Ashley Maxwell Photography » People http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog Blog Thu, 10 May 2012 16:30:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Darling Black Family.. http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-black-family/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-black-family/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:34:05 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=7231 It  was not by accident nor chance that this dreamy little  family walked into our lives:) We met Ryan 2 years ago when he came to help film a styled “day after” session that we were doing. We met his insanely beautiful and spunky wife Jada a few months later at a wedding industry party…where I instantly fell in love with her sassy and creative soul…{she is like a Pinterest master..and her house is filled with more frilly d.i.y loveliness than a girl can handle:}  A year after meeting them, we moved to Sacramento, just a short drive away from where they live…and we have been so blessed to be a tiny part of their lives ever since…and of course….to have finally met their ever-so-precious daughter Micah. Jada and Ryan adopted Micah when she was a newborn..and one of my favorite conversations I have had with them, was hearing them re-tell what it what like meeting her for the first time..and the few months that surrounded bringing her into their home and making her a part of their family. We have never adopted..but I have met several people who have…and who are in the process of doing so…and I think it is one the most beautiful things to watch transpire. There is SO much love between these 3 people…Jada and Ryan are truly phenomenal parents…and we are all praying that their second adoption, which they are in the process of right now, goes smoothly….and that God is preparing the most perfect little bundle out there somewhere for them. Us Maxwells adore you guys so tremendously…cant wait to see your sweet faces again! Come over for dinner!! XOXO

Jada wanted to make this sign for their next child they are going to adopt…as they are oh-so-lovingly-anxious to meet the 4th member of the Black family:)

As a mom….I think this next picture is one of my favorites in the world. 

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-black-family/feed/ 4 The Nordberg Family.. http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-nordberg-family/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-nordberg-family/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:34:29 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=7090  

Us Maxwells only get to take a handful of family sessions a year..because weddings and engagements tend to fill in the little squares of our calendar books rather quickly…but when we do..I am reminded of what a sweet thing it is to have FAMILY. Like fingerprints..no two families are alike. We are each completely dynamic in our own ways…and I love when people just “own” that…you know? The Nordberg family is pretty darling if I may say so:)…Their son was giving me the cutest little poker face most of the session..and I didnt care..because he is this itty bitty gorgeous wonder that only had to bat those blue eyes to make me melt. We did this session a few months ago before Angela and her hubby welcomed their second lovebug into the fam…and you all know…I LOVVVVVVVE prego mamas. Its true what they say about the “glow”…is there anything in this world more beautiful? Angela has this little Cameron Diaz look goin on…and seeing her prego totally gave me baby fever!! We.shall.see:)Cant wait to meet their newest addition:)

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-nordberg-family/feed/ 1 Thankfulness…{& Sneak Peeks} http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/thankfulness-sneak-peeks/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/thankfulness-sneak-peeks/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:20:01 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=6426 One of my favorite things about tucking our kids into bed at night, is getting to pray with them…..our kids have grown quite accustomed to it, and occasionally mommy gets into trouble if I “forget something”. While we dont always pray for the exact same thing every night…now and again I will finish the prayer, kiss their foreheads and walk out of the room…just to hear one of them say “MOMMY! YOU FORGOT TO SAY HOPE THAT I HAVE SWEET DREAMS!” This usually comes from Hayden, since he explains the reason he comes into our bed EVERY single night is because of “the dark…and bad dreams”…but Kyla on the other hand…tends to let me know every time I accidentally forget to say “THANK YOU FOR OUR BLESSINGS”…its like she is waiting for it in her prayer, like its her favorite line from a Justin Bieber song or something. I think it is so cute that she hangs on every word of that….and she should…because God has given us so many beautiful blessings..in big things, and in small. I am totally guilty of sometimes rushing through life…and forgetting to stop, and be thankful for everything we have. I love the quote, “What would you do if you woke up today, with only the things you thanked God for yesterday”…..

