I am so happy you’re here. Your presence is known and greatly appreciated! After being a photographer for a decade, an entrepreneur for five years, an educator around the world and an all around lover of life, it was time to share in the deepest way yet.
My travels started when I was a young girl, but in 2012, my commitment to continuing my education through intimate exchanges around the world intensified as I ventured to teach English on Mafia Island, Tanzania - just off the coast of South Eastern Africa. This started several years of living and falling in love around the world - South Africa, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, back to the States and then back to South Africa three more times.
I discovered my love for teaching English on Mafia Island, Tanzania and while on that very island, met an incredibly charming South African man (hence all the South African in-between the other countries) who is now my husband and father to our baby girl, Orion. I expanded this love for teaching in Costa Rica. Then, was presented with the opportunity to return to the very island that once ignited so much love, Mafia Island. It was in this very experience that this life I had once dreamed of began to unfold.
I was living around the world, with a man I was so madly in love with all the while tapping into a depth of me, I had yet to uncover. After nearly two years of being gone without stepping foot back in North America, I returned back home to Southern California with a heightened understanding of communication, of connection, of culture, of education and of the power of authentically living and sharing our true selves.
It was then, in April of 2015 that I wholeheartedly jumped into entrepreneurship to bring this deepened purpose into a whole new light, Ashley Strong Photography was birthed! In its initiation, I had no formal training, just four years of non-profit experience, an African history and marketing degree, inspiration from my travels from around the world and all the love, determination and immense need to share my purpose with the world.
So, my friend. Where does this lead me? Well, I truthfully live a life I had one dreamed of.
What does this look like? Oh, let me share.
- I am married to the most sincere, kind and handsome South African soul.
- Our sweet baby girl is on her way and due at the end of June 2019 of which I am excited for our village to have a new member.
- We’re tucked in the hills of San Clemente surrounding by open fields, wildlife and nature.
- I’ve been the incredibly grateful owner of Ashley Strong Photography
documenting vibrantly blissful timrecaspuels of love, life and culture for the past nearly 10 years.
- The world has literally been my classroom, teaching me some of the most valuable resources of loving myself, others and the communities the engulf us
- I founded a monthly women’s empowerment group, “Sisterhood Circle” connecting around the raw, harsh, blissful and vulnerable realities of life
- Personal development is my greatest guide.
- There is no shortage of books, tarot/oracle cards, affirmations, pen and paper in our house.
- I love vanilla lattes, being outdoors, soaking up the sun, adventuring with my sweet love and traveling this beautifully expansive world.
“Believe it or not, every successful person in this world has jumped…
You cannot just exist in this life. You have got to try to live.
If you are waking up thinking there has got to be more to your life than there is, man believe that it is.
But to get to that life, you're gonna have to jump.”
-Steve Harvey, Importu Speech “Jump”
Inspired by these very words, it is my commitment to you, yes, you to share
intimate, sincere, raw, vulnerable moments about being a photographer, entrepreneur, educator and lover of life!
It is my vow, my commitment to not only myself, AND you to shed light onto ALL of life.
✨The inspired AND clouded.
⛰The centered AND exhausted.
⭐️The stimulated AND utterly determined.
🌳The sluggish AND strong.
✨The happy AND sad.
⛰ The motivated AND lonely.
⭐️ The grounded AND lost.
🌳 The supported AND confused.
You see, life is all encompassing and this, this I want to share with you!
Thank you for joining this space.
Thank you for being you, sharing and being an incredible part of this adventure we call life.
You cannot just exist in this life. You have got to try to live.
If you are waking up thinking there has got to be more to your life than there is, man believe that it is.
But to get to that life, you're gonna have to jump.”
-Steve Harvey, Importu Speech “Jump”
Inspired by these very words, it is my commitment to you, yes, you to share
intimate, sincere, raw, vulnerable moments about being a photographer, entrepreneur, educator and lover of life!
It is my vow, my commitment to not only myself, AND you to shed light onto ALL of life.
✨The inspired AND clouded.
⛰The centered AND exhausted.
⭐️The stimulated AND utterly determined.
🌳The sluggish AND strong.
✨The happy AND sad.
⛰ The motivated AND lonely.
⭐️ The grounded AND lost.
🌳 The supported AND confused.
You see, life is all encompassing and this, this I want to share with you!
Thank you for joining this space.
Thank you for being you, sharing and being an incredible part of this adventure we call life.
Awaiting the arrival of Orion,
our daughter! |
Writing, reading & tarot cards.
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Traveling the world.
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Documenting love, life and culture!
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My incredibly handsome and supportive South African husband!
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