First snow day of the 2012-2013 school year was spent having hot cocoa, going to the movies to see “Rise of the Guardians” and of course … doing some fun pictures at the Garden of the Gods. Can’t help it. My kids are adorable.
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This year has been so phenomenal – both personally and professionally. I have met so many amazing people, clients – now friends … I am bursting with joy!
I thought I’d go over the past year of “favorites” from previous sessions and family fun (I got the idea from Rachel Vanoven – even though I do NOT shoot newborns, I enjoy her work and follow her blog).
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So with that being said, may I present the
Ashley Durham Photography 2012 Superlatives
JANUARY
I spent most of January doing boudoir shoots with The Secret Pin-Up. To keep this site family-friendly, you’ll have to jump over to that site to see the fun we had!
My favorite “Stylized Shoot” went to Tom + Christian’s retro military shoot. This shoot was super cold – like in the teens kind-of-cold – and Christian still rocked that adorable fuscia dress. We did these right before Tom deployed to Afghanistan with the Army, and I am so excited to say he will be home in a matter of a few WEEKS. So excited for Christian!!!
Favorite bedhead shot of my two littlest kiddos, Sierra (4) and Noah (2)
FEBRUARY
Again, was mostly busy doing boudoir for February. Shocking – right? Boudoir for Valentine’s Day. Who’d have thought!? I did get a few family sessions in, but this one was the most awesome becccauuuuuse …
I got to do my first-ever gender reveal session! It was really an amazing experience to be part of – I got to attend the ultrasound appointment and I had to keep the secret that the Jaimes family was expecting boy #3 ALL DAY LONG. I usually suck at keeping secrets, but, I made it all the way to the balloon reveal!
MARCH
Okay – so this month was interesting to say the least. Loads of boudoir – but this month also had the FUNNEST family session I have ever been apart of. This family – the Gervais’ – ohmygosh … Words can’t even describe how much my cheeks hurt once we were finished. Literally, they were BURNING!!
There are many images from this shoot that weren’t put on the blog – strictly for the family to see because … let’s just say “boys will be boys.” But I seriously have never laughed so hard during a session … I really wish I could be a fly on their wall, especially around the holidays!
Side note :: my daughter, Katelyn, got her first pair of glasses this month. Isn’t she adorable??
Super cheeser.
One of my favorite images of my daughter Katelyn (5) the entire year. This is so “Katelyn” … so full of laughter and light, with a tangle of hair swirling around her.
APRIL
April was filled with more boudoir, and the start of homecomings for me. I had only done one homecoming shoot up in Minot (we were stationed up there from May 2010 – August 2011, when my husband separated from the military) … so when people started asking me to accompany them to homecoming ceremonies here – I had NO idea what to expect. Army homecomings are so entirely different from Air Force … and I tell you what, they take the cake for suspense, anxiety and excitement!
This was also the month when I changed up my logo a bit to be a little bit more “me” … Next month I will be working on re-branding everything for ADP, and that includes getting a logo professionally made and not just one I made myself. YAY!
This was one of my favorite images overall in 2012. One of my very good friends here, Missee, asked me to accompany her to welcome home her soldier Matt (who is now one of my husband’s best friends). This was the moment “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue started playing” – Missee and Jess (another girlfriend of mine) grabbed hands with excitement … It still makes me cry remembering that moment.
My mom came out in April for a visit. It’s my goal in 2013 to get a wonderful picture of her with the kids, all cleaned up. It’s GOING to happen! LOL
Special time at the Garden of the Gods with Grandmom
MAY
May was another busy month for military homecomings and boudoir … but what stands out most to me was attending my amazing friend Babette’s oldest son’s high school graduation. It was such a proud moment for her, and I was blessed to be there. However, the shot that wins this month? Yeah, that one comes from John’s Graduation Party …
Best action/dancing shot goes to Jayson, Babette’s husband. Seriously makes me giggle hysterically every time I see it.
We took a little weekend trip for Mother’s Day to Durango, CO. On the way down, we stopped at Treasure Falls. SO BEAUTIFUL! This wins most beautiful waterfall for 2012.
JUNE
June was the month I got to meet Julie Paisley of Julie Paisley Photography.
It is always amazing to meet someone who is as kind-hearted and amazing as they appear to be online. Julie is such an sweet person, and I’m very excited that she’ll be photographing my vow renewal in 2013!
The wonderful ladies of the Julie Paisley Wedding Workshop. I highly recommend taking the wedding workshop with Julie if you love shooting weddings. AMAZING experience!
June was also a big month for me because it was when I decided I really want to start focusing my work more on weddings and capturing romance, and to start shifting away from families and children. It’s taken me almost three years to really figure out who I am as a photographer and who I want to be for my clients. THIS is who I want to be. Since June, I have slowly been working toward really working out what I want to do in 2013 – and one of the big changes will be shifting more toward doing weddings and engagements. That is part of the rebranding and restructuring that is being revealed in January!
My favorite wedding image of 2012.
JULY
July was one of my favorite months this year – for a couple of reasons.
One of my favorite kiddo images of the entire year. There was something so sweet and simple about little Maverik watching the summer sunset on his family farm up in Watkins, CO.
It was also the month I met a few of my soul-sisters at the Wish Retreat with WISH PHOTOGRAPHY. I had such an amazing time – like, I can’t even begin to describe it. Have you ever met people that you were like YES, these are my sistas-from-anotha-motha? That’s how it was meeting Kandis, Amy and Jess Buns. Seriously. The other ladies were all so amazing, I am so grateful that I not only got to attend but that I got to meet all these wonderful people.
