Ashley Photography News

Online Photography Education

2010-09-12T21:57:00.000-06:00

AspiringPhotographer.com is now Photography Greenhouse, a resource to help you nurture and grow your portrait photography business.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Award Winning Photographer

2010-06-29T12:07:00.000-06:00

Over the years I have occasionally gotten up the nerve to enter my prints in the International Photographic Competition run by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Photographers are allowed to enter 4 prints each year, and they are subjected to a panel of certified judges, where the images are determined to be "merit-worthy" or not. The incentive to enter is to earn PPA "merits," or the "Seal of Approval," and when a photographer earns enough merits they can apply to receive a "Master of Photography degree" from PPA. Sitting in on the judging is fun when it's not your print, and stressful as heck when it is.

Last week I was happy to learn that 3 of my 4 prints earned merits, and that one was even selected for PPA's International Loan Collection! The Loan Collection travels to different exhibits and is published in a book. This is my first Loan Collection print, so it's pretty fun to finally achieve that distinction. So here are the images, and thanks to Raf Alvarado and Keith Ashley for helping me come up with the titles of the first two:

The Outsiders, International Loan Collection, PPA Seal of Approval, Kodak Gallery Award:

Still Sacrificing, PPA Seal of Approval:

Drink Decaf and Sleep Like a Baby, PPA Seal of Approval:

www.ashleyphotography.com

International Photographic Competition run by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
PPA

Colorado Springs Photography Workshops Summer 2010

2010-06-21T09:09:00.001-06:00

Visit my site for new and aspiring photographers, aspiringphotographer.com, for more info about the workshops, and for articles about starting a business photographing babies and children.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby & Child Photographer | Then & Now

2010-06-07T06:10:00.005-06:00

This image of these sweet little sleeping children is one of my all-time favorites that I have created over the years. Their mom, grandma and I had already been through at least 4 hours of craziness when they both fell asleep and we were able to capture this beautiful moment. We worked for it, that's for sure!

One of my absolute favorite things about my job is having the opportunity to watch all my little friends grow over the years. When it's your own kids, or kids who you see every day, the changes aren't so obvious. But with the little ones who come to see me for portraits, I don't usually have the opportunity to see them in-between sessions, so the changes they've gone through can be pretty striking. So I am happy that I've had more opportunities to photograph this brother and sister over the past few years. It's been fun to see how they are still close and have such a great time together. They were in again recently (now 5 and 7, I believe!) and I wanted to share some of the fun images from their recent session as well as some from a session in between.

Colorado Springs Studio Photographer | Portrait Session

2010-04-07T06:48:00.003-06:00

I thought it would be fun to create a little video of an actual kid's portrait session in progress, so here you go!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Free Mini-Sessions

2010-04-06T17:53:00.002-06:00

Experience one of my free mini-sessions! These special sessions for children are available from April 12th - 23rd, 2010. Click the flyer for all the details.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Studio Portrait Sessions

2010-02-04T08:13:00.002-07:00

I am offering free mini-sessions for children and families on the black background the mornings of February 18th and 19th, 2010. Contact me at MaryLynne@aol.com to schedule your session! Click on the flyer for all the details.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Photography Training: Digital SLR Camera Classes

2010-01-21T20:14:00.003-07:00

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Portrait Photographer | Facebook Profile Pictures

2010-01-21T12:44:00.006-07:00

My Facebook fundraiser to raise money for Haiti is this Saturday, January 23, 2010. Visit my MercyCorps fundraising page for more information and to make a donation.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Valentine's Day Photo Sessions!

2010-01-12T10:29:00.002-07:00

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Studio Photography Training

2009-10-06T07:06:00.002-06:00

As of today, October 6th, there are only 3 spots left for this fun and informative class that I am holding at my studio. PPA has extended the day to get a discount on registration until October 8th. This is a great chance to meet up with other local photographers. We always have a great time!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Dog Photographer

2009-09-08T20:24:00.003-06:00

I am trying something new at the studio -- a portrait special focused on dogs! Bring a donation of $25 for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and receive a portrait session for your dog along with a 5x7 print from Ashley Photography. The entire $25 will go to the Humane Society, and additional prints are available at my regular prices.

These sessions will be held at my studio in downtown Colorado Springs from Monday, 9/14 through Saturday, 9/19, 2009. Contact me at MaryLynne@aol.com to schedule your dog's session. Human family members may accompany the pooch in the portraits!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Kids Photographer

2009-08-25T14:18:00.001-06:00

A fun image from one of my studio sessions last week.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Business Portraits

2009-08-10T12:46:00.014-06:00

Back to Business Special

Summer is winding to a close and it's time to get serious about business again. In additional to my family portraiture work I also offer business head shots. You'll receive a mini-session with one retouched full-resolution digital file for which you receive reproduction rights. You will have several images from which to choose your portrait. Use the image on your LinkedIn page, business cards, website, etc.

My regular price for the in-studio business portrait session with digital file is $95, but I am offering them for $50 for one month from August 19th through September 18th.

