Hi ladies and gentlemen!

We’ve got some serious reason to celebrate! Christina and August welcomed their little princess, only a few short days ago. If that isn’t reason to do a happy dance, I don’t know what is!

My shoot with Christina and the rest of her family – including Dad, and their son, Matthew – offered lots of those moments. The session took place in March at a gorgeous farm in Gilbert, Arizona, and it was a non-stop shutter clicking extravaganza!

As you can see from the pictures below, Christina was the perfect soon-to-be mom. Any photographer would be lucky to photograph her. And that baby bump couldn’t get any cuter!

The proof is in the pictures!

 

Hi gang! Today on the blog you get to meet Gracelynn Rain, the 7-pound, 6-ounce bundle of sweetness who belongs to Corisa. This session took place at my home where I have lifestyle & posed newborn set ups, and I was able to capture some of my favorite images to date!

I loved that we included mom and big sisters, Emma and Annabella, in this shoot, because I loved the sentimental touch.

Testimonial from Corisa: “Ashley was amazing at taking pics of my 10 day old. She was so gentle and patient with getting her posed and wrapped up. Her props and outfits were absolutely adorable. She included my older girls as well and made them laugh and smile so easily. She did a great job of capturing their personalities. She is great!”

Thank you so much for the kind words!

Not to mention, it total helps to have such a photogenic baby in front of the camera! Umm… can you say baby model? Plus, check out all the little details!

Thanks again for giving me the honor of photographing Gracelynn, Mom! You’re going to be an amazing mother to this sweetheart.

It’s that time of year again for spring mini sessions. I know a lot of you have been asking about these so I thought I would get a couple of dates on the calendar for you to start planning your session, whether it be family, maternity or photos of your children. More dates may be added depending on how much interest there is.

Please checkout the form below for details and available times. If you would like to book a mini session please fill out the form to begin the booking process.

Thank you so much for your interest and if you have any questions please reach out at info@ashleyflugphotography.com

We all know that Mom and her baby are the stars of the show when it comes to a maternity session, but there’s no denying the sweetness of having the entire family in the frame, too. I love capturing the raw, candid moments between parents and siblings, and pressing pause on a moment in time that would otherwise go by so quickly and without preservation!

My shoot with Heather and the rest of her family – including Dad, and their 3 children, Mattix 13, Slade 8, Monroe 5 – offered lots of those moments. The session took place in February at a beautiful wash in Glendale, and it was a non-stop shutter clicking extravaganza!

 

Don’t you just love that image of  the Cooper’s? Too precious.

 

I’m so excited for your growing family, you two. Thanks for letting me step into your world for a moment!

 

If family photos are one of your annual traditions or if you’re just looking to change up the photos that are currently hanging in your home, there are so many unique photoshoot ideas that you can use that go beyond the usual posed portraits.

Below is some inspiration as you plan your next family photoshoot.

Silhouettes

If you have a beautiful location in mind, taking family photos at dusk or even at night with the stars as your backdrop, will allow you to capture your silhouettes and give you a unique family portrait to hang in your home.

Reflections

Have your family stand in front of a still body of water so that you can capture your reflections instead.

Footprints

If you still have young children in the house, use your feet to create a special image that you can frame or print on canvas. The photo could be of your feet intertwined at the foot of the bed or of your feet in the sand at the beach.

Perspective

If you’re looking for something a little more creative, why not line your family members up and take a shot from the side so that you see your faces from a different angle.

Kisses

This is another great option if you have a new baby or a toddler in the house. Have each parent plant a kiss on baby’s face. This photo allows you to capture the sweet innocence of your child at that age and the love you have as a family.

Dress Up

The best family photos are those that capture a genuine moment between loved ones. Have your husband and son get dressed in their Sunday best to get a shot of them fastening their ties or bowties in the mirror. Play dress up with your little girl by placing curlers in your hair and hers and get a shot of the two of you looking in the mirror.

Don’t be afraid to get creative at your next shoot. Ask us for advice or ideas if you need some extra help.

 

 

 

Have you ever wondered what makes a photo stand out and stir certain emotions in you when you look at it? Of course, photos of your family and places you love will naturally give you the warm and fuzzies or leave you in awe but there are also very specific elements in great photos that help bring them to life and make you take a second look.

1. When a photograph has beautiful lighting it gives the image a certain mood and highlights the important aspects of a photo. Light is an incredible tool so using natural light from an open window or door or even a soft artificial light can make all the difference.
2. While focusing on a specific person in a photo is how we naturally take photos, that person is only a part of the greater whole. Your background and any other objects in a photo all make up the structure and scene that draw you into that moment.
3. A good quality photo will usually allow you to pick up on certain textures such as a pair of woolly socks or the texture in a heavy wooden door.
4. Sometimes the most beautiful photos are taken from a different perspective such as getting down to a toddler’s level at a birthday party or taking a shot of a tall building by looking all the way up from a street corner.
5. Play with colors when you take photos, match them up or emphasize specific colors to draw the eye to a certain detail in a picture.
6. The moment. Capturing a moment that will never happen again makes for incredible photos.

