The Importance of Generation Photography | Orlando Lifestyle Photographer

Every year around the holidays, I ask my mom what she wants for Christmas. Since photography has become such a strong passion of mine, gifts usually incorporate photos of some sort – but in the past it has just been of the grandchildren. Last year, I encouraged my mom to get in the frame, and I’m so glad she (hesitantly) accepted.

I have to admit, the pressure of doing an entire session with my own children (and my mom) is SO intimidating. I remember driving to the field where we were heading, Madison had already fallen asleep in the car, Mackenzie was throwing a tantrum of some sort and we were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. “It’s a sign!” I said. I was almost ready to turn around and go home. I pretty much knew it would be torturous.

There is this syndrome that photographers speak of. It’s called “Photographer’s Child Syndrome.” It’s real. Google it if you don’t believe me. Because it was a gift for my mother, I decided to keep on driving and just see how things would play out. My nephew, Grayson, and sister were waiting for us. Kristen is a photographer as well, and Grayson has moments when he exhibits “Photographer’s Child Syndrome” as well. I knew I was in for a treat!

I don’t dare to claim the session was easy. These three kids were certainly my worst clients to date (I can say that, because I love them dearly and it’s true!). I’m pretty sure I captured every split second where there wasn’t screaming, nose picking or fighting -- but the sweat and tears were SO worth it in the end.  

The best part is now my beautiful mother has professional pictures of all of her sweet grandchildren, who she adores more than anything. Generation photography makes such a wonderful gift, and Mother’s Day is coming up soon! If you’d like more information about the collections I offer, contact me!

In-home Newborn Photography | Costa Rica Lifestyle Photographer

I get a lot of questions about what a newborn session with me is like. “What do I need to do to prepare my home?” “What should we wear?” “How long will it take?” “What kind of pictures can I expect to see in my gallery?” “Will I still get posed shots of the baby?” Today, I’m going to answer all of the most common questions I receive, and give you a sneak peek into a few of my favorite lifestyle newborn sessions I’ve done.

What do I need to do to prepare my home?

That’s one of the most common questions that my clients ask me. The answer is NOTHING! Isn’t that amazing? I will come to your house and I will scope out the rooms with the best light. I may move a few things around to ensure I get the best shot possible, but that is nothing that my clients need to worry about. Your home is perfect just as it is. Just let me in, and allow me capture these sweet, once-in-a-lifetime memories. 

What should I wear?

I always suggest that Mom picks her outfit first, and then finds complementing choices for the remainder of the family. It is so important that Mom feels good about herself and the outfit she's chosen. During lifestyle sessions, I mostly keep the baby in a swaddle blanket, so having those on hand is a good idea. (I always bring some as well.) Regarding color, I suggest selecting mainly neutral colors for in-home newborn sessions. Think cream, beige, off-white and grey. 

How long will the session take?

I don't set a time limit to my lifestyle newborn sessions; however, they generally take around two and a half hours. Newborn babies need breaks for eating, diaper changes, etc., and I factor that into my schedule. If I am taking photos of a newborn, it will be the only session on my calendar for the entire day. That way, no one will feel rushed and we will take all the time we need to ensure I get enough photographs to deliver a beautiful and diverse gallery. 

What types of images can I expect to see in my gallery?

There are many reasons why I love lifestyle photography, but one of my favorite things about this approach with newborns is that the final galleries tend to be extremely full and diverse! Every session is different; however, here are a few of the types of shots that are frequently delivered. 

Lifestyle galleries always include shots of mom and the newborn, dad and the baby, newborn with parents and of course the new baby alone.

If there is a big brother and/or big sister in the family, of course we will capture the siblings together as well.

Oh, and if you have a fur child, I'm always happy to incorporate them too! 

I will document the baby's nursery that parents always work so hard on! I'm also going to document all the details that won't last long but want to forget -- like how their small hands fit perfectly around your finger and their flaky newborn baby skin. 

A common theme with a lifestyle approach is that the images are not posed. I will guide my clients in beautiful light and simply capture connections as they are happening. 

Will I still get posed shots of the baby?

