Patrick Moates: Ashley Takes the Stage
“There is this huge rush of accomplishment […] you are at the peak of years of hard work and weeks of discipline and resilience.”
Text: VIONNE Magazine | Photographer: Patrick Moates (Rekall Media Group) | Model: Ashley Ellison
Power, Grace, and Grit at the Chattanooga Fitness Expo
At this year’s Chattanooga Fitness Expo, athlete Ashley Ellison took to the stage in peak form — not only showcasing her hard-earned physique but embodying the spirit of discipline, resilience, and passion. Captured through the lens of Patrick Moates, founder of Rekall Media Group, this editorial is a celebration of transformation, empowerment, and the community behind the spotlight.
In this exclusive VIONNE feature, we speak with both Ashley and Patrick about their journey, the highs and hurdles of competitive fitness, and the power of visual storytelling in this demanding yet rewarding world.
Interview with Ashley & Patrick
VIONNE: Ashley, you recently competed at the Chattanooga Fitness Expo – how did it feel to step on that stage and show the results of your hard work?
Ashley: When I first step on stage, there is an immediate rush of nerves and anxiety, but then you see the lights and the audience and people cheering. Then there is this huge rush of accomplishment that you’ve hit the pinnacle. You are at the peak of years of hard work and weeks of discipline and resilience. All those nerves disappear and it becomes your time to shine and show everyone else what you’re made of.
VIONNE: Tell us about your preparation — what was the biggest challenge physically or mentally leading up to this competition?
Ashley: Prep came to me surprisingly easy for this one. Once I make my mind up on something, I won’t let anything stop me until I reach my goal. I would say the hardest part though is trying to juggle other parts of life with prep, such as working, maintaining a social life, and sticking to the plan when life throws you curveballs.
VIONNE: From your perspective, how important is photography in showcasing the world of fitness competitions?
Ashley: I think it’s extremely important because as a competitor, I want the best parts of me captured to keep for memories, and photos that capture the total package so I can reflect on what needs to be changed next time. Having a photographer that understands the body and posing is key in what we do.
VIONNE: Patrick, you’ve been documenting the Chattanooga Fitness Expo since its second year. What draws you to this event and keeps you coming back?
Patrick: This is one of our most fun events. Our team got the photography gig in the events second year, and it was the first year my wife competed. Shawn was generous enough to take a chance on us and it’s been great to get to be a small part of his event. We’ve made so many new friends and met so many new people that we’ll be here as long as they’ll have us. We met Ashley here in our second year and her stage presence was second to none. Some of my favorite shots from that year were her stage photos and my wife and I have gotten to know her and work with her for the last few years.
VIONNE: Tell us a bit about your collaboration with event founder Shawn Whitfield — how did your team become the official photographers for the expo?
Patrick: One of my oldest friends and IFBB Pro Matt Davis approached me at the gym about the expo. I’d only met Shawn thru some mutual friends and once or twice at church events but we didn’t really know each other. Matt knew that I was relatively new into photography and asked how I’d feel about taking this on, knowing my wife was competing. He introduced me to Shawn and I said I was excited to do it. Shawn has been nice enough to allow us back every year since and this year we celebrated the fifth year of his show. We work hard every year much like all the athletes to get better and better. This year I feel like we delivered some of the best photos we’ve ever done.
VIONNE: What does it mean to you to capture and preserve these moments of personal achievement and transformation for each athlete?
Patrick: For us, we get to work with some of the top athletes in town. Every fitness photographer dreams of getting to capture some of these folks. When they frame their photos and hang them in the gym or tell us they hung them up at home it’s a huge win. Some become clients, some become friends and some become both. Bodybuilding is a part of our every day lives so getting to be a part of this event is a huge blessing for us. Photographers dream of seeing our work in print, on billboards and anywhere else. Like every other profession we just want to be seen and the Chattanooga Fitness Expo has helped us do that phenomenally.
Follow Patrick Moates | Rekall Media Group | Ashley Ellison
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