On my blog you can find featured galleries, tips and tricks for your upcoming session as well as  mini session information and the occasional personal update. Feel free to comment on  the post with any questions or contact me directly at info@ashleyflugphotography.com. 

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9 Tips for Preparing for Your Summer Session

You know we’re ready for a hot summer, but are you? Here are nine ways you can make sure your summer portrait session goes off without a hitch.

  1. Dress appropriately. Summer means hot and humid weather, which can lead to sticky bodies. Choose breathable, lightweight fabrics that don’t weigh you down. As for shoes, sweet flats or loafers are a great option. Check out our summer outfit ideas on the blog!
  2. Consider doing your session at the lake or river to dip your feet in and keep cool. Plus, at the end of your session you can get in and have a water fight with your family! How fun does that sound?
  3. Think about your hair. If you or a family member’s hair reacts to humidity in a negative way, opt for a hairstyle that won’t leave you feeling insecure. For example, a pretty braid or an updo is a good choice. Or you can wear a headscarf, or use a little extra product to keep frizz at bay.
  4. Pack necessities. When packing your photo shoot necessities, we recommend bringing the following items: Lots of water for all, a snack for sustenance, sunscreen, umbrella for shade, water mister, makeup touchup.
  5. Get creative with session ideas. Summer offers a host of activities that lend themselves to amazing photo sessions. For example, there’s the fair (elephant ear, anyone?), the circus, festivals, and plenty more. I’d be more than happy to shoot a really creative session with you.
  6. Think about head to toe details. For example, if you’re wearing flip-flops or open toed shoes, you want to have manicured feet. If it’s really breezy, a hat or scarf can keep things under control.
  7. Rest assured knowing I won’t let you overheat. Sometimes it’s hard just to walk outside when it’s scorching outside, but know that we’re going to have an amazing shoot. We’ll spend lots of time in the shade, dive into the cool A/C when we can, and I will never push your family into staying longer than they can or want.
  8. Incorporate props. Outdoor summer shoots are loaded with imagery as is, but we can always incorporate a few props into the mix. Vintage step stools in a field look gorgeous, as do blankets, and even visually striking treats (lollipops, ice cream, etc.).
  9. Want to skip the heat in general? Well lets do a in-home lifestyle session! I will photograph your family in your home baking goodies, hanging out with the kiddos reading or playing your favorite family game. The options are endless.

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June 24, 2018

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How to eliminate fake smiles during your session

Kids are completely unpredictable. They can be so adorable and easy going and laughing uncontrollably one minute, and the next minute, turn that charm off it all completely off completely. They will typically smile for you all day long until you put them in front of a camera, then they freeze up like a deer in headlights. We want to avoid the gritted teeth and bug-eyed forced smiles during our session.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Make a list of things that your child thinks are are funny and send it to us prior to the session. This way, we can be prepared and add these things into our bag of tricks.
2. Also give us a list of icebreakers for your child. Tell us the kinds of shows they watch, music they listen to, friends’ names, favorite story, etc. This will give us something to talk to them about, and will help them to forget that they’re are in front of the camera.
3. Practice phrases at home to see which ones will evoke the best smiles from your child. Reverse psychology works really well, for example, “(Child Name) don’t look at the camera, don’t smile (Child Name)!”. It works for some and for others it does not. Please, oh please, avoid “Say cheese!” unless that really works for you child.
4. Try out a couple of jokes with them. During the session, we can ask them to tell us a joke and this will typically loosen them up as they tell it to us.
5. If there is a song that your child loves, load it up to your phone and bring it along with you, or be prepared to sing it for them during the session.
6. Bring along a bribe (such as a toy, a trip to the zoo, etc.) and show it to them, or remind them of it, during the session. Feel free to check out our blog post the power of bribery.

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June 19, 2018

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Pre-Session Warm Up ~ The importance of Photographer-Child Interaction

I just wanted to take a minute to talk about the importance of the pre-session warm up. What is this, you might ask? This is the photographer-child interaction time that occurs before we begin the session. I always suggest that you show up a little bit early, maybe 10 minutes, to your session so we have this time to get to know each other. Especially with young children, it’s going to be a little bit scary interacting with someone they’ve never met before. We want to ensure we can really show off your child’s personality, so we want him or her to be comfortable with us and with the environment.

If we were to just throw them into the middle of the session and there’s this stranger with a camera jumping around trying to get them to look and smile, your child is going to tense up and there may even be confusion. We really just want everything to run smoothly.

