Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashleigh Orchid.
Ashleigh, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, it’s what I wanted to pursue right out of high school. But life had other plans. I became a mom at a young age and chose the education path instead, spending 13 years as an early childhood educator.
Even then, my passion for photography never left. I never stopped taking photos, but for many years it remained a hobby. After a lot of encouragement from my husband, family, and friends, I finally decided to take a leap of faith and turn that passion into something more.
That was nine years ago, and it completely changed my life.
Today, I specialize in high school senior and family photography across North Texas. Looking back, I’m so grateful I took that chance. Photography allows me to combine creativity with what I’ve always loved most: connecting with people, building relationships, and documenting meaningful chapters of their lives.
It never feels like I’m simply taking photos. It feels like preserving pieces of someone’s story, and I feel incredibly fortunate to do that every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a completely smooth road. Like many small business owners, I’ve faced my share of challenges over the last nine years.
One of the biggest was taking the leap in the first place. Leaving behind a career in education to pursue photography professionally was both exciting and scary. Building a business from the ground up requires a lot of patience, persistence, and faith in yourself, especially in the beginning.
Another challenge has been balancing the creative side of photography with the business side. Social media has never really been my favorite part of the job, but it’s become such an important piece of running a business. Learning marketing, keeping up with trends, and showing up online consistently has definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone.
Creatively, there are times when any artist can start to feel a little stagnant. When that happens, I love creating personal projects and styled shoots just for myself. They help me stay inspired and continue growing. It’s also one of the reasons I love working with high school seniors so much. Every senior brings their own personality, interests, and ideas to a session, which keeps things fresh and allows me to be creative in new ways.
Looking back, every challenge has taught me something. They’ve helped me grow not only as a photographer, but also as a business owner, and I’m grateful for all of it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
These days I specialize in high school senior and family photography across North Texas, although seniors have definitely stolen a big piece of my heart over the last few years. I love getting to know each teen, hearing about their plans after high school, and helping them celebrate such a fun and exciting time in their lives.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built through this business. Some of my family clients have been with me for years, and there is something really special about watching children grow up in front of my camera. I also love that many of my senior clients end up feeling more like friends by the end of their sessions.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely care about the people I’m photographing. My background in education definitely plays a role in that. Building relationships has always been important to me, and I want people to feel comfortable, seen, and valued when they’re with me. At the end of the day, the photos matter, but the people in them matter even more.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Honestly, one of the greatest resources in my life and business has been the photography community here in DFW. When I first started, I had no idea how supportive and encouraging other photographers could be.
Over the last nine years, I’ve built friendships with some incredibly talented photographers who have been generous with their knowledge, willing to answer questions, share advice, and cheer each other on. Running a business can sometimes feel lonely, so having a community of people who truly understand the highs, lows, challenges, and excitement of this industry has been invaluable.
Of course, there are tools and programs I use every day to run my business, but the relationships I’ve built within the photography community have probably had the biggest impact on my growth, both professionally and personally. I’ve learned so much from the people around me, and I’m incredibly grateful not only for their guidance and encouragement, but also for the friendships that have come from it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleighorchidphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com//ashleighorchidphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com//ashleighorchidphoto
