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. 

explore

welcome 

friends

Tips &
tricks

Children

Family

Featured Client galleries

Maternity

Lifestyle

Changes to collections and pricing starting July 1st, 2022

Hey y’all!

I wanted to put out a quick blog about some upcoming changes to my collections and pricing starting July 1st, 2022.

I have avoided raising my prices for as long as possible, but I can no longer prolong the inevitable. Due to demand and product selection my prices are going to be increased and collections will be changed a bit.  I continue to strive to better serve my clients and give them the best photographs, galleries, post-processing, and products. 

With that said, any sessions booked between now and July 1st, 2022 will be honored at my current pricing, even if you choose a session date after July 1st. I wanted to give you advance notice so that you have time to do so if you wish to avoid the price changes. 

Collection price increases will be going up anywhere from $100-$300 depending on the collection. I will also be adding some additional newborn collections so that you have options that are still affordable.

Feel free to email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com with any questions.

Read the Post

May 4, 2022

Posted on:

6 Inspiring Ideas for Your At-Home Photo Session

In-Home Newborn Lifestyle session

Home is where the heart is, which is why it’s one of the best locations for family photos.

Your home is where you feel most comfortable and it offers countless photo opportunities for you to take advantage of.

If you’ve been looking to take some updated photos of your family but want to beat the summer heat or keep things close to home, here are a few inspiring ideas for your upcoming photo session.

Take it to the kitchen.

There’s something about making a meal together that really brings a family together. You already spend a lot of time in the kitchen so why not use it as a backdrop for some new family photos. Throw on some aprons, choose a fun recipe and get the entire family involved in the process. These candid shots will definitely be something that you’ll want to print out or place in an album.

It’s all about the cuddles.

Curling up with the people you love in a big bed on a Saturday or Sunday morning is simply the best so throw on your best PJs, grab a few books, a cup of coffee, and let your photographer do the rest. Have a laugh together, read a story to your children or show off your matching socks at the foot of the bed.

Head to baby’s nursery.

If you’ve spent a lot of time decorating your baby’s nursery, it’s the perfect place to grab some memorable photos with your family. Plus, the natural light from the window will provide you with a warm atmosphere that will enhance every photo.

Hit the couch.

The lounge is another area of the home that your family probably spends a lot of time in, especially if you enjoy lazy days on a comfy couch watching all your favorite movies. It’s also the perfect spot to take some updated family photos. Depending on your preferences, you can all wear something comfy or outfits that are casual and coordinated – the choice is yours.

Have a playdate.

You don’t even need to pick a particular room for your family photos, you can simply aim to have a little fun with your kids for the afternoon and let your photographer capture your time together. Whether your kids want to throw on superhero capes or they want to play with building blocks in their room, these are all perfect photo opportunities.

Spend some time outside.

If you have a picturesque backyard, why not have an intimate picnic with your family while you capture some new family photos at the same time.

 

Your home is filled with perfect photo opportunities, you simply need to think outside the box!

Read the Post

June 1, 2020

Posted on:

Tips for Preparing for your Newborn Session: Part 2

Newborn photo sessions in Buckeye, Arizona

How to prepare the baby to ensure they are happy and cooperative during the session

In my last post, I discussed what to bring and wear to your session. Now it’s time to talk about how to ensure your baby is happy and cooperative once you are at your session. Check out part 1 here.

  1. Make sure your child is well fed before the session. Try to schedule the photos around feeding time. If your baby has a full belly, that usually equals a happy baby.
  2. In addition to that, you should also be sure your baby has a fresh, clean diaper. No child is cooperative sitting in a dirty diaper. This may seem like an obvious tip, but in the rush of everything, sometimes we forget the basics.
  3. I mentioned this before, but it is important, so I’m saying it again: bring a pacifier to your session. Even if you are not allowing your child to regularly use one, it will be good for a short time just to help him or her calm down during this time of potential stress. If your baby starts to fuss and we cannot stop the crying by other means, this will typically help ease the baby’s nerves.
  4. Keep your baby warm. Newborns are used to being in a small, warm place. That’s where they’ve been the past nine months,and they are uncomfortable when they are cold. We like to keep our studio warm on session days for this reason. If we are doing a session at your house, we suggest bumping the heat up as well. We will also have plenty of blankets handy for in between photos.
  5. I suggest playing soft music or white noise to create a soothing environment for your newborn.
  6. This is probably the most important thing to note: be OK being a part of the photos. If your child is not cooperating with the session, the best way to soothe newborns is to hold them and rock them to let them know everything is OK. Sometimes babies just need to be held. A lot of new moms are uncomfortable in front of the camera during the first weeks after birth, and I completely understand. If you do not want to be in photos, I can work around this, but I may need to borrow your arms. You just have to make sure not to tense up when you get in front of the camera. Babies sense these things and will, in turn, think they need to tense up as well because something must be wrong. If you’re absolutely against being in photos at all, I could cover you with a backdrop and rest the baby on you. This will help your baby feel secure while keeping you off camera.

