Ashley Hobel is a wife and mother to 3 beautiful souls located in the mountains of Colorado. She stumbled into photography when she became a mom. At that point, she decided to leave her teaching career to raise her babies and pursue her passion. Her work is ethereal, calming and warm and we love the way she documents families. She is now an Unraveled Expert Artist and we look forward to what the future holds for her here at the Academy! Congratulations Ashley! Thank you for sharing your art with us all.

For more inspiration from Ashley:

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Here is Ashley, Unraveled….

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ART?

I am truly inspired by motherhood. I love getting to a session and seeing a mother embrace her children. It is the most raw form of love that exists.

Favorite camera body and lens?

I shoot with a Nikon D750 and the only lens I use is my Sigma Art 35mm.

WHAT OTHER WAYS DO YOU EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY?

I love to sew! I just don't have the time to embrace it frequently. I have three small children who are my priority. I do love making costumes for my kids. My daughter is involved in theater and making her costumes is one of my favorite things to do!

HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS AT THE END OF THE DAY?

I love trash TV! I am such a sucker for reality shows, real housewives, etc. I also love to read. There is nothing more relaxing than a glass of wine and a good book!

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO WHILE EDITING?

I love mellow music. I often have a folk or bluegrass station streaming. I also love to listen to audiobooks while I am editing. It is hard to find time to sit down and actually read a book during the busy seasons so listening to them is the next best thing.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?

I have so many. I recently read The Great Alone and that is one of my favorites. I love any book with a strong female!

NAME ONE MOVIE THAT INSPIRES YOU.

I honestly am not a big movie person! Have any suggestions for me?!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY?

TIME! I am approaching my 3 year mark of buying my first camera. I started this journey when I became a stay at home mom almost 3 years ago and with small kids, time is so hard to find. I want to push myself creatively and shoot more for myself but then I feel like I am sacrificing time elsewhere. I also really want to branch out more and meet more people in person who have the same interests and want to be creative together. This year, I am attending my first ever workshop and I am so excited to see what it does for my creative journey!

WHO IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHERS?

I have so many! I absolutely adore Jodi Lynne Buckles, Stormy Solis, and Lauren Hodges. Everything they do is so inspiring to me. My list could literally be 5 miles long though!

HOW DO YOU HANDLE SELFDOUBT OR CREATIVE SLUMPS?

The dreaded self doubt. I think all creatives deal with doubting their work from time to time. Social media plays such a huge part in that realm. I often scroll through and will admire others work. After admiring for awhile and taking a look at my own work, I can get down on myself because I don't feel as emotive as them, as creative as them, and as strong as a photographer as them. That is when I take time off of all social media. It can really mess with your head!

When I am in a creative slump, I love to do a model call. There is something so refreshing about having 100% creative control. It allows me to do things, try angles and prompts that I wouldn't typically do. It kicks me right out of the slump!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COURSE OR LESSON AT UNRAVELED?

I loved Jodi's Creating Living Poetry course!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?

I am so boring. Cheese.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVORITE KIND OF LIGHT AND WHY?

I love backlighting! I love a good sunny day and as the sun dips behind the mountains...magic!!!!!