Image courtesy of Kandis Broadhead, Wish Photography
I seriously love of all these ladies. We are an attractive bunch, aren’t we?? The photography world can be pretty competitive and downright ugly at times, but these ladies were so amazing. I can NOT wait to go back to Wish Retreat in 2013!
I have honestly been so busy with other work since the Retreat that I haven’t hardly had a chance to edit any of those images. Look for those in January! Here’s a little teaser though …
While at the Retreat, we got to work with Ashley R. – a beautiful young woman who has SUCH a bright future ahead of her. Ashley wins best model to work with! 🙂
AUGUST
August was the first month that I started participating with RED THREAD SESSIONS – a non-profit organization that connects adoptive families with photographers. I had my first ever RTS Session with this wonderful, wonderful family.
This wonderful family has adopted not once, but twice. Most amazing family goes to the Alafat’s!
August also brought forth one of my favorite couple images, with Travis and Brittany!
Funnest couple moment goes to Brittany and Travis. LOVE this.
August also marked the first day of school! Daniel headed into fourth grade, Katelyn into first grade and Sierra into kindergarten!
First day of school. Pictures are a must.
SEPTEMBER
September brought cooler temperatures and my favorite family photo of the year.
Mike and Krystal waited thirteen (13!!!) years to have their family portraits taken. Kaylah was adopted from China, with the adoption being finalized over this past summer and this image just says so much to me. Such a beloved little girl, to two of the most kind-hearted and deserving parents I’ve ever met.
OCTOBER
In October I got the chance to photograph my photography partner here in the Springs, Amy O’Neal Photography. It’s always such an honor when another photographer asks me to capture their family – and this shoot was special to me in so many ways.
Best photography partner in the world award, hands down, goes to Amy. Love you!
October also brought about my favorite senior session of the year, with Sara!
Mark my words, Sara is going to change the world. Favorite senior shoot of the year!
I took the kids on a little day trip up to Mueller State Park … I attempted a cute four-some shot.
I failed at a cute shot of them with the awesome trees.
But this was a win.
My oldest son, Daniel (10), typically does not like to have his picture taken. Ten years of being my test-dummy will do that to a kid.
NOVEMBER
November pretty much went by in a blur. I spent half of the month violently ill with the flu (yay!) and the other half of the month working, working, working. I honestly couldn’t tell you anything that happened in the news, on TV or on the gossip sites because I didn’t have time to look at anything! Ha ha! Between Christmas Card Mini Sessions, an entire boudoir marathon, a handful of homecomings … my goodness. It was an insane month.
This image wins for best military homecoming kiss. This image has a very special place in my heart … but more on that in a couple of weeks. *secret secret*
Silliest kids of the year – for sure. 🙂
My “still in love” favorite image of the year. These two crazy kids make my heart super happy.
DECEMBER
December isn’t over yet, so the best is still yet to possibly come … but this month has been amazing. I’ve been asked to attend quite a few homecomings and I’ve tried taking as much time off to be with my family as much as possible. There are four days left until Christmas and I still have one couples shoot, one homecoming and one family session on the books. Next year I book nothing after December 10th. I said that last year, too … ha ha!
This is probably my most favorite homecoming shot I’ve ever captured. The romance and joy of 1LT Philip Murray with wife Jessica … and the two happy, ecstatic soldiers getting their pictures snapped. It really embodies the feelings of homecomings. LOVE it.
Daniel was super excited about the first snow no-school-day of the school year!
EXTRA LITTLE LOVES
Favorite back-lit romantic kiss of the year!
And this is kind of silly, but seriously – doesn’t 3-year-old Ava have the best eyelashes in the world? Super puffy heart.
My favorite little elf with his ears poking out of his hat. Noah (now 3) is totally our Dopey Dwarf, haha!
Sweetest yawn ever.
Funniest moment of the entire year went to this snake … I was doing a senior session at Red Rock and I almost stepped on this little sucker … The senior’s mom Cheryl started shrieking, then Brittany (the senior) started to … and then I must have jumped 25 feet in the air, making some inhuman scream of terror. Mind you, this snake was maybe 18″ long at most and completely harmless, haha!!
Favorite sunrise picture of the year.
This is my favorite “first reaction” shots of the year – Jessica seeing her husband Phil for the first time, standing in formation with the rest of his unit. Every person who has ever had their spouse deploy KNOWS this feeling.
I love this image for so many reasons, but mostly because of the emotion on Chris’ face. Amazing moment caught earlier this year at SGT Nezat’s homecoming.
Craziest shot of the year … So many things “wrong” with this image, but this wins craziest shot of the year for sure. You can actually catch images of static electricity!
My favorite picture that I was able to get of my own kids this year. Getting my four kiddos to look at me, smile and not run away = MIRACLE.
These are just a FEW of my favorite moments caught this year. As you can see, I’ve been very blessed this year – personally and professionally, as I said at the top of this blog.
Next year is looking so promising and exciting, I am very thrilled to be shooting a handful of weddings and am really looking forward to unveiling all the hard work that’s been put in to my ADP makeover. I also have some amazing news that I’ll be sharing in the New Year (oooh, tease, I know!). I feel that I’ve really found my calling and aside from boudoir, what I really want to specialize in. It’s going to be a wonderful 2013!
I just want to take this moment to really thank all of you – my family, my friends, my clients … thank you for having me in your life, for asking me to capture your memories and special moments, for allowing me to post embarrassing pictures of you all in the sake of a good laugh (special shout out to Jayson, haha!). I love you all, so much, and am grateful to have you in my life.
I will be off from Christmas through the first week of January (yay for more homecomings!), so please … Have a safe and Merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year. May your blessings be bountiful and your family be joyful.
God Bless,
