Check Out Ashlee Baldwin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Baldwin

Hi Ashlee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started as a young girl raised in East New Brooklyn by two parents who are two of a kind but different in their own unique way . I’m a mix of my parents my mom is the heart with an eye for detail and interior design and my dad the passionate artisan who I looked up to when it came to all things art. My dad is a multifaceted creative who played bass in a band back in the 80’s . I remember he would practice his guitar in the living room as I cheered him on as his number one fan. I can’t share my story without my dad, he was my number one inspiration. He introduced me to different styles of music, old black and white movies and the love for dance. My dad taught me how to write a verse and a hook at the tender age of 5. We would have our own jam sessions, my dad on keys and me with the brush as my mic.

Music is my first love but I had a love for all things art. The calling to be an artist came at a very young age I’m so grateful that it found me . I would make my room my little studio. Where I wrote my poetry, songs and sketched many drawings. I was a day dreamer I created my own fantasy where I’d escape to. Another form of art I loved was Collage art ,I didn’t know what it was called back then, I would collect my brother’s magazines The SOURCE , VIBE, Word UP or my mother’s Essence and Vogue Magazines. I would cut out the pictures of singers, rappers, fashion models and trends. I would do this for hours.

At 14 yrs old I took up Hip – Hop and Jazz Tap classes at the Dance Spot , on the weekends in Canarsie Brooklyn. I took the classes for 2 yrs. I had my dance recitals at SheepShead Bay High-school. Dancing to me tells a story, there’s so much expression within the body , dancing brought me so much joy.I had many different talents that I couldn’t pick just one ,I wanted to express them all. I was always a curious kid with a vibrant and picturesque imagination, I always knew I was different, I could never blend in with society I had a corky big personality. I got bullied a lot so I didn’t have many friends ,I just had my core friends that I grew up with on my block and surrounding area. We would have fun riding our bikes, play Double Dutch, Hide and Seek sit on the stoop for hours shooting the breeze. For the summer all the kids in the neighborhood would go the Big Apple, it was a local recreation center in East New York similar to a YMCA .I took up Hip – Hop -African dance and Step Classes, I would go to rehearsal everyday there was an end of the summer talent show and I was performing with a dance and step crew. I had three different routines to rehearse for the show,I was happy to be able to share my passions with my community. At the end of the show there was an award ceremony I didn’t know about, I sat in the audience and congratulating my friends when all of a sudden I heard my name be called “Ashlee Baldwin” I walked up to the stage so shy but excited, to be receiving my first award for knowing the dance routine to the song “Mo Money , More Problems ” by Puff Daddy and Mase. I carried that trophy around so proud of myself, I kept it on a table in the dining area of my house ,every morning I would look at it for source of inspiration. One morning I saw that it was missing I asked my mom if she saw it , her response was “ I threw it away ” my mouth dropped open I couldn’t believe what I was hearing “ It was breaking” she said. The figurine of the arm of the woman holding the apple was starting to break, I would of treasured it broken or not. I was upset but I knew there’d be more awards with my name on it years to come. I took singing lessons on Barbie avenue which around the corner from my house. The lady who owned the voice school had the same name as my mother . I had to practice singing Whitney Houston’s song “Greatest love of all” and Judy Garlands “Somewhere over the rainbow ”. I couldn’t continue to take my lessons I had summer school another block every time I pursue the arts there seemed to be a force that didn’t want me to succeed.

I began to hang with the wrong crowd of people ,rebelling and losing my identity .I felt out of place in my environment like I belonged somewhere else. I went through a long period of depression behind the scenes . Art use to be the outlet that held me together but I was disconnected from what truly made me happy.

No matter how far I strayed from the arts it always found me. I got into modeling at 17 ,my cousin was building her portfolio and I always saw her with her hair and make up done. I was interested and wanted to know who I needed to talk to get my opportunity what girl doesn’t like to dress up and take photos ? I looked for a casting agency and began modeling as a freelance model for 10 yrs. I was featured in Hype Hair magazine, fashion shows , and a few commercials. I loved this lifestyle I went to all the cool parties in New York skipped the lines but one day It all just stopped.I realized there was a hunger within, that wanted adventure and new experience’ I was outgrowing my surroundings . What got me where I am today was my audacity of curiosity ,my spontaneous personality that was always seeking more thrilling experiences. A nomadic soul was who I was meant to become to learn that everything is art the trees, the birds and the bees it’s all connected to the infinite . My perseverance brought me back to my creativity I took a long break to reinvent myself. It all started with a little girl with a heart of gold who wanted peace in a loud world so she created her own reality that is vibrant and full of color.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve experienced many struggles losing my identity at a teenager, people rumors of me in the neighborhood and school that I felt I lost the essence of who I was .I cared too much about what others thought of me .Throughout my life I’ve had many trials that I thought I wouldn’t make it out of but here I stand . I did leave my home state at the age of 20 to go on a soul journey to learn who Ashlee is outside of my comfort zone.

I went through a series of life lessons far away from home that enlightened me and helped me heal my trauma and inner child . I moved to California in 2017 that’s the year of the most powerful spiritual experience I ever went through . Here I am in a new state where I can reinvent myself and create a new home for myself. I went through so much upheaval, fights with roommates, people stealing my checks out the mailbox from my acting gigs . Even though there were hard times, I had many blessings as well. Life isn’t an easy road it comes with hardship but it’s how you face it and never let it defeat you .

