behind the camera
oh haaaay
welcome, welcome.
(here is some info about me so you know i’m not a shmurderer)
My name is Ashley, I am a Seattle area photographer living in Maple Valley, Washington and a single mom to two wild, feral, nature loving but roblox and fortnite obsessed kids (9 and 11). you can see them on the left trying to climb back inside lol.
I love tacos and pizza, dog videos and have a horchata and diet soda obsession! at home We watch A LOT of Bluey, even though the kid’s might seem a little old for it, we love sitting down as a family and finding new things we might have missed in the episodes before.
we love game nights but the kids have yet to grasp the concept that mama is gonna win a lot more than them…but competition is my middle name! not really, it’s actually danielle. anywaaay….
I have a dream of owning my own property with a small A Frame and a few other fun features so I’m able to work from home instead of traveling to locations and fighting my anxiety and other photographers for spots.
We are big Swifties and have been for years and LOVE that Taylor Swift has been making such an incredible impact on little girl’s image of themselves.
In the last two years I’ve gotten into weight training-to better my mental health and because it gives my ADHD the dopamine! It’s been such a fun and humbling experience, and I continue to learn and grow every single day.
FAQ’s
What is your FAVORITE coffee and do you want us to bring you one before your shoot?
I LOVE COFFEE and probably need less in my life but my favorite right now is just a regular white chocolate mocha….it used to be a raspberry oatmilk latte but that’s like 3 milltion dollars more! Def don’t feel like you ever need to bring me a coffee because I’ll get distracted being so excited to take your photos, I’ll forget I have one! but i’m also not saying no….
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Federal Way and Milton WA area! So I am very local and know way too many back roads to avoid traffic but also side fields and random spots. I currently live in Maple Valley which is about 30 minutes from where I grew up. We did a lot of camping and exploring through Washington, Oregon, California and Canada (my parents are divorced so we’d get all of the outdoor activities from both sides). We even made a super long road trip on my dad’s side to visit Minnesota where my dad’s parents/grandparents grew up!
What do you enjoy the most: family photos or weddings?
+I love small weddings and elopements SO much but my heart truly is in family photography because I love to see kids being themselves and having fun!
I am most passionate about adventure photography and outdoor lifestyle family photography, capturing emotion, fun and joy during my sessions, as well as in the wild. BUT I absolutely love a good in home lifestyle session because I believe that for a lot of us, our home is where we can be our most authentic selves.
Sweatpants and all.
This next one is a doozy, so lock in:
Why do you speak out on your social media pages? Why is it not just photography now?
Artists, throughout history, have played a major part in some of the greatest social justice movements of all time.
And for me, it’s personal.
My grandfather on my mom’s side is from Guam and my grandma is from Germany. My grandfather’s island of Guam was colonized by the US army and they were forced to flee and live in a cave on Saipan. One day while my grandfather and his father were fetching water for their family, some US Soldiers shot and killed my Great Grandfather in front of my 10 year old grandfather. The soldiers told him they had mistaken his father for being Japanese and returned my 10 year old grandfather back to the cave with his family. My grandfather grew up to serve in the US military as it was the only way then to survive as the army had militarized and colonized the island. They had wiped out most of the people, culture and land where the Chamorro people had lived. The army was the only option to provide for his family. At one point, he was stationed in Italy where he met my grandmother and asked to be stationed in Germany near her town so he could continue to see her. He was eventually stationed in Tacoma WA, bringing my grandmother, and that is where they stayed. Our family has experienced many atrocities-mostly due to the culture and color of our skin along with many of my family members who are in the LGBTQIA+ community. I continue to witness these things here and in many other cultures and don’t feel it is right in any regard. I have been extremely fortunate to learn more about my family and our Chamorro culture over the past few years. I was incredibly lucky to grow up in a very marginalized community where most of my friends and classmates were BIPOC. I could go on for days but you’ll see me post a lot of photography alongside any social injustices I can catch up on that should be shared. This is and will always be a business where BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people are welcome. I grew up in the Lutheran Church and at 23 left as it was no longer something I aligned myself with. I will not judge those with different beliefs but will remain firm in my belief that ALL people should be treated with respect, love and equality. As we are all human.
mmmk love you bye
Do you have a special place you take your family? A secret beach spot or a favorite trail?
