Meet Asha Holmes | Freelance Interiors, Prop & Fashion Stylist

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

Hi Asha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

To be honest I didn’t really have a thought process in starting my own business. I was in some way forced to start working on my own. I was working for a popular, online furniture brand and they decided to transition to a 3D imagery process and I didn’t see myself sitting behind a desk moving furniture with a mouse. I started with the company in 2017 and fell in love with the physicality of styling actually. I didn’t want to sit at a desk all day. I loved moving and I just came from the buying world and knew my creativity was best used with my hands creating beauty in front of the camera

Making beautiful pictures was my passion and I didn’t want to give that up. Working in the photo studio with other creatives was amazing so I said I’m not going to move forward as a 3D stylist with them and took a big leap (and risk) to work for myself. I didn’t know how I was going to do it and it was a lot of listening to my gut as well as other creatives/colleagues who decided to do the same. I relied on my connections, my friends and family, positive affirmations and reassurance, and then my talent. I freelanced with the same furniture company I quit at first and then met more and more creatives who saw my talent and they started to reach out to work with other companies. It was an amazing snowball effect and there I was working for myself and happy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am so proud about how far I’ve come in the few short years I have been full time styling. I never gave up on my dream once I realized this is what I wanted. It’s never been easy especially when I decided to work for myself and I still second guess myself and think this isn’t for me but what’s usually when I get an email about a possible job or get a compliment on my work and I remember I am really good at what I do. My biggest challenge is to remember that I am really good at what I do. When you go sometime without getting contacted about a job or not being able to accept a job for a number a reasons, I start to think “wow I’m not good at this”, “they hate me” or “this will be the last time the ask me” and I have to remind myself that what is for me I will get. At the beginning of the pandemic I really got into affirmations and just recently more into manifesting and journaling. It has helped remind me that I am worthy and successful. That is something I have to say everyday to myself. I can’t compare myself to other freelance stylists. I am not them and they are not me. I am worthy and successful.

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.
My favorite place to tell people about in Boston is The Cookie Monstah. They have a food truck as well as multiple locations. Their cookies are so yummy that I had them at my wedding reception. They are perfect. I also recommend going to Max and Dani’s, characters from the film Hocus Pocus, house as well as the complete Hocus Pocus tour. I LOVE Halloween so it was the highlight of my life when I went to visit and I cannot wait to go again. I also love walking throughout the Boston Commons and down Newbury street. It was my favorite thing to do in college and my first retail job was on Newbury Street so it has many memories there.

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 shout out to my friend Kortney Gloska who I met in 2017 while we were both working for a popular online furniture brand. When we first met we just clicked automatically. We loved the same things and hated the same things. I loved working with her on set because she helped me gain so much confidence in myself and my styling capabilities when I was just starting out.

With every career decision I am met with, I have asked her opinion and guidance. We just get each other creatively. She is one of my favorite photographers to work with because I think she brings the best out of me and reminds me that I’m awesome when I forget. She is extremely talented and I am lucky to have worked with and to know her.

Website: https://www.ashajanelle.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha_janelle/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashaholmes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asha.janelle

Image Credits
Living Room & Bedroom Photographer: Chelsea Nye Bed sheets Photographer: Kortney Gloska Male Model: Rosey Campbell Photographer: Melissa Shanahan Blankets in chair & portrait of myself in pink Photographer: Lindsey Sweeney Pink coat model: Bara Holotova Photographer: Anthony Grasseti HMU: Arturo Draper Art Direction: Evan Crothers White dress model: CeCe Yost Photographer: Steph Larsen HMU: Arturo Draper Art Direction: Melissa Dunne Photo of me steaming rugs Photographer: Christopher Webber