What does it actually look like to travel the world for work — and still choose northwest Georgia as home?

Ashlea Snell of Snell Photography has photographed weddings and commercial shoots across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond — with her work featured in People, Gardening Gun, and the New York Times. But when it came time to plant roots, she and her husband Tyler chose Dalton, Georgia. In this conversation, Ashlea opens up about building a business from a tax refund and a borrowed camera, the moment Tyler almost lost a $5,000 drone over the ocean in Maui, and why she believes the community you're looking for might just be waiting for you to reach out first. She also shares her heart for kids in foster care and how anyone — not just foster parents — can make a difference in Whitfield County.

Highlights

• Ashlea was one of the earliest supporters of the Dalton magazine, and her photography has been central to its vision from the start
• She and Tyler built their photography business from a single tax refund during their senior year of college — and booked 32 weddings in their first year
• The Snells moved to the Dalton area six years ago during COVID, drawn by proximity to family, Atlanta's airport, and nonstop international flights
• They renovated a home in Dalton's historic district — essentially taking it down to the studs
• Ashlea has volunteered as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Whitfield County for three years, advocating for children in foster care
• There are currently over 150 kids in foster care in Whitfield County — and there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster parent
• Ashlea's kids are already budding entrepreneurs: one is investing in stocks, another sold homemade hand sanitizer to classmates, and they're eyeing a table at the local farmer's market
• The Let Them theory by Mel Robbins reframed how Ashley thinks about building community — don't wait, just reach out
• Ashlea's favorite local spots include Native Kitchen, El Maguey, and Table 43
• The Snells attend church in Chattanooga but say leaving Dalton is hard to imagine — the community they've built keeps them rooted

Chapters

• 0:00 — Meet Ashlea Snell
• 1:29 — How We Connected
• 2:33 — Moving to Dalton
• 4:00 — Downtown Home Life
• 5:46 — Hawaii Drone Drama
• 9:05 — Dalton Magazine Vision
• 9:49 — Starting the Photography Business
• 13:41 — Favorite Destinations
• 15:40 — Why Dalton Feels Like Home
• 16:59 — Dalton Food Favorites
• 18:44 — Old Text Tease
• 19:05 — Brand Photos Memories
• 20:04 — Art and Community Investment
• 20:15 — CASA Foster Care Advocacy
• 23:24 — Wild Photo Shoot Story
• 25:20 — Favorite Local Finds
• 25:48 — Farmers Markets and Gardening
• 26:39 — Kids Entrepreneurship Lessons
• 29:03 — Staying in Dalton
• 29:51 — Community Building Mindset
• 32:07 — Closing Plugs and Local Love

Resources

• Snell Photography — Follow on Instagram at @thesnells_
• Native Kitchen — Ashlea's go-to local coffee and dining spot in Dalton
• El Maguey — Local Dalton restaurant recommended by Ashlea
• Table 43 — Dalton restaurant; Ashley's recent first visit was a hit
• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — Book Ashlea referenced on building community; available here
• Dalton Farmer's Market — Mentioned as a local favorite
• Ringgold Farmer's Market (Rabbit Valley) — A nearby market the Snell family also visits

Follow the show:

Instagram: @behere.dalton

Facebook: Here Magazine

LinkedIn: Here Local Media

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