This year..I am thankful for SO many things…but the word that keeps coming to my mind that is stitched to the very fabric of every area in my life is..PATIENCE. I am thankful for Patience. I am thankful that my husband is patient with me when I get so “tunnel visioned” with work and projects that I forget to tell him I love him as much as he deserves to hear it….I’m thankful for my kids who are patient with me when I tell them to wait a few minutes longer to read a book, because I am on the phone… Im thankful to my family and friends who are patient with me, when they have to call me 2 or 3 times before I call them back…because Im in “hibernation” mode trying to plow through editing and emails…I’m thankful to my Lord and Savior for being patient with me…as I am so prone to have a wandering heart…to find other things to fill my time, than to spend a few minutes reading my devotional book, or spending a moment to pray….& the last….I’m thankful for our amazing clients who have been SO PATIENT with us in our busy season. We have been so blessed these last 2 years with such growth in our photography business…but with that, comes growing pains…new expectations…more expectations…more work…less sleep. We are continually learning the balance between work life, and home life…and how to do the best jobs we can in both roles. Its humbling to wake up and realize you  are not superwoman….and that being everything to everyone is really….hard and overwhelming at times. Im so thankful for everyone who has helped give me encouragement to power through those moments when I am feeling I dont have the energy to finish everything on my plate. We are so incredibly blessed for each and every person who has helped support our business..whether it is an encouraging email from an aspiring photographer in Canada..a mother of bride leaving a kind comment on our blog….or one of our darling brides who waits that extra bit of time for her wedding photos. We are so grateful, so immensely THANKFUL for your patience and love for us…

I wanted to post a few “Sneek Peeks” of some of the weddings and sessions we have not been able to blog yet, since we are feverishly trying to edit as many weddings we can before Christmas time…Hope you enjoy them! Happy Thanksgiving!

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/thankfulness-sneak-peeks/feed/ 8 The Lovely Limas… http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-lovely-limas/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-lovely-limas/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:42:28 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5783 Kristina and I must have rescheduled this session about ten times. If it was not me needing to postpone due to feeling super exhausted or overwhelmed with my insane schedule..it was not having outfits ready, or a location, or just having a day where life didn’t seem totally and utterly crazy..but the truth is…everyday is like that! What I love so much about Kristina..is that although we don’t have 19 kids and counting…we both only have two…we understand that even two…is a handful:) We often talk about “Mommy Bad Days” when it just seems so hard to get a moment to breathe..or get anything done…when nothing particular happened to make it hard…it was just..a hard day. On the flip side..there is nothing more rewarding..or joyful…or purposeful than raising kids. YES…they kind of brainwash us…so we sing “Fresh Beat Band” songs under our breath…and we convince ourselves that goldfish crackers are a sensible meal…but in the craziness of life…kids can be the BEST thing to make us SLOW DOWN . I am somewhat of a workaholic..and if it weren’t for Jason and the kids pulling me away from the computer to wrestle, or watch a silly part on Max and Ruby..or to take a bike ride..I would probably never have play time…I’m the worst! On the day of Kristina’s session..they rolled up to our friends house for the shoot (YAY Flippo family!!} and she explained that her son Luca woke up sick..and that she almost called to cancel that morning..had I not driven from Sacramento, she prob would have!!:) It was just one of those “days”…then she goes to slip on her sexy little red dress, and the entire zipper breaks from top to bottom…making the entire dress hang open in the front. There was a moment of panic..since that was her ONLY dress for the first outfit…I had 2 options..give her the dress off my back..or do what every resourceful women would do in a dreadful situation….say.. “What Would Macgyver do”….Luckily Lisa Flippo was home and I ran in to grab a handful of safety pins…Kristina thought I was crazy at first, safety pinning the entire front of the dress on the inside..making it scream ” Madonna circa 1989″….but I am a firm believer, in “making it work”….and luckily you can barely tell Kris was pinned in place for the first half of the shoot:) Joey and Kristina are in the business of making the sweetest, dreamiest little cherubs…and I am so blessed to have their family as our friends…this session is near and dear to me, because I know these precious moments of our kids being little, is fleeting…and we need pictures of our families..to stop time for a bit. XOXO ENJOY!!!


