Meet Ashley Chavez | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Chavez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, how do you think about risk?
As an up-and-coming Latina artist from Pomona, CA, choosing to pursue this path was a bold risk from the start. Coming from a background where that path wasn’t seen as ‘safe’ or realistic, every step of my creative journey has involved taking risks—whether it was committing to photography, graduating from ArtCenter, or continuing to create even when financial stability was uncertain.

I’ve always had big, sometimes unconventional ideas, and I’ve learned to trust my instincts and figure out how to bring them to life. For me, risk isn’t about being reckless—it’s about trusting my vision, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. I’m still on the continuing journey of establishing myself as an artist, but each risk I’ve taken has helped me stay true to my voice and keep pushing forward, even when the path hasn’t been clear. Risk is about stepping into the unknown with confidence. It’s an essential part of growth and pushing myself beyond what feels comfortable. I believe it’s where the magic happens—creating work that’s true to who I am.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is deeply personal and rooted in nostalgia, identity, and storytelling. I’ve always been drawn to creating images that are cinematic and full of emotion, yet still feel authentic and relatable. I love capturing moments that are both visually striking and emotionally meaningful—images that stay with you. What excites me most is creating work that resonates with people on a deeper level, something that sparks connection or inspiration.

I’m most excited by the fact that I don’t limit myself to just one niche—I think that makes me unique. I like to photograph a little bit of everything, depending on the project. I love when I get to create something that taps into nostalgia—it lights me up and fuels my hope that one day, I’ll see one of my images up on a billboard.

Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. Even after graduating from ArtCenter, I’ve had to work hard just to keep things afloat. I work at the Hollywood Palladium—which I genuinely love—and I’ve made some amazing connections there. But I also work a second job, and to be honest, juggling both doesn’t exactly make the life of a photographer easy. Still, I’ve kept going. I’ve gotten through the challenges by taking each project step by step—budgeting where I can and sometimes receiving support from people close to me.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust my instincts and, most importantly, never let the passion burn out. I might not have all the resources I want right now, but I’m actively working toward saving up for the proper equipment that will allow me to focus more fully on my photography.

What I want people to know about me and my work is that it’s real. I’m not chasing trends—I’m chasing stories, emotion, and visuals that leave an impact. I’m inspired by the kind of key art that makes me stop and think, *“That’s badass,”* but also makes me wonder about the process behind it—how it was built, lit, styled, all of it. That’s what excites me. I want to create that kind of work—something that not only looks amazing but also shows care, intention, and imagination. And if it inspires someone else along the way, that’s the most rewarding part.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend came to visit, I would love to hit ‘em with the LA bougie our — but realistically, it’s just not in my budget at the moment. Unless they really wanted the tourist spots, in which case, sure, I’d try to accomplish it for them, of course. But if I had a separate day to show them what matters to me, I’d take them through my side of SoCal, where I grew up and what shaped me.

-Downtown Pomona: We’d kick things off by exploring the antique shops, especially the three-story (Pomona Antique Mart). I go there all the time to unwind — it’s lowkey one of my favorite forms of self-care. I like to dig for old camera gear I might actually use, and sometimes I’ll find a dope vintage jacket or bag that still has some life in it.

-The Glass House After that, We would walk straight over to (The Glass House Pomona). That spot is legendary to me. I grew up in the metal scene, and that venue shaped so much of who I am. I saw some of my favorite bands there, like Motionless in White back when they were just starting out. That spot really introduced me to the metal scene and gave me a space to feel like I belonged.

-Rad Coffee: From there, we’d hit (Rad Coffee) in Covina, CA — they’ve got these insane cereal-flavored drinks, and the whole vibe is spooky, punk, and a little chaotic, which honestly is a total vibe. We’d mess around on the pinball machines and just kick it.

-And just to show a little bit of LA, we’d make a stop for some ramen. At (Shin-Sen-Gumi) in Little Tokyo — it’s perfect for a cozy meal after walking around the area. Plus, being into anime, we’d definitely enjoy soaking in the vibe of Little Tokyo, checking out the shops, and maybe even stopping by a few anime spots.

-Oak Tree Lanes: Then it’s off to (Oak Tree Lanes) in Diamond Bar, CA — that’s my family’s go-to spot. We’d bowl a few games, grab drinks, and crush their pizza, wings, and fries (which hit way harder than they need to, if I’m being real).

-Huntington Beach: And to end the day? We’d pull up just as the sun is setting, grab a bonfire pit, blast some music, make s’mores, and just vibe out by the water. That ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, and good people around — that’s the perfect way to close out a day that’s all about showing love to the places that raised me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to the amazing photo staff at ArtCenter in the labs/office and a shoutout to a few photo professors from ArtCenter who really made an impact on me. Their support and encouragement helped me stay focused and pushed me to keep showing up and taking my work seriously.—even when things felt uncertain. My best friend has also been a huge part of my journey—always pushing me to keep going, reminding me of my worth, and showing up through all the highs and lows. And I have to recognize the talented creatives I’ve surrounded myself with. Being around people who are incredibly good at what they do has challenged me to grow, think bigger, and keep evolving. All of these people deserve real recognition in my story—they’ve helped shape the artist I’m becoming.

Website: https://www.ashleychavez.com

Instagram: @ashbchavez

Other: ashleychavezphoto@gmail.com

Image Credits
all images are my own.

A huge, thank you to the photo assistants, digi techs, stylist, and makeup artist who helped bring these images to life — couldn’t have done it without them.