Archive for May, 2013

Last week was very popular for my in-home newborn photography sessions! When I travel to a client’s home to photograph their new baby, I bring quite a bit of equipment with me to ensure a successful session experience including baskets and blankets, headpieces and hats, and an assortment of lighting. And the family gets to relax at home! The at-home portrait session is for families who want to capture a little of their life at home as well as classic newborn portraits.

This loving family have a beautiful home on the lake and dad wanted to be sure to capture their backyard oasis. Wow…..was it beautiful! Also, tops on the list of must-have photographs were those that would capture dad’s passion for his favorite team:) Sweet baby boy was perfect for his session. And his precious big sister was so gorgeous and sweet! I’m looking forward to receiving their order of an assortment of beautiful gift and wall prints and portrait products so I can package them beautifully for their enjoyment:)






In case you didn’t know, I recently opened a studio in Five Points in the heart of downtown Columbia SC. And I am loving every moment I spend in the studio. It is small space but larger than it looks from the outside. We have put a lot of work and love into it and it is a pretty awesome place to be. And I am feeling so passionate about the work coming out of the studio! I love it so much it has inspired me to make a change to my session offerings and also to offer a little promotion this weekend! This offering is for expecting moms who would like to document their pregnancy is a beautiful way. So if you are expecting a baby or know someone who is, read on!

The change I am making is to retire the mini newborn photography session offering. This session was an all-inclusive package of the session and a generous selection of products including gift prints, a wall print, and custom birth announcements and a virtual brag book to share as much as you like for iPhones. It was a smaller session experience. And that is precisely why I am changing the session options. I want all my newborn clients to have the full newborn session experience. And so this weekend will be the last opportunity to book that mini newborn session option. Beginning Monday newborn session clients will have a choice of booking a full newborn session at home or in the new studio!

And to promote that new choice, this weekend only I am offering a complimentary studio mini maternity photo shoot to anyone booking a full newborn session! That offer is available whether you choose the in-home session or the studio session for your newborn shoot! Also, ask about the “beautiful maternity” option for that session if you would like to discuss an amazing hair styling and makeup application experience right in the studio!

To book your appointment and take advantage of the offer, call 803-348-3306 or email ashley@ashleywardphotography.com (and be sure to check your junk or trash if you do not hear back from me within 24 hours!).

I hope to hear from you!

I am just so thrilled with all the maternity sessions I have been shooting lately. I love that these women trust me to help them document and celebrate not only their beautiful babies, but their amazing journey towards motherhood. Making these women feel as beautiful as they really are through my photography is such an honor and pleasure.

For this maternity photography session, we took a few images in my studio but the bulk of the images were taken on a beautiful path by the river near the couple’s home. We came upon this gorgeous bridge and I feel in love with the way the light was streaming in. Although it was overcast and overall the bridge was quite dark, when I placed the mom-to-be near the side of the bridge the light fell upon her and her beautiful pregnant form in such a way that was divine. I was struck with not only her beauty but the beauty and awesomeness of pregnancy and I felt it was the perfect way to capture her at this time in her life.

Thank you to this lovely couple and to all my new moms I have photographed lately and continue to photograph!




Tom Harrington: Very nice maternity images. The lighting and mood is very good; I like the bridge!

A little catching up on the blog tonight. This beautiful family hired me for both their maternity and newborn sessions and I loved working with them. I am already looking forward to our next session together:)

Daddy is one lucky many with these three beautiful redheads in his life! Aren’t they just lovely!?

Thank you, sweet family:)