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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While having professional images taken can be uncomfortable for both men and women, men tend to find posing properly a bit more challenging. While women have a wide range of tools at their disposal to help them feel more confident and relaxed during a shoot, men don’t always have this same advantage. To help all the gentlemen out with pulling off a successful shoot consider these simple posing tips to guide you along.
The first thing you want to determine is the kind of look or attitude you want to portray through your images. While you most likely want to look masculine do you just want to come off as a tough guy? Depending on what you will use your images for you might want to go with a more friendly or relaxed looked. Knowing the goal of your images will make it easier for you and your photographer to come up with the right poses.
The most common pose men find themselves in is one that crosses the arms in front of them. This pose, however, can often give off an intimidating impression and doesn’t work with all images. An alternative to crossing your arms in front of you could be holding your hands together in a fist by your waist. For a more relaxed look try placing your hands or just the thumbs in your pocket. You can also have one hand in your pocket while the other holds your coat over your shoulder.
Most men tend to lean to one side whether standing or sitting. Leaning against a wall or railing or slightly leaning to one side with your hand on a chair or desk can give off a more relaxed and welcoming persona. If you want to stick with a more masculine stance make sure you keep your weight equally distributed on both feet.
February 19, 2019
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The birds are chirping, the buds are blooming, and the cold is finally going away. That means it’s time for your spring family session. Here are a few wardrobe tips to ensure the whole gang looks smashing:
Did you know that outfits choices can create a whole different look for your photos? There are so many different ways that you can dress your family for an upcoming depending on the look you are going for. You can do a casual look, which is great, but did you know that by adding a blazer and some nice shoes for the men or going with a skirt and a statement jewelry piece for the women can take your photos to the whole next level?
I have included some additional clothing tips below that will help you find the right outfits for your upcoming session, and trust me when I say that outfits play a big part of how your final images look!
With my photography style, light or pastel colors photograph best verses darker colors. Whites, light pinks, light blues, light yellow etc. Please avoid neon colored clothing as it will cast weird colors onto your skin.
For the ladies: Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! We recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two instead.
Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, plains or beach. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images.
When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, we’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses photograph beautifully, but if you have little ones in your photos, a floor-length dress or skirt, or perhaps a cute midi-skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera, too.
For the men: Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals, tennis shoes and jeans at home, too, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants or fitted colored pants work best on camera. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. We also recommend staying away from graphics and logos. Solid color button ups will be your best bet for the men.
Please let me know if you need any help planning your session outfits. Feel free to text me photos of your outfits and I can help point you in the right direction.
February 13, 2019
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I’ve gone ahead and given you some tips to ensure your day is stress free and flawless for your spring session. Listen up!
Spring can be finicky in the sense that you can go from frigid to over heated in a matter of minutes. I suggest wearing layers — tank top, tee shirt, cardigan, scarf, etc. That way each family member can peel off, or add, a layer as they see fit and remain comfortable throughout the session.
You better believe I’m going to take advantage of the fresh, warm air and all those bud popping up from the ground and in the trees. If you have any favorite locations, let me know. I have a nice list on hand, myself.
Fresh pops of green, blue, pink and yellow are always a hit in the springtime. I recommend choosing a color theme for the whole gang, then slightly deviating from that with accessories to keep things interesting. Keep an eye out for my “what to wear for spring photos” blog post.
Choose jewelry, scarves, or prints that play into the spring theme. Butterflies, flowers, insects, etc, can make for some super adorable family pictures.
Book a session too early and you may miss out on those spring buds. Book too late and you’ve already wandered into summer territory. Keep an eye on the weather and give me a call when the time is right. I will also be posting spring mini sessions on dates that make for the best images.
Spring offers some beautiful backdrops where props blend in perfectly. For example, old wooden chairs look stunning in a sea of blooming rose bushes, a fresh bouquet of flowers to hold or have the boys had out to the girls is so adorable, and a quilted blanket is lovely on the fresh, green grass.
Spring can often mean a soggy ground, so flip-flops or heels are not the best choice. Instead, wear something that’s comfortable and spring appropriate, like loafers, flats or boots.
February 9, 2019
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Mini Sessions for this month are pretty amazing!!! I have some amazing locations with some adorable props and I am so excited to offer something new and fun this year!
These sessions are short and sweet and are sure to keep everyone happy! These Mini Sessions can be used for family, children, maternity and mommy & me. I will even help you style your outfits to make for timeless images. Maternity sessions include complimentary gown rental from my client closet.
If you cannot make these, don’t worry, I have another date coming up in March in Glendale as well as one in April in Gilbert.
To book your session email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com, fill out the contact form under the contact tab above or select your date and time in the scheduler below.
I hope to see you there!
February 8, 2019
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Family photos make your house feel more like a home. They add a loving touch to any room and can bring make a flood of warm and happy memories. While you can go the traditional route of simply placing your photos in a frame and displaying them on the mantle or shelf you might be looking for a more creative way to show off your professional images. Whether they are pictures from your wedding day or images of your family as it has grown over the years consider these creative ways to showcase the people you love.