I do not bring props to any of my sessions; however, I always take shots of the new baby alone in his/her natural atmosphere. So while you will not receive any images of your baby in a bucket, you will receive plenty of frame-worthy images of your newborn looking like the sweet newborn he/she is. 

If you're expecting and you like what you see, contact me to book your session! Don't forget to mention this blog post for *$100 off! 

*$100 off only applies to lifestyle newborn sessions. Session must be booked by March 1 and redeemed by June 1 to qualify for the discount. 

Guanacaste Getaway | Costa Rica Lifestyle Photographer

Our family decided to go on a weekend getaway with some friends. We’ve been in Santa Ana for a little over a year, and have visited quite a few beaches since we moved to Costa Rica, but we hadn’t yet made out way over to the beautiful Guanacaste area. Oh. My. Gosh. Why did I wait so long?

Scott took the day off Friday so we could get an early start on the four hour drive. You see, in Costa Rica, four hours can quickly turn into six or seven, depending on how bad traffic is. We figured an early start would help ensure a speedy trip. It paid off.  We arrived at the Westin, Playa Conchal, an all-inclusive resort, just after 1 p.m. and immediately knew the next couple of days would be amazing.

I tried really hard to keep my camera in my bag and just enjoy my vacation, but those who know me well know it’s SO hard to not photograph everything – especially since it was just such a stunning location.

The highlight of our trip – Maddie and her buddy went horseback riding at sunset. While it looked like a romantic first date, the two spent almost the entire ride arguing about who was better at riding horses. Haha. <3 *Note: There was a guide with these kids and horses the entire time and safety was certainly a priority. I just used a little editing here to remove the extra person to make the pictures a little more visually appealing haha.*

Here are a few of my favorites from our vacation. I can’t wait to go back!

Baby Boy Makes Four | Costa Rica Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

When I moved to Santa Ana, Costa Rica in 2015, I never imagined how many amazing friends I would meet here who would soon become like family. These four fall into that category. I met mom when she was still pregnant, and we immediately hit it off.  I learned they also had a daughter around Maddie’s age and, bonus, they lived walking distance from my house. Wahoo!

Months later, we were all anxiously waiting Baby M’s arrival. After 40+ weeks, he finally decided it was time to meet his mom, dad and big sister. I was so excited to meet him, too, and to take some lifestyle newborn photos in their home.

I love the timeless, classic approach that comes with lifestyle family photography. In just two short hours, I was able to document feedings, snuggles, diaper changes, snoozing, sibling bonding, and family portraits. The joy you can see in big sister’s face is everything.

It’s really hard to be far away from your family when such an important life event happens, so these images are even more special. It not only meant a lot to the M family, but it also meant a lot to their families and friends back in the United States who couldn’t be here to see this cutie in person right away. Here are just a few of my favorites from their in-home newborn session.

If you’re pregnant and interested in some maternity, in-hospital or lifestyle newborn photography, contact me! I’d love to document your growing family! 

Baby Girl on the Way | Orlando Lifestyle Family Photographer

Last year ended on such a high note. I not only got to spend one month in Florida, but I also managed to squeeze in some photography sessions while I was in Orlando. I’ve been photographing this family since Brantley was in his mama’s belly, so you can imagine my excitement when Monique asked me to take some updated Family Play pictures.

Two very special occasions were due for documenting. Brantley recently turned two, and he is about to become a big brother! That’s right, a baby is on the way and this time it’s a little girl. So our session focused not just on the family – but I did some special portraits for Brantley’s birthday milestone and of course we had to showcase expecting mom and her adorable bump.

Mama and soon-to-be big brother met me in Oviedo and the fun started right away. He is the sweetest little guy – he gets it from his Mom.  Dad met us at the field about halfway through the session and that’s when things really got rowdy! I swear, I’ve never seen a bond like these two guys have. I’m so thankful that this family constantly chooses me to capture these memories for them! Now I just need to figure out a way to keep this baby girl comfy in mama’s belly until I head back to central Florida!

If you’re expecting, I’d love to hear from you! I offer three unique collections for maternity, hospital and newborn photography. Contact me if you want to learn more or to book a session. 

