I thought I was going to be a famous actress. Probably not an A-lister in Hollywood, but someone who made a living on the stage and through small, but prolific character roles on tv or movies.
Let’s just say that I thought wrong.
Little did I know when I slowly began to phase out of theatre performance that my real artistic adventure had yet to begin. So how did it begin?
With a food blog, like all good photographic journeys! I got my first DSLR camera so that I could take better photos of cupcakes in my kitchen, while I worked hard to become the vegan Martha Stewart. (Another goal that I never quite achieved, although I can whip up a wicked dinner party, to this day).
In between all of my baking, cooking, and learning my basic camera settings, I was also getting married.
So how did I magically go from being an amateur food blogger with a camera to the top-rated Philadelphia wedding photographer that I am nowadays?
My cousin had a low-key, family-only backyard wedding in the Carolinas and I brought my camera for fun. I’d never been to North Carolina and I figured I’d take some fun vacation photos while I visited. Instead, I learned that my cousin didn’t have a photographer (like I said, it was low-key). And I decided that day that I would be her wedding photographer.
My camera was set to auto. I’d never photographed a live person before in my life. I definitely had no clue what I was doing.
But there was one thing that I understood more than anything. That having the moments to save was worth bearing with my complete lack of talent.
But whether I was any good or not (newsflash, I was terrible), I caught the bug. I started a short apprenticeship where I learned everything one SHOULD NOT do to be a successful wedding photographer, assisted on a few weddings, and before I knew it, I struck out on my own.
Even luckier, it was during this time period that I got to know Serena Parsons, who had second-shot my wedding. To this day, she’s one of the few people I’ll let photograph me. (Gosh, how have I gone from being center stage to being camera shy?!) I was so honored when she finally took on a regular role as an associate on our team in 2021! (You can learn more about her here!)
Shortly before my first wedding season on my own, I was at work slinging coffees when none other than Rachel Pray walked in. I had known Rachel from working together a few years prior – she was finishing up high school and pursuing a photography apprenticeship – so I asked her if she’d want to be my second shooter. Thankfully she said yes and it was the start of a fantastic decade-long journey that only ended with her cross-country relocation. (And now, as the owner of Delight & Be Photography, I’m able to count her as one of my business masterminding buddies!)
When Rachel & her family left Pennsylvania, there was a big void in my heart. But there was also a big void in our studio. Although our team had grown significantly through the years to include so many amazing people, I was suddenly behind the scenes doing it all myself. It wasn’t long before I knew that I wasn’t meant to do it all alone.
Thankfully, after five years assisting and shooting with the team, our current studio manager, Michelle was also ready to jump into a full-time role at the studio. Now, she’s the face behind our fun social media campaigns, the brain behind much of our website, and untimately, the person who keeps me grounded in reality. Ashley Gerrity Photography really doesn’t thrive with just me at the helm!
Here we are, years after our company was founded. Hundreds of weddings have passed, but one thing hasn’t changed.
The most important part of your wedding day is the moments that you’ll live through – we’re just there to capture it. And to capture it much more artistically than I could a decade ago.
Ready to have me and my crazy backstory at your wedding? Schedule a time to connect and talk more about your wedding day!
