MOVED. PLEASE READ.

The Ashleigh Taylor Photography blog has moved to a new web-address. Please update your bookmarks, rss feeds, etc, etc.

OUR NEW ADDRESS IS: http://ashleightaylorblog.com/

Thomas & Erika’s wedding is up and ready for viewing at our new address!! You don’t want to miss this awesome wedding! So go to our new blog now!!

Thanks!

Later today…Thomas & Erika’s Wedding…with slideshow!

ENGAGEMENT:: Priscilla & Chris

Priscilla & Chris are probably the funniest & funnest couple I have ever met. There isn’t a dull moment with these two! During the shoot they would be joking one minute and making silly faces, and then the next minute, practically out of nowhere, pull out the fiercest Top Model poses! Love it! Just from the few hours I spent with them, it is clear to me that Priscilla and Chris know how to have a good time, and know how to inject their lives with joy, laughter, and FUN! And that, my friends, is a recipe for a long, happy life together!

I’m sooooo excited for these two’s wedding in just a few weeks! I know it will be a blast! Now on with the photos:

TEASER:: Priscilla & Chris

Hello Blogosphere! I have returned from my wedding and honeymoon, and proud to say that now I am a MRS. Thanks to all for your patience during the last month of my wedding planning! Things got really stressful for awhile but everything turned out perfect!! Have faith brides, the light at the end of the tunnel is brilliant!

A few weeks before my wedding I shot Priscilla & Chris’s engagement session at the Griffith Observatory. They have been patiently awaiting the photos…and I am still working on a full blog post…but here’s a little teaser to whet their appetite. Enjoy!

Please stay tuned for more pics from their awesome engagement session!

HEADSHOTS: DOMINIQUE

Hello blogosphere! My apologies for not updating for so long. This photographer is getting MARRIED in…oh…about…18 days! Holy you know what!! So forgive me readers, I have been a little preoccupied.

I did want to make a short post featuring my headshot session with Dominique. I had a great time shooting her– she is such a lovely, beautiful girl! I know she is going to make a big splash in Hollywood! I let her choose  from a private gallery which headshots she wanted retouched for printing and here are her selects. One theatrical (that means for film & tv auditions) and one commercial! Love it!

I don’t know how much I will be able to update here before my wedding, but I plan to return full force after my wedding & honeymoon! Thanks to all out there for your patience!

ENGAGEMENT:: Leslie & Cody

I have been sooooo excited to blog these pictures, since, well the very day I shot them. Trouble is there were too many! I had such a hard time narrowing them down. You see, when Leslie & Cody were asking me about engagement picture locations, I asked them what place was the most meaningful to them. With some hesitation I got the answer, “Catalina Island…but you wouldn’t be willing to shoot there would you?” UM, YES!!! I was elated! Catalina Island has always been one of my favorite places!! It’s just so magical there. I really could write an essay about how much I love Catalina…but I’ll spare you. Basically, to be able to do a photoshoot on the Island is a dream of mine…and getting to spend a lovely, summery day with an amazing and sweet couple made the whole thing just heavenly.  And, I took a lot of pictures!

Leslie & Cody are just awesome. Cody flies planes, these two scuba dive, they go sailing and boating, they have been to some of the most amazing sounding beach destinations ever! And on top of being totally cool & fascinating, they are just really fun, down to earth, and very caring people. Plus, they clearly have good taste…I mean, they are having a beach wedding (like me), and their wedding colors are pink, orange and lime green (like me), and Leslie’s dress is by Pronovias (like me). hehe Anyways, I could go on and on about how much I adore these two, but I won’t. Because its 1:00AM and you guys came here for the pictures! So here they are….and there is also a SLIDESHOW! So make sure to watch that too (I told you I couldn’t narrow down the pics).

This picture was taken at the dive site on Catalina. A very special place for Cody & Leslie!

And click HERE if you want to see the awesome slideshow!

Huy & Tran’s Engagement Ceremony

I was absolutely honored to be asked by Huy & Tran to photograph their engagement ceremony. They are two of the warmest, genuine, and caring people I have ever met. Their families were full of love, and Huy & Tran definitely had that starry-eyed look that newly engaged couples should always have!

