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.

Every mother wants to capture as many photos of her new baby as she can and if you’re currently expecting, you’re probably wondering about the best time to schedule your newborn photo session.
The reality is that all parents have different preferences, with many not wanting to photograph their little one too soon. Others simply don’t have the time or energy to schedule in a photoshoot directly after birth.
Every shot of your newborn is special and this is a time that you’ll want to remember for years to come, so what are your options?

Understanding Your Newborn Photo Session Options

The First 48 Hours

The first few hours after your baby is born are very special and filled with ‘first moments’. If you want to capture your little one’s first bath or the moment they meet siblings or other members of the family, schedule your newborn shoot during the first 2 days. Usually these will be taken at the place of birth whether in the hospital or at home, you will be happy to capture these very special ‘firsts’.

The First Two Weeks

If you want time to find your feet as a new mom and you simply love how newborn babies look when they’re sleeping, schedule your shoot during the first two weeks after your baby is born. Your little one will still be very new to the world and will spend more time sleeping than anything else, which makes for beautiful photos.

One to Three Months

If capturing your baby’s personality is more important to you, wait a month or two before you schedule your session. During the first three months, your baby will become more alert, open their eyes and even smile. If this will be your first baby, you may only be feeling more relaxed after a month or two, which will make the shoot more pleasant for you.

Newborn photo sessions are very personal, so do what’s right for you and find a photographer that you feel comfortable with.

 

Today’s blog post features Sarah, John, and their newborn baby, Max, in those kinds of lifestyle, real-world images. Of course big sisters Sophia and Avery were a part of the session as well.

I always love doing posed newborn sessions, but I also get really excited about going into new parents’ homes and photographing the candid moments, too.

The session took place at their lovely home located in Gilbert, and the day was truly memorable. You know there was so much love there based off the pictures alone! You can practically feel it through the screen!

Check out their gorgeous story collection and simply wrapped photos below. You are sure to love them!

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.

Hi ladies and gentlemen!

We’ve got some serious reason to celebrate! The Dietz’s are officially having a little prince, due in only 17 short weeks.

I had the privilege of photographing Dorota’s maternity session at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix and she was just as exquisite as can be.

Dad agrees she’s a beauty, too – naturally!

“Dad is always very supportive of taking photos throughout the pregnancy and documenting such a special time, which is important to mama! He offers to let me relax when I am home and cooks all the time when he is home from work.,” says Dorota. She is such a lucky woman!

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

Check out the pictures for yourself!

 

 

Did you know that I have a client closet full of gorgeous gowns for my maternity clients to use? I have a variety of sizes, styles and colors that go perfect with my style to insure that your images will be as timeless and beautiful as you are!

Book your session today! info@ashleyflugphotography.com

I know that you have been busy with your new bundle of joy but have you thought about newborn photo session prep yet?

You’re in a new and exciting time in your life. You’ve now got this adorable, precious little soul and are ready to document his or her first memories in photographs. I want to make this a joyous experience for you and your family. I know how nerve-racking picture day can be, especially when you’re running on, little- to -no, sleep. To help you out with this process, I’ve compiled a list of preparation tips to ease some of your stress. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com and I can get you the answers you’re looking for.

What to Bring

If we are doing a session in your home, you don’t have to bring anything, however, I suggest that you take a look at this list and have these items readily available in case we need them during your session. If you are doing a studio session, please follow this checklist to avoid under or over packing your diaper bag.

I keep my sessions pretty basic and focused in on your new little bundle of joy, and therefore, take a minimalistic approach in my prop usage. Especially if I am traveling to you, I do not bring a lot of props with me. I will take care of the backdrops, wrap and headbands, etc., but I tend to pack light prop-wise. If there is something you’d like to include in your photos – a special outfit or blanket, a favorite stuffed animal or toy, heirlooms, etc. –, I will be more than happy to incorporate it in your session. The more personal items we use in your session, the more unique these photos will be to your child and your family’s personality.

To ensure that your baby is happy and calm during the session, I suggest bringing a blanket that we can swaddle him or her in, as well as a pacifier. Also be sure to have fresh bottle — if your child is currently using a bottle — and diapers ready to go.

What to Wear

Newborns are not very patient when it comes to outfit changes. I suggest having your child in an outfit you’d like for him or her to wear in photos before you get to the session. On the way to the session, covering it the outfit with a bib or burp rag in case of little incidents. After we take a few photos in this outfit, I prefer to take the rest of the photos in wraps –, or completely in the nude. In my opinion, babies photograph best this way and they will also cooperate longer if we are not constantly changing their outfits. If you are not comfortable with this, I can stick with one to two outfits for the session.

If you are going to be in photos with your child, I suggest bringing a backup shirt, just in case. We also suggest that you wear a white or light shirts in case we need to photograph parts of you with your child on the backdrop (for example, just your hands holding the baby) so you don’t stand out. For mommies, we suggest keeping jewelry to a minimum, as babies like to grab ahold of these items.

If you have any wardrobe questions, please contact me. I’d be more than happy to help. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your session!

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.