Ashley Jacklyn (@jacklynlune.photos), also known as just Jacklyn, is a 31-year-old Indigenous mixed Boricua, based in New Jersey. She is a portrait photographer whose work centers around mental health expression, diversity and inclusion, and women forward storytelling. As someone who struggles with mental illness herself, Jacklyn acts as a mental health advocate and uses her imagery to express what she can’t say. We sat down with Jacklyn to learn about her journey, her creative visions, and how her cameras and lenses help her achieve her portrait dreams.

Photo by Ashley Jacklyn. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/125-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

We connect with portrait photographer Ashley Jacklyn to discuss her work on mental health expression, diversity and inclusion, and women forward storytelling.

Her Journey: Art As A Way To Help With Mental Illness


Jacklyn describes herself as always having been an emotional child. She remembers having her first panic attack when she was 11 years old. Jacklyn told us that she always used artistic pursuits to express herself, finding comfort in poetry, drawing, music, and painting. When she went to college, her depression and anxiety became much more extreme. She came back to art as a means for expressing herself. “It was really hard for me to connect with the world. I felt very stuck and I just started doing digital manipulation at first, and I started creating little photos that were representative of my dreams or my nightmares, because I had such vivid dreams. And then from there, once I graduated school, I kind of fell back into my old interest in photography.” 

Jacklyn began using her photography to express emotions she struggled with speaking aloud. She felt that it helped her connect with others and not be so isolated. She also used photography to form a structure in her days. Oftentimes with mental illness, it can be difficult to accomplish tasks, and sometimes even get out of bed. This was the case for Jacklyn, so she began posting photos of her outfits on Instagram every day. “I kind of created this routine where I would have to get dressed and do my makeup and take a photo. It wasn't creative in the sense of what I do now, but you know it did get me out of the apartment and gave my day purpose. So I did that for about two years straight.”

Photo by Ashley Jacklyn. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/125-sec., f/2.8, ISO 250

At that point Jacklyn started feeling bored with posting outfits and she wanted to push herself creatively. She was experimenting with what different kinds of photography were the most emotive for her. She dove into fantastical imagery, creating a scene with photos and post production. She also worked in fine art photography and eventually found her passion and niche in portraiture. “I always try to have something that incorporates the emotions and experiences that I'm going through or that my client wants to express. So that could be body dysmorphia and mental health complications, or something like that. And I try to find elements that can make other people connect with the person or subject and understand their struggles at the same time.”

This was a turning point for Jacklyn, “it pushed me out of my comfort zone when I was so stuck in my anxiety and my depression that I felt like there was no other way out. But art makes it a little bit easier and also I think it helps people understand mental health struggles a bit better because it makes it more palatable. And I think that that was something very important for me; to make what I was going through palatable for people because it can often be either romanticized or demonized. So I want my art to come from a neutral place. I want to show people, ‘I’m someone that is living with mental illness and I am still thriving. I may have bad days but I am still here and still pushing. It is possible to live with mental illness.’” 

Working Collaboratively & Professionally


Now, Jacklyn is a professional photographer with an emphasis on portraiture. She works with brands, editorial outlets and individual clients to collaboratively create images that tell a story. In her own fine art work, Jacklyn draws inspiration from anything and everything including her own emotional state, music, fabric and movies. When she works with a client she has a concept call and creates a mood board, she also co-owns a studio and she has the clients select which space they would like to shoot in, Jacklyn says this helps her conceptualize their vision.

Photo by Ashley Jacklyn. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/200-sec., f/4, ISO 1000

Jacklyn also finds it useful to get to the root of the photo shoot. “I always ask clients what their reasoning behind the photo shoot is. Oftentimes people are having birthdays and want to celebrate a specific milestone. There are certain people who are, you know, going through it with their bodies and just want to enjoy their bodies at that moment. Figuring those things out first helps us work together and helps me tell their story.” 

To make this creative vision come to life, Jacklyn relies on Sony gear. She recently upgraded her primary camera body from the Sony Alpha 7R III to the Sony Alpha 7R V. Her go-to lens is the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, she loves the ability to quickly shift perspectives and make the most out of her time with her clients. She also uses the Sony 50mm f/1.8, Sony 85mm f/1.8, and the Sony 35mm f/1.8. “I am a very petite person and so the lightweight and ergonomics of Sony cameras and lenses are really important to me. I used to use Sigma lenses, and those things are huge! Moving to Sony lenses has been a game changer. Plus, all the women I admire shoot Sony, so it was really a no-brainer.”

Advice From Lived Experiences


Jacklyn also loved the community she’s found through photography. She focuses heavily on inclusion, on both sides of the camera. We asked her what advice she’d give to aspiring photographers. “Be authentic and true to yourself but I think faking it to make it is a real thing. What I mean by that is, act like you have all the confidence in the world, work hard and gain a skill set but imposter syndrome is a real thing. So act like you’re sure of yourself and your art and that real confidence will follow.”

She continues, “And constantly be learning, it’s a lifelong process. We are all unique and your creativity is needed in the world, so keep pushing and don’t get discouraged. And I would also say, give yourself grace, perfection is not reachable and it actually takes the fun out of creating, so just have fun and put your own little spin on things!”

Photo by Ashley Jacklyn. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/200-sec., f/2.8, ISO 1000

In addition to uplifting photographers, Jacklyn wants to be an inspiration and advocate in the mental health space. She wants to spend her energy encouraging people who are struggling with mental illness to jump into something creative. “For me, being creative kind of separated me from being that person that was so fearful because it made me think of how I could create art out of my sadness and pain. And remember you can find beauty in the breakdown.” 

She also emphasized the importance of seeking help, if possible. If you are seeking help, you can access resources HERE and HERE.