Daily Inspiration: Meet Ashley Garland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Garland. 

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was raised to work hard, chase my dreams and love people. I’ve lived and traveled all over the world. I love adventure and trying new things. I went on my first mission trip to Costa Rica at the age of 14 and loved every second of the experience. Years later as a 20-year-old living in Zambia, I found myself looking for the moments that told a story filled with emotion and created a connection. However, my love for photography began as an elementary school-aged kiddo sitting on the living room floor with my mother, flipping through the baby book that she had loving curated over the years. Seeing her smile holding me as a newborn or laughing at the stories she recalled from the photo of me sliding down the slide at Dollywood developed a love for capturing special moments and a greater appreciation for heirlooms. 

As far as photography style goes, I like real “humanness” like dimples, freckles, and gap teeth. My edits showcase true-to-color, vibrant realness of the moment, and locations. I am obsessed with sunsets and angry skies and you can guarantee that I’ll be toting around lighting for all situations. My clients seem to turn into my close friends and then we get to celebrate all of their big moments in life from senior portraits to their wedding day and beyond. My photoshoots are always an adventure that’s relaxed and so much fun. 

I became a photographer to show the world that photos should be more than those stiff, awkwardly posed photos we’re used to seeing. Your images will be genuine, full of life, completely vibrant, and most importantly: completely YOU. Your uniqueness and personality will be captured in authentic moments. 

Alright, 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?
As with any passion, there is constant need for personal growth and learning! One of my biggest struggles along the way is comparison and the battle of Imposter Syndrome. I have learned the best mindset to have in any situation, is to not compare yourself to someone else. You will never be someone else. Only compare yourself to the YOU that you were yesterday. That is my goal to improve myself from what I was before. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in wedding and special event photography. I am known for candid, true-to-color editing as well as cinematic natural feeling posed wedding photography. The opportunity to give couple’s peace of mind knowing they can experience their wedding day and fully trust that we are creating an authentic visual story to share their love story with generations to come is my purpose. I place great value on building purposeful relationships. Truly connecting with my clients is the key to creating an enjoyable experience which results in the joyful, genuine imagery that will be forever treasured! I am proud to have been voted as Best Wedding Photographer on The Knot, Wedding Wire, and a member of Professional Photographers of America and the Chamber of Commerce. Most of my brides become lifelong friends that trust me with capturing every milestone from engagement to birthdays. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The love and need for celebration will never cease. Even in the midst of pandemic, people found ways to creatively tell their stories and capture the moments. One trend that I see increasing is weekday weddings. More and more couples that I work with are scheduling Friday or Monday weddings. This can be a great way to save some room in the budget. 

Pricing:

• Casablanca – $11,000 Ashley as Head Photographer Second photographer 12 Hour coverage Premier 10 Year Backup Printing Rights Wedding Guide Ovation Engagement Photo Booth 12” Heirloom 70-page Album Two 8” Linen Gift Albums Anniversary Session Experience
• Breakfast at Tiffanys – $6,750 Ashley as Head Photographer Second photographer 10 Hour coverage Premier 5 Year Backup Printing Rights Wedding Guide Intro Engagement Session 8” 16-page Engagement Linen Album 10” 40-page Leather Bound Album
• The Notebook – $5,000 Ashley as Head Photographer Second Photographer 8 Hour coverage Premier 3 Year Gallery Printing Rights Wedding Guide 8” 16-page Linen Album
• Splash – $3,500 Ashley as Head Photographer 5 Hour coverage Premier 1 Year Backup Printing Rights Wedding Guide

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thegarlandsphotoandfilm.com
• Instagram: @thegarlandsphotoandfilm
• Facebook: @thegarlandsphotoandfilm