Oh hey there! I’m Ashley. Let’s make magic happen.
Smash Studios Photography truly began my freshman year of high school; I saved my babysitting money for months to buy myself my “first professional camera”- an entry-level DSLR which I used to take “selfies” and post them to MySpace so all my friends could tell me how artsy they were. I didn’t really take photography seriously back then, but it was a fun thing for my friends and I.
Fast forward to about 2011, and instead of taking selfies at the bus stop, I was interning for Southern Bride magazine, in my third year of my photojournalism degree; March 2013 was when I photographed my first wedding and realized that Smash Studios was my future. Basically, I fell in love with weddings. I fell in love with capturing love.
Photography has become a major part of my life. Photographs tell stories and a moment in time- a laugh, a smile, a moment that will never again exist exactly the same way. The day, the hour, the details, the dresses, the weather- all of those things would and will change, fade, and simply disappear, but photographs will always live on, telling the story of a moment for many generations to come.
Smash Studios has become much more than just a business to me, much more than the hobby it once was. Over the years, after hearing stories of how photos have changed people’s lives, or have memorialized others, I realize that photographs are the ONE thing you keep forever.
Your wedding day should be the day of your dreams, so you should be choosing vendors that are on YOUR side, and share YOUR vision.
On a wedding day, I wear 17 hats. I am your not just your photographer but your confidante, your "7th man", your go-to, the person who cries during the father-daughter dance (every. single. time.) I am here to make sure YOUR day runs smoothly.
I want to capture all of the things you worked so hard to make happen. That handwritten note you gave your husband before the ceremony, your grandmother’s brooch around your bouquet– you need pictures of that. I am here for you, to see your wedding day through both your eyes and the camera lens, to make sure YOUR wedding day is captured forever.
I am also one of the most open people you’ll ever meet, so don’t worry about things being awkward—it’ll be like we’re old friends by the end of our session, and BFF’s at your wedding. BUT, just in case this all doesn’t come out in the FIRST few minutes we speak, here’s my “photographer dating profile”!
I graduated from University of Memphis magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in photojournalism.
I have now traveled to 18 countries. I have a huge travel bug and you can bet after COVID settles down I’m up for some travel ASAP.
I’m an Enneagram type 8, “The Challenger”. I will knock out those dreaded family photos for you in NO time, and am more than happy to raise my voice in order to make that happen.
I’m not a HUGE sports fan, but I can get into some volleyball and I’ve become a diehard Nashville Predators (hockey) fan. I am not ashamed.
My favorite hobby OUTSIDE of photos is cooking! While my husband is the master of our daily meals (like wow, he cooks for me all the time), you can catch me cooking a perfect risotto or spending three hours on my signature homemade pork dumplings. I tend to watch Chopped while I edit, and love trying new foods!
Did I mention I have a HUSBAND?? That’s right y’all, I JUST GOT MARRIED. Josh and I met in May of 2020 in the middle of a pandemic when we were tricked into a blind date. Basically fell in love at first sight (and no, that’s not dramatic. We locked eyes and I knew I was a goner.) He is the most amazing person I have ever met, and reminds me every day of why I got into this business—LOVE. We legally got married Cinco de Mayo (our first date anni) in 2022, and had the big thing November 2022… hit me up with all your wedding questions. I’m OFFICIALLY a pro now!
Speaking of love, I’m also loving the life of mama to three amazing kids- Avery, Charlotte, and Jonathan. You’ll probably see them more than me on Instagram (I hate the camera) BUT I LOVE being a mom and my family is my life.
I also am a dog mom to three amazing little rascals- Potter, Granger, and our new kitty, Luna. My “coworkers” sleep most of the day while I work, or bark at (not kidding) a leaf that blew past the door. I actually found Luna AT a wedding, so she definitely fits in this fam.
Last but DEFINITELY not least, as you can tell from my animals’ names, I LOVE Harry Potter. Josh, Avery, Potter, and I are Gryffindors, Charlotte and Luna are Slytherins, and Granger and Jonathan are Hufflepuffs.
Meet our associate photographer, Taylor!
Hi there! My name is Taylor Tartera. I am an Assistant Principal by day and photographer by night. I have been doing photography for a little over three years now. Funny story, Ashley actually shot my wife and I’s wedding back in 2015! It was a connection ever since. Because of my day job, I thoroughly enjoy second shooting and working closely with wedding photographers in the surrounding Memphis area.
My wife, Melody, and I are native Memphians. I went to college at Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis. We have a gorgeous little girl, Ellis, who is almost 2!
We both enjoy working in education and hanging out with our three Boston Terriers (Winston, Piper, and Matilda). Melody and I also enjoy traveling and visiting with friends and family. Melody has been a local wedding calligrapher and coordinator since 2015, so you guessed it…our weekends are never dull.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Ashley at Smash Studios and help bring the joy and memories to those couples and families that Ashley brought to us on our wedding day!
