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.

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!

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.

All too often, men will do something just to make their wives happy and photo sessions can fall into this category.

Most men don’t really enjoy having their photos taken, which is why you need to focus on what they do enjoy if you want to convince your spouse that investing a family photo shoot is a good idea.
Jot down a few things that your spouse really loves to do in his spare time or things he enjoys doing with you and your children. Playing a game of baseball, visiting an amusement park or tossing a Frisbee around in the back yard are just a few examples of things your husband would rather be doing than posing in an outfit that you chose for him and staring at a camera for an hour or two.

So how do you bring up the topic of a family photo shoot without getting a giant sigh in return?
The key is to think more about playing and having fun and less about posing.
By setting up a more activity-based family photo shoot, you’ll have a better chance of convincing your spouse that it’s a great idea. Plus, at the end of your photo session, you’ll have everyone smiling and saying how fun the morning or afternoon was.
If posed shots are important to you, spend time taking a few with your kids and then give them a turn to play around and have fun with dad. These sincere moments make for some of the best photos and they’re incredibly fun for photographers to capture too.

Ensure that whatever activity you choose it makes everyone feel at ease, even if this means having a playful picnic in the garden. Remember that there’s no formula for the perfect portrait and trying to achieve this perfection usually just stresses everyone out. It’s best to plan something that everyone in your family will feel comfortable with.
Focus on the fun and your photographer will take care of the rest.

There are a lot of things to consider when booking your outdoor photo session. Whether it is for a family session or maternity session you want to ensure your images come out looking stunning.

Many people book their shoot thinking that the afternoon would be the best time to shoot since there is plenty of sunlight, but this is actually one of the worst times for an outdoor session.

The afternoon light from the sun is often harsh and strong which causes unflattering shadows. While diffusers and shade can help reduce these shadows it still isn’t ideal. So when should you schedule your outdoor photo session?

The Golden Hour.

Any professional photographer will agree that the best time to shoot outdoors is during what is know as the golden hour. This is typically the hour just after the sun has risen or the hour just before the sun sets. It is during this time that the lighting is ideal because the sun is typically at its lowest point in the sky. As a result, the light is soft and diffused which creates less contrast and shadows.

Additionally, during these hours there are fewer people out and about. This gives you the extra bonus of not having to worry about anyone walking in the background or distracting you during the shoot. The glow of the sun at this time will also help add dimension to the background and allow for more detail to come through the images.

How to determine the golden hour?

Since the sun rises and sets at different times every day you want to make sure you plan accordingly. From about March to July the sun will begin to rise earlier and set later and from August to December the sun will rise later and set earlier. Keep in mind that your location will impact the length of time you will have this ideal light to shoot with. As you move closer to the equator the “golden hour” will typically not be as long because the sun moves up in altitude more quickly so the light becomes harsher much faster.

While it may not seem ideal to have to wake early to get in your photo shoot the images you will come away with are well worth this small sacrifice. Most parents also agree that booking their family shoots earlier in the morning was met with less resistance from their children. Keep this in mind when you decide to book your next outdoor shoot.

We took a trip to Sedona to get our family photos done and I couldn’t help but grab some photos of our kiddos while we were there. Sedona is so beautiful and I just love it so much. I cannot wait to get up there again to do client sessions!

Alaire, Bella and Jr. are my life (literally, I never get a break haha) but I love their crazy chaos.

Alaire is 9 years old (almost 10 in November!!!) and in 4th grade. She thinks she is a teenager so every chance she gets she will be doing her makeup and nails and watching DIY’s on her tablet.

Bella is 5 years old and in Kindergarten. She is definitely our sassy one but that comes with the age right?! She loves having friends over for play dates and playing barbies with her big sister (when she will anyways).

Jr. is 3 years old and is at home with me all day long. He likes to play games on his tablet and beating up his big sisters, which I think is pay back from them torturing him as a baby lol.

These kiddos know how to keep me on my toes but I am thankful for them everyday. I love watching them grow and I love the bond they all have together. It is for sure a love hate relationship but they always have each others backs no matter what.

It’s completely normal to feel a little awkward when getting your senior portraits done. Many seniors tend to feel self-conscious about their appearance because they feel uncomfortable taking photos on their own.

