Meet Ashley Ionetz | Co-Owner and Lead Photographer/Videographer

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

Hi Ashley, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I was younger, I (Ashley) was not a risk taker. I followed the rules and did what I thought everyone expected me to do. I went to school and got an office job at an automotive company but I always had a passion for photography and videography. I would do it for friends and family on the side but I was always daydreaming for the day that I was owning my own business. I didn’t even think that photography would be a possibility to do that. Entrepreneurship was not something I knew much about or had been taught about at all growing up.

A friend of ours offered to let us practice and film her wedding and we fell in love with it. I started promoting their wedding video and announced the official start of Diffuse Media. I was still working a full time job at that point and the week of mine and Austin’s wedding, I found out that I was being laid off. I decided to try not to dwell in the sadness of losing my job and take the biggest risk of my life, with a lot of encouragement from Austin: put my all into our business and looking back now, it has paid off in more ways than I ever could’ve imagined.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So, we are a destination wedding photography and videography business and I would definitely say what sets us apart the most is our style as well as our approach. Austin and I are both very laid back and really love to focus on candid, raw, and authentic moments from a wedding day that are typically missed. We specialize in warm and moody tones, grain, and film vibes. Our goal is for our films and photos to be emotional; to make you feel something when you watch or look at them.

I wouldn’t say that it was easy to get to where we are today. We had an unconventional route to get here: we were doing Diffuse Media on the side until 1 week before our wedding, I found out that I was being laid off. After about a month of looking for a new job and not being successful, we decided that it there was ever a time to go full force into being full time in our own business, now was that time. There were a lot of late nights, moments of self doubt and worrying if we were going to make it – especially during the pandemic – but we poured all of our heart into the business, invested in wedding education and mentorships, and relationships within the wedding community in our area. One of the biggest things we learned is how valuable relationships are and that community over competition is truly so true and important. We’ve met so many amazing people in our industry that have helped us so much and we’ve been able to help them as well. It truly is an awesome community that we are so proud to be apart of.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would first take them to one of our favorite coffee spots: either Dutch Bros or Xtreme Bean Coffee and then probably grab lunch at Cafe Zupas in Phoenix. After that, we’d head over to Papago Park and check out “Hole in the Rock” as well as the Phoenix Zoo. We would then take them over to Old Town Scottsdale to check out all of the best little tourist shops, as well as Fashion Square Mall. For dinner, we would go to Garcia’s – our favorite sit down mexican restaurant. The next day, we’d wake up early and get a cooler together to head out to Canyon Lake off of the Apache Trail in Apache Junction. On the way, we’d stop at Goldfield Ghost Town and check out all of the shops and maybe take the underground mining tour.. We’d enjoy the winding drive through the mountains to Canyon Lake and take it all of the views and have a beach day. We’d then head back into the city and probably check out Speedy Street Tacos in Phoenix, for our favorite street tacos. After dinner once the sun set, we’d go to “A Mountain” in Tempe, to climb to the top and get a full 360 view of Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc with the city lights. The next day, we’d have to make the trip to Sedona and show them the Mcdonald’s with the green arch, the chapel, and probably go hiking or take a jeep tour before ending with dinner and drinks at Mesa Grill in Sedona. We may take them to hike Camelback Mountain the next morning before it gets too hot if they like to hike and probably stop at Defalco’s for a nice lunch. We’d hope there was a concert going on at Rawhide and take them to that too.

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?
My biggest support system has been my husband, Austin. He is my business partner and he grew up with a lot of family and friends having a lot of entrepreneurship experience and doing things the more “non-traditional” route. He was always there telling me that I could do whatever I put my mind to: that if I wanted to own my own business, I could do it. He gave me so much encouragement and positivity during that time of being laid off and really going full force into being full force into working for myself. I also couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, and all of our wonderful clients that have stuck by us from the beginning when we barely knew what we were doing until now. We have the best support that we could ever ask for.

Website: www.diffuse-media.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/diffusemedia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diffusemedia

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq5_iFlajPOwhtb4vSSpIiw

Image Credits
Featured photo of us with our dogs is by Chelise Renee Photography www.chelisereneephotography.com All other photos are taken by us: Diffuse Media www.diffuse-media.com