I want to photograph you in a place that is most meaningful to you and your family and to create an authentic and fun experience you’ll always remember.
Finding my passion for photography while meeting , hiking, exploring and spending time with new friends and their families in the outdoors has been an incredible and humbling journey. I am honored you would consider me to photograph your family or your life adventure.
I can’t wait to share these experiences with you soon!
our experience together
For family photos, I take a lifestyle approach because that’s what parenting is. Kids don’t like to sit still, they want to run and play and jump and do what kids do. Kids are loud and fun and having them be that way during our session, helps to bring out who they really are. Rather than standing for photos in one place where everyone starts getting angry and frustrated, I like to move them and have you play. I love to bring a little bit of chaos to our sessions because it usually will bring out some real smiles and laughter. Being a parent is hard, fun and can be trying at times, so letting them be who they are for the session, will also show up in the photos.
For newborn sessions, I come to your home. Having a new baby is A LOT. Adjusting to a new routine and schedule is hard, and getting ready for a session with a newborn can be incredibly stressful. By me coming into your home, you’re able to be in a comfortable place where if the baby has a blow out, or you have to pump or feed and haven’t gotten it down yet…whatever the reason. It’s much easier being in the comfort of your own home and capturing your new life adventure so you’re able to relax and enjoy it. I also love to do in home family sessions for couples and families! This isn’t just limited to newborns, but to everyone. Being home is comfortable… and I come and leave you as you are once we are finished.
I started my photography journey back in high school but had since taken a VERY long break due to life (cameras are expensive y’all, let’s be real) and other careers. I had found my passion again after my first child was born. Newborn photos were about the same price as a brand new camera, “I could totally do that” I thought, when looking at photos of perfect little newborn squishes posed so eloquently.
Boy, was I wrong. However, that didn’t stop my pursuit for a passion and career that supports the three of us today. I dove deep into perfecting my trade and developed a style that I truly feel is unique amongst a sea of photographers.
HOW MY “ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY” journey BEGAN
I had started taking photos of my son and I on our hiking adventures, along with photos of my friends when he was just 6 months old.
I found it exhilarating!!
I was taking photos of incredibly strong women, mothers. Who, yet utterly exhausted (me… that was me ), were brave and facing the day. Some who were faced with post partum depression, were still out hiking and immersing themselves and their children in nature.
But it wasn’t only that. It was capturing all of us learning to grasp and define our paths in becoming “mom”.
We carried our children up mountains, through fields, forests and waterfalls all while laughing, crying, comforting and listening. I brought my camera along to capture these moments for myself and for my friends, to give them something to remember as we navigated our way through motherhood together.
It is there, in nature, where my creativity and passion started to take hold.
my INVOLVEMENT IN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Hike it baby had found me when I was just starting to get the hang of my camera.
They took me on as their first photographer, where I remained as their original and grew and worked incredibly hard for 3.5 years as a volunteer. From there, we moved from Oregon back to Washington and my involvement dwindled as more and more local photographers were able to provide them with the content they needed at an International level.
After my second was born, I resigned with Hike it Baby, and found Adventure Mamas Initiative where I was a PNW Regional coordinator for a year, and currently still one of their photographers when I am able. They’re an incredible organization, dedicated to maternal health and wellness and are filled with just a bunch of badass women who I continue to look up to daily.
https://adventuremamas.org/
You will almost always find me outside, and with that comes a huge responsibility.
I am a major advocate for the Leave No Trace Principles, especially when it comes to wild flowers and preserving the areas where I photograph families.
https://lnt.org/