I have to admit I had never been to, or ever heard of, a Vietnamese Engagement Ceremony prior to being contacted by Huy & Tran. But it was truly one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever witnessed– full of tradition, family bonds, and symbolism. It was all about the introducing and mingling of two families, and that’s such an important part of engagement. I imagine that by the wedding day these two families will be so comfortable with each other, and completely united as one. I love that. Man, I wish I had had an engagement ceremony

After the festivities were over, I did a short engagement session with Huy & Tran at the beautiful Pacific Palms Resort. That would be a great wedding location, just as an fyi to future brides! Anywho, enough talking…let’s get to the pictures!

The groom and family bring gifts to the brides’ house!

The gifts are presented to the bride’s family.

And the bride’s family accepts them! I mean, who wouldn’t accept gifts, right?

The representative of the bride’s family welcomes everyone to the house.

And the bride’s mother uncovers the gifts!

The bride is presented, and the families are introduced to each other.

The engagement ring is presented!!

And then get this, the bride is presented with MORE jewelry!! See, I told you I wish I had an engagement ceremony

Prayers are made to their ancestors.

Afterward, there was time for families to mingle and get to know each other!  I just couldn’t resist posting pictures of the little ones who were there!

At the closing of the event, the bride’s family returns some of the gifts to the groom’s family.

And now for some pictures from our session at the Pacific Palms Resort…

This shot really shows the beautiful earrings Tran just received! Jealousy!

Thank you again, Huy & Tran for inviting me to share your day with you and capture your engagement. It was truly an honor, and I wish you and your families much love, health and happiness!

Wedding Advice Wednesday and a Teaser

Today my piece of wedding advice is to do an engagement session…preferably with your wedding photographer!

Most wedding photographers, such as myself, include an engagement session with their wedding coverage packages. There is a reason for this!  An engagement session is a vital step in the process to getting good wedding photos. First, you and your photographer get to know each other, and that bond will help you relax in front of the camera. You will also learn how your photographer works, the pace at which they move, and the way they give direction. You will learn how to pose and act natural in front of the camera. Your photographer will also learn things about you– if you blink a lot, how to get you to smile naturally, what poses and angles flatter you, etc. Once you get your pictures back, you will have a preview of what to expect on your wedding day, and if you have any concerns you can bring them up with your photographer well before the wedding. So as you can see its a win-win on both ends. If for some reason you cannot do a session with your wedding photographer, I would still recommend taking some. Even with a different photographer. The process will help you get comfortable in front of the camera. You may be surprised at how you (or your fiance) react when a lens is pointed at you!

Soooo…Since posts are admittedly not as fun without photos…and since Leslie is chomping at the bit for a teaser…Here is a quick shot from my most recent engagement session on Catalina Island (aka one of my most favorite places ever)!!

BOUDOIR:: Laura

I’m finally blogging the last set of pictures from the April 19th Marathon Boudoir shoot! Just like the other two ladies I photographed, Laura is fabulous and totally foxy! We laughed and chatted so much that by the end of the session I felt like we were old friends. I LOVE when I feel that comfy with my clients, and when they feel that comfy with me! Laura brought so much of herself to this shoot– bubbly personality, poise, confidence, and personal style (including awesome details like the veil & bracelet she will be wearing on her Big Day)! No wonder the pictures turned out so awesome!! Take a look…

Laughter is totally sexy! See…

Who’s that girl? It’s Laura being super-fierce!

Thank you Laura for being so great to work with! I know your fiance is gonna flip when he sees these

BOUDOIR:: In Los Angeles

I don’t know if I mentioned this, but I had a KILLER time during the marathon boudoir shoot I hosted on April 19th. Three completely fabulous women, who all definitely brought sexy back. I already showed you Vanessa’s pictures… So now let’s move on to the next lady, who shall remain anonymous! Since I want to protect her anonymity, I only have a few shots I can show you– but believe me, there are many more spicy pictures that will be for her eyes only! And, of course, for her fiance’s eyes as well!!