If you can arrive early, this will give me time to introduce myself to your child, and to try to get a vibe on how the session will go. Some children warm up right away, while others need the entire warm up time to start to feel comfortable and come out of their shells. And that’s OK.

After I introduce myself, I will try to get to know your child. I’ll ask questions about what they like, what they don’t like, sing songs, maybe play a game, etc. Just to break the ice a little, so by the time the session starts, your child is happy and more familiar with me. Making sure you’re there early enough to have this time is probably one of the most important tips I can give you for your child’s session.

Once we’ve done a session and your child realizes that I’m not scary and we have fun together, the next session shouldn’t need much warm up time at all, if any. But for the very first session together, it is a must.

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June 11, 2018

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Check out these perfect swimsuits for underwater sessions this summer!!!

My family and I spend A LOT of time by the pool and at Lake Pleasant during the summer and I must say, I am obsessed with @swimzip swimming suits! With summer here I thought I would share them with you because they are seriously great! Plus they will be perfect for underwater photos this summer.

I have two great swimming suits by Swim Zip and I am amazed by the quality. They are some of the best swimming suits I have ever had for my daughter. I love how many different ways the three piece can be worn and I love how much coverage the surf suit has. Might I add that they are UPF 50+ sun protection and have a great variety of swimming suits to choose from for girls, boys and women! Check out some adorable photos of my daughter below.

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Find more adorable swimsuits at www.swimzip.com

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May 17, 2018

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5 Photos Every Parent Needs of Their Child

Having a child is one of the best experiences life can give you. They grow up so quickly, which is why it’s so important to cherish every little moment and milestone.
For parents, photography is a saving grace since it’s the one thing that helps them capture and preserve some of their favorite moments in the lives of their children. Below is a list of photos that you definitely don’t want to miss out on as a parent.

1. The lifestyle newborn shoot. You will never get this time back again so capture every little bit of it. Capture your baby as they dose or grab a shot of those tiny little feet. You can even snap a photo of them in that cute little onesie that grandma bought him.
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2. The family shoot. Capture the time when your little one loves to play, is walking around and loves to cuddle with mom and dad.
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3. The birthday parties. Every birthday is a milestone but their first birthday party is definitely one of the most special, don’t miss out on that photo opportunity.
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4. The sibling shoot. If you’re adding a new member to the family, getting some shots with all your children together is a must.
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5. The holiday shoot. Whether it’s for your yearly holiday card or you simply love celebrating holidays surrounded by your loved ones, holiday shots are up there with the have-to-haves.
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If you can’t resist any of the above options but you don’t feel the need to have a full photo session for each of them, you can always opt for mini sessions, which are affordable and give you a handful of amazing images to treasure.

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April 26, 2018

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Why you need a mommy and me photo session

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The bond between a mother and a child is unlike any other, one that can be beautifully captured with a camera. But if you are anything like me, you are always the one behind the camera in family photos and hardly ever in them. Even when we have our family photos professionally taken, I am always too busy worrying about everyone else and do not get to relax and enjoy the photo session. The photos also tend to focus more on the kids and I hardly ever get to capture moments of us being ourselves.
I have recently been reminded that life is truly precious and filled with moments we sometimes take for granted. I want to be in more photos with my children and this is why I have come to realize how important my Mommy and Me photo sessions are. Now is the perfect time to capture memories with your children, regardless of where you or your kids are in life.
We want to make this photo session work for you, so whether you want a few photos with your children, or you simply want some memorable pictures of you and your own mother; we are here to guide you. This is your chance to get creative and really make a photo session about you and your kids and the special bond that you share.

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Bring along anything that will make you all feel comfortable and will help you spend some time together as we do our job. For example, you might want to bring a blanket and some of your daughters favorite books so that we can capture your snuggles and story time. Maybe you want to stop and grab some ice-treats with your son or bring along a game that you both enjoy playing. This is all about creating a space where you can enjoy being together so that we can perfectly capture these moments for you.
If you are looking for an alternative to the traditional family portraits, the Mommy and Me portraits are ideal. While a family portrait can be a wonderful way to capture those special moments of you and your children through the years, it does require some extra effort to get everyone together and in the same place. A Mommy and Me photo session is easier to style and coordinate.
I love that Mommy and Me portrait photography is intimate and sweet with very little fuss. These sessions do not take very long and will free up your schedule to spend more quality time together. These sessions provide a space where those natural interactions and emotions can play out, resulting in a mini time capsule of your current relationship. You might even want to make this an annual tradition so that you can beautifully document the relationship with your children.