A HUGE thank you to the Flippo family for letting us use their property, my mom for letting me use her living room furniture, and for Kristinas neighbor Debbie for helping us out with the kiddos during the session! You are all helped make this happen!!:)

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-lovely-limas/feed/ 5 The Darling Buchanans..Are Expecting.. http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-buchanans-are-expecting/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-buchanans-are-expecting/#comments Sat, 09 Jul 2011 17:05:34 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5445 There is something truly fulfilling about photographing a couples wedding..then being asked to be there as they start their family. There is no higher honor in my book:) Jehn and Mike have always been so much more than just clients to us…because first and foremost… they are our dear friends.  I went to highschool with both of them..Mike and I used to be biology partners..and well, Jehn and I have always had this giddy friendship that somehow makes us talk in really high voices when we are together…Its second nature really:) We cant stop it:) Even if our husbands roll their eyes at us:) Jehn and Mike are expecting a little boy any day now…and I am so excited to watch them be parents! Its scary-uncharted territory that will test their will and patience like no other…yet there will never be anything better, or more rewarding that they share together. These two have always been such supporters of our marriage, and photography business…and we can’t wait to return that support as they welcome this little man into this big bright world…We LOVE you both!! So much!!!!

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-darling-buchanans-are-expecting/feed/ 11 A lovely Collaboration… http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/a-lovely-collaboration/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/a-lovely-collaboration/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:20:41 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5312 One of the major benefits of being in the wedding industry for me… {besides getting to “stay home” during the week, editing photos in my pajama’s while simultaneously playing “Old Maid”.. and eating “My Little Pony” fruit snacks with my 6 year old daughter}..is the NETWORK & COMMUNITY of other wedding professionals that we get to know through our job. I wont call us “vendors”-because we are not selling hotdogs or frozen lemonade, so lets just stick to either “friendors” or wedding professionals:) There is such a wealth of AMAZING photographers, videographers, musicians, hair and makeup artists, coordinators, florists, dress boutiques..etc. etc. etc out there….that throughout the course of shooting a wedding, naturally, you become friends with the rest of the “team” for that day. After a while, you start working together on a more frequent basis…and before you know it, you are truly friends. While it is always an honor to referred by one of our past brides..it is also a tremendous honor to be referred by someone else in the wedding industry. Even better if they are “both”:) One of my past brides from last year, Priscilla Wright of Priscilla Francine Makeup, has been SUCH a blessing to our business. We started working together at weddings even before I photographed her wedding…but especially in this last year..she has been such an encouragement to us, has sent SO many new clients our way, and above all…helps make our brides feel BEAUTIFUL on their wedding day. It REALLY doesnt get better than that. Priscilla wanted to team up with her friend, and amazing hair stylist Danielle Derksen of Salon Mona Lisa.. {The darling salon in Los Gatos that we send allllll of our brides to:)} For just a little mini session  to capture some new  hair and makeup pics for both of their portfolios…I was delighted to join on in:) We were soooo blessed to have BoLee Bridal Couture let us use some beautiful dresses and a few swanky accessories….Can’t wait to work with them again, and again…it was an incredible experience!!…Priscilla rounded up some friends to come play dress up with us, for a few frilly close ups….Seriously, so fun…

Maggie, Amber Ivana & Heather…THANK YOU for helpin us out…you are all BEAUTIFUL!! XOXO

Some of you may recognize Ivana {below}..she was one of my sassy brides who got married last year…HUGE congrats to her because she is PREGO! And was such a trooper to let us photograph her in the “glow” of her first trimester!!

Ladies……thank you for giving me some girltime!! Can we please do this  again???….XOXO

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/a-lovely-collaboration/feed/ 2 Elizabeth & Isabella… http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/elizabeth-isabella/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/elizabeth-isabella/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 16:02:28 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5280 While there are many milestones in ones life… a FIRST birthday is somewhat of a celebratory launching point for the maaannnnny birthdays to come. There is really nothing cuter than a one year old. They are chubby. Their teeth are starting to come in. They are wobbly,  adventurous, and ALWAYS have a slobbery, mischievous grin…. about something:) Isabella just turned 1, and her mommy Elizabeth just HAD to document this frilly little girl of hers before she got any bigger or was too fast to chase for pictures:) Some of my  bay area photo friends might recognize Elizabeth, because she is one of the talented geniuses behind Lani Elizabeth-Fine  Design in Flowers and Events,  based in Los Gatos. She and Lani did the flowers for many of my brides last year, and are  pretty much in the business of making everything gorgeous:) I was so honored to take these pics for Elizabeth..she is truly a HOT MAMA, right????? Cant wait to work with her more this year…and watch this little precious little girl grow up!! XOXO