Read the Post

September 8, 2019

Posted on:

2018 ~ Year in Review

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.

Kucik's- Family-Photos-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography16-1.jpg
AF1_6719-e1.jpg
Fulgham's-Family-Session-Verrado-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography23-2.jpg
Olafson-Langley-Couple-Photos-Superstition-Mountains-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography-19-1.jpg
Austin's-Newborn-Lifestyle-Photos-Litchfield-Park-Park-Phoenix-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography72.jpg

Read the Post

December 31, 2018

Posted on:

How Moms Can Feel More Confident in Photos

confident moms in photos - Tonopah, Arizona

Moms always do a fantastic job of documenting the lives of their children all the way from birth to college.

You only have to look at a mother’s social media pages to see how much they cherish the big and small moments in their children’s lives. Every milestone is important to them.

Moms are no strangers to scrapbooking, blogging and documenting their child’s special moments, but the problem is that they often leave themselves out of their collection of photos.

Many times moms will ask to be left out of photos when they bring their children through for a shoot. If they do decide that they want to be in the photos, they’ll usually book the shoot months in advance so that they can lose any extra weight.

Every mom should be in more photos with her children and every mom deserves to feel good about the way she looks in those photos. Here are a few tips to help moms look fabulous in all future photos.

Keep that smile natural. There’s nothing more beautiful than a natural smile or laugh so do what it takes to smile as sincerely as possible. Bring someone along to tell you a few jokes to put you at ease if need be but don’t force that smile.

Angle your body. It’s time to put all those yoga classes to good use. In order to make your hips look narrower and your shoulders wider, aim to position your body at a ninety-degree angle from the photographer. Now, simply turn your hips towards the camera and square your shoulders.

Use your children as props. Many women really can’t stand looking at themselves in photos and if this is the case for you, get your children to stand or sit in front of you to avoid being the main focus in the photos.

Keep that chin down. Unfortunately, sticking your chin in the air doesn’t make for flattering photos. By keeping your chin down, you’ll create shadows and contours that will compliment your face. If you’re worried about having a double chin, lean forward slightly to prevent this from happening.

Tone down your outfit. A busy outfit is not the best route to go if you’re looking to go unnoticed in a photo. Keep your clothing simple in order to hide anything that you don’t want to draw attention to. You can also opt for black and white photos if you really want to take the attention away from specific details.

Use natural lighting. Forget the camera flash and opt to have your photos taken in a room where there’s tons of natural light. It makes for amazing photos.

 

Looking for other helpful ideas for your upcoming session? Check out the tips & tricks section on the blog.

 

Read the Post

December 30, 2018

Posted on:

How to be OK if your baby won’t stop crying on picture day

How to go go with the flow and not stress if the baby isn’t cooperating.

I’ve all seen those adorable photos of new little babies looking so peaceful and relaxed and, not a care in the world. And as new parents, we want similar photos of our children to send out to grandparents, make into screensavers, and blast out to our social media pages to show off our amazing baby. But then session day comes around and BAM! – your baby does not want anything to do with it.
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography11.jpg
You’re thinking, “Why won’t you stop crying? I’ve literally done everything I can think of, but you’re still not happy. Don’t you know I’m paying good money for this session? Steffani’s baby cooperated in her session, why can’t you just go to sleep and let us get some nice photos?!” and all the other emotions that are running through your head. If this is happening during your session, I want you to stop, and breathe and remember one thing: all newborns cry. This is a natural, real emotion that all newborns have for most of their first few months of life. It’s not abnormal. There is nothing wrong with your child for doing it. It is nothing to be ashamed of. They aren’t doing it to embarrass you. And when you stress out about the fact that they your baby is crying, that then makes things even worse because they he or she knows you’re upset.
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography17.jpg
Don’t let the crying upset you. Embrace this moment in time. It won’t be long before you forget how their her little forehead wrinkled up whenever they were screaming, or how their toes would get all stretched out and tense when they were upset. Let us capture these little details. These crying photos can evoke real emotion and demonstrate we show the love you have for your child as you try to soothe him or her. Your child can look back at these photos once they’re all grown and remember the solace that they found in your arms. These tender moments are just as important, if not more so, than the sleeping, posed photos.
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography02-1.jpg
The point of booking a lifestyle newborn session is to help you preserve the first memories of your child’s life. While posed photos are cute, you’re not going to look back and think, “Remember how cute she was whenever she would lounge around the house in frog-form?” because that didn’t happen. You’ll look back at these photos and remember all the nights you walked your baby around the house or rocked them in a chair and hummed lullabies to try to calm him them down. Those times are very stressful, but they also help you form a bond and that’s what makes these photos treasured.
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography05-1.jpg
All that being said, if you have your heart set on those peaceful, posed photos, we can always take a break and try again and, if all else fails, reschedule.
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography10-1.jpg