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a multifaceted artist, I specialize in Photography,Videography and Mixed Media Art. I’m proud of myself for the intentional healing of my inner child for the past 4 years that helped me tap back into creating art after 25 yrs of not painting due to suppressed trauma. I started practicing Nichiren Buddhism a friend introduced this practice to me . She wanted me to experience better days so she asked me to chant with her via FaceTime “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” and told me to ask for a goal that I would like to come true say it to myself In my minds eye as I chanted for 5 minutes. I asked for a creative job doing what I love I wasn’t get specific. I chanted and let it go and went on about my day. A week later I received a message on instagram from a woman asking “how much do you charge?” I was confused I just had a instagram page dedicated to pictures of the California sunsets, landscapes and 3 pics of my nephew and friend. I never had anyone ask me that because I wasn’t a photographer just a lover of photography but with my iPhone I created a niche called iphoneography .I didn’t have the slightest clue of how to charge for a shoot ,even tho I modeled for many years. I googled a price and sent it to her, next thing you know I’m doing a photoshoot for a meditation retreat on Santa Monica Beach. Just a week ago I chanted for a creative job doing what I love and here I am as a overnight photographer but I’ve always had the creative eye .

What sets me apart is that I manifested my collage vision board from my childhood into my reality, within one week after chanting Nam Moyho Renge Kyo. All those cutouts of models and photographs who knew I’d have this title ?! The Most high God did. It’s been 6 of being self taught photographer I’ve worked with influencers, brands, models and entertainers. Mixed media art came after I moved away from California to Raleigh NC I was manicured here by God after chanting to relocate. One morning I was restless and couldn’t get out of bed and I hear a voice say “MOVE ,MOVE MOVE” I’m all alone at my friends house and it startled me, so I got up and chanted and prayed for confirmation that this is Gods voice because I heard it in my minds eye. I needed proof to come in the form of signs and synchronicities. I was ready to move but at the time I was stuck between moving to Vegas or Chicago. A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to come out to Raleigh I told her I’d keep it in mind hence I use to live on Raleigh many moons ago I didn’t want to return.I changed and got ready for my day we were going to a Hot Spring this would be my first time. It was the most soothing, therapeutic experience that I needed. I’m paying attention to the nature sitting back awaiting the signs. As I’m relaxing in the hot spring a woman and her friend approach me and ask if I can take a picture of them . I take the pictures then all of a sudden it gets quiet and one of girls randomly says as she tilted her head staring off into the river “ I feel called to move to North Carolina” GIRL WHAT?!! I thought to myself this wasn’t the sign I meant God lol. I ignored the sign because there had to be another one for Vegas or Chicago. So the very next day my friend had a studio session and I go with her.The engineer comes in saying “ Hey guys I just got back from North Carolina ” Two random strangers just mentioned North Carolina back to back. Sure didn’t sound like Vegas or Chicago , I needed the signs for those states only. I was impressed by these signs , God always shows me things I need to know through signs and synchronicity but this time was so profound .A few days later as my friend and I are driving through Hollywood at night we pass by this tall building that had a huge sign that read RALEIGH STUDIOS in neon lights this was my final sign . I was just given the city and state by random strangers and a studio sign that happens to be the city where I use to live. I was astonished, I got my answer to where I was to move . A ticket was made for me and I was back in Raleigh,NC after 7 yrs of wanderlust . Soon as I touched down the nature captivated me I didn’t appreciate it when I was younger ..This is where I continue healing my inner child . I spent time in nature grounding my energy and dancing under the sun . I get asked by my friends mother “do you want to go with me to Michael’s? Sure! I ended up getting a few canvases and acrylic paint. I don’t know exactly what I was doing but I was inspired. Days and weeks went by and I would lock myself in the room and paint so much that people started ti inquire about the price of my paintings that I was posting on social media. This was a new level unlocked ,I’ve never had this experience in my life, all of my ideas for my paintings come to me intuitively. I’ll get a burst of colors come to my mind and I’ll rush to my notes in my phone and save the idea and then I’ll paint it. I’m so happy to be back creating after 25 yrs of lackluster .I’m proud of how far I’ve come with my art, it’s been a beautiful journey expressing my soul to the world no longer hiding my talent from myself and my peers .

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I took the risk of leaving my family to go on a journey of the soul. I was going through imposter syndrome and I had a thirst for adventure outside of my home state . If I never took that leap of faith I wouldn’t be here today evolving into the best version of myself . I made my way back home to little Ashlee the one who was kept in the dark but now unleashed out into the world. I’ve become a nomad with a Gypsy soul lead by God and my hearts desires. I gave the steering wheel to my inner child who deserves to see the view from the top , for the sun to kiss her face, and feel the breeze between her fingers this is who I do it for the risks and the dares of curiosity . If I never dared myself to dream as the little girl from Brooklyn, I wouldn’t be here today living a magical life of infinite possibilities.

Pricing:

• Lifetstyle/Portrait Phootshoot $100 per hr
• Videography: $125 per hr

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ashleesnapz
• Twitter: https://Twitter.com/ashleeelease
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashleeelease