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2013 :: A Year in Review

December 27, 2013

2013 has been an amazing year – start to finish, top to bottom. I feel incredibly blessed to have had such a banner year … Almost 200 families, boudoir ladies and brides + grooms have asked me to document something this year. That is AMAZING to me and I can’t even BEGIN to express my gratitude and overwhelming feelings of being blessed. And 2013 hasn’t just been amazing for business – it’s been amazing for my family as well.

Let me warn you guys – it was really hard to narrow it down to only THIS many photos. There are so many more I wish I could have added but I’m pretty sure I’d break the internet if I shared all of the images I just adored this year …

So … with that lovely introduction … Here is my 2013 Year in Review!

 

J A N U A R Y

The year started off with a few military homecomings … I was so excited to be able to be there for Regis to come home from Afghanistan – Heidi waited a long time to hold her hero in her arms again. We all cried – this was my favorite homecoming of the year (I may be bias though – Heidi has become a beloved friend here in the Springs).

Colorado Springs Military Homecoming Photographer, Fort Carson Homecoming Photographer

I also held my first workshop – eek! It was actually a LOT of fun teaching some new friends how to use their cameras and definitely inspired me to start offering more workshops (ahem, like the one coming up in a couple weeks on January 4th!) and one-on-one mentoring.

Colorado Springs DSLR workshop

At the end of the month, Randy and I headed to Savannah, Georgia. It was my first time EVER to the East Coast, and I wasn’t disappointed! Tybee Island, especially, has a special place in my heart. I absolutely LOVED it out there. I could easily imagine living out there.

Tybee IslandTybee Island Photographer, Savannah Photographer

While out in Savannah, I got to do my first ever shoot at a southern plantation. Let’s just say – I fell in LOVE with Spanish Moss (and yes, we were very careful to NOT touch it). It’s sooooo gorgeous. Definitely wish we had some of it here in Colorado! I also got to finally meet my friend Michelle + her family in person after knowing each other online for close to 10 years. Craziness.

Savannah Family Photographer, Savannah wedding photographer

F E B R U A R Y

February was the month that I landed my first COVER on a magazine. It was a lifelong dream accomplished!! Thank you, Military Spouse Magazine!!

Military Spouse Magazine

February was spent with couples. I did a TON of couples this month (I ran a Valentine’s special) … and I actually captured my favorite couples photo of the year with my friend Amy and her hubby, Chris! I love how genuine the laugh was, and what a sweet moment it was for them. Chris is now currently deployed, and I’m very excited for Amy to welcome him home sometime next year!

Colorado Springs Couples Photographer, Denver Wedding Photographer

I also got to use my (at the time) brand-new macro lens to capture some amazing snowflake images during one of our storms. LOVE my macro lens!

Macro Snowflake, snowflake up close

 

M A R C H

March 3rd Randy and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a big vow renewal party. Julie Paisley came all the way from Florida to photograph it for us and the vow renewal even got featured on Rustic Wedding Chic not too long ago. We had spent the better part of a year planning and preparing for it … and looking back, I wish we’d gone on a trip to Europe instead, haha. It was a mess – my dad had a wee bit of a medical emergency, among many other things that went wrong … But I love my photos. Julie did an amazing job! I love her to bits and pieces!

Denver Wedding Photography, Denver Botanical Garden

After the vow renewal fiasco …. March was when I really started digging in to Lightroom. Julie (Paisley) had told me about it nearly a year before at the workshop I took with her and I first opened it up in the summer of 2012 – I was so overwhelmed that I shelved it thinking “this is stupid.” Lightroom has since become my primary editing source – I just had to find my groove within the program. I puffy heart Lightroom like whoa.

Colorado Springs Family Wedding Photographer_0023

We celebrated Easter together this year, and began our journey of trying to find a church here in the Springs that felt like ‘home’. We would spend the next 8 months trying to find a place, until we happened to take a chance on a little church called Springs Community Church up in Briargate. It’s been such a blessing to have found it!

March was also the month I had a client give me a beer after a session – haha Cory + Cheryl! Their engagement session was just a little sneak peek into how fun their October wedding would be …

Garden of the Gods

A P R I L

April was another busy traveling month for us. Randy and I headed out to San Diego (California) so that I could attend a workshop with the Boudoir Divas. Let me just say – this workshop changed my life. I didn’t go so much for the actual BOUDOIR aspect of it – more for business. I learned SO MUCH in the two days that I was there, and walked away more inspired than I ever have been coming out of any other workshop.

San Diego Photographer, Boudoir Divas Workshop, Denver Boudoir, Colorado Springs BoudoirSan Diego Photographer, Boudoir Divas Workshop, Denver Boudoir, Colorado Springs BoudoirSan Diego beach, California beach sunset

 

M A Y

May was one of my favorite months of the year. Our family, as well as our best friends, went up to Breckinridge and spent a glorious four-day weekend up there – soaking up the snow, the sun and some peace and quiet. We had one of the best weekends of my life that weekend … And I can’t wait for Mattee to get home from Kuwait so we can go back next fall!

