Meet Ashley Kirkpatrick of Ashleylee

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

Ashley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am currently a nursing student at Grand Canyon University, and I have the privilege of doing photography and modeling on the side. My love for photography began in high school when I took a beginners photo course. Since then, I have taught myself all I know and am currently working on presets to release! I started modeling more once I got to college and got plugged in with smaller family-owned companies.

Since then, I have had the privilege to model for Barefoot Blondehair and a few other companies! My main focus in this season of life happens to be nursing school since it takes up the majority of my time. However, I am so happy to say that I will be graduating a year early! I am also partnered with a local non-profit called Emery’s Bear Drive.

Each year, we collect teddy bears and deliver them to kiddos spending their holidays in the hospital. We partner with people in eight different states to bring joy to hospitals across the U.S. Being apart of this organization is what has really opened my eyes and heart to my desire to be a pediatric nurse, and I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing community of people.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I think that the struggles I have faced are what have truly shaped me as a person. Social media is truly amazing, however, it can also give people a fall sense of who you are. With that being said, I strive to be as authentic as possible and truly show a piece of who I am. I want to inspire people to be themselves and fully love who they are, and it hasn’t been an easy task by any means.

I have people doubt me and look down upon me for using social media as a platform to share a huge part of my life. I think some people don’t fully understand the courage it takes to be so present in a world that can be so judgemental. As someone who desires to love people well and be a people pleaser, these negative comments really got to me at the beginning of my journey and still sometimes do.

I think the biggest advice I would give to someone wanting to pursue a business opportunity in the social media world is to be YOU. Everybody else is taken. Show the real moments and don’t be afraid to share your heart. People will discredit you, but you aren’t doing this for them. You do what you do because it makes you happy and trust me when I say you are impacting someone out there who is watching you take that step of courage.

What else should we know about your work and brand?  What are you most proud of?
I have the privilege of capturing photos for families, couples, seniors… you name it! I truly love that the photos I get to capture will last a lifetime and hold so much meaning to someone. However, I recently starting nursing school and have had to take a step back from photography and only shoot a few times a month. With that being said, I have also had the privilege to model more often over the past few months too.

As a brand altogether, I am proud of the way I show up to life. I feel like I really have found the balance of sharing my faith, what my life is truly like, and also showing the amazing things I get to be an ambassador for. I believe what sets me apart is my current circumstance and age. I am balancing so much from owning a business, being in school, and being an ambassador for a few companies. I will graduate college as a twenty-year-old. It’s seriously so crazy to say that!

What’s your outlook for the industry in our city?
I love Phoenix. There is so much opportunity here. We are growing so fast and yet I feel like we really encompass a big family feel. I truly feel so blessed to live here!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4807172198
• Email: ashley.kirkpatrick7@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix 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.