Sessions are by appointment in my studio in downtown Colorado Springs. Contact me at MaryLynne@aol.com or 719-329-0396 to schedule your session.

Put your best face forward with a new business portrait!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photographer | Professional Photography Training

2009-08-05T08:10:00.005-06:00

I am teaching a Super Monday class on October 26th at my photography studio in downtown Colorado Springs. The class, Photographing Babies & Children in the Studio, is offered through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Examine the many aspects of working with babies and children in the studio. Learn to capture natural expressions and poses, and get more variety into your posing. The discussion extends to the importance of background selection, lighting and working with props. The class will be packed with TONS of information, so be sure to bring something to take notes!

Sign up by October 5, and get this full day of instruction for $99. On-site registration is $120, space permitting. Learn more about Super Monday and register for the class through the Super Monday section of PPA's website. You can e-mail me if you have specific questions about the class, MaryLynne@aol.com.

--Mary Lynne
www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Free Mini-Sessions in August

2009-08-03T08:14:00.003-06:00

I am running a special with free 30-minute mini-sessions in the studio in mid-August. The sessions will be available August 12 - 17th, and that even includes weekend appointments! Sort of a Back-to-School special. These sessions are for families and for children 7 months old and up, and the portraits will be created on the background shown above.

You will select your photos in an in-studio appointment where you will view your photos in a fun and moving presentation in my projection room. There is no obligation to purchase anything. Buy only the images you love. My regular print pricing applies. Contact me to schedule YOUR session. You can e-mail me at MaryLynne@aol.com or call 719-329-0396.

Offer is no valid for newborn or maternity sessions.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Infant Photographer | Newborn Photography

2009-07-29T11:04:00.006-06:00

Here is some total newborn sweetness from a session I had last week.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Ashley Photography is now on Facebook

2009-07-21T23:43:00.002-06:00

Become a fan of Ashley Photography on Facebook! I will occasionally offer specials through Facebook that will not be advertised any other way.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Black and White Studio Photography

2009-07-13T09:18:00.001-06:00

Here's a group of fun kiddos I photographed recently during my June "Daddy & Me" special.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs: Fun Activities with the Kids

2009-07-13T09:05:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to pass this along. One of the families I recently photographed told me about a terrific website called mykidsweek.com that lists family-friendly activities in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. It's up-to-date and is a great way to find out what's going on in town for kids.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer | In-home Infant Photography

2009-05-23T20:25:00.007-06:00

I photographed this amazing little guy in his home today and it was such a wonderful session. He is so tiny and beautiful and was such a good little sleeper! I also got some wonderful shots of him awake and with members of his family, but these are some of my favorites.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Fun in the Studio

2009-05-22T20:34:00.010-06:00

I had such a blast with these kids and their mom today. The kids were in such great moods and so full of personality! She and I had a great time dancing around to songs from High School Musical. He, on the other hand, was not so sold on HSM, but we found some tunes that were okay by him.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Kid Photographer: Artist's Choice Special

2009-05-19T21:19:00.008-06:00

I'm having lots of fun with my special Artist's Choice sessions that I'm offering this week. These are sessions that were offered through my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter to find out about future specials.

So many incredibly cute kids! Here are just a few of them.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Child Photographer: Urban Photography Session

2009-05-15T23:31:00.014-06:00

I talked Kaya into modeling for me and another photographer friend today so we could work on creating some "urban" style images. She was amazingly cooperative, which really helped in getting some wonderful shots.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Maternity Photographer | Photo of the Day for Friday, May 8th, 2009

2009-05-08T19:55:00.006-06:00

I loved working with these parents who are expecting a little boy in early May.

Read information about selecting a maternity photographer, and visit my website to see more examples of my maternity photography: www.ashleyphotography.com.

Colorado Springs Child Photographer | Upcoming Special Sessions

2009-05-06T22:03:00.003-06:00

Every few months I offer portrait specials that I announce only through my e-mail newsletter. These specials are usually free sessions that are short in length and are typically limited to one or two backgrounds. They are a great way to update your family's portraits without the expense of a full session. Each special varies, and the specifics are detailed in the newsletter. I have lots of fun with these sessions, and always look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new families.

If you'd like to learn more about these special sessions, I welcome you to sign up for my online newsletter.

Mary Lynne

Ashley Photography
www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Now Offering Digital Image Packages

2009-04-22T09:39:00.004-06:00

After receiving too many requests to ignore, I am now offering digital packages in addition to traditional prints. When you buy the digital images you receive a full-resolution of the processed files, along with the rights to reproduce the images however you want to. Make prints, create albums, order specialty products, and share your photos online! My digital packages also include a 5x7 print of each image, which will act as a guide to what the images should look like when properly printed with a good lab.

You can buy the digital files individually, in a set of 5 images, or in a set of 25-35, which is the typical number of final images from a session (we can talk about the price if the session includes more images than that). You can visit my newly relaunched website and check out the "info" section to see the prices of these digital packages. Contact me directly at MaryLynne@aol.com if you would like to explore purchasing the files from a past session from which you have already placed an order. I've developed special prices for those cases.

