We recently had the chance to connect with Ashley Di Si and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I would have to say having the free time to work on house projects and spend time with my family is what I am enjoying the most right now outside of work. I fell into the hustle culture and put my mental, physical, and spiritual health as well as my family on the back-burner right after my son was born for about a year. He is 4 now and I have gotten to the point where I have found balance and the courage to say “no” and not overdo it all the time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a lifestyle family and portrait photographer based in St. Petersburg, Florida. I photograph families, couples, elopements, graduates, boudoir, and anything lifestyle. Freezing moments in time, good and bad, for people and giving them something they can look back on generations later is something I don’t take lightly. Our photos will outlive us and be something our future family members will tangibly have of our memories and legacy.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
As a Christian, I would definitely say my relationship with God is what has shaped my value and identity. I struggled with a lot of identity issues as a teen when I was running in every direction but His. Now as an adult, I see myself and others through an entirely different lens (no pun intended) having a relationship with Jesus.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I would say the deepest wounds in my life have come through words. As a child, I was bullied and can still remember nearly every cutting thing that was said about me or to me. Later, unhealthy relationships—both friendships and romantic ones—echoed those same lies, showing me just how much brokenness exists in the world. For a long time, I carried those words as truth, convincing myself that I wasn’t good enough, that people only tolerated me rather than truly valued me.
But my faith has been the turning point. Through it, I’ve been able to release those lies and rewrite the narrative I once believed about myself. What once bound me no longer has power over me. I now walk in the confidence that I am loved, worthy, and free.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. For a long time, I lived like a chameleon, shifting who I was depending on where I was or who I was with. But now, what you see is truly who I am. There’s no split between the public and private version of me—what I carry in my heart is the same thing I live out loud.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is that I showed up with intention. That I was present for the moments that mattered, both big and small. That my word could be trusted, and that I loved deeply and without judgment. More than anything, I want my life to be remembered as a reflection of my faith—because every act of love, every promise kept, and every moment of presence flowed out of that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleynicolephotosstpete.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashleynicolephotos_stpete
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/ashleynicolephotos.stpete