Photography isn’t only for the professionals. Everyone has the ability to take a great photo by focusing on a few simple elements, getting creative and being ready to capture something beautiful or everywhere you go.

In the attic, in the closet, in boxes on the bookcases we all have photos scattered around the house that we just don’t know what to do with. While most opt for the shoebox method of storing their loose printed images this isn’t always the best way to ensure they aren’t damaged or lost. For all those photos you keep finding around your home try one of these ways to preserve your printed memories.

 

4 Ways To Better Protect Your Loose Prints

 

1. Photo Storage Boxes

One of the best and quickest ways to get loose piles of photos organized is with a photo storage box. They are easy to find as well and can be purchased at any local craft store. Just be sure the photo boxes are of archival quality.

 

2. Albums or Scrapbooks

Putting your printed photos into an album can seem like a long process. You don’t have to get fancy or specific just slip your photos into an album in the best chronological order you can. If you want to get creative and add in some extra special memories create a scrapbook of your photos.

 

When choosing albums make sure they are made with acid and lignin free paper, they use non-PVC plastic, and that they do not have magnetic or sticky backed sheets. The best albums are ones that can accommodate various sizes of photos from wallet size to 8×10. Refrain from gluing or using an adhesive to keep your photos in place as you may change your mind.

 

3. Wall Art and Frames

Don’t forget about the picture frames around your home. You can rotate the pictures in your frames or buy some new ones to hang on the walls as well. This is a great way to give your walls a quick and simple update while also enjoying the memories you’ve captured.

 

4. Online or Digital Album

The best way to preserve your prints is to transfer them into a digital album or folder. This is the best way to protect your images from damage and ensure you always have a backup copy..

 

“Just act natural.” It’s easier said than done when you are in front of a camera and trying to look your best while feeling a little awkward and maybe even a little insecure. Even the top models need some help to look and act more natural in front of the camera. There’s no need to be nervous going into your shoot, with a little bit of practice in front of a mirror and these tips you’ll be feeling confident and relaxed from the very first click!

 

• Have Something to Hold

Hands can be the most difficult things to figure out what to do with. For some reason, it always feels awkward just having them at your side so bring something to hold onto. Flowers, a book, musical instrument anything that is significant to you can be the perfect addition to your shoot.

 

• Natural Smile

You don’t want to get caught with the deer in headlights look and faking a smile is often not very flattering. One of the best ways to show your natural smile is to press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. The corners of your mouth will naturally draw up and it won’t look forced at all.

 

• Wear Something Comfortable

If you aren’t comfortable in what you’re wearing this will show through in your images no matter how much you try to fake it. You want to wear something you feel comfortable in not only so you can move around easily but so that you will be more confident in front of the camera as well.

 

• Posing

While your photographer will help direct you in how you should sit or stand it’s a good idea to know a few simple tricks when it comes to posing. First, just about everyone has an asymmetrical face and most often one of the eyes is slightly larger than the other. You want to turn the side of your face with the slightly larger eye towards the camera. This will help balance out the face. Second, stick your neck out slightly. This helps elongate the neck and will eliminate the dreaded “double chin” that many people have. Third, ladies, cross your feet at the ankles. This elongates the body and adds a little depth to your images.

 

• Think Happy Thoughts

Before you go into your shoot you want to have an image, joke or happy story in the back of your mind. During the shoot, you’ll want to recall on these thoughts to help bring out a genuine smile. If you start to get nervous just think your happy thought and you will instantly begin to relax and feel more comfortable.

When it comes to hiring a photographer you don’t just want to go with anyone. Each photographer will specialize in a niche and favor a certain style when they shoot. If you want something more traditional you wouldn’t want a photographer that prefers to shoot documentary styled shoots. This tends to be an overlooked factor when it comes to hiring the right photographer and understanding the different styles will help you better when looking for your perfect photographer.

The Basic Styles of Portrait Photography

• Traditional

Traditional portraits are classic images where the main subjects are posed and fully aware of the camera. They can be formal for more professional images or informal for senior, kids, or head shot portraits.

• Candid

Candid portraits are taken in the moment and are very similar to journalistic shooting. Typically the subject is not aware that their images are being taken with little to no interference from the photographer. Candid portraits are often common during events or weddings. These images tend to capture the more natural emotions of the subject and surroundings.

• Lifestyle

Lifestyle is the most common type of portrait for editorials, fashion, family, engagement, and weddings. These portraits capture the sense of living style from the subjects. Lifestyle portraits can often be a combination of other styles like environmental and candid.

• Glamour

Glamour portraits are more stylized focusing on the physical appearance of the subject. These types of images usually have a team on hand and various lighting setups and equipment. Glamour shots tend to give off a more romantic appeal.

• Environmental

These types of portraits are the most common for business professionals. Environmental portrait photography captures the person in their natural environment. Whether that is in the kitchen of a restaurant, behind the desk at the office or in a large forest. These images are planned out and often staged to allow for the surroundings to enhance a characteristic of the main subject.