Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Hepworth.
Ashley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been photographing weddings for ten years now, and I honestly can’t remember a time that photography wasn’t a part of my life. Some of my fondest memories as a little girl are preserved in 4×6 prints at Mom and Dad’s house. They always captured my brother and me playing or hiking together and caught me doing the silliest things, like dressing up our golden retriever Dundee as a bride on the front lawn. My folks always had a camera in hand for big life events, vacations, and best of all – family hikes. I picked up my dad’s HP point and shoot camera when I was about 13 or 14 years old, and photographed anything and everything until I fell in love with photographing weddings at age 18. I officially started Ashley McKenzie Photography my last year of college, and booked a full season of weddings straight out of the gate! It was truly incredible to be living my dream of becoming a professional photographer. I fell in love hard with capturing the connection between couples and still can’t get enough of the romance that a wedding day brings.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The first few years as a small business owner taught me so much about managing my time and using my days more effectively. I photographed 68 weddings in 2014, and barely ate, slept, or saw my family. It was such a big year of personal growth for me while I had just met my husband, and my dad was also being treated for stage four cancer. Then, at the same time, I was traveling all over Colorado to photograph up to four weddings a week. Those ups and downs really prepared me for my road ahead, and I’m so thankful for all of the experience I gained that year!
I think the hardest part of being a wedding photographer is serving in such a highly saturated market like Colorado and still being able to stand out amongst the crowd. Couples are looking for someone to connect with and feel like they can trust to preserve a visual memory from their wedding day. Being a great photographer with a beautiful portfolio of images isn’t enough to sustain a full-time business as a visual artist. You have to provide something unique, that no one else has and really hone in on what that unique offering is. It’s really important to be able to communicate what makes you different from the rest when speaking with inquiring couples that are doing their research. It took me a while to figure out which types of couples I was best at serving, but now that I know, it’s made making decisions much easier.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in Colorado engagement and wedding photography for couples who have a sense of adventure, love to snuggle up, and have a passion for the outdoors. I am known for photographing couples with big, sweeping, mountain landscapes, which make up some of the prettiest views in Colorado. My favorite part of my job is getting to hang out with truly awesome people who love each other and are excited about their future. We honestly just have so much fun at every session or wedding just joking around, and not taking ourselves too seriously. I’m a hopeless romantic, so I never get tired of hearing couples telling their family and friends how much they love one another.
I have learned that my greatest strength is being a highly empathetic person. I feel that sets me apart from other photographers the most, because of the way I approach creating an experience for the couples I work with. I feel everything in a room full of people and can intuitively know when a real moment is going to unfold. Because I am so emotive, I especially enjoy getting to know the couples I work with more personally, so that I can feel really connected to them on their wedding day. Hearing so many couples describe me as a friend, rather than a vendor has made me so proud of the work I do. It tells me that I’m doing an excellent job of making them feel comfortable and that I was able to capture their moments in a way that is most true to who they are.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I can’t give enough credit to my parents who always encouraged me to pursue my passion, gifted me my first DSLR camera, and instilled values in me that I know have made me a great photographer and business owner. My husband, Kevin, also deserves a huge shout out for keeping me going when I’m tired, burnt out, or hangry. He’s truly my rock, and will always believe in me even when I lose faith in myself. He’s made countless coffee runs before I leave for a wedding, cooks the best food, and always greets me after a long day with a warm hug.
When I need someone to help me grow, I have an incredible community of female photographers to turn to. I started an all-female photography group in Northern Colorado a few years ago in the name of the community over competition. We support and encourage each other through the hustle of our photography season here in Colorado.
Pricing:
- Wedding Collections start at $3500
- Intimate Weddings and Elopements start at $800
- Engagement sessions start at $600
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleymckenziephotography.com
- Phone: 9702149192
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleymckenziephotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashley.mckenzie.photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