A simple alternative to display your images is hanging them on a wall instead of leaving them on a shelf. You can create an accent wall in any room that showcases your photography. One way you make your wall of photographs a little different is to include words framed next to the images. Love, laughter, and family are all words you can have creatively written and added to your wall mural.
Instead of just hanging your images in the typical square or rectangle shape consider other shapes as well. Hearts, circles, and triangles can be a unique way to display your images on the wall and can be framed or unframed.
Find some large oval, square or circle frames that you can run string through or attach thin lines of corkboard to. You can then pin or use clothespins to hang a number of images along each row. While you can do this with any of your images this is a really great idea for black and white photos.
This is a simple way to add some more color to your room as well as draw attention to your images. If you are using a frame that has a border, the border is typically black or white, consider going with a fun color instead.
February 3, 2019
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I planned a weekend in Flagstaff this January and I knew I had to finally put a vision I had into reality. I was so happy when Jennifer and her family were available to come up to the snowy pines to be photographed. Jennifer is expecting another little boy leaving her and Lily the only girls in a home that is already run by boys.
Paxton (7), Oliver (5) and Lily (3) are so excited to get to hold and sing to their baby brother. Jen said that everyday the kiddos come up to her belly and say “hello’. give it a kiss and little Lily loves to tickle her belly. How adorable is that?!?
When I asked Jen what dad has done for her during her pregnancy here is what she had to say, “He is always really in tune with what I need! Whether that’s a back or foot rub, or some Mexican food, he always provides. On the weekends sometimes I get to sneak in a couple extra hours of sleep and that is the best! I’m so thankful for him!” Way to go Jay!
Check out the images from their adorable session below.
Read more kind word here.
January 29, 2019
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Welcome back, guys and gals!
I recently had a stupendous session with the Perry Family. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I truly have the best clients ever! This family was no exception, either. The Perry’s kept me laughing during the entire session with funny jokes and the silly things they would say to each other. They are also so very sweet, they had some of the nicest things to say about me and my business, which made me blush.
We met at the Perry’s farm which I fell in love with!!! I loved shooting there because their cotton was in full bloom and has gorgeous views. I was so excited to be able to photograph their family there.
For our shoot, the Perry’s brought out their old tractor. I was able to work in their tractor, my vintage couch and the outfits they chose, which really made for some amazing photos.
Okay, on to pictures of the Perry family!
January 19, 2019
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It can be a headache to get everyone in the family excited about another family photo shoot. Whether it is the traditional holiday shoot or a shoot to update the family photo album planning a family shoot can be a bit stressful. You want your family shoot to go smoothly and be enjoyable for everyone. Consider these tips to get everyone more involved and excited about your next family shoot.
Many families choose matching outfits that not all the kids or even their spouse are excited to wear. Instead of choosing matching outfits choose a color palette or a pattern for one family member and work with those colors for the rest of the families outfit. This will allow each family member to choose something they are more comfortable in and gives you more options to add layers and fun textures. You will still get a unified look without everyone wearing the same thing. Not only will this be more fun for everyone in the photo but the finished product look better as well.
Not only does the right location make for stunning photos it also helps everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed. Choosing a familiar location, especially with younger kids, can keep things light and natural. A location that allows you kids to explore a little and run around freely can be the perfect setting for some precious moments.
Props are always a good idea to bring along for your family shoot and can be just about anything. From bubbles to chalkboards to blankets and kites, the right prop can get everyone in the family more involved in the shoot.
Pets are part of the family too, so why not bring them along for your family shoot? Dogs can be very photogenic and your kids will love including their furry family member in their photo shoot. No matter what type of pet you have, animals add a ton of fun not just during the shoot but to the overall images themselves.
January 15, 2019
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Wow! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by but what a beautiful year it has been. From the laughter to the wonderful memories, it has truly been a joy as I continue to pursue my passion for photography. Time certainly does fly when you’re having fun! I feel blessed to still be doing what I love to do and all because of my most amazing clients. It’s only because of you I get to make a living doing what I love most and for that I am forever grateful.
This past year has been my busiest yet and below are a few things I enjoyed the most.
~ I loved capturing each and everyone of my clients, I loved hearing all the fun family stories shared with me, I loved all of the baby snuggles, high fives, fist bumps and hugs I got from the kiddos, and most of all I loved being able to capture memories for all of my clients to have for a lifetime.
~ I did a couple of photography courses this year and truly learned so much to advance in my style of editing and photographing. This is an accomplishment I have been wanting to achieve for so long and I can proudly say, I have improved in leaps and bounds.
~ I took a road trip from Arizona to Minnesota over the summer with 3 kiddos which tested my patience for sure, LOL. It was a long 2 days of driving there and back but it was worth it being able to see all of our family. The kids had a blast hanging out with their aunties and cousins. It was an eventful two weeks that is for sure.
As you can see, this year has taught me so much–as a photographer, business owner, mother, and wife.
From the bottom of my heart, thanks so much to everyone that gave me the opportunity to work with you; you all shine your light in unique and beautiful ways. My photos can only be as good as the amazing people that trust me to document their lives. Happy New Year and I cannot wait to see what 2019 will bring you and your families.
December 31, 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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