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

Hey guys!

Today I have a real treat for you, which comes in the form of Kenzi. You can tell from the pictures that she is a super kiddo.

We met up at Lake Pleasant, which I love because at the end of every session we get to have a little fun in the water which is perfect to keep cool on those hot summer days and not to mention, the kiddos love it! It is such a gorgeous location.

Kenzi likes to jump rope, play with friends, get her nails painted, and watch Netflix. She also enjoys going out to dinner with her parents!

Speaking of parents, Rachel did a really wonderful job choosing the perfect dress for her spring session. Okay, moving on to what you’ve been waiting for, photos of the beautiful Kenzi.

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.

Welcome back, guys and gals!

I recently had a stupendous session with the Perry 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. The Perry’s kept me laughing during the entire session with funny jokes and the silly things they would say to each other. They are also so very sweet, they had some of the nicest things to say about me and my business, which made me blush.

We met at the Perry’s farm which I fell in love with!!!  I loved shooting there because their cotton was in full bloom and has gorgeous views. I was so excited to be able to photograph their family there.

For our shoot, the Perry’s brought out their old tractor.  I was able to work in their tractor, my vintage couch and the outfits they chose, which really made for some amazing photos.

Okay, on to pictures of the Perry family!

It can be a headache to get everyone in the family excited about another family photo shoot. Whether it is the traditional holiday shoot or a shoot to update the family photo album planning a family shoot can be a bit stressful. You want your family shoot to go smoothly and be enjoyable for everyone. Consider these tips to get everyone more involved and excited about your next family shoot.

 

4 Ways to Make Your Family Shoot More Fun.

 

1. Choose the right clothes.

Many families choose matching outfits that not all the kids or even their spouse are excited to wear. Instead of choosing matching outfits choose a color palette or a pattern for one family member and work with those colors for the rest of the families outfit. This will allow each family member to choose something they are more comfortable in and gives you more options to add layers and fun textures. You will still get a unified look without everyone wearing the same thing.  Not only will this be more fun for everyone in the photo but the finished product look better as well.

 

2. Location, location, location.

Not only does the right location make for stunning photos it also helps everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed. Choosing a familiar location, especially with younger kids, can keep things light and natural. A location that allows you kids to explore a little and run around freely can be the perfect setting for some precious moments.

 

3. Bring some props.

Props are always a good idea to bring along for your family shoot and can be just about anything. From bubbles to chalkboards to blankets and kites, the right prop can get everyone in the family more involved in the shoot.

 

4. Don’t forget your pets!

Pets are part of the family too, so why not bring them along for your family shoot? Dogs can be very photogenic and your kids will love including their furry family member in their photo shoot. No matter what type of pet you have, animals add a ton of fun not just during the shoot but to the overall images themselves.

It’s not easy getting the whole family together and when you do you want to get as many images of everyone together as possible. Planning a professional photo shoot at a family reunion for extended family photos can make it easier for you to get everyone in front of the camera at the same time. But, even though you may have everyone together, how can you ensure that your images come out looking stunning? Here are some suggestions to make sure your final images “WOW” the entire family.

Coordinating outfits:

Unless you have shirts specially designed for everyone to wear, do your best to coordinate outfits that compliment each other and help the group look unified. One of the best ways to do this is to choose a color palette. This way, everyone can select their own individual outfit while still looking cohesive as a group. Choose two or three colors that go well with each other as well as a neutral color for pants or skirts like denim, white or khaki. For my style of photography I recommend pastel colors such as light pink, light blue, light purple with khakis or light grey pants. Check out this extended family sessions outfits to help get an idea.

Location:

Finding the perfect location for your reunion shoot can be a bit of a challenge. If you have a large family you want to choose a location that will be able to accommodate everyone. Planning an outdoor shoot can be the best option since it can allow for the most room. For the best outdoor lighting you’ll want to plan to take your photos during golden hour (an hour after sunrise or up to two hours before sunset) or in an area with full shade – if you cannot do it during sunrise or sunset – so that you don’t have dappled lighting on people’s faces. Your professional photographer can help you select a suitable location and suggest the best time to take outdoor photos.

Shots list:

Big family shoots can get confusing and chaotic pretty quickly. Having a list of all the families will make things go a lot smoother. Consider planning for each family to have individual shots and then a large group shot of everyone together. It may be beneficial if you appoint one person from the family that knows everyone’s names so he or she can assist your photographer and make sure everyone is in front of the camera at their scheduled time.

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.

I got a call from a family friend of the Morales’s telling me that she wanted to purchase a photo session as a gift for this family who is going through a lot right now. She mentioned that they have not had professional family photos in years and that the dad had been diagnosed with cancer.
I can not imagine what this family is going through but I knew that they needed that money more than I did so I gifted the session to this family all thanks to their family friend reaching out. Below is their story and a link to help support the Morales’s family.

Earlier this year, David was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma which is a rare form of cancer. He had surgery to remove a mass from his leg in April and was on his way to recovery being told that he was cancer free- being a cancer survivor, it’s important that you’re seen for checkups regularly and on Friday, December 7th David went to meet with his doctors to discuss his most recent scans. The news he was given on that day was not what anyone was expecting to hear. He was told that the cancer had returned and had metastasized to his bones. The cancer now resides in numerous areas of his body. He went from being cancer free to being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer within 6 months time.

David will undergo an aggressive chemo treatment over the next 5 -6 months that will include 5 days in the hospital and then 16 days at home, repeating this 6 times. During this time he will be out of work and his loving wife Bianca will be his primary care giver. Bianca holds the insurance for the family and will need to keep her job. She has been approved for FMLA so that she can help care for David on his journey to recovery, but David will be on disability and unable to bring home the full financial support that he is used to.

David is a very strong, dedicated and a giving man, and has done so much for so many people. He is the proud father of 6 beautiful children and enjoys attending church with his family and just having quality family time. David also has a passion for football and over the past 10 years he has given so much of himself to coaching youth football for his boys and community. He’s not only passionate about the sport but about seeing the players succeed in life. For those of you who are volunteers know that this has to be a selfless act, that’s definitely David.

The battle to fight cancer is a lot to worry about and David’s friends and family would like to get the Morale’s family with the added financial strain a critical illness can bring. Please follow the link below to help this family through this tough time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about their story.

 

Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/david-moralesconquering-cancer