Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Concolino.
Ashley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I opened my studio in 2008 after working for a few local wedding photographers. My passion for photography started in high school when I was photographing and making scrapbooks for my then boyfriend, now husband of 8 years. I loved capturing a moment in time to have forever.
After interning for a newspaper in Seattle I realized sports photography was not my passion. I photographed a wedding with a friend and fell in love with weddings. In my first year of photographing weddings ALL of my brides became pregnant. It was a running joke at the time that if I photographed your wedding you better be ready to have a baby! This brought me into the majority of what I do today, newborns and families.
My love for photography has only grown over the years. I have a boutique business and I intend to keep it that way. My clients are with me through all of their celebrations; engagement, wedding, kids, anniversaries, you name it. I’m “their family photographer”. To me, this is priceless. I’ve captured something so perfect for them that they do not want anyone else to be there but me for the biggest moments in their lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
By no means has this been a smooth road. I started my business after returning from college out of state. I was in a sense “new” to the community. I worked any job I could until I was able to be a tad more “strict” on what I would photograph. I’ve had people work for me who were great and others that weren’t. Every job has led me to something I could learn from. The cost of starting a business and learning the ins and outs was the hardest, and still is the hardest for me.
APictureLife Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is me, APictureLife. I’ve learned that shooting myself, editing, and selling are all done best when it’s done by me. I wouldn’t have always said this, but after years of trial and error I feel that people come to my business because it’s me they are working with from start to finish.
I specialize in weddings and families/babies. When I started my business in 2008 I wanted to only do weddings but quickly found that I also enjoyed the things that tend to happen after weddings, babies. I have 3 small children and know that at some point weekends will be mainly for their sporting events and activities which is why I will soon open my new portrait studio for children. This will give me a chance to do weddings but also more portrait sessions if I need to cut back on weddings in order to be at my kid’s events on the weekends.
I’m most proud of the work that I put out. Everything I do comes from me. I don’t send my work to be edited by any company. It has my personal touch on it. I think this keeps my photos looking like “me” “my work”.
I’m 100% committed to every session, I value my customers, and I don’t shoot because I have to, I do it because I want to. I choose the sessions I will shoot because at this point in my career I can do that. I’m not shooting just to shoot, I’m shooting with a purpose.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is an email from my client who is elated with the images I have just sent over. The excitement in their voice when they call me to share how happy they are at what I have captured for them, their happiness is my success.
Pricing:
- My wedding packages start at $3,600 and go up from there.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6505 E Serrano Suite D, Anaheim Hills 92807
and our new location coming soon:
4879 E La Palma Avenue, Unit 208, Anaheim 92807 - Website: apicturelife.com
- Phone: 714-743-6453
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: apicturelife
- Facebook: apicturelife
Image Credit:
©APictureLife Photography
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