]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/elizabeth-isabella/feed/ 3 Nikki & Gianna {Girl Time}… http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/nikki-gianna-girl-time/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/nikki-gianna-girl-time/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 16:14:11 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5147 I remember the scene very clearly. It was sometime around 1991 and I was having one of my usual sleepovers at my friend AmySues house. The night was complete with hot pink feet pajamas, shamelessly dancing to Amy Grant (who at the time was like our Madonna:)…but best yet..playing “GIRL TALK”. For those of who you who remember that awesome boardgame that came out in 1988…it was basically a glorified game of truth or dare, that became of somewhat of a right of passage into the “tween” years. You are forced to bare your soul about boys, put ice in your armpit until it melts…you know..the usual:) What I loved about this game more than anything…was the  uninhibited laughter, and celebration of BEING A GIRL that it encouraged. I remember in the same night we choreographed a dance to “Baby Baby” by Amy grant…and attempted to bake a cake in her easy bake oven. Although I was probably only 8 or 9 at the time…but I remember laying on the floor in her living room, trying to catch my breath between the dancing, and my next spin on the pink Girl Talk wheel…closed my eyes, and pictured what it would be to have a little girl of my own someday …one I can play dress up with, paint her glitter nails, teach her about boys….but best yet…peek in on her very own girly sleepovers with her friends, and feel the same joy as I did when I was her age:) There is just something remotely magical about being a girl. There is something EVEN more magical, when the doctor tells you, “Its a GIRL”.

All this to say…Nikki tooottttttttalllly gets what I am talkin about here. Because EVERYDAY with Gianna, is a “GIRL TALK” kinda day. A celebration of being a girl:) I have known Nikki since Jr. High..and it is still surreal to see us both as “mommies”!!! Who are we, and when did we grow up??..I was so excited to to spend a few hours with Nikki and Gianna, because I feel like I have  only seen Gianna grow up via Facebook..(Nikki documents holidays and everyday occasions in her little life rather well:) From afar, I have seen Gianna blossom from this tiny little preemie in the NICU into this darling little toddler who loves dancing, playdates with Layla and Colie, frilly dressses, and yes…lollipops and Jo-Jo’s.  This session was really about capturing the love and adventure these two girls live each day together. Nikki, you are marvelous mommy…I have ALWAYS  thought you to be beautiful, but seeing you  in this element, seeing how you raise, care for, sacrifice, and are  PLAYFUL with Gianna….makes me think I have never seen you look as RADIANT:) Mommyhood suits you well:)….and I hope to document more of life for you darling girls as it comes your way:) Have an incredible  Mothers Day Nikki…you are one to be celebrated! XOXO



]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/nikki-gianna-girl-time/feed/ 13 The McNeill Family… http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-mcneill-family/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-mcneill-family/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 08:52:25 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=5103 Is there really anything better than family?? In a world filled with momentary and fleeting things, it is hard to not praise the Lord that he created something with lasting value and continual joy!! Ok..I know some of you are thinking that your family is crazy…and the word “joy” does not depict  the emotion they stir up in you….but you know what I mean:) Whether your “family” is your spouse..you kids, grandparents, adopted parents, your  pitbull, your siblings, or just the parents you came from….our FAMILIES are what make us who we are…they are what makes life worth living:) The McNeill family were perhaps the most beautiful and loving family ever:) Like Strawberry Pie.. I say:) Amidst the polar-ice-cap-of -a-freeeeezing-day that made everyone extra “snuggly” for their session….you could tell they just treat eachother with warmth, and regard…because they just CHERISH eachother…Spending a bit of time with them made me feel nostalgic, thinking of the many years of my mom would make us kids dress up in silly themed costumes for our annual family portraits..which I secretly LOVED and my brothers hated:)…but prove the point nonetheless..that family pictures are priceless..and remind us of the seasons of life that are so easy to forget as the years pass…Kelly, you and your husband have raised the most amazing children, and I am so thankful I could be a part of your family for a few short hours this day!!!

I am posting just a snippet from their session, and will be doing shorter posts for most of these next two weeks as well, because I have so many sessions to blog.. & have used some favorite locations of mine a few times amongst my shoots…so I just want to keep things fresh for y’all:) Enjoy these darling little faces!!! XOXO..