Ashley Photography

15 S. Wahsatch, Colorado Springs

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photography | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, April 21, 2009

2009-04-20T23:23:00.004-06:00

Oh man, will you look at this baby?! Is he gorgeous or what? Just four months old and so interested in everything around him. He was in the studio yesterday.

Ashley Photography
www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photography | Photo of the Day for Friday, April 17, 2009

2009-04-17T06:40:00.005-06:00

What do you do when you have 18-month-old twins who won't stay put for a joint photo? Pop 'em in the famous bucket, of course! I bought this prop at an antique store quite a few years ago for $200. My friend Kelley, an antiques aficionado, told me "Mary Lynne, hate to tell you, but that bucket is totally not worth $200." Well I'm here to tell you that it was worth every penny! Love ya, Kelley.

P.S. Great smile on him. And check out the look on her face. Too cute. Love it!

Ashley Photography
www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Pregnancy Photography | Photo of the Day for Wednesday, April 15, 2009

2009-04-15T08:56:00.004-06:00

Here's an artsy-looking image from a pregnancy session I had a couple days ago. I had such a great time with this mom-to-be. It's a pretty cool having a job where I get to spend my days hanging out with new, interesting people, all while creating some beautiful artwork for them.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Pregnancy Photographer | Photo of the Day for Friday, April 10, 2009

2009-04-10T06:00:00.004-06:00

Here's a wonderful maternity image I created earlier this week. I love how the fabric flows across the mother's pregnant figure, emphasizing her curves in such a soft, feminine way.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Photo of the Day for Thursday, April 9, 2009

2009-04-09T15:56:00.003-06:00

Gorgeous six-year-old from today. I also had the opportunity to photograph her when she was about two, so it was fun to see her when she was here in town visiting Grandma again.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, April 7, 2009

2009-04-07T05:00:00.001-06:00

Here's a really sweet shot I took a few weeks ago at my studio.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Photo of the Day for Monday, April 6, 2009

2009-04-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

It's fun to watch how little girls of a certain age light up when they have the opportunity to wear a special dress like this one. I had so much fun with this girl last week when she came into the studio for my black and white special.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Family Photographer | Photo of the Day for Thursday, April 2, 2009

2009-04-02T17:36:00.004-06:00

These are some gorgeous kids who came into the studio last week. I really enjoying doing black and white action shots like this one.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Studio Photographer | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2009-03-31T12:41:00.004-06:00

It's always fun to include family hobbies and pastimes in photos. This cute little girl came in for my black & white photo special this week. I had a hard time figuring out which one of her photos to feature since there were so many cute shots!

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photography | Photo of the Day for Saturday, March 14, 2009

2009-03-14T14:42:00.004-06:00

This one is from two days ago. Gotta love that smile! Luckily for both me and her parents, this little girl did the best job of staying asleep of any newborn I've ever photographed. And she kept flashing us these adorable smiles while she slept. As with nearly all the newborn babies I've photographed lately, she was born early, and was photographed before her due date. Maybe we need to start cutting a couple weeks off the due dates of all these Colorado babies.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, March 10, 2009

2009-03-10T13:41:00.004-06:00

I sure seem to be photographing a lot of newborn babies before their actual due dates lately. This little sweetie was born over five weeks early I believe, and I photographed her yesterday at nearly five weeks old, four days shy of her actual due date. She's still not even seven pounds yet, and is so amazing. Just so tiny and sweet. Her parents are big fans of monkeys and giraffes, so she was photographed here with a bunch of the stuffed animals from her room. I love when people bring in their own props for newborn images, because I never know what cool new image I'll have the opportunity to create.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photography | Photo of the Day for Thursday, March 5, 2009

2009-03-05T12:57:00.005-07:00

Here's a cute seven-month-old little guy who I photographed a couple days ago. Love those big eyes!

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Photography Studio | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, March 3, 2009

2009-03-03T12:49:00.003-07:00

Here's a beautiful little newborn baby girl I photographed at my studio yesterday, when she was just 7 days old!

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, February 22, 2009

2009-02-22T05:00:00.001-07:00

My beautiful baby girl turns nine today! Happy Bithday Kaya.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer | Photo of the Day for Saturday, February 21, 2009

2009-02-21T15:04:00.005-07:00

I think I took this one about a year-and-a-half ago. Look at that sweet, sweet face! As with many of my newborn photos, the parents brought in the props. I like how the basket helps provide scale to help show just how small she was.

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer | Photo of the Day for Thursday, February 19, 2009

2009-02-19T05:00:00.001-07:00

I know this image has been on the front screen of my website for a while, but I wanted to feature it as my photo of the day so I could talk about it. This is an example of an image that was created at the child's home rather than at my studio. When I photograph at a client's home, I spend a lot of time walking around looking for the best lighting and interesting props. I found this bookshelf in the big sister's room. We unloaded all the books and dragged it into another room where the light was better. Then I hunted all around for cute items that I could use that would all go together. The mom found the blocks so we could spell out the baby's name. I love the balance of all the soft colors. I created the image by window light. The baby is on the bottom shelf for safety. I've noticed that many people don't even see the baby when they glance at the image!

