Cute ways to capture the relationship between father and child.
A dad has such a special bond with his children and it started the very first moment he met them. If you’re looking to setup a daddy and me photo session with your photographer in order to capture this wonderful bond, below are a few ideas for perfectly capturing these memories.

Playtime. If there’s anything that dad’s do better than most, it’s playing games and having fun with their children. If they love being outside, capture them playing on the swing or enjoying a game of hide and seek. If they would prefer to be indoors, let them build a puzzle together or play with their favorite toys.

Snuggle up and relax. Get out a few blankets and books and have dad read to them on the floor or on a couch.
Get creative. Whether it’s making waffles in the kitchen or painting their next work of art, having the kids get creative with dad makes for some really memorable shots.
Dress to match. Why not get your child and their dad a matching outfit that they can wear and pose together in. This could be anything from a waistcoat and bowtie to super hero costumes.

Hugs and kisses. This is a great one for young children who love nothing more than to shower their dads with hugs and kisses. While this is a simple idea, it can make for some of the best photos.

Take a stroll. Find a pretty location such as a lake or a park where father and child can take a walk. Capture them walking hand in hand or have your child sit on dad’s shoulders.
Get close up. Close up, portrait shots of their faces are a beautiful way to capture the similarities between father and child.

When planning your daddy and me photo session, choose a setting that allows your children to feel comfortable and where they most enjoy spending time with their dad.

“I don’t want my photos to look posed”, is a phrase we hear all the time.
A lifestyle photography session documents real life milestones, moments and events and gives you images that are anything but posed. Lifestyle photography photos tell your story just as it is at that precise moment and are perfect for any genre of photography. Action driven details bring your images to life over and over again.
So what are some of the situations where lifestyle photography can be used?

Family Photography
There is nothing quite like having the family together. The laughing, games, meals and memories are truly something to treasure. A lifestyle photography session is the perfect excuse to get your family together and capture different generations spending quality time with each other. Why not shoot a family lunch or time spent playing outside in the garden? Capturing moments between siblings or grandparents and grandchildren are photos you can treasure for years to come.

Kids Photography
Lifestyle photography is the ideal way to capture the beauty and authenticity of childhood. Make sure your children are well rested and that they’re comfortable in both their clothing and their surroundings. Patience is key during this type of session but this is when the magic happens. Bringing along a favorite snack, toy or book won’t hurt either.
Believe it or not, the most successful photos often happen when we let the kids lead the session. It’s all about making it a magical and spirited time where there is lots to take in. Sitting back and capturing those honest moments will ensure beautiful images that you’ll love for decades.

Newborn Photography
Lifestyle photography naturally lends itself to newborn photo sessions. True to life, crib and bassinet shots taken through the slats make for stunning photos. Then there are of course the shots with mom, dad, brothers, sisters and even the family pet. Moments that may seem mundane now such as bathing, feeding or even changing a diaper, from a distance of course, make for creative shots that you’ll love for years to come. Playing with and rocking your baby are also moments that you definitely won’t regret taking the time to capture as it gives you fond memories to look back on in the months to come as your baby grows and their routine changes.

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!

My family and I spend A LOT of time by the pool and at Lake Pleasant during the summer and I must say, I am obsessed with @swimzip swimming suits! With summer here I thought I would share them with you because they are seriously great! Plus they will be perfect for underwater photos this summer.

I have two great swimming suits by Swim Zip and I am amazed by the quality. They are some of the best swimming suits I have ever had for my daughter. I love how many different ways the three piece can be worn and I love how much coverage the surf suit has. Might I add that they are UPF 50+ sun protection and have a great variety of swimming suits to choose from for girls, boys and women! Check out some adorable photos of my daughter below.

Find more adorable swimsuits at www.swimzip.com

I get really excited about going into new parents homes and photographing the candid moments of babies first days. Today’s blog post features Melanie, Ken, and their newborn baby, Addisen, in those kinds of lifestyle, real-world images.

The session took place at their lovely home located in Litchfield Park, Arizona and the day was truly memorable. Don’t you just love the nursery? And you know there was so much love there based off the pictures alone! You can practically feel it through the screen! Congrats on your growing family, Mel and Ken!

If you’re in the midst of planning a photography session, whether it’s for your newborn baby or just a general family session, you’ve probably heard the term ‘mini session’ mentioned quite a bit.

There are a few differences when it comes to a mini photography session vs a custom session. Here’s what you need to know before you decide which shoot is best for you.

Time Limits

This is of course one of the main differences between the two sessions. A custom photography session will last thirty minutes to an hour or two while a photographer will usually book several mini sessions in one day since they only last about 15-25 minutes at most.

Number of Poses

Secondly, a custom photography session will allow for as many poses as possible within the time booked while a mini session offers less time so your photographer will use their skills to capture as many candid moments at possible in a shorter period of time.

Number of Photos

While your photographer will still try and shoot as many photos as possible during your mini session, you will naturally end up with fewer photos than you would if you had booked a custom session. A custom session generates between 10 – 30 images while a mini session will give you 5. There will also usually be minimal retouching of the photos taken at a mini session.

So which photography session is best for you?

You may be surprised to find that many of our clients actually choose both!  Often our clients will opt for the custom session for the entire family at a location of their choice. This gives them more time to play around with poses, backdrops, props and wardrobe changes. While they opt for mini sessions to get a few great photos of the kiddos as a compliment in between the custom sessions.

Regardless of which you choose, we look forward to working with you!

Below is an idea of the differences between our custom sessions. Our seasonal mini sessions are $175 which include 15 minutes time and 5 digital images and only happen during certain times of the year so keep on eye on our Blog, Facebook and Instagram for our next seasonal mini session.

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

Hey hey hey!!! We have finally set our dates for Minnesota so I thought I would write a blog post so my amazing Arizona clients know to book there session before I leave or after I get back and so my amazing Minnesota clients know when I will be there and you can plan ahead for your session.

This year I decided that Alaire, Bella, Jr. and I are going to drive back to Minnesota. After my last flight incident I decided I will stay on the ground this trip. And a big shout out to my family! They are defiantly going to save my sanity so I do not loose my mind on a road trip with three kids on my own hahaha. My sister, Samantha, is going to fly down to Arizona a week before I leave to Minnesota so she can drive there with us and my mom is going to drive back to Arizona with us, stay for a week and fly home to Minnesota.

I am leaving Arizona on June 23rd and plan on being to Minnesota on June 25th. We will be leaving Minnesota on July 13th and going to stay with my sister in Kansas for a day or two and plan on being back to Arizona by July 16th or 17th. My husband, Sean, is flying to Minnesota and will be there June 29th and leaving July 9th.

Alright, now to session dates. For my Arizona clients who would like to book a summer destination session or an in-home lifestyle session to beat the heat, my last session before I leave will be June 20th and I will resume sessions when I get back on July 18th. For my Minnesota clients I will only be putting aside a couple of dates for sessions while I am there so I can also enjoy family time. I will be doing sessions the evenings of July 1st and July 8th. There will be 3-5 sessions available per date depending on which package is purchased so make sure to book yours before they fill up.

If you have any questions or would like to book a session please email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com or go to the contact tab in the menu.