Below are my top five tips for taking on your senior portraits with grace and confidence and leaving with photos that you will love for years to come.

1. Use your eyes. Use your eyes to express emotion. When you smile naturally your whole face lights up and your eyes look bright and awake. Before the photo session practice smiling in the mirror and use different expressions to see what looks best.

2. Relax. Great photos happen when the subject is relaxed and confident. Let the excitement of your photo session show through the lens as you take a moment and breathe, relax and just have fun. You may feel silly during this process but I will do everything I can to help you feel more comfortable.
3. Breathe. This may sound obvious but breathing is key to capturing a natural look. Take time to practice taking a deep breath while smiling in front of the mirror. Slowly release the air while holding the smile and notice how your face and eyes settle into a natural and relaxed expression. Allow your eyes to “smile” by focusing on the apples of your cheeks pressing upwards. When in doubt, just breathe.

4. Move. Staying stationary can sometimes produce a very staged and cheesy look. Just because you are sitting or standing still doesn’t mean you can’t change the angle of your body to create a look that is fresh and inspired. Try leaning into the camera slightly to appear more engaged, shift your weight from left to right, or simply move your chin slightly up and down for different shots as this gives us a variety of facial expressions to work with.
5. Beautify. This goes for everyone. Ladies, spend some extra time getting your hair blown out, get your makeup done and choose an outfit that makes you look and feel your best. As for the men, take a shower and shave. When you look your best, you feel your best and when you feel your best, you are naturally more confident. Go the extra mile to walk into your senior session feeling confident, attractive, prepared, and inspired.

Fall mini session dates and locations

It’s that time of year again for mini sessions. I know a lot of you have been asking about mini sessions so I thought I would get a couple of dates on the calendar for you to start planning your session weather it be family, maternity or photos of your children. More dates may be added depending on how much interest there is. There will be a location at a creek (shown above) as well as a desert location (shown below) both located in the west valley.

$175 for 15 minutes time and 5 digital images.

Up to 5 people.

Only 6 spots available each day.

September 30th at desert location – Waddell, Arizona
4:30
4:45
5:00
5:15 –  Booked
5:30 – Booked
5:45 – Booked

October 14th at creek location – Wickenburg, Arizona
3:00 – Booked
3:15
3:30 – Booked
3:45
4:00 – Booked
4:15 – Booked

September 15th in Sedona

Have you wanted a destination session but haven’t wanted to pay destination prices. Your in luck! I will be in Sedona the 15th and 16th of September so I wanted to offer mini sessions while I am there so you can get them at regular session pricing!!!

$275 for 30 minutes time and 10 digital images.
Up to 6 people (pets welcome).

6:30am – Booked
6:45am – Booked
7:00am –
7:15am –
7: 30am –
7:45am – Booked

A 50% retainer fee is due within 24 hours to hold your date and time. If unpaid and someone else is interested in your chosen date and time your session will be passed on. I, of course, will send you a reminder email before I pass it on. To book your session please email me at info@ashleyflugphotography.com.

We are so excited to begin our journey with you! We’ve put together a few tips on how to gain the most referrals through our program. If you have found that something else works too, let us know and we’ll add it in.

• Have a good online social media presence. Actively post on your social media pages – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. When we do your session, post the photos to your pages, make them your cover photos and blog about your experience. Keep the hype up by talking about your photos on your social media. Talk about your session before and after it happens. We can even stop and post a selfie during if you’d like! Tag our page when you talk about us, so your followers will link to our page.
• Pass out your rep cards. We will give you personalized rep cards with your photos. Pass them out to your friends, teammates, classmates, etc.
• Mention us to juniors/seniors in other high schools. If you are in a lot of extracurricular activities that allow you to be around students from other schools, be sure to pass your rep cards along to them and let them know how much you love our company. We take on clients from within a 50-mile radius of our studio. If you need a list of approved schools, just ask and we’ll send it over. The more people you talk to about the session, the greater the chance of getting referrals.
• Talk about your session and how much fun it was. Whenever you show people your photos, talk about how much fun the session was. Include details from your experience to make them want to do it as well. We’re selling more than just beautiful photos, but the experience as well.
• Get your parents involved. Have your parents pass out rep cards to their friends at work who have teenagers that will soon need our services.