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I’m delighted to announce that I’ve carved enough time out of my schedule to host “Mommy and Me” mini sessions, to be held at a location in the west valley on April 28th, 2018. Only 5 spots available! Because I think it’s so important to celebrate mother’s, these session are only $175 which will include 15 minutes time and 5 digital images. PLUS, everyone who books will get a free 5×7 print of their choice. I anticipate these will book quickly, so email me to book yours! info@ashleyflugphotography.com

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April 9, 2018

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4 Photo Craft Projects Your Kids Will Love

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Cute ways to incorporate photos into your arts & crafts.

Children love to be creative. Whether it’s finger painting on a Saturday morning or a new spaghetti portrait of the dog, arts and craft projects are a fantastic way to not only get them to have some fun by exerting those creative juices but it’s also great for keeping them busy for a while.

If you’re always taking photos and are looking for new ways to display them, incorporating your latest shots into your child’s next arts and craft project is the perfect way to do just that.

Below are some fun ideas.

  1. Frame your memories. There are so many fun frames that you can make with your children that can be used to display your favorite If you’re heading to the seaside for your next holiday, make a point of bringing back a few shells that can be used to create a cute frame.
  2. Create a jigsaw puzzle. Choose one of your favorite photos, enlarge it and print it. Stick the photo on some sturdy cardboard and coat it with an acrylic spray to protect it. Cut out some puzzle shapes and let your child put the photo back together again.
  3. Craft a fridge magnet. Get your child to draw something from their imagination but leave a space for a photo in the picture. Laminate the drawing and attach magnetic sheets or tape to the back for an instant photo frame for your fridge.
  4. Make a mobile. A mobile is a unique way to display your family tree. Checkout sites such as Pinterest for inspiration. There are tons of creative templates to use.

Using family photos in your next arts and crafts session is the perfect way to bond with your child and share some beautiful memories. Have fun!

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February 27, 2018

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Unique photo session ideas you will love

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There is nothing quite like capturing memories with your loved ones. Are you someone who enjoys taking beautiful pictures of you and your family? Then you are probably always on the lookout for inspiration for your next photo session. Below are some unique photo ideas that you’ll love.

  • Family history. Are you a fan of the photos that your grandparents or even great grandparents have taken? Why not replicate them yourself? All it takes is a bit of editing and you can achieve the same look and feel.
  • First and last day of school. For the first day of school, get some fun pictures of your child getting ready. You can then do the same on the day that they graduate from high school so that you can create an amazing “before and after” picture. You can even choose to add on college photos later.
  • Generational photos. Photos are one of those items that are passed down through generations so why not create one that future family members can treasure. Take a photo with your daughter, mom and grandma to show the generations of women in your family or any other mix of family members that you want to place in a picture together.
  • Pregnancy pictures. There are many fun ways to show your progress through pregnancy and documenting it with photos is the perfect way to capture this time in your life. Years from now you’ll be able to take your child through your journey before you got to meet them and share that special moment with them.
  • Pet portraits. If your pet is a member of your family then capturing memories with them is just as important. There are so many great ways to take some amazing photos whether it’s outside at a park or in the comfort of your own home.
  • Save the date. Getting married in the near future? Taking a quirky couple photo where your wedding date is displayed is a lovely way to invite people to your wedding. You can do anything from writing the date on the bottom of your shoes to using chalkboards or balloons to display the date.
  • Gender reveal. Why not make finding out the gender of your baby a fun surprise for everyone by turning it into a fun photo that you can send around. Some cute ideas include releasing pink or blue balloons out of a box or you could incorporate a cute color frame to hold around your belly.

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February 24, 2018

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Welcome to my new website and blog!!!

Ashley Flug Photography's new website and blog is now live

Hey you!

I am so excited you came to check out my new website and blog. I have worked hard on getting my website where it is today so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Please know that I did have to start a new blog, unfortunately, but I will be adding posts often so make sure to come back and check out the latest tips & tricks for your session as well as styled mini sessions and discounts! I hope you have a great day and thank you for stoping by!

If  you have any issues that you come across or questions please feel free to contact me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com.

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February 21, 2018

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The best way to book a session or get in touch is by filling out the contact form. I look forward to hearing from you!

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