, senior, and newborn photography for several years now, but have found the storytelling shoots are where I really feel i am my best creatively. I am wanting to expand this into videography, and offer a more unique experience to my clients.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think pushing through the fear of failure is the number one thing that can impact anyone’s journey in life. If you can do that, you have already succeeded in whatever you are trying to accomplish. Another important skill is to get excited when someone knows more than you. I love being in a room where I know talent is immense and sharper than my own. This is how you learn. This is how you grow. If you can put ego aside, you will feel energized instead of intimidated.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Being a work from home parent and expecting baby number two, time, time is the greatest challenge I am facing. I am constantly writing down what is most important in my personal and professional life to keep focus when I feel time is so limited.
Contact Info:
- Website: tinroofimages.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: @tinroofimages
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14EdjZrDVZG/
Image Credits
Tin Roof Images
