Valentine's Mini Sessions | What to Wear

I love Valentines Day. {It may have a little something to with my youngest being born on that day!} Before she was born, the extent of our families Valentine's day was heart shaped French toast or pancakes for breakfast...But now, Valentine's day to us isn't just a day for candy + hearts, but to celebrate our little Valentine from God!...So, I am super excited to be offering Valentine's Mini Sessions!

I wanted to write up a quick post that will help you put together outfits for your upcoming mini session! I encourage the outfits to be festive and go with the "Valentine's" theme, but that doesn't mean your kiddos need to be dressed only in red and covered in hearts...You can be pretty versatile while still staying with the Valentine's theme. I love navy, red, soft or bright pink, soft blues, silver, gold, cream, grey + black...you can even add in mint or turquoise.  You can mix and match these colors; they all compliment each other!

One of the special things about mini sessions is that you can put together outfits that you might not normally choose for traditional family portraits by adding a little fun + spunk!  I usually don't encourage any kind of writing on shirts, but if it goes with the Valentine's theme, then I'm all in! I used Polyvore to put together a few combos I thought might help you! All the items I put together below, are from Old Navy, Gap, & Gymboree.

 

Here's a few other ideas for you that I found on Pinterest...
 

 

I always encourage layers: shirts, scarves, vests, jackets, hats...and you would be my new favorite if you bring your little guys in bow ties + suspenders!

 

Photo credit: Reflections by

Talea Photography via Pinterest

Have fun putting together your outfits! Make sure you dress them warm, as we will be outdoors...and try to choose pieces that will help express your child's personality!

As always, I am more than happy to help assist in putting together your outfits + give my input! Looking forward to your session!

Happy {early} Valentine's Day!

{a.t.p.}

follow me on facebook: ashley t. phototography  +  instagram: @ashleytphoto



{homemade marshmallow madness}

Who's idea was it, anyway, to make homemade marshmallows on Christmas Eve? Oh yeah, mine. I've been wanting to make a healthier version of marshmallows for quite some time + I thought it would be a fun Christmas Eve activity for the kids + I to do together, plus, they could wake up Christmas morning + have fresh marshmallows to go in their hot chocolate...But they didn't want to help...so instead, it was mom in the kitchen at 9:30 at night while the kids watched 'A Christmas Story' and Dad in the garage assembling the million-and-one-piece Christmas gift for one of our munchkins...The greatest disasters always start with the best of intentions...

For starters, I have never attempted to make any sort of "candy" nor have I ever used a candy thermometer...So I honestly did not go into this with a good understanding of what to expect. And I probably should have waited at least until my toddler went to bed. {Yes, I let her stay up late with big brothers on Christmas Eve.} Waiting for the temperature of the mixture to reach exactly 240 degrees while trying to make sure the little rascal didn't get into trouble is a feat in its self...

I also should have used a larger pot to avoid the mixture boiling over...The author of the blog that I got the recipe from specifically said "in a small pot mix..." It's all her fault...and the reason why I am writing up my own blog post {with a few tweaks} for my "almost organic catastrophic marshmallows." And you bet I made sure to mention to use a big pot!

So besides the mixture boiling over...several times, my entire flat cooktop stove becoming covered with marshmallow mixture, burning and hardening into a rock, transferring the mixture into a bigger pot, spilling it on the floor, stepping in it, the thermometer falling into the pot + the vanilla extract spilling onto + ruining my phone charger {now you see why I have referenced them as "catastrophic?"}...they came out quite well! I probably won't be attempting to make them again for awhile {definitely not my finest moment in the kitchen} but you bet the kids had healthier marshmallows to go in their hot chocolate on Christmas morning! Hal-le-lujah!

Please don't let this post keep you from making these marshmallows! I just wanted to share with you what to do and what not to do when making homemade marshmallows for the first time! They really are delicious + I encourage you to make them...when your toddler is sleeping...And be sure to use a big pot.

{Ingredients}

· {3} .25 ounce packages if plain gelatin

· 1 cup ice cold water

· 1 1/2 cups organic sugar

· 1 cup organic light corn syrup

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 1 tsp vanilla extract

· 1/4 cup could confectioners sugar (use organic if you can find it...I couldn't!)

· 1/2 cup organic cornstarch

· Nonstick spray

{Directions}

· Add gelatin and 1/2 of the cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer. (I don't have one so I used a large mixing bowl + a handheld electric mixer}

· Combine remaining 1/2 cup of cold water, organic sugar, organic corn syrup + salt in a LARGE cooking pot. Place over medium high heat, cover + cook for 3 to 4 minutes. 

