Scheduling a professional photo session is always exciting but you will need to find the right person for the job before you can get excited about your new photos.

Whether you’re planning a newborn or a family photoshoot, your photographer is going to provide you with lasting memories, so you want to take your time when making this important decision. A little homework can really go a long way.

4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Photographer

1. Photographic Style

Photographers all do things slightly differently and you want to make sure that they’re able to produce the types of photos that you had in mind. Your personality as an individual or a family will determine which photographic styles will appeal to you the most.  Decide whether you’re looking for something traditional, something a little funkier or you have your heart set on a particular type of location. Spend time going through the galleries of the photographers you have in mind to decide if their style is a good match.

2. Personality

The more relaxed you are during your photo session, the better your photos will turn out. If you will be including children in your photo session, make sure that the photographer you have in mind is actually good with kids.

3. Your Budget

Before you start searching for a photographer, set a budget. This will help you narrow down your options quite quickly, making it easier to select the right photographer for your needs. If your photographer will be sending you a quote, make sure that you understand exactly what is included in the package. You always want to be aware of any additional costs.

4. Product Options

What do you want at the end of your session? Are you happy with digital files? Do you want to prints or canvases to hang in your home or a custom album? Make sure that the photographer you choose offers the products you’re interested in. Even if your package doesn’t include the products you’re interested in, find out whether it can be added on as an extra.

If you’ve found a photographer that checks all of the right boxes, book your session as soon as you can.

 

Whether you’re shooting a new family portrait or you’ve just found out your are expecting, there are so many options to choose from when it comes to selecting an outdoor setting for your shoot.

If you’ve never done an outdoor photo session before though, there are a few things that you should know if you want to truly enjoy the experience and get the best possible photos.

Here are a few useful tips that you can use for your upcoming outdoor session:

1. Timing is everything. 

   When it comes to outdoor photo sessions, lighting is everything, and you will always have the best lighting around one hour after sunrise or before sunset. This is called the Golden Hour. If possible, aim to have your shoot during this period. If this is not possible, choose a location that does offer some shade should the light become too harsh.

2. Think twice about your outfit. 

   When deciding on an outfit for your shoot, keep the theme of the shoot as well as the location in mind. It’s important that your outfit doesn’t look out of place.

3. Start with the basics first. 

   While having an outdoor shoot leaves you with endless creative possibilities, start with some basic shots first and get creative from there. Chat with your photographer about some of your ideas if you’re not sure.

4. Add some color. 

   If your shoot is taking place in winter, incorporate some beautiful pops of color using clothing or props to liven up your photos. Autumn, spring and summer don’t usually require as much color since your backdrop will bring in a lot of character all on its own.

5. Preparation is key.

   To avoid any unwanted surprises, it’s important to visit your desired location ahead of time to make sure that it’s the right fit for your shoot and to pick out a few spots for your photos. It’s also helpful to bring an extra set of clothes, especially if your shoot will include children as you never know when you may need to change.

An outdoor photo session will leave you with beautiful, unique photos that you can treasure for a lifetime and are the perfect addition to your photo wall at home.

Family photo sessions are great fun but deciding what everyone should wear so that they’re comfortable and happy and that your photos look great can be a whole other mission.

If you’re unsure about what you should be wearing to your session, here are the types outfits that you should avoid at all costs:

• Matchy-matchy.

  The days of wearing matching outfits are long gone. There are many other ways to still coordinate your outfits without them all being the same. Incorporating various shades of the same color without it being the exact same item of clothing is one such option.

• Bold patterns and logos.

  Wearing clothing that has logos or boasts bold patterns is one way to distract from everyone in the family photo. While patterns are fine, make sure that they’re subtle. It’s best to stay away from logos and characters completely.

• Short sleeves and pants.

  Family portraits always look better when you aren’t exposing too much skin as this once again distracts from people’s faces in the photo. Depending on the style of your shoot and the location, try and keep exposed areas to a minimum and try to avoid shorts.

• Bold accessories.

  While it’s perfectly fine to wear accessories to a family photo session, make sure that they’re subtle and won’t distract from the main subjects in the photo. Chandelier earrings and large, heavy necklaces are always a no-no.

• Uncomfortable clothing.

  When you’re uncomfortable in your clothing, it shows up in your photos. While you may love the new dress you bought or your son looks super cute in his new hat, if you aren’t 100% comfortable and fidgeting, it’s best to choose something else.

• Neon Clothing.

Pops of color are great but neon clothing will almost always affect your skin tone and your photos so it’s best to stay away     from these types of items completely.

• All white or black.

  When you wear an outfit that is all white or all black, you tend to lose a lot of detail in the photo that clothing would normally bring in. Wearing neutral tones is fine but try to mix it up with a different color.

Most importantly, to avoid any additional stress during the days leading up to your family photo session, plan ahead so that everyone can fully enjoy themselves on the day.

 

Check out these blog post to help you choose the perfect outfit!

Dressing for fall family photos.

How to decide what to wear for your photo shoot.

 

Lifestyle photography is so beautiful because it’s real.

It captures those raw, everyday moments that stick in the back of your mind and make you smile.

At-home lifestyle photography sessions have become a very popular choice amongst families and if you’ve recently booked your very own session, here are a few tips that you can use to make the most of your time with your photographer.

1. Let the light in.

   Since you will be shooting indoors, let as much natural light into your home as possible in order to achieve exceptional photos.

