Ladies, when was the last time you had your portrait taken? I’m not talking about a photograph with your children or your husband or even a quick photo taken of just you during a family photo session. I mean when did you last experience a photography session that was all about you? When were you alone the subject of a beautiful portrait? Was it when you had your own bridal portrait session? Was it when you graduated from college? Was it your high school senior portrait? I think it’s time.

I’m so excited to be announcing a new series of portrait sessions for my clients…..The Beautiful Sessions. Every woman wants to feel beautiful and I want to give them an incredible experience that centers around their unique beauty. A Beautiful Session begins when you arrive at the Ashley Ward Photography studio – BIJOU – with clothing you love. It could be your favorite pair of jeans and a white tank or it could be a cocktail dress you’ve only worn once. It could be just about anything. We will go through your pieces together and select the looks for your shoot. Then it’s on to hair and makeup! You will be treated to a complete hair styling and makeup application that will have you looking and feeling like a star. And then on to the dressing room for your first look. I will select backgrounds and posing that will compliment you and your look and you are going to LOVE your portraits! I will demonstrate and coach you all along the way. With each change of wardrobe, your makeup and hair will be refined and set to complement. There will be music and laughter and fun. And when you leave, don’t waste all that beautiful! Plan a date or a girls night out. You are going to look and feel amazing! And in the end, you will have gorgeous portraits to be cherished by you and everyone who loves you for generations to come.

I couldn’t have hoped for a better subject to introduce these sessions. Meet Elizabeth, who is not only my client for this session, but my very good friend! She is a beautiful mother of 3 children and a loving wife. She is also a very busy woman. She works part time, volunteers her time and talent in very BIG ways at her children’s schools, is a special needs advocate, and is active with her church. She is an amazing seamstress. She has a parent with Alzheimer’s. Her home is often a place where friends come together to celebrate and share good times. She LOVES to throw a great party and she is a master at it. And her heart is huge! She is just one incredible lady.

For this session I was so pleased to have Amy Schaming work with me as hair and makeup artist and to assist during the shoot. She is also one amazing woman who has been working with photographers for some time and I feel blessed to be working with her. She gave Elizabeth an incredible experience and look for this session.

Take a look at Elizabeth’s transformation, a couple of behind the scenes shots, and her final portraits!

Saturday Elizabeth posted something really amazing to her Facebook wall about her experience and I want to share that with you.
“Ashley Ward and Ashley Ward Photography~
All I can say is a big WOW And Thank you for an awesome experience today.
MOTHERS DAY PERFECT GIFT INFO….…..Calling all Dads looking for that unforgettable gift for your wife for Mother’s day – It is something she would probably hesitate to buy for herself but she will LOVE it. I am a witness to the incredible and lasting experience that is Ashley Ward Photography’s Beautiful You session. It’s not called Beautiful you but that is exactly how the whole experience made me feel today.
Ashley has created an experience from when you walk through the front door of her new studio in 5 points, with the rich colors and glamorous feeling and style. You begin to feel the pampering as you move to the special dressing area to discuss outfit selection. No stress there – Ashley knows how to make a tank top and faded jeans be GLAMOROUS! Creating the professional looks for hair and makeup was Amy Schaming. She is such an artist! I was teased, curled, quaffed, extended and pampered!! I never knew my hair was capable of that!! Then the make up – oh my – better than a facial! And absolutely gorgeous! Then – photo time…
Each shot was carefully chosen and thought out – It was surprising and overwhelming to know that everything was focused on me – Each outfit, hair curl, accessories and body position were adjusted if it wasn’t just the exact way Ashley and Amy had envisioned me to look. The continual re-touching of hair, makeup, props and styling to make for the most beautiful shots made me feel like a super model, a movie star, a TV star, a Rockstar, a fairy princess and a beautiful Mom and wife… all in a few hours. But the feeling and experience will last a life time. I will have these photography portraits to give to my children. Who knows what tomorrow may bring – I may not even be here. But I am grateful that Ashley Ward captured this time in my life – not when I am 20 pounds lighter, or when I have flawless 18 year old skin or that bridal glow but instead with a few streaks of grey and one too many wrinkles around my eyes and on my forehead. We get to an age where we begin to get behind the camera – not in front of it celebrating life and the beauty that God created in us because we don’t feel like we “look good” enough. I’m done with that. These images are life changing. I mean it. I may not look like I walked out of a professional photo shoot every day but I will carry this feeling with me. Ashley Ward is an artist and her vision is beautiful and she made me feel that way too…
I will post some of the shots on Monday. I am so excited! I hope you will get to experience her talent and vision soon!”

If you haven’t given yourself or your family the gift of fine portraits of you, please take this opportunity to create something lasting……something meaningful……something BEAUTIFUL!

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