Read the Post

October 6, 2018

Posted on:

How to book your lifestyle newborn session

When it comes to booking your session, there are a lot of questions about how this the process works. Since your new little peanut isn’t here yet, it’s hard to figure out a schedule. Here is what I suggest:

Austin's-Newborn-Lifestyle-Photos-Litchfield-Park-Park-Phoenix-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography64.jpg

Contact me during the beginning of your third trimester to set a date for the session. I require a deposit of 50% of the session fee to hold the date for you. I only accept newborn sessions during the first 14 days after birth. This means that we will schedule the session for sometime within 2 two weeks of your due date.

Austin's-Newborn-Lifestyle-Photos-Litchfield-Park-Park-Phoenix-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography50.jpg

I will also hold a spot for two backup dates – one a week after the original session date, and one a week prior to your due date. This is to ensures that if your little nugget doesn’t come according to schedule that you’ll still be covered.

Austin's-Newborn-Lifestyle-Photos-Litchfield-Park-Park-Phoenix-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography27.jpg

Keep in contact with me as your pregnancy comes to a close, so we can be prepared. After the baby is born, shoot me a message so we can make sure that one of the dates I have set will work out or if we need to move some things around.

 

Also, now through the end of September, 2018 you will receive a free simple maternity session with purchase of a newborn lifestyle session! 

Read the Post

September 11, 2018

Posted on:

Breastfeeding Awareness Session ~ Wickenburg, Arizona

Breastfeeding Awareness Session - Wickenburg, Arizona

Breastfeeding awareness group session

August is breastfeeding awareness month and I wanted to do something special for breastfeeding moms. I did a model call on my instagram page looking for mothers who would like to participate in a group breastfeeding session. I am so happy that these four moms were able to join me in Wickenburg, Arizona to bring my vision to life.

Being a mom who nursed for 19 months and has had a breastfeeding session, I know that they will cherish these images forever and when they look back at them later – with a little tear in their eye – they will be so happy that they were able to capture this special bond they shared with their not so little anymore.

I hope you enjoy seeing these mamas gorgeous images and reading their stories. Make sure to leave them some love in the comments!

Group-Nursing-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography04.jpgThis session turned out so perfectly and I loved hearing about their journeys so far. I mean seriously… look how amazing they all look in this group photo.

Schulz's-Nursing-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography02.jpg

Mariah’s Story: Around 3 months I had a really rough time nursing. My nipples were raw and hurt all the time, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue. But we pushed through and things have been wonderful ever since. My goal was to try and nurse for six months. I remember in the beginning not enjoying it at all, not just because it was painful but because it felt like a job or a chore I had to do every 2-3 hours. I reached out to a friend when I went through a rough patch and thought about quitting and she helped me push through and told me it would become something I would really cherish. I remember thinking she was crazy, but Logan is now 9 months old and I love the bond we share while she nurses and plan to continue until she’s at least one year. Logan likes to put her foot in my face and pull my hair while she nurses I think it is so cute!

Mariah’s Advice to nursing moms: Reach out to other nursing moms when you have questions and don’t be afraid to ask silly questions. I’ve learned so much on this crazy journey and can’t wait to share and help other mamas!

Family-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography08.jpg

Lisa’s Story: My first daughter I breast-fed until she was almost 4!! But she was both bottle and breast. My second daughter was breast- fed until she was 6 months. Now, I plan to breastfeed until David wants to stop. I’m ok with him not wanting to be independent just yet!! Lol. It has been demanding though since he has refused a bottle and pacifier since day 1.. but it’s gone smoothly. I love that he puts his foot on my chest and hums while I am nursing him and it is something I will alway remember about our journey.