- Mary Lynne

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Portrait Photographer | Photo of the Day for Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2009-02-18T05:45:00.004-07:00

This is my favorite background for creating portraits of little girls in fancy dresses. I used more subdued antique-like tones in this image. I love images of little girls in big puffy skirts like this one.

- Mary Lynne

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer | Photo of the Day for Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2009-02-17T10:36:00.003-07:00

Total cuteness! This little guy came in just a few days ago to celebrate his first birthday. Check out those great teeth!

- Mary Lynne

Ashley Photography

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photographer | Photo of the Day for Monday, February 16, 2009

2009-02-16T06:30:00.002-07:00

How fun to capture some of a child's first steps like this. This little guy came in last month in honor of turning one.

I offer a special session for one-year-old birthdays. It is $125, and includes a 45-minute session on the white background, along with an 8x10 and 2 5x7's of your single favorite image from the session. You can also bring a cake and do some funny birthday cake shots during that session if you wish.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photographer

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer | Photo of the Day for Sunday, February 15, 2009

2009-02-15T06:30:00.003-07:00

Just look at this perfect little bundle! Isn't it so sweet how she has a little smile on her face?

www.ashleyphotography.com

Newborn Baby Photography Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Children's Photographer | Photo of the Day for Saturday, February 14, 2009

2009-02-14T06:30:00.002-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! These fun sisters came in for my "Love Letters" special a couple years ago, and they seemed like the perfect choice for today.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Newborn Photography Colorado Springs | Photo of the Day for Friday, February 13, 2009

2009-02-13T07:00:00.003-07:00

This sweet nine-day-old baby girl was in my studio earlier this week. She was born a little early, so I took this photo ten days before her due date!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Maternity Photographer: Photo of the Day for Thursday, February 12, 2009

2009-02-12T07:00:00.003-07:00

I think this is one of the more unique and interesting shots I've done over the years. I call it "Just Hatched." Since entering it in print competition with the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) I've seen it duplicated by other photographers, and have even been told that it was going to be featured on the Photovision DVD's. I didn't ever post this image online before entering it in competition because I didn't want anyone else to beat me to the punch with the idea. The parents had told me that they were going to be bringing in the mom's belly cast from her pregnancy, and I spent some time looking for ideas online, but came up short on good ideas. The dad, I believe, had the idea of nailing the belly cast to the table, so that's what we did -- put down the black cloth, put the belly cast on top of that, and then nailed it down so that it would stay upright. I lit it from the side and from the back to give it more dimension and to preserve the texture of the belly cast. Straight-on lighting would have washed out all the texture. It's sort of a maternity and newborn shot all in one!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Baby Photographer

Colorado Springs Child Photographer: Photo of the Day for Wednesday, February 11, 2009

2009-02-11T07:00:00.002-07:00

Another happy kid being a little silly, having fun. I think the higher camera angle adds something to the shot as well.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Professional Photographer Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Baby Photographer: Photo of the Day for Tuesday, February 10, 2009

2009-02-10T07:00:00.003-07:00

Just for fun, here is a shot of the very first child I used as a guinea pig when I got it in my head that I was going to be a professional children's photographer. She brought him over to my little make-shift studio in my dining room a couple times and I took a whole bunch of shots. This was back in the film days, when it was more important to make each shot count, because it was going to cost you! He wandered over to the window and he looked so cute there that I took a few shots and the mom was like "don't waste the film!" because he wasn't in front of the background, but somehow this particular shot turned out to be so magical. I'm sure that the encouragement of this particular mom and the success of this one shot played a large role in inspiring and motivating me to continue as a photographer. The background is the trees in my backyard behind the window.

I still love this shot so much, and have it hanging in my studio.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Professional Photographer

Colorado Springs Maternity Photographer | Photo of the Day for Monday, February 9, 2009

2009-02-09T07:00:00.002-07:00

Lots of maternity sessions here at the studio lately!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer: Photo of the Day for Sunday, February 8, 2009

2009-02-08T12:18:00.005-07:00

Another amazing little newborn! Under 3 weeks is best for these sessions because they stay asleep better and are easier to position. A shot like this looks like it's a piece of cake, but it can take hours of waiting for the baby to fall asleep in this position. Well worth the wait, though, to capture such perfection.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Professional Photographer Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Maternity Photographer | Photo of the Day for Saturday, February 7, 2009

2009-02-07T07:00:00.002-07:00

Here's a fun shot from a recent maternity photo session.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Pregnancy Photography Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Children's Photographer: Photo of the Day for Friday, February 6, 2009

2009-02-06T07:00:00.002-07:00

Here's another sweet "White-on-White" or "Porcelain Whites" shot I took a while back. I've photographed this brother and sister several times over the years, and they are always so photogenic!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs child photographer

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Thursday, February 5, 2009

2009-02-05T07:00:00.002-07:00

Here's a cute shot of some little guys who I just adore. I know I've said it before, but I really like the bright colors against the white background.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs children's photography

