Daily Inspiration: Meet Ashley Mckenzie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Mckenzie

Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After being waitlisted from my dream fashion school, I thought my life was over. Every plan I had made was suddenly down the drain, in this moment God introduced some of the most influential people into my life, that truly changed me forever. Going to concerts and being the “fangirl” had always been my thing growing up and it’s ultimately artists who I wanted to create for. Now I am… just in ways I could have never imagined. After meeting my friend Will while he was on tour as a photographer in April of 2024, I realized I could combine everything I loved and make a career out of it. This night ended up being the turning point in my entire life and career, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Since then, I have moved back to my hometown and photographed over 19 different shows, traveled over 3,000 miles, and had 3 of my articles published. The Raleigh music scene has been so welcoming and has allowed me to meet so many other talented creatives. These past 4 months are just a small taste of what you can do if you put your mind to it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the setbacks, and I am so excited to see what this next year has to come.

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 would be lying if I said it has been easy. You can’t survive in this career without connections, every show you go to is an opportunity that could change your life. You have to constantly network, and deal with rejection almost constantly. Art is subjective, and not everyone will be in love with your work, but I think that’s the beautiful thing about it. The moment someone gives you a chance, and believes in you, makes all hard days worth it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Being a proud fan myself, I aim to capture the impact of the artists music. I try to think back to how I feel seeing my favorite artists, What emotions did I feel? Crowd shots, interaction, life. They are the most important aspect of a concert. Without the fans, a live show would not be possible- I want to be able to capture this once in a lifetime connection between artists and their fan base. Details are everything, so much emotion and energy go into a show and I want to capture that in a single image.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
It’s not a shocker that my favorite memory was my first concert. I’ve been the biggest One Direction fan since before I can remember, and for my 15th birthday my mom drove my best friends and I to Nashville to see Harry Styles during his “Love on Tour.” Originally we all had seats in the nosebleeds, spread apart. My mom ended up being able to upgrade us so we could all sit together, and 20 minutes before the show started we found ourselves in the 100’s section. Closer than any of us could ever imagine. That night will forever be my favorite memory. We laughed, we cried, and we sung with thousands of other people who felt just as much love for the artist as I did. Being able to see the musician and person who single handedly got me through all the tough times, and brought me to my closest friends was so magical.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyymck