Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashli Buts.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashli. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My path to Photography was consistent yet undetected for much of my teenage years. In high school and early college, I planned to become a nurse and over my three years in community college that changed. Photography was always a hobby and one of my favorite pastimes. I would take my new puppy, my camera, and my friends to the beach or the forest and explore. People came into my life that were pursuing professional careers in the arts and my eyes were opened to a world of possibility. I began taking classes to explore the different careers within this realm. Still, not fully decided on photography (even though it was the clear option all along), I applied to schools for both photography and graphic design. Enter ArtCenter, and I haven’t looked back sense. Through my time at ArtCenter my photography has evolved into something I never could have predicted. I moved away from shooting portraits of my friends and immersed myself even deeper into my love of Landscape and Travel photography. Along the way, I discovered a passion for still life and on location product photography. My plan is to continue to integrate these together and grow my portfolio, my knowledge, and my experiences.
Has it been a smooth road?
For me the road was seemingly smooth because I don’t think I realized what road I was on for quite a while. I was inherently following a path that with the right opportunities and timing I would eventually begin to structure. If there’s any advice I could give, especially to those who may be hesitant to enter the Arts (as I was), is to follow your gut. Coming from someone who constantly plans, and replans her life, sometimes it’s okay to not know and make decisions that seem a little risky.
We’d love to hear more about Ashli Buts Photography.
I have a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors; There’s no place that I feel more mindful and connected to myself and others. I love to travel and I think that is heavily represented in my work. My landscape work is my most developed portfolio, as this is where my interest originally fell. I was evolving in my taste and style even before I knew it. The newest aspect of my work is Still Life and Product. I’m currently working on developing this portfolio further and integrating it into my other work. This side of my work allows me to exercise my love for conceptualizing, planning, and DIYing.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I can only speak from limited experience, but I find that we still lack representation. This is difficult when we look towards history because most of the infamous Photographer we hear about are male, as that is who the career was most accessible to for much of our history. I think we could do a much better job at recognizing those female photographers who really paved the way early on. My school also has very limited female staff when it comes to the Photography Department which is something I would like to see change. The more women we have representing us from the top means more women challenging preconceived notions and more perspective for others to understand.
Contact Info:
- Website: ashlibuts.com
- Phone: 831-278-2349
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Ashli_Buts
Image Credit:
Ashli Buts
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