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Wednesday, February 4, 2009

2009-02-04T07:00:00.002-07:00

I had the honor of photographing this sweet little beauty two days ago. She was just 5 lbs., 10 oz. at birth, and was at about 6 lbs., 2 oz. when I took this shot. I like to photograph newborns before they are 3 weeks old to get that true newborn look. This little one was 19 days old, but since she was a little early I photographed her on her due date!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs newborn photographer

Colorado Springs Maternity Photographer: Photo of the Day for Tuesday, February 3, 2009

2009-02-03T12:34:00.005-07:00

Here's a cute expecting couple who I photographed earlier this week. While most of my maternity photos have the mom's belly exposed, I think it can also be nice to have shots in regular clothes. These are the type of photos that one would be more comfortable sharing with the great-grandparents, for example, and this is how most people will see a woman during her pregnancy. Just something to consider if you are in the market for pregnancy photos.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs maternity photographer

Colorado Springs Photography Studio: Photo of the Day for Monday, February 2, 2009

2009-02-02T07:00:00.003-07:00

Just an oldie but goodie. This is the baby of one of my good buddies. And she's not quite a baby anymore. It just happens to be one of my favorite shots.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs photography studio

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Sunday, February 1, 2009

2009-02-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

This is my photo of the day just because I think he looks so darn cute.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs photography studio

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Saturday, January 31, 2009

2009-01-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

They don't always have to be looking at the camera for it to be a cute shot!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs child photographer

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Friday, January 30, 2009

2009-01-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Just a super-fun shot of a little girl who've I've had lots of fun photographing over the past few years. Silly shots like this bring out a child's true expressions. I also really like the bright colors against the white background.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs photography studio

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Thursday, January 29, 2009

2009-01-29T07:00:00.003-07:00

I love shots of kids in motion. Kids being kids. And with this little girl, I would have been hard pressed to have gotten anything else! I think shots like this one show children as they really are, even if they don't always show the child's face.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Colorado Springs photography studio

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Wednesday, January 28, 2009

2009-01-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's a little departure from my usual posts of sweet images of sweet little kids. I'm writing a book about working with children in the studio, and needed a shot for the book of me behind the camera with a desperate mom waving a stuffed animal over my head. My friends Bree and Deedle came down to the studio to help me out. I'm the one behind the camera, Bree was the one who got the shot, and Deedle was the crazy mom -- not much of a stretch if you know her. P.S. This trick really does work!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Tuesday, January 27, 2009

2009-01-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

I used to do a lot more of these "porcelain whites" images, but haven't done as many lately. When I look at this sweet shot of this beautiful little girl, though, I think I may need to add it back into my bag of tricks. I think it looks so timeless. These shots are absolutely gorgeous when printed on an art watercolor paper and then matted behind glass.

And as a total aside, happy 47th anniversary Mom and Dad!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Monday, January 26, 2009

2009-01-26T08:00:00.002-07:00

It sure makes me happy when I can get a great shot of siblings like this one. These kiddos drove an hour-and-a-half to come see me this past November, for what I believe was our third session together.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Sunday, January 25, 2009

2009-01-25T08:00:00.002-07:00

Check out the awesome eyes on this baby! I've had the privilege of photographing him ever since he was just a bump in his mom's belly. It is so fun to watch the changes a baby undergoes during his or her first year. He came in with Mom and Dad for my November 2008 special.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Saturday, January 24, 2009

2009-01-24T08:00:00.001-07:00

Isn't this little guy's expression great? Very serious, even though he really wasn't so serious at all! I think the sepia tones really work with the hat. He came in with his very fun mom for my November special.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Mary Lynne's Photo of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2009

2009-01-23T08:00:00.004-07:00

Here's one I really like from my November 2008 special. I totally love this baby's smile. She looks so happy. And that red skirt is so great. I also had the opportunity to photograph her as a newborn, so it was wonderful to see her again. Too bad she just moved out of town!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Photo of the Day for Thursday, January 22, 2009

2009-01-22T13:13:00.005-07:00

I'm excited to start sharing my photo of the day here on my blog, and through tweets on Twitter. I will challenge myself to keep up with this new feature! Some will be from a recent session, and some will be favorites culled from my collection of images that I've created over the years. If you're a Twitter person and would like to start following me there, my username is MaryLynneA. If you landed at this blog post because you're already following me on Twitter, I'm a Colorado Springs professional photographer specializing in babies, children and maternity. I've been creating portraits for families here in the Springs since 2001.

Today's image is of the first baby I photographed in the new year. What a gorgeous gift. She is an absolute doll, and looks so much like her big sister it is just amazing. Her mom had the cute pink bow made for her that morning, and was sweet to give me the bow after the session to use for future images.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Choosing a Maternity Photographer

2009-01-02T20:28:00.010-07:00

Selecting a photographer to capture your pregnancy is an important decision. Once the baby's here, you can't go back and redo the shots if you didn't like them, so you need to get it right the first time. It can be tough enough scheduling maternity photos since you may be working until the baby arrives, and taking time off to have a photo session means time you won't get to take off with the baby. So you don't want to have to do it twice!

