A note of thanks…

Last month marked 5 years of Ashley T. Photography's existence. Wow. 5 years of documenting people's relationships, memories and milestones. What started out just wanting to document my children's lives in a meaningful way has turned into a legitimate small business that has been a huge blessing to me and my family. God has brought some wonderful people into my life through my photography journey and I want to take a moment this Thanksgiving to give thanks for those things. Since I can't mail each of you personally a thank you note, this is it. If you are reading this, this is to YOU; who has contributed to blessing me and making ATP possible:

Dear friends of Ashley T. Photography,

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect on the abundance of all we have; to give thanks for each blessing, small, big and even those "blessings is disguise." To partake in the realization of what a gift life is and all that encompasses it. I have done just that and it is with a full, humble, content & grateful heart that I write this to you. I am overwhelmed by all the ways I have been blessed in this life. Thank you to those who have trusted me to photograph your family, to those who have encouraged me and supported me with your kind words and referrals. Thank you to those who give me the opportunity to do what I do. Each of you have blessed my life in many ways. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you and am so greatful for you. I pray that the ways I have been blessed by God through this journey and the ways I have been blessed by each of you will be maifested in your lives as well.

With a greatful heart,

Ashley T.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."

Philippians 1:3 NLT

Just a short, random, emotional blog post. (Mom's, you'll want to read this)

So I'm feeling really emotional today...I came across this post on Instagram that hit me right in the gut.  Brought me to my knees and tears to my eyes.  It was a reminder that tomorrow is not promised.  We are not promised tomorrow with our kids and our kids are not promised tomorrow with us.

Here I sit, editing a few images from last night’s session.  And these stop me in my tracks.

This. THIS is why mom's need to get in the frame with their kiddos.

You don't need to lose weight first. or have whiter teeth. or have cuter clothes. or whatever other excuses you have. You just need to be with your kids. To have these moments documented...for when parenting sucks. and when parenting is hard. It's moments like these that give us moms that reminder of why we do what we do. That all the challenges are worth it. That there is more joy in this journey than we realize while we’re in the trenches of motherhood....

And for your kids. For your kids to know you were there. For your kids to see your love for them hanging on the walls in your home. For your kids to have a piece of you and for you to have a piece of them when that possibility of tomorrow not being promised sadly becomes a reality.

Do yourself a favor…and your kids a favor.  Get in the frame.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month...

Childhood cancer: Two words that should never be in the same sentence together.  But, reality is 43 children are diagnosed with cancer every day.  Every day, the parents of 43 children have to hear the words "your child has cancer."  Every day the world of 43 families is turned upside-down because of those words. Every single day 43 more children will begin a fight for their lives.

As a mom of 3, this is something that tugs at my heart. I pray to God I never have to hear the words "your child has cancer."  I know God has a plan and purpose for every situation and allows things to happen for reasons bigger than you and me; ("'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' Says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV) however that doesn't mean we should be ignorant or insensitive to the reality of childhood cancer and the families effected by it.  Would you take a moment to lift up in prayer the families and children who live with this reality daily?

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  So, it may not be much, but I am doing what I can to bring awareness to the reality and severity of childhood cancer while at the same time celebrating childhood and the joy and blessings it brings!

I don't have all the details worked out yet, but I am going to be offering "The Joy of Childhood" mini sessions in the month of September and will be donating 50% of the proceeds to KICKcancER, a Childhood Cancer Foundation that I truly believe in and support their mission.  You can see what they are all about here.

Your child wants to show up to their mini-session in their super hero costume?  Okay! Your daughter wants to dress herself?  Right on!  Your son wants to include his favorite toy or pet? Yes please! Stuffed animals, toys, dolls, books, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, balloons, paint, hula hoop, jump rope, ice cream...all elements of childhood are welcome and encouraged. I want to document your child & their joy for you to hold on to and preserve even once their childhood is gone.

These mini-sessions are meant to celebrate your child, the joy their childhood brings them, and the joy your children bring you. 

Let none of those things be taken for granted.

Ashley T.

...wait until they are all you have left.

I've had the intention of writing this blog post since, well the day I launched my website. And I just haven't put the pen to paper - er, fingers to keys. Well today seems like a pretty good day for this topic. Facebook alerted me that today marks 177 years since the first photo was taken making today, World Photo Day.

Through photos we are able to document everyday moments, special occasions, new experiences, relationships, milestones; the list goes on. When you snap that photo, regardless if it's with a cell phone or fancy camera, you are preserving that moment that has immediately become a piece of the past.  You have a tangible piece of history.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.

I am so appreciative for photos and the memories and emotions they provide and preserve. 

This photo for example. 

I am almost overwhelmed when I look at it.  It happens to be a photo that I did not know was taken at the time and did not see it until after the other person in the photo with me, my Nunna, had passed away.

While gathering images for her celebration of life, I came across this photo and it stopped me in my tracks; and still continues to do so even today.

Just look at this moment. Look at the connection.  The emotion.  The comfort. The love.   How thankful I am for this. As you can tell, I could not see her face while in this moment.  It is because of this photograph that I am able to see the joy, peace and comfort of my Nunna's face.  It is because of this photo I know that if in a hospital, in pain and in the presence of her grandchildren, my Nunna could still find joy, peace and comfort, how much more joy, peace and comfort is she experiencing now, in Heaven, pain free and in the presence of Jesus. 

It is because of this photo I am able to hold on to that.

Remember in my last post I spoke about the importance of photos.   This right here is why.

Photos are not just for you.  Or sharing on social media.  Or for hanging on the walls of your home.  Or sending out on a Christmas greeting.  Although photos are wonderful for all of those reasons, please don't take for granted the bigger purpose they can serve, like healing, comfort, joy and memories.

Photos ARE important. Photos ARE valuable.  Photos ARE more than a "pretty picture." If you don't think so, wait until they are all you have left.

-Ashley T.

If you don't think photographs are important...

I’ve been working on my website for a long time…working hard to get it launched, but being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted everything to be “just-so.”  The about me has been in the works, bits-and-pieces at a time, for well over a year.  The photo selection process to showcase my portfolio is still not fully complete and I wanted a perfect blog post to accompany the launch; which I didn’t have until now…

"If you don't think photographs are important, wait until they are all you have left" - Missy Mwac

My beloved grandmother, friend and biggest advocate passed away last week…and let me tell you, there is nothing like losing someone you love to make you search every inch of your memory, grasping at each thought of them as a way to find comfort and hold on to them; not wanting those memories to fade even the slightest.  How I wish I could recall every conversation, every laugh, every hand-hold, every hug, and all the joy and connection that knitted together our love, relationship and friendship. 

I am forever thankful to God for blessing me with such an amazing Nunna and friend.   Someone who was filled with selflessness, loyalty, strength and so, SO much love. Now, she is with Jesus, which is joyful, but sorrowful for our family who has said goodbye to the most amazing woman we know. She will forever be in our hearts; but the only tangible piece left of her, of our memories, of our love; of our relationship - are photographs. The photographs that documented her; her joy, her strength, her loyalty, her selflessness; the photographs that documented the relationships she shared with her family; the photographs that continue to provoke joy and remind us of moments passed, the photographs that bring comfort as a reminder that she lived a life FILLED with love & purpose and that she lives now in the presence of Jesus.   How grateful I am to have created memories with her and to have the photographs that help keep those memories alive.

I officially launch this website and publish this post as a dedication to her.  To the memories we created and the moments that will live on in my heart until we are together again someday in Heaven.

I also launch this website dedicated to you.  To your moments, to your memories.  Don’t take any of them for granted.

Here’s to past memories and ones that are still to be made,

Ashley T.