Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Taylor.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For years, my passion for creativity has been a constant in my life. A day has not passed that I don’t dream of creating something new, something beautiful. It’s always been a part of me.
I truly believe humans at their very core were designed to create. It may look different for everyone, but our minds were wired to design and build. I knew that I could use my brain for beauty and meaning or I could squash it and pursue a life largely devoid of creativity.
Writing and photography are two of the main outlets attributing to my experience in the arts. I’ve dabbled in music and was trained for a little while as a classical singer, but in my heart never saw myself seriously chasing that as a career.
Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I wrote. Everywhere. All the time. My notebooks and journals were filled with thoughts and ideas and as soon as I was old enough to type on a computer, I was able to record even more of my musings.
Ever since high school, I’ve dedicated more and more time to making others’ thoughts and dreams come to life on paper. From brands to entrepreneurs to non-profits to individuals struggling to come up with content, I began sharing my gift of writing to help them grow and skyrocket, and thus, Firebird Creative Co. was born.
Similar to my experience in writing, my photography journey started young and only grew from there. I’ve had the pleasure of learning from some of the most amazing artists in this field and grew in confidence and knowledge tremendously from listening to their wisdom.
Now, I pursue a similar path and aim to set more and more souls on fire in the same way through my work as I show the beautiful authenticity of life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Finding my path and what made me happy in the creative field wasn’t easy.
The comparison was a huge obstacle that kept getting in the way of finding my voice. I’ve had the privilege of being exposed to so many amazing writers and photographers that sometimes I still find myself comparing my work or style to theirs.
In those moments, I remind myself that part of what makes creating so beautiful is that everyone is different in their own unique way for a reason. My work will look different from others and that’s a good thing!
It is the individuality and authenticity that makes each business so special and attracts clients to your work and not anyone else.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
In Slavic mythology, a firebird’s vivid red, orange, and yellow colors caused it to glow as if on fire and inspired wonder in all who saw it.
Similarly, I seek to inspire and impart wonder in everyone who reads or sees my work in the creative field, and thus, the name Firebird Creative Co. was born. I’m also part Slavic and firebird was a nickname my dad gave me when I was young, so the name holds a very special place in my heart.
I create both written and visual content at Firebird Creative Co.
My work in writing has expanded into social media content, blogging, website copy, product descriptions, and email copy. I choose to work with brands that I truly believe in because I want all my clients to feel the passion and support from me behind each piece of content I write for them.
My visual artwork includes portraits and senior photos, couples, families, and branding. One of the things I take the most pride in is the perspective from which I shoot most of my sessions. I tell my clients to expect candid movements and allow smiles and laughter to come naturally.
I want the moments I capture to being a sweet smile to their faces at how authentic their body and facial expressions are.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always brainstorming new business ideas. Everything from dog walking to jewelry making, I tried it all. Entrepreneurship ran in my blood and I just knew that when I was older I would start my own business and inspire others with my art.
It just so happened that my mom also loved taking pictures and inspired me in that hobby as well. I was given several of our family’s old cameras throughout the years that I used to capture photos of my family, animals, and nature. That grew into a passion of my own and I bought my first DSLR at 15. Soon after, I started shooting longer sessions with clients and the rest is history.
My passion for writing was also evident from a very young age. As soon as I could write, I was creating imaginary worlds on paper and telling stories about princesses and their pets. I learned college-level writing in middle school and even though it was incredibly tough, my skill grew tremendously from there.
Once in high school, I realized that I could actually make money with my talent and signed up on multiple online creative platforms where I could market and sell my services. My business grew from there!
Pricing:
- Photo sessions start at $300
- Content & copy starts at $15, please reach out with an inquiry for a full custom quote.
Contact Info:
- Website: firebirdcreativeco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legitashleytaylor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firebirdcreativeco
Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Halle Elyse