Maternity photography is different from other portraiture, in that the photographer's skills with both posing and lighting make an even greater difference in the final images. The right pose and the right lighting greatly influence how good you'll look in your photos. Many pregnant women are a bit self-conscious about the extra weight they've put on, and good lighting can greatly minimize any weight gain. The right posing helps with that a lot, too. An inexperienced photographer may pose you in a way that is anything but flattering. Look for lighting that sculpts the curves of the pregnant form, avoiding photographers whose lighting is even and flat in their maternity portraits.

You'll also want to work with a photographer who respects the degree of modesty with which you are comfortable. Talk with the photographer about the types of photographs you want, and find out in advance if they are willing to work with you on that, or if they have certain notions about the photographs that might make you uncomfortable. Don't select a photographer who insists on photographing you in the nude if you're not comfortable with that! The curves of the nude pregnant body are beautiful, and can be photographed in a way that you will not be uncomfortable sharing with others, but it needs to be your choice. You want to have a good level of comfort with your photographer, as it would be great to build a relationship with someone who could then go on to photograph your baby once he or she arrives.

See more samples of Mary Lynne's maternity photography at: www.ashleyphotography.com. Mary Lynne is a professional photographer specializing in babies, children, families and pregnant mothers in her downtown Colorado Springs studio.

NEW! Special Price on One-Year-Old Birthday Sessions

2008-12-29T19:47:00.005-07:00

As a test for a limited time I am offering birthday photo sessions for one-year-olds for only $125. This session fee covers not only your 45-minute session, but also includes one 8x10 and two 5x7's of your favorite single image from the session. My regular price for the prints alone is $105, so this is a great savings off my standard rates. The sessions are in my downtown Colorado Springs studio on the white background, and include one outfit, plus you may bring a cake for separate birthday cake photos if you wish.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Best of 2008 Photographs

2008-12-29T18:16:00.013-07:00

Here are just a few of my favorite studio images from the year. I almost hesitate to do this because I'm worried I'll leave out something extra special! Most of my sessions this year were special short sessions because I kept thinking someone was going to be taking over my studio space any day. But in-between those specials I was still creating maternity and newborn photographs, as well as having some other sessions. With less ambiguity about my space at the moment (it's mine for now!), I plan to do lots of full-length sessions at the studio in the coming months.

Ashley Photography, Colorado Springs

www.ashleyphotography.com

Studio Sessions Available

2008-12-18T14:44:00.003-07:00

I am back in the studio and booking appointments for sessions beginning January 7th. I do, however, have a limited number of spots available for newborn and maternity sessions over the next few weeks. Have a great holiday!

www.ashleyphotography.com

2008 Holiday Card Designs

2008-08-22T15:13:00.022-06:00

I realize that it is only August, but the holiday season will be here before you know it! I have some beautiful new holiday card designs for this year. They are 5x7 photo cards printed on a pretty metallic paper with a linen-like texture. The cards come with envelopes. The colors of the cards can be changed to match the outfits in the photos, so no worries about clashing colors!

Design 4-A1:

Design 4-B1:

Design 4-C1:

Design 4-C1h:

Design 4-D:

Design 4-E:

Design 4-F:

Design 4-G:

Design 4-H:

Design B1:

Design D1:

Design F1:

Design F1red:

Design G1:

Design C:

www.ashleyphotography.com

Lindsley's Portrait Party in Colorado Springs

2008-05-22T11:56:00.005-06:00

We had lots of adorable (and surprisingly cooperative!) children at Lindsley's recent portrait party. The event was all the more fun for me because as I have been doing recently, I took along another photographer. Lisa was not only sweet and fun to hang out with, she was also a big help. My offer is still open to other interested photographers who are interested in shadowing me as I work these events. It's always fun for me, and is a great opportunity for others to learn how I do my studio lighting and see how I work with the children.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Recent Newborns

2008-05-19T22:10:00.009-06:00

Newborns are still my favorite! Getting a great photo of a newborn baby takes a long time, but is so worth it. Here are several of the beauties I've had the opportunity to photograph in the past few weeks. These are all different babies photographed on different days, but isn't it interesting how similar they all look?

Contact me at MaryLynne@aol.com if you are interested in having a private newborn session. My studio space is available for a limited time (that is until I sell or rent my building!), and I can also do in-home newborn sessions.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Rebecca's Portrait Party in Monument

2008-05-05T21:15:00.000-06:00

www.ashleyphotography.com

Nicole's Portrait Party in Peyton

2008-05-05T20:48:00.000-06:00

Some Favorites from my March Special

2008-05-05T20:28:00.003-06:00

www.ashleyphotography.com

Now Offering Photography Training for Parents!

2008-04-08T15:33:00.001-06:00

Like many parents, you've recently purchased an expensive new digital SLR camera, but still aren't really satisfied with the images you are getting. You've invested a lot of money in your new photography equipment and would like to get the most out of it. Your children are growing quickly, and you want to capture those day-to-day moments today! There is so much more you can achieve with your photography with the right knowledge. It doesn't have to be difficult or confusing.