2. Keep it tidy.

   While your home doesn’t need to be free of every speck of dust, it’s important to tidy up the rooms that you will be using the most. Don’t go overboard though; the point of a lifestyle session is to actually capture you and your family in your home as you experience it.

3. Incorporate activities.

   Lifestyle sessions are all about natural, candid shots and if you’re feeling a bit nervous about just winging it, line up a few activities for you and your kids so that you’ll have something to do during your session. You can just let things flow from there.

4. Plan your outfits.

   Just because you will be at home, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t plan what you’re going to wear. Decide on the types of photos that you would like to capture and choose your outfits accordingly. Even if you’re opting for your PJs, make sure that they’re not too busy and that you’re not wearing the socks with the holes.

5. Let your kids take the lead.

   If you do have young kids in the house, sometimes it’s best to just let them take the lead and you can jump in and have fun with them where it seems most natural.

6. Move outside the living room.

   When people think lifestyle sessions, they very often set everything up in the living room but if you really want to get a wide variety of shots, don’t discount the bedroom and the kitchen as these can make for some great backdrops too.

You will always get the very best lifestyle photos when you relax and have fun. Your photographer will be there to guide you so just focus on taking it all in and making some memories with your beautiful family.

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.

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.

 

3 Posing Tips for Him:

 

1. What is the goal of your images?

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.

 

2. Hands and arm positioning.

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.

 

3. Body Position.

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.

What do you give someone who has everything? What’s the perfect gift your loved one will cherish for years to come? There’s a lot of thought that goes into choosing any gift whether it’s for a birthday, graduation, anniversary or the holidays. Most gifts have a limited shelf life and will usually get placed in the back of a cupboard once the novelty has worn off but photography is not one of these gifts.

Why Give the Gift of Photography?

• It’s Unique.

A photography session is unique to each person who steps into a studio and each image is one of a kind too. Photography tells a story. Each image depicts a special moment in time and is a gift that will take you back to that moment time and time again. Whether it’s a photography session, picture album or a special picture in a beautiful frame, photography is one of the gifts that can be thoughtful and unique to each individual.

• It’s a classic gift.

Unlike the latest fashion or tech trends, photographs are something you will treasure for years to come.  Photographs will never go out of style and in fact, will become more valuable with each coming year.

Not only are the images cherished for years but the memories these images bring about will also be cherished. From recalling the good times had with loved ones to the laughs you had with your photographer during your photo session each image will bring about a memory that will always put a smile on their face.

• You don’t have to wrap it!

Not everyone can wrap a gift like a pro and having to find the perfect paper can be a hassle. When you give the gift of a photography session you don’t have to worry about finding the tape or scissors. Most photographers will have gift cards available that are ready to go in a nice envelopes.

Photography is personal and special and with the help of a professional photographer, you can give a gift that will last for years to come.

 

Email me to get your gift card today! info@ashleyflugphotography.com

Woohoo! It’s twins!

Melissa and Loren are expecting a twin boy and girl to join their family. The little bundles of cuteness are set to arrive in just 4 short months.

We all know that Mom and her babies 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 Melissa and the rest of her family – including Dad, and their daughter, Penny – offered lots of those moments. The session took place a couple of weeks ago at a family farm in Buckeye, and it was a non-stop shutter clicking extravaganza!

Don’t you just love that image of this family in the cotton field? Too precious.

Melissa said, “Loren has made me feel confident by complimenting me even when I’m not feeling so hot.” What a great husband! Every wife deserves to feel beautiful during pregnancy.

Penny is excited to be a big sister and wants to help take care of her baby brother and sister. She loves to read and she said she can’t wait to read them stories.

Congratulation to the Bryant family and I cannot wait to meet your little bundles of joy for their newborn session!

Hey pretty mama’s! I have this vision for a group nursing session and I am so excited to announce that Ashley Flug Photography will be offering this session on August 11th, 2018 at 5:30pm in Wickenburg, Arizona. Due to bad weather the session was rescheduled to August 26th, 2018 at 5:15pm and will still be held in Wickenburg.

I am looking to get 5 or more nursing mommy’s to be a part of a group nursing session. I would like for the mom’s to be in either ivory or blush colored dresses and the baby’s either naked with their tush showing or clothing to match mom. You will need to supply your own outfits so please keep in mind when choosing your dress that you will be able to nurse in it (I know, thats a given lol). The location the session will be held at has a creek and there may or may not be water in it so you might get your feet wet as well at your dress if it is long but it will be super gorgeous, I promise! If you need direction or pointers when choosing the perfect outfits I am here to help.

If you wish to have individual photos after the group session of you and your baby(s) you are more than welcome to stay after the group photo so you can have precious nursing images for your keepsake. The group session will last about 20 to 30 minutes and individual images will last about 10 minutes per mom. You will receive 3 digital images from the session in return for your time. These images will be used on social media and website so a model release will need to be signed stating you are ok with the images being used online. I, of course, would not post any images with your nipple showing if your little one were to unlatch during a photo.

If you are interested in being a part of this session please fill out the form below. I will then get you on the schedule and set up your client portal with all forms needed from you in order to attend. I will send exact location details the day before the session but it will be held in Whickenburg, Arizona so you can plan on how long it will take you to arrive before the session day.

Thank you so much for wanting to be a part of this and I look forward to meeting you and your babe!

setTimeout(function(){iFrameResize({checkOrigin: false});},30);