Hey there, I'm Ashley!
about Me
Hey there, I'm Ashley!
I'm an elopement photographer born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Photography has been a part of my life for over a decade, but I'm also a wife and homeschool mom to two crazy boys.
A few things you should know about me:
Long ago, I was named the stage 5 clinger. Once I've made a friend, they're kind of stuck with me. You've been warned.
I'm a professional loophole finder. I was born with this gift. It may have caused my parents a few gray hairs.
I also love being outside, whether that's hiking, hanging around a bonfire with all my boys, riding bikes, or just finding an excuse to be near the water for a while.
The weirdo behind the camera
When I started writing this, I realized … my photography really did start with a hike. It all began when my husband's and my first "let's see if we even like each other" hangout turned into my very first hike back in 2006.
After that, we spent a lot of our relationship out on trails together, and I actually got into photography wanting to document our time dating. At one point, I was so convinced he was going to propose at the end of this one hike that I had my camera ready and everything. He totally picked up on it and waited instead … *eye roll*
Turns out that was for the better, because he ended up actually surprising me and proposing later in the woods on family land. So meaningful! *swoon*
Since then, in between starting a family and homeschooling my two boys, I have been a second shooter for countless weddings, photographed some weddings on my own, and spent years photographing families in all seasons of life.
Yep… this all started with a hike.
The Backstory
A big reason I started leaning into elopements is because the more I thought about what kind of wedding experience would actually fit me as a person, the more I realized I was drawn to the freedom of it all.
I love the idea of a couple slowing down, being fully present, and building a day around what actually matters to them instead of spending the whole day trying to entertain everyone else. Whether that looks like hiking somewhere beautiful, getting married in a backyard full of memories, or ending the night around a campfire, the best elopements always feel honest to the people living them.
Give me a couple that wants to do things a little differently, spend time together doing something they love, and create a day that feels fully like theirs ... and I’m all in. Honestly, if I had the chance to redo my own wedding day, this is exactly how I’d do it.
anything with a banjo, RHCP, Metallica, the list goes on ...
I’m probably listening to
coffee with dairy free creamer because I'm allergy ridden
Favorite hot drink
make fun of myself if it helps everyone loosen up a little
I’LL PROBABLY
“Momma’s being weird again”
MY KIDS WOULD SAY
Always here for
a good laugh and a good time
with all my boys at the house or doing something fun
MOST LIKELY FOUND
A Little Glimpse
A few notes about me
I've always been more interested in moments that feel real than moments that feel performed. The way people connect, joke around, and show affection is never exactly the same, and I never want my work to force anyone into a version of themselves that feels unnatural just because it photographs “well.” I would rather adapt my approach to the people in front of me and create images that feel emotionally honest to who they actually are.
Nature is where I feel most grounded. It's where I find peace, perspective, beauty, and connection to something bigger than myself, which will definitely keep you humble.
Music is the other big one for me. I love to sing … always have. I stuttered when I was little, but never once while singing, and I only learned my multiplication tables by putting them to music. Now I sometimes catch myself with theme music playing in my head during an elopement, scoring the moment. That's what I want my photos to do … tell a story.
A quote I love: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
At the end of the day, I want my work to reflect the uniqueness of the people in front of the camera. I want people to look back at their photographs years later and remember what life and their relationships honestly felt like during that time.
Creative Philosophy
it's time to get deep ...
