Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashli Ceraolo.
Ashli, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started taking photographs as a hobby when I was 16 years old in South Florida. My Father was the photography enthusiast of the family, and I was often grounded (what 16-year-old wasn’t?), so, I decided to see what it had to offer in my time of boredom. I remember hanging out in the backyard with my Dad as we tried to understand the concept of aperture, and what the heck those “fractions” and “decimals” meant – oh, the tears of frustration. Photography wasn’t on my list of “what I want to be when I grow up” but, now, it’s the one thing that I could never picture myself not doing. My first REAL session was in 2009; maternity portraits. I honestly had no idea what to expect, and to say that I was nervous is an understatement. I remember the joy, and happiness that I felt from giving my clients photographs that they would have for years to come. After that session, I was hooked. I continued to study every aspect of photography, from shadowing other photographers, to reading a plethora of publications until I felt comfortable, and ready to dive into the industry professionally. After three years of hard work, dedication, and lots of tears, I started Ashli Gene Photography. It has been seven years since Ashli Gene Photography was established, and I can honestly say it has been a rewarding, yet, humbling experience. I have photographed everything from weddings, to construction sites, and have gained forever clients that I am eternally grateful for. After operating in South Florida for 5 years, I decided to relocate to Chattanooga, Tennessee, eventually branching out to Atlanta, and surrounding areas. Atlanta is one of those place that I will drop everything I’m doing to photograph a session there – you get a little bit of everything all in one place – city, country, urban, you name it. If someone were to tell me then that this is where I would be – I wouldn’t believe it. What started as a hobby, has now become a passion, and I truly owe it to the people who have supported and believed in me since the beginning; my Dad and my Mom, especially, as well as my clients for trusting me to capture their life moments to be cherished forever. It’s honestly the most gratifying experience, and I’m so excited to see what happens next!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If I said it has been an easy journey, I’d be lying. I don’t think anyone first starting out in this industry has it easy. One of the main struggles that I faced when I first discovered my love for photography, and occasionally still do, was the constant comparing to other photographers, and my own ridicule. I never thought I was good enough to be at a professional level. I had photographers who I admired, and who I would always strive to be as good as, but I later realized It’s okay to have my own style, and be different. Photography is such a competitive field that having your own niche, and style is imperative in order to stand out.
The learning process was undeniably the most distinguished obstacles that I remember. I was so used to taking every day pictures with a standard point-and-shoot camera, so, when I picked up my Dad’s DSLR, I was immediately overwhelmed. It was all too technical for me to begin to understand, especially when I saw fractions -I panicked. It took me quite a while to fully understand the technicalities behind taking a photograph, but I wouldn’t say I know everything. Every session it seems I learn a little bit more.
Ashli Gene Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in lifestyle, and portrait photography. Maternity, and Family portraits are two categories that I love to dabble in as much as I can. Growing up, my family never had professional portraits taken together, so, I am genuinely passionate about other families having photographs for future generations. Each and every session is different, because each client is different. My goal is to tell the story of their life, and create unique images that capture once in a lifetime moments. Being able to look back at your photographs and remember exactly what song was playing, or what you were smiling and laughing about is what I intend to provide to all of my clients.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I was often asked at the early stages of my photography career, “What is your ultimate goal with photography?” My answer was always, “I want my photographs to be displayed in a place where people will see them every day alongside my name.” In November of 2016, two landscape images of mine were chosen to be hung up in a local hospital permanently. I’d have to say that was, and still is my proudest moment of my career – I achieved a goal of mine in a time frame that I didn’t think was possible, and it gave me the motivation to keep on pushing forward, and to set new, bigger goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashligenephotography.com
- Phone: 423-596-9040
- Email: ashligenephotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ashli.gene.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshliGenePhotography/
Image Credit:
Ashli Gene Photography
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