Creating space that make you HAPPY!

Ever since we moved in December life has felt a bit overwhelming.

With moving, the holidays, birthdays, and more…there’s really been little to no time to relax and do what I want to do. I’ve felt uneasy for a coupe of months and realized I don’t have my relaxation spot anymore. At our old place it was our patio that faced west. It had the most beautiful flowers, candles, rugs, and faced the mountains. Each night we would relax and watch the sun sleepily set over beautiful peaks.  Our new place couldn’t be any more opposite. We have a brown east facing boarded up lower patio. It’s almost depressing compared to our last outdoor space.

I decided that I was going to make the office room my new zen spot. It has a west facing window with a few up close mountains in view. I decided to get a futon/couch in the office in order to make it a duel use room for guests to stay in.  I rearranged the space some and finally feel that I have the relaxation station that I need in our home.

I love that I can easily transform it into a spare bedroom, my newborn studio with a comfy spot for mom to relax with a cup of coffee, or simply a spot to peacefully edit.

I’ll admit there are a lot of colors and patterns going on here. And I totally love it! It’s a blend of comfort and color that I love.

Complete with Kuerig for emergency coffee and teas!

Futon transformed into guest bed.

A good rug can be the magic glue to an eclectic room.

I’ve been learning lately that change is okay and if you’re not okay with it…..create a solution to make you happy!

30 days – 1 Subject // New Photo Project!

I’ve been looking for something fun and simple to challenge my photography. Liz Behm over on Click It Up A Notch posted an awesome project she did for 30 days of one subject. I am excited to try it out! I will be regularly updating the blog with new photos through out my 30 days. You can also follow my journey on instagram at @ahoyphotography.

I hope you try your own 30 days 1 Subject project! Use #30days1subject so we can see everyone’s photos!

My subject is easy for me and something that I interact with daily….Coffee! I hope this photo project challenges me to see every day things in a new angle.

Bring on the coffee!

Day One 3.28.15 // Coffee & Cakes

Day Two 3.29.15 // Oh The Places I Have Been

Change is in the air….

These past couple of months have been so crazy. I feel like I’ve had more ideas and projects than ever before and the least amount of time to accomplish them.  I decided to start really dedicating myself to my photography and it’s changed everything I know about myself……and it is only the beginning.

I want to create beauty. Not only beautiful pictures but a beautiful experience for my clients. To do this, I had to start looking at where I am at and where I want to be. Boy, it feels like I have a looooong  way to go. My best strategy right now is to put one foot in front of the other one task at a time. Hopefully I can look back at some point and say, “Woah, look how far I’ve come!”  I don’t see an end in sight, there will be no finish line. Just a constant progression to always better my techniques, my materials, and offer the best of myself.

Through this process, I’ve realized that I am absolutely a family and newborn photographer at heart. I love when I photograph a couple and I catch that glimpse of a loving look and laugh between one another. My heart sings when a baby curls its little hands up while fast asleep. I want to translate those precious moments into something beautiful that will last forever.

I am currently working on some marketing ideas and trying to vamp up the social media. I had to figure out how to use instagram and I am still not sure I totally understand it, haha.  I am also putting together a new newborn client photography guide to make newborn sessions a breeze for clients.

I just have to remember during the frustration, the late nights, and when the failing perfectionist in me gets discouraged, it’s all a small step.

Progress, baby.

New Website Launched!

This is just as much exciting as it is a relief for me. I’ve worked hard the past month or so to really create a website that reflected the vision that I wanted in my head. From the layout to design, everything has been created by myself and I couldn’t have been more proud. When I start a tedious project like this I always have these insane thoughts that it will be “psssh eeeasy”. Then about 15 hours in you realize you’ve barely scratched the surface. I did something similar at Halloween this year. I decided to make my cute pinata costume. Assuming it would be a fun afternoon project I had no idea it would turn into 3 days of agony. I also never want to see felt again.

Going back to the website, it took a lot of dedication and patience. It is great to have the blog and website both linked and completed so I can showcase some of the awesome people I meet and their beautiful photos. Check it out by clicking “Website” on the menu, clicking here, or simply typing in http://www.ashleyhoylephotography.com in your little browser box. People love options.   Any feedback is always appreciated and I hope you enjoy.

Now let’s check another thing off the to-do list! I like when a to-do list turns into a TA-DA! list.

• Revive the blog.
• Finish my website.
• Finish New beautiful personalized material for clients. (woohoo, I actually started this one already!)
• Creating fun 2015 photo challenges.

Cheers,

Exciting changes are around the corner!

Wow – it’s almost been a year since I last vowed myself to blogging.

This could easily be a contender for one of the longest projects I’ve put on hold…..

But all the is about to change! I am excited to announce the relaunch of my photography website and the start up of this blog. My initial desire for a blog was washed out by a lack of content and purpose. I realized what a better focus for my blog than my passion for photography.  Now that my focus train (woo-woo!) is back on track I have some exciting plans for this page. Including; photo session sneak peaks, tips, fun photo challenges, reviews, tutorials, and blurts from the daily grind. I’d like to revive my old project “Junk Drawer Photography” as well. Basically a collection of random photos I take that somehow speak to my soul. They are random pictures that belong neither here nor there…thus the junk drawer.

Since leaving Chicago I put much of my photography on hold. It’s hard work to build up a new life, new job, new friends, aaaand then somehow rebuild your photography business. Now that it’s been a couple years and I feel  nested in Denver, It’s time to start the ball rolling.

So what are my current projects?

• Revive the blog.
• Finish my website.
• New beautiful personalized material for clients.
• Creating fun 2015 photo challenges.
• Stay on top of the blog….
• No seriously, I mean it this time 🙂

Until (a very soon) next time,

Ashley