Photo Gifts

Give the gift of "you" to your loved ones this year! They will be so proud to show your picture to all their friends and family!

I loved photographing my grandpa and his new puppy as a Christmas surprise for my grandma. It brought a tear to her eye and I got almost as much thanks as my grandpa did!

I love you guys! xo

Family Holiday Portraits Preview part 2

Favorite Photo of the Week: #7

Today I photographed a family that I shot last year. There is something special about doing annual family portraits! I loved seeing the children a little more grown up, a little more talkative and a little more comfortable in front of the camera. They are such a cute family and it was such a beautiful day! To me, thats one of the best combinations! Here's one of my favorites!

XO ~ Sarah

Favorite Photo of the Week: #6

One of my favorite pastimes, esspecially during the holidays, is baking! My husband had never seen "It's A Wonderful Life," so I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies and curl up on the couch for a Christmas classic paired with egg nog. Last year my brother gave me these Matryoshka nesting doll measuring cups and I love them!

What holiday traditions do you look forward to?

XO ~ Sarah

Family Holiday Portraits Preview

Here are a few shots that I've been working on today! I will be posting more from this shoot soon!! This was such a beautiful and wonderful family.

xo

Favorite Photo of the Week: #5

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holidays! For Thanksgiving, my husband and I went to his grandmother's house, which surprisingly I've never been to! I had a wonderful time and had the grand tour of the house and property. It was really nice to see my husband spend time with his brothers and hear them all reminisce about all the adventures they had there growing up. And of course I jumped at the opportunity to photograph them all together and was super excited to do so at a memorable spot from their childhood with them all grown up.

Lately, I've been drawn to non-traditional portraits! I love the idea of a beautiful photograph, a moment caught in time, with the subjects being captured in a way that you know who it is, but it's not your normal "look over here and smile" shots. Here is one of my favorites of the guys, even though they are walking away. Enjoy, xo Sarah

Brightly Wound

Lately, my husband and I have been very much inspired by Eisley and the beautiful, whimsical lyrics and voices of their band members. Their song Brightly Wound so evokes the feeling of this beautiful time of year and this season in our lives.

Earlier this week we went for a walk through the park and took some pictures. Here is one of my favorites!

XO ~ Sarah

Favorite Photo of the Week: #4

XO~Sarah

Seasons changing...

There is a tree at my day job that looks so pretty right now! I love how it changes colors as the year carries on. I think I've decided to continue to photograph it throughout the fall and into winter and spring. Enjoy! XO

Favorite Photo of the Week: #3

This week my dear friend Morgan came to visit me with her oh so cute children! Her son looked so cozy on my couch so I had to get this shot! I love it!

XO~ Sarah

Family Potraits

One of the reasons why I absolutely love the holidays is spending time with my family!! I love how now that Im all grown up, my sister is my best friend and how much fun we have together! Family dynamics are all so different, but its amazing how much power is in the bond that entwines it together. Whereas friends may come and go, family is always there and you cannot escape from the fact that you are related by blood to a group of individuals.

My siblings and I live in different states, a fact which bums me out like no other, so when all of us are together, we take the time to take lots of pictures together. Its so amazing to me how a photograph can capture a moment in time and season of one's life. This is probably why it is

so fun and fulfilling for me to do family portrait sessions.

I still have space for holiday portrait sessions. Please email me at sarahashleyphotography@yahoo.com for booking and availability. But hurry as time is running out!

Here are some family portraits from this past year that I've been meaning to share. Enjoy

XO~ Sarah

Favorite Photo of the Week: #2

This week's favorite picture is one that I shot, but was edited by my husband, who is currently in training to become my assistant. I recently found a list of ways to stay creative, and one of them was to collaborate. I love the way that what one person sees one way can be transformed into someone else's vision. Its a great way to stay inspired and stretch yourself.

I hope you like it!

XO Sarah

Happy First Day of November!

I cannot believe that it is already the first day of November! The year has flown by and the holidays will be here before we know it!! Right now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting your photos done to send out to family and loved ones as gifts or holiday cards. If you recently got married, what a lovely way to start your first Christmas together then to send out holiday cards with your favorite wedding portrait? Especially if you have family or friends who couldn't make it to the wedding! Or have you added to your family with a new baby? Family portraits are so nice to share at the holidays and what a fun way to show off your new bundle of joy!

Whether its just the two of you, or your family and maybe your pets, photos add a wonderful touch to your holiday cards. After all, who doesn't love fun mail? Especially when accompanied by a beautiful portrait depicting this unique time in your life!

Its not to late to book your Holiday Portrait session!! If you book now, all holiday sessions will get the first 10 cards free!! For booking and availability, email me at sarahashleyphotography@yahoo.com

Here is a preview of what your holiday card could look like! More designs coming soon!

XO~ Sarah

Favorite Photo of the Week: #1

Lately I've been thinking about starting a weekly post every Saturday night. It will showcase my favorite photograph that I took during that week. We will see how it goes!

This is my favorite shot this week. It is an out-take from the photoshoot on Monday but I couldn't stop thinking about it during the week. I love the spontaneity of it and yet how certain points parallel each other. For example, the lines of their shoulders, arms, her stripped stockings/his leg, the blanket and the suitcase. I also love that you can't see their faces and the coloring which, if you saw the sneak peak a few days ago you might realize it will be black and white, will be lost in the final images.

Anywho, I hope you find it as intriguing and beautiful as I do.

XO ~ Sarah

Sneak Peak!

Yesterday concluded my 2 day photo shoot for my new project. It was a beautiful day, although I would have liked it to have been a little overcast, but still. We had a few complications but I think it all went well. Here is a little preview of what's to come! Enjoy!!

This is Halloween, this is Halloween.

There is something about the fall that never fails to inspire me and put me into a creative mood! I love the cozy, quaint feeling of the weather and season changing; the way it seems to get chilly and the leaves gently fall from the color shifting trees. The cute and scary decorations start to appear for Halloween and it makes me want to wear boots, dark jeans, plaid button up shirts, sweaters and fingerless mittens. Unfortunately, right now where I live its decided to go back to the summer heat after a tease of autumn's chill. This time of year also makes me want to listen to hauntingly beautiful, whimsical music such as Eisley, Christian Kiefer, Christie Dupree, and my Twilight playlist and to be surrounded by vintage/Nightmare Before Christmas type decor.

All of these things contributed to the birth of my newest project which I will be shooting at the beginning of next week. I am also excited because this will be my first multiple day photo shoot. I will be instagraming previews of the project and will post it here in its completion. I haven't been this excited about a project in awhile so please stay tuned!

Here is an addition to my bench collection from my recent trip to Golden Gate Park with my mom and sister! I find it very fitting to the season!

Happy Fall Everyone!

Anniversary Promotion

In celebration of my own wedding anniversary this month, Sarah Ashley Photography is hosting a promotion on all wedding packages. Book your wedding with me through the end of October and receive a complementary Sweet Heart Special anniversary photo session which includes 1 - 8x10 portrait! What a better way to celebrate your first year as a married couple! Click here for my wedding packages.

***Please email me for availability and booking information! sarahashleyphotography@yahoo.com

Chris & Kristina Wedding

More from my iPhone

As a photographer, I shouldn't be surprised that I have over 20 photography apps on my iPhone, but I am! I love all the possibilities and how I can make any old snapshot a mini piece of art! Which is probably why I'm addicted to instrgram, but oh well! Here are some pics I've done lately! hehe... These are mainly from my friends' wedding that I was honored to be a part of!

Allie & Paul ~ Wedding