Because there are so many parents in the situation I've described, I offer my training services on a one-on-one basis. A two-hour training session at my studio in Colorado Springs is $95. A session at your home is $125. In-home sessions are great for helping you to identify the areas in your home that have the best natural light for creating images.

My training will be customized to your specific needs, as I will do an assessment of your knowledge and goals prior to our first meeting. We'll cover the basics of using your camera (both technically and artistically), with lots of hands-on practice. You will walk away with a newfound confidence in your photography skills.

Please e-mail me at MaryLynne@aol.com if you are interested in scheduling a training session.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Alison's Portrait Party in Colorado Springs

2008-04-01T14:09:00.003-06:00

January Update, and Fundraising Rummage Sale January 11th & 12th

2008-01-10T04:23:00.001-07:00

Closing the studio and switching to home portrait parties and in-store portrait events has been a great move for me and my family. I am photographing more children than ever. There are certainly times when I miss the slower-paced sessions that gave me the opportunity to both better push my creativity, and get to know my clients and their children as friends. Finding a way to spend more time with my own children, though, is something I will never regret, and I am very happy with my decision to change the direction of my business. You can look for me to be back in action with portrait parties and other portrait events beginning in February, and I will announce my availability in my newsletter.

The only bad part of the whole thing has been seeing my studio building sit vacant for six months while I continue to pay a mortgage! I have found a way to make lemonade out of lemons, as they say, at least temporarily. A friend of mine suffered a broken neck and other injuries as a result of a car accident on Christmas day as she and her family were driving out of town for vacation. Kelly is well-loved in the community, and scores of people have pulled together to try to find ways to help the family. One of the things we are doing is holding a huge rummage and bake sale in my vacant building, with the proceeds going towards helping to make their home wheel-chair accessible. We are receiving donations for the sale today, 1/10/08, from 10am - 8pm, and the sale will take place on Friday, 1/11 and Saturday, 1/12 from 9-2. Our location is 15 S. Wahsatch Ave. (between Pikes Peak and Colorado), downtown Colorado Springs. We'd love to see you there!

http://www.ashleyphotography.com/

Sharon's Portrait Party in Black Forest

2007-12-19T16:10:00.001-07:00

Kathy's Portrait Party in Golden

2007-12-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Jill's Portrait Party in Colorado Springs

2007-12-01T13:20:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth's Portrait Party in Highlands Ranch

2007-12-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

About half of my home portrait parties are held in the Denver-metro area. This arrangement actually works out well for me since my parents recently moved to Highlands Ranch.

At this party we set up in the living room and blasted music from High School Musical and Hannah Montana. The kids loved it, and it helped get some great expressions.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Photos From My November Event at School Crossing

2007-11-30T22:57:00.001-07:00

Take a look at the beautiful children I had the opportunity to photograph during my free mini-sessions at School Crossing in Colorado Springs this month. (If you click on the image you'll see a larger version with more detail.) It was so fun to catch up with friends I haven't seen in a while and to meet some new people as well.

If you have never been to School Crossing, or haven't been there lately, it is a great place to pick up gifts for kids. The store includes teacher supplies, a large toy store, and even a Pikes Perk Coffee. I found lots of things suitable for my kids in the $10 - $15 range while I was there.

http://www.ashleyphotography.com/

Images from Raven's Nest Portrait Party

2007-11-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

Heather's portrait party at the Raven's Nest coffee house brought out lots of gorgeous babies and kiddos. We had two afternoons of mini sessions after they had closed for the day on a recent Saturday and Sunday. Lots of cute and fun photos -- here are a handful of my favorites.

How about this first one? As hard as I tried, she was so totally NOT impressed. "Just try to get me to smile, lady."

The Raven's Nest is located in Colorado Springs at the corner of Boulder and Institute.

http://www.ashleyphotography.com/

Then & Now

2007-06-08T15:33:00.000-06:00

Niko is a warm and gentle almost five year old who is smart as a whip, has an amazing memory and a wonderful sense of humor. He loves to draw, write stories, "read" books, and play with his fire truck and boat. That's just inside. Let this child outside and he loves to throw a ball, ride his bike, ride his four wheeler and generally explore his world.

What a wonderful little boy he has become from a calm and relaxed baby. Even as a small baby Niko always had a smile and he loved to be cuddled. As an infant he was on the move reaching and exploring. In each milestone, Niko cautiously waited until he had the skill just right, then took off with it.

His parents have had a wonderful adventure with Niko, learning along with him year by year, and they can't wait to see how he is at six!

Then & Now

2007-03-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sweet Mahlia Simone turned 5 on Valentine's Day. This once 5lb. preemie baby has had no trouble catching up to her peers. This big girl has an even bigger personality with lots of emotion and girly drama. Her mommy and daddy have lovingly labeled her "high maintenance," which they say she definitely gets from their own passion for having things be "just right."

