As many of you know, I really enjoy shooting boudoir photography. 

I shoot boudoir sessions in a couple of ways -

1. Planned Hotel Events- This is when I pick a date and run sessions in 40 minute intervals all day long. I've used The Lofts Hotel in Columbus for my last two shoots! So inquiring boudoir babes choose their time slot, bring their accessories and themselves and its a party!

2. In home sessions- This is if a woman inquires not around one of my scheduled hotel series sessions, we would shoot the photos in their home.

3. Outdoor Boudoir Sessions- This is a vision I had that ended up working out perfectly! I schedule these sessions typically once a year. (Continue to follow my blog, doing a post of outdoor sessions soon!) I set up a bed and chandelier in a gorgeous outdoor setting and we fire away! These are tons of fun!

If you are interested in a boudoir session, please inquire on my contact page or email at ashleywestphoto@gmail.com Can't wait to hear from you!

Okay, so on to these gorgeous women! These sessions were shot at The Lofts Hotel in March 2012. Enjoy!

I try to run mini sessions every season of the year. Last year we had Spring, Summer, Fall, and Christmas Card Photo mini sessions. 2012 has been a tad different. Due to the fact that Columbus, Ohio barely experienced a Winter this year, snowy mini sessions were cancelled. Spring mini sessions were next, and they were fabulous! Weather was great, a little hot, I was sweating like a PIG but at least I was behind the camera, not in front of it. Each session is 30 minutes long. These sessions were shot in German Village at Frank Fetch Park and the surrounding areas. Loved the freedom we had to run around in fun alley ways and have a mix of urban and organic feel. It was a good day.

Here are a few of the sessions I shot this past Saturday. Enjoy!

Due to the high volume of weddings this Summer, there will be no mini sessions offered.

The next set of mini sessions for 2012 will be in the Fall. Most likely October! Stay posted on Facebook (click the cute little FB tab at the bottom of this page and follow me!)

Maggie and Ryan contacted me early this Spring to set up a time to do some post wedding day formal shots. Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure of shooting their wedding, but was excited to jump on the offer of shooting their after wedding day formals. They decided they just wanted more wedding pictures, and I love this idea! I never get a bride and groom with an extended amount of time not on a wedding day. You don't have 200 guests waiting for you to arrive at the reception site so they can eat their dinner? AWESOME. Lets take some photos!

These images were shot downtown near Nationwide Blvd and Northbank Park.

Enjoy!

My favorite shot of the day!

I would like to introduce you to my Grandparents, Gene and Betty.

As soon as photography became my main passion and career goal in life, I knew that photographing my grandparents was something I HAD to do. And well because life got in the way, as it always does, I just now had the opportunity to do this.

My Grandparents have been an inspiration to my life in many ways. Not only have they had a loving marriage for well over 50 years, but who they are as individuals inspires me too. My Grandfather has been battling Alzheimer's disease for a few years now, and I cannot express my Grandmother’s love and patience and devotion towards him and his condition. This is true love at it’s finest. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health- they LOVE. Love really can conquer all.

I had plans to visit my Grandparents last week, but it wasn’t until that morning that I called and said I was bringing my camera. My Grandma is so cute, I couldn’t see her through the phone (clearly) but I imagine she did a little jump of excitement as her voice went up 3 octaves and she rushed off the phone to get ready. I could ask anything of her and it would be done, this is how much I feel her love, always.

We sat down for lunch, tomato soup and grilled cheese. I’ve been a vegetarian for 12 years now and I’m still not sure they quite get it. Haha. I coached her through what I could eat and we sat down and shared a meal and some fun stories from their past.

It was such a great day, to take time on a Wednesday and drive out to their house for some good conversation, lots of laughs, and a full belly.

Their love is an exact replication of what I hope to have in my lifetime. I cannot thank them enough for setting such a good example of a marriage in my life.

I get so excited for my couples that get to start their journey. We’ll all only be so lucky to have the love of our life with us forever. I will cherish this picture of my Grandparents forever and remember how contagious their love is and how much fun it was to photograph them. (I just bought a large print of this for my new apartment! Ah! Giddy!)

Hope this image makes you squeeze your husband, wife, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend today!

As a person, as an artist, as a photographer, we are inspired by many things. Today my inspriation was two of my photo buddies, Phil & Adam. Sometimes there's moments in life that you know were meant to happen, and then you know that moment will lead to the next moment that was MEANT to happen.

Today was meant to happen because it was a 100% reassurance that what I am doing with my life is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

As photographers we all have different goals... to be the top wedding photographer in the world, to have our work featured on the most prestgious blogs, to fulfill us creatively. Today I realized my goal as a photographer: to continue doing exactly what I am doing. Working with the most loving couples and families, bringing joy to their lives by capturing the happiest moments with their loved ones. I can honestly say this career brings complete fulfillment in my life. I can't count the hand written notes from clients in the short 2 years I have been doing this that have touched my heart so deeply. Can i just talk about for one second how far a hand written thank you note goes in my life!? I have so many of them posted on my cork board in my office, reminding me everyday that this job is good and that life is good.

If you love what you do, and you feel good about what you do, what you do will be good. If I want to photograph happy kids and families, I will arrive happy and energetic and excited, which will make them happy and excited, which will create those sweet little moments we all like to see so much, frozen in time. It's a cycle. Love goes round.

I think it's safe to say that my passion does not only lie with photography, but equally with people. I LOVE LOVE. I'm not kidding, ask Nick, my boyfriend of almost 5 years. I am so giddy always, about our love, about our clients love, about my grandparents love. Love is such a contagious thing. It's what drives me to GO and to DO. Love has brought me to this point in my life. My grandparents love, my parents love, my sister and her husbands love has taught me to love-fully and completely in more ways than one.

I am at weddings almost every weekend. I see couples stories play out every weekend. And somehow they still all feel different and unique and beautifully wonderful to me. I never get tired of hearing vows. Actually, that's one of my favorite parts. That and first look photos. Moments where love exists and raw emotion happens organically. 

I cannot go into enough detail about how amazingly perfect my life is. Not only with this business & with photography & with all the amazing people I've met doing this, but in my personal life as well. Happiness in your career creates happiness in your life. I am a million % grateful for every person that chooses me, of all the 9 million talented photographers in the world, they choose me to make memories with, to spend with their newborn baby, to spend on their wedding day. ME, you chose ME. I will never lose appreciation for that. Know that I am exstatic to be there., and can't wait to squeeze your cute baby and experience your first kiss as husband and wife. My life is enriched because of all of you. THANK YOU.

This felt so necessary for me to get out today because I felt so inspired. I have met some amazing people and professionals in this career that have driven my passion in all the right directions. Thank you to you as well, who have supported and pushed me. 

Who knew photo chat over a couple beers at Bodega would lead to such an amazing revelation. 

LIFE'S GOOD.