· Uncover and cook the mixture until candy thermometer reads 240 degrees. This should take about 7 to 8 minutes. Once it reaches 240 degrees immediately remove from heat. 

· Time turn on the mixer! Start on low speed and slowly pour the warm sugar mixture into the bowl with the gelatin mixture.

· After you have added all the sugar mixture, turn the mixer on high + continue to mix for about 15 minutes or until the mixture becomes very thick. 

· Add the vanilla during the last minute if mixing.

· Line the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with wax paper and spray the sides with non stick spray. 

· Combine powdered sugar + corn starch together in a bowl.

· Dust the wax paper + sides of the dish with the powdered sugar mixture.

· Spread the marshmallow mixture in the dish so it is relatively smooth + level, then sprinkle the top with the powdered sugar mixture.

· Let set for at least 4 hours {I covered mine with a tea towel + let them set overnight.}

· Once set, pull the wax paper out of the dish + pull back the sides from the marshmallows. 

· Use a pizza cutter to cut your marshmallows.

· Once you have cut them to your desired size, dust all sides of each marshmallow with the powdered sugar mixture + place store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks!

Enjoy + may your marshmallow making experience be less catastrophic than mine!

{new year, new goals, no limits}

Let me just say...I suck at this blogging thing! I had the intentions of making a blog post for each session and sharing a few images from each, but I got so crazy busy and between my full time job, being a mom, wife and photographer during the busiest photography season of the year, it just didn't happen...so I'm making it up right now! I want to take a minute (or five) to look back at this past year as well as share with you my vision & goals for the upcoming year, so grab a warm beverage & get cozy...

« Faith + Opportunities »

I stepped out in faith in October 2014 and officially became ashley t. photography...since then, I have been pleasantly surprised and humbled by my experience. I have learned so much not just about photography, but about myself, too. With each session, my passion for doing what I do, seems to be revealed to me stronger and stronger. I feel like there is no one else in the world who feels what I feel when behind the lens of my camera. This last year really has been a wonderful learning experience and an overall blessing. I have made mistakes, stepped out of my comfort zone, created some images that I am really proud of, discovered other photographers that inspire me & hopefully brought some inspiration to others. Once I started photographing others, my goal was not just to photograph people, but the relationships & connections between them; to thoroughly help capture the "real" in their lives...and my passion for that has only gotten stronger...But what I didn't expect was for a passion to develop for creativity, learning & growing as well. I am so excited to continue to help people document their life and help preserve their moments, as well as continue to test my creative limits and soak up all the information & inspiration I can get my hands on!

Along with with personal development & discovery, 2014 also included a new camera body...A beautiful Canon 6D.  Before her, I shot with a Canon T3i. She was wonderful to me. She taught me so much about photography; most importantly that it's not about having the best & most expensive gear, but rather having passion & determination.  I shot 90% of my 2014 sessions with her. I got some amazing photos that most people wouldn't know came from an entry level camera. Even if I had the option to start out my photography journey with a more advanced camera, I think I would have politely declined.  There is so much satisfaction that comes with knowing you got a great shot without all the fancy gear.  I had to work that camera to it's full potential and REALLY learn how to use it to get my images to be what I wanted. Of course at times it was frustrating, but nothing worth while is ever easy and because of that, I feel it has made me stronger in my photography...I did come to a point, however, where I was feeling limited because of my gear & I felt that my skills had out grown my camera...so that's when I knew it was time to upgrade.  I am excited to test the limits of this new camera body and I hope one day I will have excelled so much in my skills that I will outgrow this one too. 

It is awesome to look back at my work over the past year and see the improvements I have made. I am no where near where I want to be, but every time I pick up my camera, I get closer. It's such a fun journey and I love that photography has become a part of who I am.

« My Passion + My Goals »

I have thought a lot about what I want for myself as a photographer in 2015. I want to blog more, start & finish a 52 week photo project, plan for a few fun mini-sessions throughout the year and continue to be involved in my clients lives by helping them document their life story. I want to refine & improve my photography while creating my own path and style without limiting myself or staying confined to "my box." I want to take a no limits approach to each session and in my editing. Through all of this, I hope to see the beauty of life without even looking for it.

I say that I am living vicariously through my clients because I get photos of them that I wish I had of me with my kids...I'd definitely be jealous if I weren't so darn happy to be capturing those moments for them...hehehe. Here's a quick look at my beautiful 2014 clients... 

