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.

Hey friends!
Cotton field mini sessions are now available. Details and booking info are below. If you have any questions feel free to reach out at www.ashleyflugphotography.com/contact or email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com. Chat soon!

A lot of people may love the idea of a professional photo session but many end up being put off by the price.

While it might seem like YOUR photographer is simply getting paid to push a button for an hour or two, it’s so much more than that.

Here are 6 reasons why a professional photography session is well worth the price:

Your photography session extends beyond the shoot.

Even though your photo session may only last an hour, your photographer still needs to travel to and from your location, spend time selecting the best photos and edit those photos too.

Photography gear costs money.

Producing high-quality photos requires professional equipment. The price of your session factors in your photographer’s camera, lenses, flash, reflectors, tripods, storage cases and more. Certain types of photography can also cost more because more gear is required. Wedding photography being a prime example.

You need the right skills to take great photos.

As with any other profession, building up the skills required to be a successful photographer takes time and money.

Technology doesn’t come cheap.

Along with having all the right gear, photographers also need to have certain technology in order to process and edit their photos. This includes high-end computer equipment as well as professional photo editing software.

Experience is priceless.

Photographers spend years honing their skills and developing an artistic eye that allows them to produce the results that they do. From knowing how to work with different types of lighting to being able to spot the perfect photo opportunity, you really can’t put a price on experience. It’s also experience that gives them the know-how necessary to guide you and pose you during your photo session.

Sometimes assistants are required.

This is particularly true with event or wedding photography. When there are multiple things happening all at once, an assistant will be required to get the job done right, which will often be factored into your pricing.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If you truly like a photographer’s style and are impressed with their skills and experience, the price you pay for your photo session is definitely well worth it.

If you’ve never done it before, the thought of being in front of a professional photographer can be rather nerve wracking.

If you are really excited and terrified about your upcoming photo session, there are a few things that you can do to relax and enjoy your session to skip the photo jitters.

3 Ways to relax during your professional photo session

Keep your mind busy

When you’re about to have your photos taken, it’s difficult to not think about where you should stand and how you should pose, which often makes you act unnaturally. It’s important to remember that it’s not your job to work for the camera, the camera is here to work for you.

To take the best photos, you should ideally be as relaxed as possible. To help you do this, start by focusing on your surroundings. How would you naturally act if you were alone with family and friends in this type of surrounding? Treat your photographer as if they were someone you’ve known forever and that they’re simply spending a few hours with you.

Turn your thoughts to things that make you happy and what you really appreciate about being alive.

Don’t let the quiet moments make you panic

During your shoot, there will be moments when your photographer will pause, which can make a lot of people nervous.

It’s important to keep in mind that your photographer is a professional and is either dealing with something technical or thinking of their next shot. If they need you to change your pose or do something different, they will let you know. If they don’t, just keep engaging with your surroundings and enjoying yourself.

Be kind to yourself

Even though it can be easier said than done, it’s best not to let critical or negative thoughts take over. If you’re feeling uncertain or self-conscious, take your thoughts back to a positive place before the negative thoughts can build on each other.

Adopt a fake-it-till-you-make-it mentality and own your photo session. You can also think of all the positive things friends and family members say about you to bring yourself back from a spiral of negative thoughts.

You should know that it’s completely normal to feel nervous before and during a photo session but choosing the right photographer and going in with the right mental state makes all the difference.

 

Welcome back, guys and gals!

I recently had a fantastic sunrise session with the Totino family. The Totino’s were in town for a wedding and wanted some gorgeous desert photos for their yearly holiday card.

We met at Papago Park in Phoenix, AZ. I loved shooting there because the morning light was so dreamy!

Okay, on to pictures of the Totino family!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I truly have the best clients ever! This family was no exception, either. I mean, just look at their outfits.

Wondering how often you should update your family photos? This is what you need to know.

Busy schedules, family commitments, and lengthy to-do lists mean families don’t always get the time to update their family photos.

The years also seem to be going by faster and faster, which is especially true when you have children. As parents, you don’t want to miss the chance to capture your child’s milestones or how much you’ve changed as a family.
So, how often should you be updating your family photos?

Ideally, you should try and take new photos of your family every year. Here’s why:

Do it for future generations.

While you are taking photos for yourself, you are also making sure that future generations have amazing photos that they can look back on too. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for it.

It’s a chance to make memories.

By making a point of updating your family photos on a regular basis, you’re also taking the time to be with your family and make new memories. You never know when your family dynamics could change so capture new memories whenever you can.

Professional photos last a lifetime.

While we are a society that is constantly snapping photos on our phones and uploading them to social media, investing in professional photos gives you a completely different result. Not only will a professional know how to compose and edit each photo to perfection but these are the best photos to print and add to your family albums too.

Document your family’s growth.

You never realize how quickly your kids are growing until you look back at photos of them or you run into someone who hasn’t seen you in a while. By updating your family photos on an annual basis, you can really document your family’s growth, creating a beautiful series of photos that you can treasure forever.

Remember, updating your family photos every year doesn’t need to cost a fortune either. Talk with your photographer about the different options available to you.

I wanted to take a quick second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so fabulous to work with. That’s true of my session with the Davies family, too!

I met up with them in November at Glendale Wash and the weather was perfect for photo-taking. While the weather was fine, it was the Davies family that made this shoot such a joy.

The Davies family consists of Dad, Roderick who loves deep sea fishing, Mom, April and she loves food art (aka cake decorating), oldest Emma loves to create art for others to enjoy, Kaitlyn plays any sport available, twin boys Roddy who is a master LEGO builder and Hudson loves music of all kinds and Baby Naomi is happy constantly.

“We love hiking at white tanks together, watching movies together and playing games together.,” says April.

As you can see from the comments above and the photos below, this family is not only photogenic, but also a close-knit group who clearly love spending time together. They are lucky to have each other.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

November 30th at South Mountain was a eventful day jam-packed with 10 sessions in 2 hours. Despite the slight madness of getting everyone photographed, I am absolutely thrilled with every single photo I took at my Christmas truck mini-session.

I wanted to create a cozy and warm feel for this shoot. To help create that vibe, I incorporated a variety of props into the session. Some of my favorites include: adorable throw pillows and an antique sleigh.

All of the children and families showed up looking amazing.

Clearly, I had so much fun doing this mini-session and it makes me even more excited for my Christmas tree lot mini-session, which takes place on December 21st! Click here if you’re interested in booking and while you are there enter to win one of my bucket list sessions!!

Hi, everyone!

Oh how I just adore the family I’m blogging about today. I’m lucky enough to say I’ve been photographing the Gorman family for 3 years now! I truly can’t believe how much the children have grown and changed since I first met them. They are also adding a little girl in a few short months which I cannot wait to meet!

The Gorman’s are a very very blended family! They have a kid from almost every avenue of being able to receive a kid! Adoption, foster, step kids, half siblings, biological kids! You name it they got it! And they love how blended they are!!!

And as for the day of the shoot, it was rainy so we had to move their session indoors, but it went so perfect with their outfits that I am so happy that it turned out that way!

It goes without saying, Abigail and Josh have become my friends over the time we’ve worked together. It’s hard to not become friends with someone like Abigail, who is a rockstar mom and so easy to talk too. Dad and husband Josh is just as great and sure knows how to keep everyone laughing.

Okay, enough text. Abigail and Josh, you are amazing parents and I cannot wait to meet your little girl!