Tuesday 13 October 2015

10 QUESTIONS WITH ASHLEY JENNETT OF THE STORK AND THE BEANSTALK



“The kitchen table is the quintessential area where it all goes down. Because my husband works from home, we spend many mornings together as a family eating breakfast, and later dinner. The record player and our record collection is directly behind the table and we all enjoy listening to music during this time as well - that is when the TV doesn’t win that battle because we all know the value a few moments of peace. We have a view of the ocean from our kitchen table as well and it’s nice to look out the window and see the sun setting... though you have to ignore the rush of cars travelling on the freeway, which is practically in our backyard, but the record player does a good - enough - job of that.”

Ashley Jennett of The Stork and the Beanstalk admits that she often stumbles when filling out forms requiring her to list her occupation. She works part-time as a hospital nurse to meet the practical needs of her life, but she also dedicates a lot of time to photographing families and weddings. The images she creates are moody and timeless, and imbued with beautiful light. “My heart resides with my photography,” Ashley says.

Last year she also opened a clothing shop The Bee & The Fox with her husband selling what has quickly turned into an iconic t-shirt. While the business has grown quickly, so too has the work for it, Ashley says. “Each job gives me a little something different and while I struggled for a long time about not being able to give 100 per cent to any one thing, I now appreciate each position for what it provides and view them collectively as having a symbiotic relationship, where each one is made better because the other exists,” she says. 

Ashley was born in Van Nuys, California, which is part of “The Valley” and the where the term “Valley Girl” was coined - thanks in part to Marilyn Monroe, who hung out in the Valley often. While Ashely has spent most of my life in Southern California, she spent five years “living independently and making a lot of mistakes” in San Francisco in her 20s. She’s now based in a small beach town called San Clemente, south of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. Ashley lives there with her husband, their two boys, a boxer dog, and a growing baby in her belly. 

“Like most, the path Ive traveled is not without its bumps and detours,” she says. “A huge part to any success I’ve encountered is the support I’ve received from my husband as well as a philosophy I’ve adopted in life to simply go with it and learn along the way. Some of my biggest mistakes and biggest heartaches have turned out to be the source of strength behind my biggest leaps forward.” 

1 As a child I used to wear... white cowboy boots. With everything. Including my girl scout uniform. 

2 My bedroom was... covered with posters my mom gave me from the 60s and beaded curtains. I’d also cut things out from magazines and tape them all over my walls. 

3 When I was a teenager I used to... think I knew it all. I was a bitch to my mom. Sorry, mom. I developed late and was all around pretty immature.

4 After high school I wanted to... know what it is what I wanted to do because the reality is I didn’t have a clue. 

5 A seminal moment was... having my heart broken by a guy who didn’t deserve me. I travelled the world shortly after that relationship ended and it was during that time I built the foundation of who I am today.

6 I never thought I would... be a mother to a girl. And so far, I’m not. We don’t know the gender of the baby in my belly and are hoping to hold off on finding out.

7 I’ve learnt to... eat leftover pizza. And the truth is, I now love it even better the next day.

8 I know... what I do and I don’t know what I don’t know.

9 I share because... it makes the world feel like a smaller place and I like the conversation and community aspect of it. 

10 If I had an unexpected morning to myself I would... sleep in. Then I’d like to think I’d have the energy to get up and clean... because a clean house is where it’s at. 


image courtesy of ashely jennett

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