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

When it comes to family portraits most parents’ number one concern is how to get their little ones to pose and cooperate during the shoot. There are always challenges to face when trying to get everyone in the family to look their best and look at the camera altogether but it is not something you need to stress about. These simple tips will help you prepare your young ones for their big day in front of the camera whether it’s for family portraits or birthday pictures.

 

5 Tips to Prep Your Kids for Your Family Shoot

 

1. Scheduling

You’ll want to schedule your shoot around you kids schedule. Work around naps or feeding times so they aren’t fussy or cranky during the shoot.

 

2. Make it a big deal.

You want your children to be excited about the shoot so let them know about it well in advance. Make it into a special occasion so they can get more excited and interested in taking part in it. Even offer a special treat for after the shoot.

 

3. Bribes

While you may not like the idea of bribing it can be a good idea to have a small piece of candy to give your kids for right after the shoot is done. A small treat can go a long way in helping avoid the additional stress of an uncooperative toddler.

 

4. Let The Photographer Give Directions

It’s natural for parents to want to give their children directions during a shoot or make adjustments to their clothing but this often leads to parents not looking at the camera. Let your photographer take the reins and you just focus on looking good and being camera ready yourself. Kids also tend to listen better to another adult so it can make everything a lot easier for everyone.

 

5. Enjoy the Experience

Of course, you want each shot to be amazing but your focus should be on enjoying the moment with your family and children. Sometimes the most picture perfect moments are the ones that don’t seem so perfect in the moment. Don’t set expectations of how you want the perfect family portrait. Instead focus on having the perfect family moments. The more fun you are having the more fun your kids will have too.

One of the most common questions people have when preparing for a photo shoot is what to wear. You want everyone in the photos to look their best but you also want all the details in the photos to tie together so it looks cohesive but not overly matching. These simple tips will give you a better idea on how you can style your own outfits, accessories, and props so that everything meshes together but still pays tribute to who you are as a family.

Fall is usually all about bundling up in lots of layers, enjoying the shift from hot to cool, and soaking up the sun and autumn foliage. But, we live in Arizona and it is still warm. Instead of roasting your butt off during your session (unless you want to) with sweaters and scarves, think maxi dresses for her and short sleeve button ups for him.

Here are a few tips for dressing for fall family sessions:

^^^^ P.S. This is my favorite fall look. It goes perfectly with my style since there is still pops of light colors and not all dark and bold colors. ^^^^

Most families tend to match their outfits by pattern or color but for the best results, you’ll want to skip putting everyone in matching clothes and colors and instead coordinate their outfits to play off of one another. Let one of the family members secretly be the star of the photo shoot. Dress them in a patterned outfit that consists of at least three colors. Keep the rest of the family outfits simple with pops of color that coordinate with the star of the show outfit. And don’t forget to take the shoes into consideration as well.

Since we do not have many fall leafs here in the desert, choose colors that will bring those fall leave colors to us. Stick with a color palette that will blend seamlessly into autumn’s spectrum: creamy nude, light grey, burgundy, mustard, brown, etc.

Add accessories! Think jewelry, hats or even flowers to hold or put in the hair. Consider accessorizing your kids in layers, textures and offer something for everyone to interact with. You don’t want the accessories to overwhelm the image but they can be a great way to offer a lot of variety throughout your shoot. Think of things that can be easily taken off or put back on.

Wear shoes that fit the season. Loafers and flats work perfectly. But also think riding boots or comfy, fur-lined boots.

If you have any questions or need any help with dressing for fall photos feel free to reach out and I will help you! info@ashleyflugphotography.com

Hey friends!

Thanks for stopping by to read about my film photography journey.

Some of you may know that I have started to shoot film as well as digital at my sessions a few months ago. I worked a lot with film while in college but I got out of because digital was the “thing”. I recently decided that I really wanted to get back into film to push my creativity, to slow down and pay more attention to the shot vs. just being click happy!
I have had a few failed rolls of film since I started which made me a little frustrated and annoyed thinking I wouldn’t be able to do this, it is to expensive to keep shooting film I cannot use, no way I will be able to photograph both film and digital, my thoughts went on and on.

Check out these fails! They do not match my style at all, they are dark and muddy. With film, I can not do much editing to bring them to match my style like you can with digital. You have to get in right in camera and not being able to see what it looks like after you take a photo was proven challenging for me because I am so use digital.

I kept going with film, hoping I would get it figured out. When I got an email saying that my scans were ready from the last roll of film I shot, I didn’t even want to open it. I just thought it would be another dud roll that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with. Boy was I wrong! My eyes lit up when I looked at the scans because I couldn’t believe I finally had a roll of film that I could use!

Check them out. I still have a lot to learn but I am so happy with this roll of film and how far I have come since I started. I am sure there will still be those bad rolls now and then because I am no where near perfect and I still have a lot to learn but I am excited to keep advancing in shooting film.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my journey this far. I cannot wait to show you all more of my film work on Instagram and Facebook.

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!

Glad to see you again, photo lovers!

It feels like just yesterday I was crouched in front of adorable Teagyn snapping pictures like a maniac at her newborn session. I was really looking forward to seeing her again to see how she has changed over the past 9 months. And my, how she’s grown!

What a cutie patootie!

As you can see from the pictures, Teagyn rocked her fruit bath session. She clearly knows how to work the camera. Do we have a future model on our hands?

Luckily for me, I get to photograph Teagyn again in a couple of months for her cake smash session. I’m dying to see how much more she has changed between now and then!

P.S. Want to learn more about my grow with me packages or book a fruit bath session for your little one? Email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com

I’m still on a high from photographing Michelle, who’s 28 weeks pregnant with her little one and looking straight up gorgeous during her dreamy desert session! We headed over to the White Tank Mountains in Waddell, where we were able to utilize tons of natural light and a gorgeous backdrop of the desert. Needless to say, from the location to the clothing to the light and beyond, every element came together to make for some incredibly beautiful images.

I am all about those dresses – aren’t you? FLAW-LESS! You make my job easy, Michelle, and it was an absolute pleasure to hang out with you and photograph you during this sweet time of your life! I’m so excited for your little one to arrive!

Hi ladies and gentlemen!

We’ve got some serious reason to celebrate! Christina and August welcomed their little princess, only a few short days ago. If that isn’t reason to do a happy dance, I don’t know what is!

My shoot with Christina and the rest of her family – including Dad, and their son, Matthew – offered lots of those moments. The session took place in March at a gorgeous farm in Gilbert, Arizona, and it was a non-stop shutter clicking extravaganza!

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

The proof is in the pictures!

 

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.