Ashley Jones is the driving force behind Love Not Lost – an organisation supporting people in grief and helping people heal by connecting portrait photographers with families facing a terminal diagnosis.

Ashley, through Love Not Lost, is on a mission to revolutionise the way we heal in grief by preserving memories for those they love – at no cost to them.

Ashley and her husband have endured this same grief when they lost their beautiful daughter, Skylar.

Their friends gifted them a portrait session to help preserve her memories. At the time, Ashley didn't realise how powerful these photos would become. They gave her a way to hold onto her baby girl.

Big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring and making this episode possible. If you'd love to have your post-processing after every shoot done for you – in minutes and at super affordable costs (around 5c/image) you need to take a look at ImagenAI.

Photo by Sarah Harms

Here’s some of what we cover:

• What is Love Not Lost


• Misconceptions about grief


• How Ashley coped with the grief of losing her daughter


• How Ashley started her photography business


• How to start a non-profit organization


• Sourcing funds to run the non-profit


• Bridging the gap between people who wanted to help and the people who are suffering


• Finding photographers to volunteer for Love Not Lost


• Things to consider before sending off photographers to families


• The training each photographer goes through before photographing terminally ill clients


• The booking process


• Post-processing


• Discussing copyright


• Using pain to support other people


• Loving people better through employing diverse photographers

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Ashley had to share?

As we experience losses throughout our lives, we want people to feel loved and supported. – Ashley Jones

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ashley or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

My hope with Love Not Lost is that we can kind of combat the pain cycle in the world by stepping in and really loving people even in the midst of their suffering. – Ashley Jones

When we can step in and love people, that's when the healing happens. – Ashley Jones

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Love Not Lost Website

How Can I Love You Better Website

Love Not Lost on Facebook

Love Not Lost on Instagram

Love Not Lost on Twitter

Stefanie Finnemore

ImagenAI – artificial intelligent photo editing for professional photographers

ShootProof

WPPI Expo

Photo by Tessa Marie

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Ashley for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing her thoughts, expertise, views and ideas.

The thing about grief is that it's just love in another form. – Ashley Jones

Also, big thanks to ImagenAI for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for the easiest, cheapest, fastest way to replicate yourself in regards