New Year, New Look | Orlando Lifestyle Photographer

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working really hard behind the scenes. At the end of 2016, I realized my old logo didn’t seem to match my photography style, my website was filled with really outdated content and it wasn’t super user-friendly. My clients’ experience is SO important to me, so I knew that fixing my website had to be at the top of my to-do list.

After several weeks of hard work, I’m happy to announce that my new website and branding is live! Check it out at www.ashleyrogersphoto.com. While you’re there, you can learn more about me and my style of photography. I’ve also added tons of new images to my fresh 48, lifestyle newborn, family play and family in-home portfolios.

Like what you see? Contact me to book a session!  

C Family’s In-Home Session | Costa Rica Lifestyle Photographer

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” Karl Lagerfeld said it first, but I couldn’t agree more. There is no better way to capture true, genuine moments than to hire a photographer for an in-home family session.

Over the holidays, I was contacted by this amazing family in Costa Rica who was in need of some annual family photos. After our initial discussion, I learned that they wanted their photographs to be done in their own home. I was elated, because one of my favorite places to shoot is inside a family’s home – where they are most comfortable.

Upon entry into their beautiful house, I was greeted by the two sweetest little boys who were eager to show me all of their favorite things! They relaxed and did that they wanted. They read, played with Legos, colored, climbed their favorite tree and had sword fights. I just took a step back, and captured it all as it was happening. No props, no posing – just real, natural fun.

These images are so special, because they really show who those boys are right now. My hope is that in 10, 15, 20+ years, the parents look back on these images and are immediately brought back to this exact time in their lives.  The time when they were living in beautiful Costa Rica, when their two adorable and amazingly-smart boys loved to read, play with Legos, climb trees and have sword fights.

Thank you, C Family, for inviting me into your home, and allowing me to capture your family exactly as they are.

If you’re interested in family photography in your own home, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me to book your lifestyle/documentary session!

Five Reasons Why I Choose to Shoot Often | Orlando Lifestyle Photographer

Last year, I completed my first 366 project. While I did want to throw in the towel at times, it was such a rewarding project and I am so thrilled that I finished! Yes, there were days when I dreaded bringing the camera everywhere I went. There were times when my children were less-than-cooperative. There were moments when my friends were annoyed.  I get it, I really do. But, when all is said and done, it was one of the best things I could have done for my family and here are five reasons why.  

1)    Document the Memories.

This is by far the most important thing to me. My family had such a cool opportunity – how can I pass up documenting the heck out of it? Moving from Orlando, Florida, to Santa Ana, Costa Rica, came with lots of change and adventure – and several moments worth remembering forever.

Like this one right here.  My sweet big girl, so excited to get on an airplane to move to a new country. There were certainly a few eye rolls when I pulled my “big” camera out to take pictures in a chaotic airport – heck, even I was a little embarrassed. But as I look back on this image more than one year later, I have an overwhelming feeling of joy. I’m happy that I have this moment to look back on forever – one of the last moments before the big “unknown” adventure. One of the final moments before we got on an airplane as a family of four for the first time. This image right here was the final chapter of our first story, as well as the first page of a new chapter in our lives.

2)    Capture the Growth.  

One of my favorite things to do in my free time (haha, free time?) is to look back at my old pictures of my kids. Before sitting down to write this blog, I came across a shot I took of Mackenzie at the beginning of this year. Look how tiny this chubby little bald baby in diapers was!! Madison has grown a lot too, but the baby – WOW. So I looked at this image and reminisced about this exact moment, and then wanted to see more. So I kept scrolling through my image collections and I was able to see her growth in a series of images. Mind blown.

3)    It’s for the Family Too.

While I do shoot for myself, I would be lying if I said I didn’t do it for family too. I am VERY close with my family, and that was the absolute hardest part of leaving Oviedo. My in-laws lived in the neighborhood across from us, and we spent at least one weekend a month visiting my side of the family in Fort Lauderdale since it was just a quick drive down I-95. While Costa Rica isn’t far from a “miles” perspective, it’s certainly more challenging (and expensive) to see our loved ones on an impromptu basis. So I shoot for them too. So they don’t feel so far away. So they can also see the kids grow. So they get a glimpse of what our life in the Pura Vida is like.