Mahlia has recently become an adoring little mommy to her 20-month-old sister, Lily. Since the day Lily was born, Mahlia has been completely hands-on in her care taking. She loves to help dress her, comb her hair, feed her, bathe her--and not to mention the occasional unsupervised diaper changing (and make-up application.) She loves playing with her own babies as well.

Mahlia is a smart little girl who is into reading, writing her name (along with many other letters) and she knows her phone number and address by heart. She's all "girl" and very passionate about Chapstick, lotion, glitter, jewelry, bags and shoes.

Cheap Eats With Your Kids!

2007-03-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

As all moms know, sometimes you just gotta go out for dinner. Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list in the city, but it's a great list of kid-friendly restaurants in Colorado Springs that offer deeply discounted or downright free meals for children! Be sure to call to confirm the deal before you go, as restaurants can change their policies at any time.

Monday
Conway's Red Top--one kid eats free with purchase of special adult entree
Gunther Toody's--one kid eats free with paid adult
Texas Road House--one kid eats free with paid adult
Mission Inn--one kid eats free with paid adult

Tuesday
Fazoli's--kids eat for 99 cents
Denny's--2 kids eat free with paid adult
Mission Inn--one kid eats free with paid adult
Bennigans--kids eat free with paid adult
Lonestar--kids eat free with paid adultRed, Hot and Blue (BBQ) -- kids eat for 99 cents.

Wednesday
Applebees--kids eat for $1
La Casita--2 kids eat for free with any one combo meal purchase
Mission Inn--one kid eats free with paid adult
Gunther Toody's-- buy one hamburger, 2nd one is 5 cents.

Thursday
Captain D's--2 kids eat free with paid adult. In store only.

Saturday
Denny's--2 kids eat free with paid adult

Sunday
Captain D's--2 kids eat free with paid adult. In store only.
Lonestar--kids eat free with paid adult
Red, Hot and Blue (BBQ) -- kids eat for 99 cents.

Changes in the Neighborhood

2006-12-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our new studio in downtown Colorado Springs, we were a little apprehensive about the run-down liquor store two doors down, but were thrilled to have a little coffee shop next door. Well, yesterday demolition crews came in and they both came down, as did the old red barn building (a former restaurant?). It was a just a matter of minutes until the whole street corner was nothing more than a pile of rubble!

Our studio is so much more visible now! But not for long. The plan is for a new 4-story building including a bank, office condos, and perhaps a new coffee shop? Stay tuned to watch the progress.

www.ashleyphotography.com

A Few Favorites from our New Studio

2006-10-25T20:55:00.001-06:00

We've had such fun this year working out of our new studio, and here are just a few of my favorites. I photograph so many cute kids that it's pretty much impossible to pick my favorites, but here is a little sampling from the year. Enjoy!

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

It's time for family photos!

2006-10-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe, but our Christmas deadline is quickly approaching! If you're hoping to get family photos done in time for the holidays, give us a call today. We are getting extremely busy as the holidays draw near, so you'll want to get yourself on our schedule as soon as possible.

Family photos make great gifts, and are an easy way to get those holiday cards done as well.

www.ashleyphotography.com

September's "Artist's Choice" Sessions

2006-09-16T11:42:00.000-06:00

It was so much fun this week getting to experiment with my new "Venice" background! Lots of amazingly cute kids showed up to help me get it right at our "Artist's Choice" sessions.

We did lots of jumping, dancing and spinning around to the tunes on my iPod. Thanks, everyone!

www.ashleyphotography.com

Love those Itty Bitty Babies!

2006-09-03T08:35:00.000-06:00

Meet Blake, possibly the tiniest little guy we've had in the studio, at two weeks still weighing in at less than 6 pounds! What an amazing little human, and so much more cooperative than most of my little subjects!

www.ashleyphotography.com

We're Baaaaack ....

2006-05-03T19:50:00.000-06:00

... back at the mall, that is! Next time you're at Chapel Hills, stop by and take a look at our kiosk on the second level in the Sears wing. We've brought in some of our favorite images, old and new, and will have them on display through the end of July. We'll be swapping out the images in our display periodically, so be sure to take a look!

When the kids need a potty break, take them to the Family Restrooms on the main level of the mall, and sneak a peek at even more of our work in both the waiting area and the nursing room.

www.ashleyphotography.com

Vegas, Baby!

2006-04-16T09:05:00.001-06:00

For years I've wanted to attend WPPI, one of the huge national portrait photography conventions held each year in Las Vegas. I finally decided to take the plunge, and found several friends who were sweet enough to keep my kids for a few days (on school nights, no less!) while Stephanie and I flew down to take a look. Vegas in and of itself is pretty overwhelming. Add to that 1000's of photographers, an intense series of speakers, and an incredible trade show and you get a very exhausting 3 days.

I came back really pumped up with great new creative ideas, a much lighter wallet ... and, I admit, a couple extra pounds courtesy of all the buffets.

I absolutely love this new "white on white" technique I learned (shown on Hannah below), and am looking forward to adding it to our offerings.

www.ashleyphotography.com