]]> http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/the-mcneill-family/feed/ 3 Cody..{My baby brother..is all grown up} http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/cody-my-baby-brother-is-all-grown-up/ http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/cody-my-baby-brother-is-all-grown-up/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:43:26 +0000 Ashley http://ashleymaxwellphoto.com/blog/?p=4682 While I am somewhat of a self proclaimed “girly girl”…my younger years were filled with G.I.Joes, baseball hats, boys basketball, Street Fighter video games..and LOTS of scrapes on my knees. While it is every girls dream to grow up with a “sister” to play Barbies with…I was lucky enough to grow up with 2 brothers, who let me watch them skateboard, and tag along with their hot friends:)…. and when I was in Jr. High, my parents decided they didn’t like their babies being all grown up…so they decided to have one more baby…giving me yet another brother. CODY.

I need to take a slight pause for a sec…….because thinking of Cody as a baby seriously makes me want to cry. For those of you who have been a friend of our family for a long time, know that Cody was not only the cutest baby… but he was freakin hilarious. The amazing thing about my parents having Cody when we were in our teens, was that we could 100% enjoy him. Even though we were busy in our own lives with a million activities each day for school and church….I think we all loved coming home from school each day knowing we would walk into the front room to see Cody in his little walker, watching Teletubbies, or THE MOST ANNOYING SHOW EVER “Truck Driver Dave”..which we all wanted to throw out the window, if we knew it wouldnt crush that little chubby heart of his:) Cody was kind of our cute little  accessory, and free entertainment…. that we would show off to our friends..we would dress him up..teach him to say funny things..put kleenex on his head and watch him freak out and hold his breathe…and just enjoy this precious little life that had brought our family so close together….

As seasons of life changed, and as us older kids moved out..got jobs..went our own paths for a while..I think we we all acknowledged from time to time, how much we all missed living under one roof…getting to watch Cody grow up each day…. There are many years we missed out on his first day of school..birthdays…and the most recent thing…when he decided to grow like 3 feet taller!!! All I can say, is that Cody has lived in Las Vegas for the last 7 years or so with my dad, but has now moved back to California to live with my mom..and I am SOOOO enjoying getting to see him on a more regular basis. He is no longer the tiny baby dressed up as a cabage head, or “Got Milk” add for Christmas cards…but he is truly, one of the most amazing freshmen boys I have ever met. Although Cody takes after my older brother Tyler, in that, he is a “man of few words”….I love every minute I get to spend with him. Even if we are sitting at Starbucks just looking out the window together..or he is sitting on my couch letting me listen to one of his ear pieces as he is listening to music…or best yet…when my husband Jason tells him that he is going to start charging him per minute that he is using our computer to be on Facebook…and Cody just gives this funny grin. The same grin he gives me when I call him “Bieber”…I know he hates it, but I just cant help myself…especially when Cody does that hair swoosh thing when he is trying to get his bangs to move to the side….he.is.just.asking.for.it!!!!! Bieber.Bieber.Bieber!

One of the last times Cody came to visit me, I told him I wanted to take him out and take a few pictures of him. He is just so grown up and darling to me, I just had to. Luckily we only had to walk like 2 blocks from us, and we found enough grunge to suit him well. Kyla wanted to come with us..and I thought it was so cute that she wanted to be in every picture with Cody. I had to crop her out of a lot of them..but she just loves her uncle Cody. She thinks he is so silly that he carries so many bracelets in his backpack. But then I remind her, that Cody got the “Crafty Bug” like me, and then she understands:) Cody..I love that you were voted ” Best Smile” in your class this year. Your shy little smile makes me melt. I know there are so many years between us, and you dont remember most of our years we did spend together every day when you were little..but I do…and I have loved you from the very second that mom was eating Corn Pops in her hospital bed, and then out you came. I love you more than you know…but in case you DO want to know….I love you as much as YOU LOVE TEXTING ON YOUR PHONE. For those of you who know Cody…know that those words are like saying “To Infinity and Beyond”….this boy is a professional texter:) But really…  you are are one of the best things that has ever happened to our family…and I am so proud of who you have grown to be….

Because I wouldn’t be a good big sister without a little Blackmail….here are some priceless gems from the early days before we get started on this post…..(sorry for the low quality of these oldies but goodies…they are old school-YO!!!:)

And in case some of you havent met my family before…here is me and my studly brothers from a few weeks ago…

CODY…we love you from as far as the EAST is to the WEST….XOXO.

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