Dressing for a Spring Family Session

 

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:

 

• Play up the fact that it’s spring. Have a necklace with a butterfly pendant? Perfect! A dress with cactus or floral print? Yes, please.
• Channel the colors of spring. Seriously – look out the window for inspiration for your family’s color palette. Greens, pinks, yellows, beige, khaki, and blues all work exceptionally well.
• Layer up! Spring can be both warm and cold at once, so come prepared. We love spring scarves, light cardigans, vests, etc.

 

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!

Clothing tips:

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.

7 Tips for Preparing for Your Spring Session

 

I’ve gone ahead and given you some tips to ensure your day is stress free and flawless for your spring session. Listen up!

 

1. Wear layers.

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.

 

2. Location is a big deal.

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.

 

3. Play into the colors of the season when choosing your family’s outfits.

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.

 

4. Speaking of accessories: wear them!

Choose jewelry, scarves, or prints that play into the spring theme. Butterflies, flowers, insects, etc, can make for some super adorable family pictures.

 

5. Time it right.

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.

 

6. Incorporate props.

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.

 

7. Really think about your footwear.

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.

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.

Spring Mini’s Include:
Up to twenty minutes time
Up to four people
5 digital images
Online proofing gallery
Online print gallery
ONLY $175

Peach Blossom Mini’s
Feb. 23rd, 2019 – Only 5 available
Location in Mesa, Arizona
Available times:
2:00 pm -BOOKED
2:20 pm
2:40 pm
3:00 pm
3:20 pm

Spring Desert Mini’s
Feb 24th, 2019 – Only 6 available
Location in Waddell, Arizona
Available times:
4:00 pm
4:20 pm -BOOKED
4:40 pm – BOOKED
5:00 pm
5:20 pm
5:40 pm

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!

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.

1. Wall mural.

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.

2. Create a shape.

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.

3. Oversized frames.

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.

4. Different color borders.

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.

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.

 

Kind words from Jen, “The best part of my maternity session was feeling immediately at ease with Ashley. She was so helpful with my family, and my kids instantly loved her. She really helped guide me without making me feel silly. She is so down to earth and really did an amazing job. Her passion for this art is so clear in the images she captured.”

Read more kind word here.

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.

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!

Fall mini session dates and locations

It’s that time of year again for mini sessions. I know a lot of you have been asking about mini sessions so I thought I would get a couple of dates on the calendar for you to start planning your session weather it be family, maternity or photos of your children. More dates may be added depending on how much interest there is. There will be a location at a creek (shown above) as well as a desert location (shown below) both located in the west valley.

$175 for 15 minutes time and 5 digital images.

Up to 5 people.

Only 6 spots available each day.

September 30th at desert location – Waddell, Arizona
4:30
4:45
5:00
5:15 –  Booked
5:30 – Booked
5:45 – Booked

October 14th at creek location – Wickenburg, Arizona
3:00 – Booked
3:15
3:30 – Booked
3:45
4:00 – Booked
4:15 – Booked

September 15th in Sedona

Have you wanted a destination session but haven’t wanted to pay destination prices. Your in luck! I will be in Sedona the 15th and 16th of September so I wanted to offer mini sessions while I am there so you can get them at regular session pricing!!!

$275 for 30 minutes time and 10 digital images.
Up to 6 people (pets welcome).

6:30am – Booked
6:45am – Booked
7:00am –
7:15am –
7: 30am –
7:45am – Booked

A 50% retainer fee is due within 24 hours to hold your date and time. If unpaid and someone else is interested in your chosen date and time your session will be passed on. I, of course, will send you a reminder email before I pass it on. To book your session please email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com.

Hi gang!

I was so excited to meet up with Christina and George at Lake Pleasant for a stunning – and terribly sweet – maternity session. At the time, Christina was mere 7.5 weeks away from giving birth, so you can only imagine how she was feeling while we were roaming around finding the best spots to shoot! She was a trooper, though, let me tell you. Her skin looked amazing, her hair was perfection, and her outfit choices were on point.

George was a total supportive rock star the entire time. There was a moment when he moved Christina’s hair while giving her the sweetest look and I nearly fainted from the tenderness of it all!
I asked what name they had picked out for their sweet baby boy and you will not believe what they told me, “We are naming him Atlas, because he will have the whole world before him and will be holding it in his hands.” Seriously, how adorable is that?!

Since they’re almost at the end of the pregnancy, I asked them about how their journey has been thus far. Christina said, “This pregnancy has been super easy and smooth, opposite of what I expected for my first. I have been craving Mexican foods, the spicier the better! But I enjoy getting to read pregnancy books, seeing tons of baby things on Pinterest and getting to relax more. George is also been amazing! He gives foot and legs rubs, cooks dinner, helps around the house, and made my 1st mother’s day so special. He is also super funny and tells Atlas to stop being mean to his mommy and to stop kicking me. I am super excited to finally hold baby Atlas in my arms!” Aww!

They’re going to be an amazing Mom and Dad duo, and their little bundle of joy is so lucky to be brought into the world with them. Thanks again and congrats, you two!