Life & Work with Ashley Van Zandt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Van Zandt.

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I fell in love with photography at a very young age. My grandfather was a fine art photographer and I can remember countless times sitting at his table looking at albums of our family’s history and thinking, I need to do this, I loved the story he was telling. Fast forward a few years, I remember sitting at the same table and my grandfather now critiquing my own work. Photography stayed a hobby for quite some time. I started a construction company with my dad and brother, and as much as I LOVED photography I was making good money so why would I leave it. I was comfortable. Right before I turned 30 my life turned upside down, I decided that I needed a big change, so I packed up everything I owned and moved to Florida from Iowa with my best friend at the time. I promised myself that I would finally make my dream of owning a photography company a reality. I started shooting portraits, I joined photography groups in the Orlando area, a place where I met lifelong friends, I took workshops, I attended school for photography I went all in. Now I shoot boudoir and weddings full time!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all! Especially this last year, the event industry was hit so hard, so my wedding side of the business has really struggled. I’m super thankful that I have my studio for boudoir and portraits. I feel like bumps in the road come with owning your own business, you are constantly learning and that is OK! If it was always easy, we probably wouldn’t stay doing it. I’m an introvert so the idea of putting myself out there all the time was a big struggle, I love people but the idea of walking up to people I didn’t know terrified me and it still does in some ways but I’m much better at it. I couldn’t let the fear of what I wasn’t good at or fear of the unknown stand in my way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a portrait and wedding photographer. I specialize in women’s portraiture also known as Boudoir. I love getting to work with women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds! It’s pretty incredible to empower women to embrace their body in the present and that it’s beautiful regardless of what the world thinks about it because it’s theirs! I’ve been shooting boudoir for a long time, I started with my sister-in-law’s burlesque troupe and I fell in love with it. I really want to get to know my clients, I want to know what they love about themselves and what they don’t love and help them fall in love with it all. I offer a safe yet super fun place for women to come and relax, get pampered, and embrace a side of them they might not know they had, and gain a whole lot of confidence along the way.

What matters most to you? Why?
Oh man, that’s super hard. I guess connections, I feel really passionate about connecting with my clients, I want to know their story. Boudoir can be a vulnerable experience and I want my clients to know that this will always be a safe place.

Contact Info:

• Email: ashley@ashleyjane-photography.com
• Website: http://www.ashleyjane-photography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyjane_boudoir/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyjaneboudoir