Studio Ashby

Let’s start broad – why did you want to become a photographer? In many ways it came out of necessity. I’ve always found conventional 9 to 5 roles a bit stifling, too repetitive, lacking variety or a sense of momentum. Photography gives me the balance I need: time in the studio paired with time on location, routine blended with discovery. Each shoot takes me to new places, introduces me to new people, and presents new creative challenges.   

There’s always something to work towards, and that sense of progression, of always “chasing” something, suits my temperament. It keeps me focused and creatively energised. In this series we’re interested in how design professionals inspire or collaborate with each other. How collaborative is your process? Very. While some clients are happy to let me work independently, the majority are closely involved throughout. 

There’s usually a lot of back and forth before shoot day to align on mood, direction, and what the images need to communicate. On the day, if there isn’t a stylist or assistant, the client and I often collaborate directly, moving pieces around, making decisions in real time. It’s an organic process and a good way to build rapport. The dialogue continues into post-production too, and in some cases long after delivery, especially if magazines want to feature the work.   

Your clients are often creatives, architects, interior designers, product designers. What, if anything, have you learned from them about photography? I’ve learned that my role is part of a much bigger filled with his own canvas work. It was beautiful, the kind of thing you’d expect to find carefully curated in a home or gallery. It had
a timeless quality, and I left with a sense of how much character and restraint can exist in a single image. Little experiences like that linger in the back of my mind and inevitably feed into my work. 

There’s always something to work towards, and that sense of progression, of always “chasing” something, suits my temperament. It keeps me focused and creatively energised. In this series we’re interested in how design professionals inspire or collaborate with each other. How collaborative is your process? Very. While some clients are happy to let me work independently, the majority are closely involved throughout. There’s usually a lot of back and forth before shoot day to align on mood, direction, and what the images need to communicate. On the day, if there isn’t a stylist or assistant, the client and I often collaborate directly, moving pieces around, making decisions in real time. It’s an organic process and a good way to build rapport. Let’s start broad – why did you want to become
a photographer? In many ways it came out of necessity. I’ve always found conventional 9 to 5 roles a bit stifling, too repetitive, lacking variety or a sense of momentum. Photography gives me the balance
I need: time in the studio paired with time on location, routine blended with discovery. Each shoot takes me to new places, introduces me to new people, and presents new creative challenges.   focused and creatively energised.