Lisa’s advice to new nursing moms: Stick with it for as long as you can. The benefits are amazing for both baby and you!! It’s precious time for you two to bond and enjoy together.

Friend's-Nursing-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography02.jpg
Mennella's-Nursing-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography01.jpg

Steffani’s Story: Nursing came very easy to me and also to both of my babies. I’ve been very lucky and grateful to have come this far. I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my babies. Once I gave birth, I joined several online and in person support groups that were integral to our success during the learning process. They not only taught me what was normal and to be expected, but I formed great friendships with like minded mamas with similar aged babies. I recently started my tandem nursing journey and it’s been incredible. I love knowing that both my babies are getting the best possible nutrition, but they’re also bonding together and with me. It’s definitely minimized the jealousy factor and I couldn’t be more blessed. I plan to allow both my babies to self wean when they’re ready, but hopefully that won’t happen before they’re two. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity with my babies.

Steffani’s advice to new nursing moms: My advice to new nursing moms is to be patient and allow yourself and your baby time to adjust. It can be painful and extremely exhausting at times, but it gets easier and I don’t think any mom ever regrets any amount of time they spent breastfeeding. I’d also suggest joining support groups, whether online or in person, they are so beneficial to learning moms and babies.

Escalante's-Nursing-Photo-Session-Wickenburg-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography04.jpg

Angela’s Story: I nursed my first child until about 6 months. After returning to work my supply drastically decreased and it was difficult to keep up to my child’s demand so I stopped once he was eating solids. I will try to go as long as I can with my second child. Overall nursing has been pretty smooth, it definitely helps to have taken a class and having friends who have nursed their children for support because something always comes up!

Angela’s advise to nursing moms: Do whats right for you and baby and don’t worry about other people. Talk to other nursing mommas for advice/support!

Read the Post

September 1, 2018

Posted on:

Teagyn’s Newborn Lifestyle Session ~ Buckeye, Arizona

Newborn-Photography-Buckeye-Arizona

Welcome back to the blog, dear readers! Today I’m sharing a preview of the newborn lifestyle session I recently had with Teagyn, who was welcomed into this big world on 8/4/18 to Steffani and Anthony. As you can imagine, Mom and Dad are equal parts exhausted and delirious with their sweet baby girl.

Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography10.jpg
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography02.jpg

When mom seen Teagyn for the first time she remembered thinking that she was so excited to finally have her precious little girl in her arms and that she couldn’t wait for their other kids to meet her. Their favorite part of having Teagyn home has been feeling like their family is finally complete. Mom said, “Teagyn is such an easy baby and so loveable. She loves to be snuggled and rocked.” How could they not totally be in love?

Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography03.jpg
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography05.jpgWhen I asked mom and dad how their other kiddos reacted to baby Teagan this is what they said,  “Teagyn is number 4 in our family. We have Madysen, who is 5, Bryli is 19 months, and Xavier is 11 months. Mady and Bryli have both become little mommies, always wanting to hold Teagyn and help me out with getting her diapers, wipes, blankets, etc. I was nervous to see how Bryli would respond to a baby, but she couldn’t be more in love. She loves to rock her in her swing, cover her with a blanket and hold her hand while she’s eating. Xavier hasn’t really discovered that Teagyn is here yet. He doesn’t ever go near her or acknowledge that she’s around, but as he grows, I know they’re going to be super close. I can’t wait to see how all their relationships start to form.”

Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography13.jpg
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography06.jpgTheir family has expanded faster than most in the last 3 years, mom and dad have gone through foster care, an adoption, 2 pregnancies and are continuing their foster journey. It has really kept their hands busy and their hearts full. There’s never a dull moment in their house, but they wouldn’t have it any other way and I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to be a (small!) part of their parenthood journey.

Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography01.jpg
Newborn-Lifestyle-Session-Buckeye-Arizona-Ashley-Flug-Photography03-1.jpg

Congrats on your growing family, Steffani and Anthony!

 

 

 

 

Read the Post

August 21, 2018

Posted on:

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!

Ready to begin?

Let's get you on the calendar!

CONtACT Ashley

Live in the moments

you'll never forget

navigate 

Instagram-color Created with Sketch.

elsewhere 

HOME


About

Investment

Gallery

Contact

Blog

E: info@ashleyflugphotography.com
T: 651-315-6924