Breckinridge Family Photographer

I also got to do one of the funnest stylized shoots that I’ve done to date – a vintage pin-up couples session at the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs!

Penny Arcade Manitou Springs, Manitou Springs Couples Photographer, Colorado Springs Pin-Up

I also took what has now become my most requested shot whenever I do a shoot at Garden of the Gods … gotta get Pike’s Peak in the background!

Garden of the Gods Family Photography

And I also did the biggest family reunion session I’ve ever done … luckily it was with an AMAZING and HILARIOUS family! I love working with the Gervais family, always a guaranteed belly ache and sore cheeks from laughing so hard.

Colorado Springs Family Reunion Session

J U N E

In June, I got to go to Salt Lake City to attend my second Wish Retreat, to spend a week of fun and photography with my wonderful friend Kandis of Wish Photography. It was an amazing experience, and I’m so glad I got to go – not only did I get to take some gorgeous photos (that I will hopefully get the chance to edit and blog in the next few weeks!) but I got to hang out with some of my favorite photographer friends AND I got to make some new friends! YAY!

Wish Retreat 2013

Colorado Springs Bridal Photographer, Colorado Springs Wedding Photographer

While I was out in Utah, I got to do a boudoir session for one of the Wish Retreat girls – Abby! It was one of my favorite shoots of the year. LOVED it!

SLC Boudoir, Denver Boudoir, boudoir in a hotel

At the end of the month I got to shoot one of my favorite couples of the year – Jesse + Tessa’s Wedding! Tessa’s wedding dress (below) was my favorite dress of the year. Special shout out to Something New Boutique for the dress!

Pinecrest Colorado Springs Wedding, Denver Wedding Photographer

And, and, and … I got to work with this devilishly handsome little guy! The bokeh on this makes me happy as a clam. LOVE my macro lens (did I mention that, yet?).

Colorado Springs Children Photographer

J U L Y

We spent July 4th at home, BBQing and hanging out with our besties here. It was one of the best July 4th’s ever – really chill, just hanging out, eating BBQ. My kind of July 4th!

Colorado Springs Family Wedding Photographer_0034

We also drove up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Forest for the first time ever. It is STUNNING up there. Just – breathtakingly glorious. We have a couples shoot coming up in a few weeks that we are doing up there and I am soooooo excited!!!!

Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Forest

Workwise … well, I did something I’ve never done before. We worked together with Janine Novarro and did a trash the dress session that I’ll never forget … yeah, the zombie shoot. I can honestly say I’d probably never do another zombie shoot again – I am NOT one for horror movies whatsoever, but this shoot was great in many other ways. Randy got to do some shooting for the first time with a client, I got to use my creative side to actually SHOW a story through photos and not to mention – have a freakin’ awesome day with some of the coolest people in the Springs.

Zombie Photoshoot, Zombie Trash the Dress

And with boudoir? Well, this is hands down my most favorite image I’ve ever captured. It is everything I love about boudoir – classy, sultry, soft and just … BEAUTIFUL.

Ashley Durham Boudoir, Denver Boudoir, Colorado Boudoir, Black and white boudoir

A U G U S T

This was the month that we found out that our best friends were having a baby. Coming in Spring 2014 – Miss Penelope!!

Colorado Springs Maternity

Did you see the video of Mattee finding out? Just in case you missed it, it’s totally worth the three minutes …

This was also the month I got to travel to San Francisco to shoot my first ever Napa Valley wedding with my lovely and talented friend Karey, of Hazy Lane Studios. Chandeliers in the tree = AMAZING.

Napa Valley Wedding Photographer

Not to mention, it was also the month that I got to meet, hang out with, shoot with and drink with Jasmine Star. I also got to meet an extraordinary group of photographers that have not just reSTARted their businesses with me – but have turned into lifelong friends. I am blessed.

Jasmine Star Workshop

S E P T E M B E R

September was one of my slower months – with the kiddos starting school in August, I knew I had to slow down a bit to help get everyone back into the routine of being back in school and helping with homework.  Please note that Noah (my youngest) started school sporting a black eye … oh the joys of boys, right?

Colorado Springs Children's Photographer

September was mostly seniors … I really fell in love with doing seniors this year. I’ve had some fun with them in the past few years, but this year’s seniors were all so amazing – inside and out. Kaylee (on the left) has actually become our regular babysitter and someone we absolutely love. Here were two of my favorite senior photos of the year!

