Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlea Snell.
Hi Ashlea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m Ashlea Snell, and I’m the co-owner of The Snells, a luxury wedding photo and video team based in North Georgia. My journey started pretty simply — with a love for storytelling, people, and beautiful imagery, and a desire to create something meaningful through photography.
In the early days, I was building this business from the ground up while working a regular job, and like many entrepreneurs, I started small. I took the jobs I could get, worked hard, kept learning, and slowly began refining both my craft and the kind of experience I wanted to create for clients. What started as a creative passion grew into something much bigger as I realized I didn’t just love taking photos — I loved capturing emotion, legacy, and moments that people would treasure for the rest of their lives.
As my business grew, I also had to grow personally. One of the biggest shifts for me was learning to value what I offered — not just in the quality of the work itself, but in the full experience, care, and storytelling behind it. That mindset change helped me build a stronger brand, attract the right clients, and step into a more confident version of myself as both an artist and a business owner.
Today, my husband and I serve couples through The Snells, creating timeless, heartfelt wedding imagery and films with an elevated, personal approach. We’ve had the opportunity to work with incredible clients, tell meaningful stories, and build a business that reflects both excellence and connection. Looking back, I’d say the biggest theme of my story is simple: I started with a dream, stayed consistent, kept learning, and trusted God through every stage of growth. And honestly, I still feel like I’m only at the beginning of what’s ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — it definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road.
Like most business owners, especially in the creative industry, a lot of the journey has been learning through trial and error. In the beginning, one of the biggest struggles was simply figuring out how to build a real business, not just take good photos. There’s such a big difference between having a creative gift and knowing how to price yourself, attract the right clients, communicate confidently, and create a sustainable brand. I had to grow in all of those areas over time.
Confidence was a huge part of that journey for me. Learning to charge what I was worth and fully own the value I brought to the table did not happen overnight. There were definitely seasons of underpricing, overworking, questioning myself, and trying to find my footing. I think that’s one of the hardest parts of growth — not just improving your craft, but becoming the kind of person who can carry the weight of a growing business.
There were also normal business challenges along the way: figuring out how to stand out in a crowded market, learning how to serve clients at a higher level, balancing creativity with the demands of entrepreneurship, and continuing to evolve without losing the heart behind why I started. Growth is exciting, but it also stretches you. Every new level requires more refinement, more responsibility, and more trust.
At the same time, those challenges shaped me. They taught me resilience, helped me build confidence, and forced me to become much more intentional about the kind of brand and experience I wanted to create. So no, it hasn’t always been smooth — but every struggle has played a part in getting me to where I am now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a luxury wedding photographer and filmmaker, and together my husband and I lead The Snells, a wedding photo and video team based in North Georgia. We serve couples who want their wedding weekend documented in a way that feels both elevated and deeply personal. At the heart of what we do is storytelling — creating imagery and films that are beautiful, emotional, timeless, and full of life.
We specialize in high-end weddings and multi-day celebrations, with a focus on capturing not just how a day looked, but how it felt. Our work is known for being cinematic, refined, and emotionally honest. I care deeply about creating images that feel editorial and polished, while still preserving genuine moments and real connection. We want our couples to walk away with photographs and films that feel meaningful now and even more meaningful years from now.
What I’m most proud of is the experience we create and the level of intention behind our work. Beautiful images matter, of course, but I’m especially proud that our brand has been built on more than that. We care deeply about our clients, we value excellence, and we want people to feel seen, cared for, and fully present throughout the process. I’m proud that what started as a dream has grown into a business that serves people well while also staying true to who we are creatively.
I’m also proud of how far the business has come — from humble beginnings to building a luxury brand that has attracted incredible couples and meaningful opportunities. Every stage of growth has required refinement, faith, resilience, and a willingness to keep raising the standard, and I’m grateful for what that journey has produced.
What sets us apart is the combination of artistry, emotion, and experience. We’re not just showing up to document events — we’re telling a story with care, instinct, and vision. Because we offer both photo and video as a husband-and-wife team, there’s also a natural chemistry and consistency in the way we work that helps the entire experience feel seamless. Our couples get a team that understands how to create with intention, anticipate meaningful moments, and deliver work that feels cohesive, elevated, and personal.
At the end of the day, I think what sets us apart most is that we truly care about legacy. We want to create work that is not only beautiful enough to be published, but personal enough to become part of a family’s history.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people is that behind the brand, I’m also a wife, a mother to three beautiful kids, and a dog mom to Maple and Waffle — our goldendoodle and mini Bernedoodle. A lot of people may see the polished side of the business, but so much of my real life is filled with the everyday beauty and chaos of motherhood, family life, and building a business at the same time.
Outside of work, I love gardening, going on walks, being outdoors, and spending time with my family. We also travel often, both for work and in our personal life, and I think that constant movement, beauty, and experience shapes me creatively in a big way. I’m deeply inspired by beautiful places, meaningful moments, and the simple things that make life feel full.
I think that part of my life shapes my work more than people probably realize. Being a mother has deepened the way I see emotion, connection, legacy, and the importance of preserving meaningful moments. It’s made me value photographs and films on an even more personal level, because I understand just how quickly life moves and how precious the people we love really are.
So while people may know me through my brand and my work, they may not immediately realize that at the center of it all, I’m someone who cares deeply about family, home, beauty, and creating a meaningful life with the people — and pups — I love most
Pricing:
- Our Photography Collections begin at $11,500
- Our Videography Collections begin at 13,500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesnellsweddings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesnells_/