When my daughter was born, we had beautiful, and I mean BEAUTIFUL, photos taken in sweet poses on pretty blankets with adorable little headbands...at the time that's what I thought I wanted. Well now, I look back and while I am thankful to have such gorgeous photos of her, what I don't have are the photos that really document our life during that time; the photos of her in our home, in her crib where she slept, on our couch where I nursed her, in our bed where my husband & I would just lay and stare at her, I don't have any photos of her on my chest, my favorite place for her to be...I didn't know at that time that's what I would want once those moments were gone. You can see where my passion comes from. I don't want ANYBODY to miss out on capturing & preserving those moments like I did. I don't want it to be too late when you realize that is what you want + that's what's important. I would go back in time if I could. Go back to those sleepless nights just to capture those moments...Go back through childbirth to have that time documented forever...

Ah, child birth...such an amazing thing. It is truly amazing how God made our bodies to create and carry another life...such a perfect and miraculous thing it is. I have yet to document a birth story, but I am praying for God to bless me with that opportunity this year. In addition to birth photography I am also praying for the Lord to open up a door in the area of food photography...I know those two don't exactly go hand-in-hand, but, remember my earlier goal of not setting limits for myself? :-)

Isn't it wonderful how certain things take you down a different path than you thought you would go? I love that food photography & styling has no limits. It lets you pull all your creativity from within and stage it for whatever you want it to be. I feel like a little girl saying this: but I dream about one day being the next Kate Mathis. «insert shy blushing expression here» Even if you don't know her by name, I guarantee you've seen her work in everyday magazines...Even as a kid I loved food.  I always told my mom I wanted to be a food critic, but with my newfound passion for photography and my existing love for food...I have decided I want to be a food photographer when I grow up. Seriously though, I think I loved food a little too much as a kid. I would read books a second time if they had any descriptions of food...Take Little House On the Prairie.  I loved it when Laura Ingalls Wilder described the making of the maple syrup and putting on top of snow as a sweet treat...and Willie Wonka & the Chocolate factory. I read that book so many times I think I'll just keep that embarrassing number to myself...

Regardless of where my path leads, I'm going to continue to enjoy my journey and give thanks to God for the opportunity to be traveling it...

Now that I've included everything but the kitchen sink in this post, I think it makes up for my lack of blog posts this year! Cheers to 2015! Here's to goals, dreams, development & learning! 

May God bless you throughout the new year!

{a.t.p.}

facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleytphoto
instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleytphoto

{welcome. about me. my vision.}

{hi}
Welcome to ashley t. photography! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I created this page for you to get more familiar with me, Ashley T., the woman behind the lens, see what I'm about, view my work and for me to share client previews, galleries & my passion for capturing real life moments.

{a little bit about me}
My journey started as a "momtographer."  I have always been the one in my family taking photos and never in them. It wasn't until I had my daughter that I realized my smartphone & point and shoot camera just weren't capturing these precious moments the way I wanted.  So for Mother's Day my husband bought me my first entry-level DSLR. That was the moment I fully embraced the term "momtographer." I immediately became obsessed with learning how to shoot in manual & putting it to use...I really just wanted nice, timeless photos of my family that I could look back at over the years and remember the little details...It slowly started evolving from there...I read every piece of photography information I could get my hands on, I bought myself an editing program and taught myself how to use it, I realized I needed more than my kit lenses, so I purchased an inexpensive prime lens. It wasn't until I started getting requests from others to photograph their families and children that I actually considered becoming a photographer.  That was never my plan, but having others invite you into their life to capture the moments they want to preserve is an honor and an amazing feeling that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside...

{my vision}
ashley t. photography documents memories, relationships and emotion in a simple, clean & timeless way.  I strive to capture real life moments that will stop you in your tracks and bring you back to that exact moment 50 years down the road...

I am not your typical family photographer.  During my sessions, we always get at least one posed, traditional portrait, however, the rest of the session is anything but traditional.  My goal is to capture more that just forced smiles & "cheese" expressions.  My goal is to capture emotion, relationships and life in a relaxed and fun way.

It is my goal to add more in-home newborn & family lifestyle moments as well as {God willing} birth photography into my work.  Becoming a mom has opened a door to my heart that I never knew was there and available to be opened...I wish I could go back in time and document the moments with my children more thoroughly and in a way I would be able to recall every moment and remember all the details like it was yesterday - even 50 years down the road. I pray I will have the opportunity to document these moments for others as my business grows.

Over the past year and a half, I have grown so much in my photography. I am thankful to God not only for the blessings and opportunities he has given me so far in my photography journey, but the struggles as well...I have had many problems arise that have, at times made me consider giving up, but I overcame them and I feel they have only helped me become a better photographer.  I don't feel like I will ever have a full grasp of photography, and I love that - there is always something to learn, something to improve,  some way to push yourself, someway to test your creative limits.  I look forward to sharing more of my journey with you and am excited to have you join me!

follow me | facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleytphoto  | instagram: @ashleytphoto

Until next time...

{a.t.p.}