Colorado Springs High School Senior Photographer

O C T O B E R

October was another super busy month … Lots of boudoir (pre-planners for Christmas – LOVE them!) and what ended up being the funnest wedding of the year – Cory + Cheryl’s wedding at Crooked Willow Farms. It was also Randy’s first official wedding as my second shooter, and he did SUCH a fabulous job. I’m so proud of him!!

Denver Wedding Photographer, Crooked Willow Farms

Randy and I also took a trip to Seattle to spend a week with one of my dear friends and her family.  Not to mention, Randy and I got to go visit Forks – which we’d been wanting to do since 2008. Forks is SUPER SMALL – but for Twilight dorks like us, it was amazing. We had a blast! And La Push beach is stunning.

Seattle Wedding PhotographerForks Washington Photography

This was also the month I took one of my favorite maternity/family photos of the year. Would you just LOOK at how gorgeous Washington is during the fall??

McChord AFB Maternity Photographer, Seattle Maternity Photography, Seattle Family Photography, McChord AFB Family Photographer

October also brought in my one and only newborn session in 2014. While we were out in California, we stopped by Bakersfield (okay – we took a HUGE detour to get there) so that we could go see some old friends of ours from before Randy enlisted into the Air Force back in 2005 … and Amber had a baby! I definitely don’t plan to do more newborns but it was so cool to do these. And it sent my baby fever through the rooooooooof.

Colorado Springs Newborn Photographer

N O V E M B E R

November was a whirlwind … I’m not even sure if I slept – KIDDING! I did, just not a lot. I spent a majority of the month doing mini sessions for Christmas Cards and a lot. lot, lot of boudoir (days in the studio, afternoons in the field). This spot down at Fountain Creek Nature Center was my favorite location of the year … until everyone and their mother found it and decided to shoot there. Gotta start searching for somewhere new to shoot!

Fountain Creek Nature Center, Fort Carson Family Photography, Peterson AFB Family Photography

This is Aimee – another friend of mine from Wish Retreat who happens to live pretty close by (in Boulder). I LOVED this picture of her!
The Secret Pin-Up, Ashley Durham Boudoir, Colorado Springs Boudoir

November was also – gulp – the month that I turned 30. It honestly wasn’t as awful as I thought it was going to be. I definitely am looking forward to my 30’s! I think it’s going to be even BETTER than my 20’s! Poor Randy tried to throw a surprise party for me (I have notoriously awful birthdays – at this point it’s become a running joke that my birthdays are going to suck) … and he left the grocery list sitting out and I found it. Surprise was totally ruined … but we still had a fun little party here at the house with my closest friends here in the Springs. I am blessed.

And, I finally got some canvas-worthy photos of the four kids together in the snow. Go me! These are now featured all over my winter wall here at the house …

Fox Run Park Family Photography, Fox Run Park in the Snow, Winter Fox Run Park Photography

D E C E M B E R

This month I got to do my first official same-sex couples session … and it was AMAZING. I had such an overwhelmingly positive response to it – I would say that Cheyenne + Sabryna’s couples/engagement session was one of my favorites for the year.

Colorado Springs Same Sex Photographer, Denver gay and lesbian photographer, lesbian couples photo shoot

This was also the month my brother and his wife finally spilled the beans – I am going to be an aunt in summer 2014! I am absolutely ecstatic! I wish I had been at home so I could have taken photos of them telling our family … but I got to hear about it on Facetime. I guess that counts for something, right????

We had a fantastic Christmas here at home … It wasn’t the same as last year’s awesome Christmas surprise … But it was nice. The only thing (aside from our family) that was missing was SNOW! What happened to my white Christmas?!

Christmas Selfie

And yes – we are ALL rocking Avengers jammies this year.

So, I think it’s safe to say … 2013 was definitely a year of growth and learning, as well as a combination of both growth and consistency for me. I feel like I’m finally at the point where I can confidently say that I’m happy with where I’m at in life and with photography. I’m definitely looking forward to 2014 … We are in the process of adopting a baby into our family (more to come on that soon!) and we are also taking some exciting risks and making some changes to ADP, including the branding and website (I am working with Braizen … we get started in less than 2 weeks … I feel like *my* Christmas hasn’t even come yet!). I’ve been working on my goals for 2014, which I’ll be sharing next week … I truly think 2014 is going to be even MORE amazing than 2013 was – and that’s saying something!

xoxo

Ash

Leave a Reply

  1. Larianne says:

    What a great year! I think I’m going to do the same thing for my blog. It must have been hard choosing the perfect images haha 😀

  2. Micah Jazeel Bragenzer says:

    Love it!!! Thanks for being an inspiration 🙂 I cannot wait to start blogging next year and revamp my photography business.

Heyyyy ... I'm Ashley Durham and I'm a luxury wedding photographer in Phoenix, but I travel all over Arizona and the desert southwest to hang out with the most incredible people. I am obsessed with puppies, extra hot coffee, sunrise and firmly believe that love conquers all.

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