 4)    Work Hard, Play Hard.    

Before moving to Costa Rica, I worked in Internal Communications for one of the largest technology companies in the world. Writing, editing and building communications plans was my first “thing.” While some days at the office were tough for sure, I felt a large sense of satisfaction knowing that I was really good at what I did—I had a purpose.

Leaving Orlando meant I also had to leave that job – and gosh – that was SO scary. I’m a worker by nature. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my kids, but I can only handle so much play-doh, puzzles and coloring.

So I switched gears and filled that work gap with my photography. I gave it my all, as I always did with my former job. It was a win-win! The frequent shooting encouraged me to do fun things with the girls that I knew would make for great photographs.  And the evenings I spent editing often gave me such satisfaction. After the lovely (torturous) dinner, bath and bed routine, I was able to sit at my desk and reflect on the fun times we had throughout the day. I not only felt so thankful for the opportunity I have to be able to stay home with the girls now, but I also often felt proud of myself as an artist.

5)    See Your Skills Soar!

Practice makes perfect, right? Do you have any idea how much you will improve as a photographer if you make it a point to shoot often – especially daily? I started this journey in 2014, when I got my first DSLR camera. I know it can be frustrating and easy to get discouraged when the pictures you are producing aren’t matching you vision, but nothing is mastered overnight. My journey with photography has taken a lot of practice, a lot of education and a lot of patience.

I was once a new mom with a nice DSLR camera and was disappointed with my pictures too, we’ve all been there! I combined my passion for photography with my passion for communicating and teach a four-week course on the basics of photography. I know first-hand that with a little bit of knowledge about the basics, you can take your photographs to the next level. If you’re interested in joining my February run of the class,  head on over to my learn page to learn more, read reviews and sign up!

Oh, and little one. I'm sorry for the shirt your Auntie Kristen made you, but there is not a chance! 

Learn How to Take Control of Your DSLR Camera | Costa Rica Lifestyle Photographer

Five years ago, almost to the date, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. As a soon-to-be first time mom, one of the items on my “must have” list was a camera that “took great pictures.” I decided to go with an entry-level Nikon DSLR. Why Nikon? Well, because someone told me to – no other reason in particular at the time.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of one of the first pictures I took of Maddie with my Nikon D3100 and the last picture I took with that exact same camera and lens three years ago. Notice a difference (and I don’t mean in the child)?

Well, what changed? My camera didn’t change. My lens didn’t change. I changed. I changed HOW I was shooting. I stopped allowing my camera to make decisions for me. I learned how to shoot how I wanted to shoot. I learned about exposure, focus, light and composition. I took full control, and gosh, it made SUCH a difference.

I hear ALL the time that people want to upgrade their cameras so they can get better pictures! But, unless you are shooting in full manual mode and still not happy with your results, chances are the camera you own is just fine!

Of course, gear matters. If gear didn’t matter I wouldn’t have invested so much in the camera and multiple lenses that I currently own; however, I only upgraded my gear when I fully grew out of the camera I was using and when I decided to turn my hobby into a business.

I will forever be grateful for the one person who took the time to encourage me to shoot daily and teach me the basics of shooting in manual mode (thank you, Meghan!). She gave me the BEST gift ever – the skills and confidence to document my little girls. That is the most important thing. 

When my sister found out she was expecting, she also got an entry-level Nikon D3100. I had learned SO much about photography over the past four years and was eager to teach my sister how to use her camera to its full potential! Here is one of her first pictures and her last -- again, same camera and lens. 

I moved to Costa Rica earlier this year and took a break from client work, I had this little idea in the back of my head. I wanted to teach others. I had so much fun helping my sister learn the ropes of photography and saw how much she improved. So, I tried it. I did a trial run of a four-week beginner’s photography course. I had the pleasure of teaching and getting to know some amazing women at the end of last year, and I’m so looking forward to offering a second run of the course in February.

The course can be taken online only, or, for those who are interested in the Santa Ana area, we will meet weekly to discuss the class topics.

To learn more about the details, head over to my LEARN page. If you want more information or if you want to express interest in signing up, you can do so by CONTACTING ME.

Hope to see you there!

Ashley