Meet Desirée Ashley

We were lucky to catch up with Desirée Ashley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Desirée, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

This question is one of my favorites because, truthfully, I thought I had it all figured out at 12 years old. Back then, I was convinced I was destined to be a detective. I loved solving mysteries, asking a million questions, and chasing down answers. By 15, I was already taking college courses in fingerprinting, and I remember thinking, “this is it, this is my purpose.” I went all in on that dream—earned my criminal justice degree, never once doubting my major, and even got offered a “dream job” in D.C. But when the moment came… my gut screamed no. I couldn’t explain it, but something felt wrong.

So I packed up, moved back to California after 4 years in New York, and tried to convince myself I could still make criminal justice work. But deep down? Something was missing.

That’s when I realized—my true purpose had been with me all along. Cameras were always my first love. I got my very first Barbie film camera at 5 years old. In middle school, I joined yearbook and never left: 2 years in the club, then 4 more years in yearbook class. 6 years total as THAT yearbook kid—the one staying up late to design pages, chasing people down for portraits, and preserving memories for literally everyone. I even gave up taking a foreign language in high school (and made it up later) just to stay in yearbook. That should’ve been my sign right there.

But I pushed it aside. I told myself it was just a hobby. Until 2019, when I picked up a camera again and something inside of me lit up. The world stopped, everything shifted, and I went full force.

Being a hopeless romantic, weddings and love stories were the only thing that made sense. As a family-oriented firstborn daughter, families were a no-brainer, too. I even photographed my very first wedding completely alone (a big “no-no” in the photography world), but I just knew this was what I was meant to do. With every shoot—every couple, every family, every story—I felt myself coming home to the purpose I’d been circling all along.

Now, my business isn’t just photography—it’s love and legacy. My superpower isn’t just capturing images, it’s preserving memories. It’s creating a space where couples, families, and even future generations can feel the joy, the love, the spark. Looking back, I see it so clearly: I’ve been chasing this since I was 12. I just had to live a little life before I could finally lean all the way in.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a Southern California wedding and lifestyle photographer, and Photos By Dee, LLC is all about love, legacy, and every little in-between moment. My work goes beyond taking photos— it’s about creating an experience where people feel seen, loved, and celebrated. I’m known for my bold red branding (yes, even my cameras are red!) and for being that hopeless romantic who pours passion, empathy, and excitement into every shoot.

Over the last 6 years, I’ve had the honor of documenting proposals, “I do’s,” growing families, and so many milestones— and the best part? My clients keep coming back as their love stories continue to unfold. It’s truly the most rewarding, joy-filled job, and I feel so lucky to do it every single day.

This year has been especially exciting: I launched associate team packages, elevated my client experience, and set my sights on even bigger dreams ahead. More love, more structure, better experiences. At the heart of it all, photography isn’t just my job— it’s my heartbeat. My whole heart. All of me. It’s preserving memories that live on for generations and capturing the kind of love that never goes out of style.

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?

Looking back, the 3 qualities that have been the most impactful in my journey are resilience, creativity, and connection.

Resilience has been everything. I didn’t start my career in photography—I studied criminal justice and thought I’d be a detective. Pivoting into photography, starting a business from scratch, and figuring out how to run a legitimate business (from pricing my creativity to pushing through self-doubt) took grit. My advice? Trust your gut and keep going, even when the path looks different than you imagined. The detours often lead you exactly where you’re meant to be. And don’t ever compare your journey to another creative—they’re not you, and you’re not them.

Creativity has been my heartbeat. From being the “yearbook kid” for 6 years to designing unforgettable experiences for my couples and families, I’ve always looked for ways to dream bigger. Creativity is what keeps your work alive and exciting—not just for clients, but for yourself too. My advice is to never stop experimenting, playing, and pushing yourself outside the box. That’s how your unique voice shines.

And finally, connection. My business isn’t just about photos, it’s about love and legacy. I pour empathy and heart into every session, because when people feel comfortable and celebrated, the images naturally reflect their real story. My advice here is simple: focus on relationships first. The stronger your connection with people, the more authentic your art will be.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I knew I only had a decade of life left, I would not change a single thing about what I’m doing right now in this very moment: traveling the world with my husband, David, playing in the sun with my two adorable pups, Brooklyn and Boston, and photographing clients who align with my heart through my brand and business, Photos By Dee. This is my dream life, and living it with so much love and purpose is exactly how I’d want to spend every one of those years.

Because at the end of it all, love is the legacy I want to leave behind.

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