I am over the moon & excited to share that we have a gorgeous 4 page spread in the latest issue off The Knot Southern California on newsstands now!This is a dream come true for me! While I have had a few single images featured in The Knot magazine before, this is my first multi-page feature in this particular publication! YAY!The wedding featured is the gorgeous wedding of Kaitlin + Andrew which I photographed in the fall of 2013! Kaitlin & Andrew are the sweetest couple and their wedding was pure magic, so it definitely deserved this high honor of a feature!! Check out the photos of the feature below and go buy a copy of this amazing issue on newsstands now! :) 

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I am so excited to introduce this new service to my wedding clients. Its a Portrait Style Photo Booth which I have dubbed... THE PHUNKY BOOTH! For some FAQs about this new service read below!

What IS the Phunky Booth exactly?

The Phunky Booth is a fun and "PHUNKY" alternative to a traditional photo booth that you might rent for your wedding. This booth is like a mini-studio set up at your wedding where guests can get CRAZY and take some hilarious professional pictures. This is not a "booth" that is closed off with a curtain. Me (your photographer, or at times my assistant) operate the Phunky Booth, it is not operated by a machine or your guests.

Why it's BETTER than a traditional photo booth that you might rent?

The Phunky Booth is truly an interactive experience. As the photographer I help your guests get PHUNKY and come up with creative and funny ideas to do in front of the camera. I also compose the photos to make sure the craziness fits in the frame in the best possible way!  These photos are professionally lit and in front of a clean white background so everyone looks pretty darn good. We are shooting with a pro camera so the quality is AMAZING. The images from this booth look beautiful in your wedding album, a companion album or even thank you cards! This booth is something different, something new and fun for guests! In fact, guests and couples usually enjoy and appreciate the photos of guests from a Phunky Booth more-so than traditional group shots and candids. So if shots of all your guests and loved ones having fun at your wedding is important to you, a Phunky Booth is the best way to go! The photos yielded are PRICELESS and will have you giggling for years. Lastly, this booth is also CHEAPER than most photo booths you would rent, so you save a little on your budget and get all your photos (wedding + phunky booth) in a one stop shop with ATP.

Who can order a phunky booth?

ANY of our brides and grooms from now (August 2011) forward can add a phunky booth on to their wedding day coverage. Sorry, this is only a service for our wedding clients. We are not offering at weddings that aren't photographed by us.

Is this an additional cost to my wedding package?

Yes, this is a a la carte service which you can add to ANY wedding package or plain old coverage. It does work best with at least 8 hours coverage though. You can add the service on up to 2 weeks before the big day so you don't need to decide right away. Although I LOVE doing Phunky Booths for my clients, they do require a lot of extra work, both on the day of and in post production, so this is not something I can offer for free.

Does Phunky Booth have on-site prints? No, Phunky Booth is not a booth that spits out prints on site.So how do I get my Phunky Booth images?Your high-res Phunky Booth images will be on your wedding DVD. You will have printing rights to them, just like with your wedding images. You will also get an online proofing gallery for your Phunky Booth pics so guests can view them and order prints if they choose. You will also get a online slideshow of your Phunky Booth pics which is great for sharing on facebook, twitter, email, etc. The slideshow will also be showcased on your wedding website!In addition to everything listed above, you have the ability to order the following products with Phunky Booth pictures:-Add extra spreads to your wedding album. This is cool because we can lay out lots of images in a grid on a spread and you can relive the most hilarious Phunky Booth photos every time you pick up your wedding album!-Order a 6x6 or 8x8 Phunky Booth album as a companion to your main album! Nothing funnier or cuter than a whole lovely album of PHUNKY photos!-Order thank you cards!-Order loose prints (and maybe even send them to guests in your thank you notes)...but how will my guests be able to see the Phunky Booth photos?We make little print out cards to hand to your guests with links for how to view the photos. In addition be sure to share the links to your slideshow, or better yet, your wedding website that I designed for you. If you share these links online (particularly via email or facebook/twitter) they will be sure to find the photos online!If you are shooting my wedding when do you have time to operate Phunky Booth?Good question! We set up your Phunky Booth either just before the ceremony or during cocktail hour. We open the booth during the reception (sometimes even part of cocktail hour if the timeline permits), but only during "down time" or open dancing. We do not leave it open during main events like "the grand entrance" "first dance" "cake cutting", etc because during those times we want your guests to have their attention focused on YOU. We also do not leave it open during dinner because people are eating and also this is usually when we refuel on our vendor meal break. But other than these few moments, the Phunky Booth is open. If we weren't doing a Phunky Booth during these "down time" periods we JUST photograph candids and open dancing shots. But to be honest those are so easy, you really only need one photographer covering that. So for Phunky Booth weddings during down time one photographer captures candids and open dancing shots and the other operates the Phunky Booth, which actually works out perfectly. And you get more photos of your guests this way too!!How much space does Phunky Booth take up? Where will we put it?The phunky booth is a mini-studio set up, and therefore requires about a 12x12 space to set up. Preferably indoors, but if it is an outdoor wedding than by a wall is better. We work with you and often your wedding or venue coordinator BEFORE the big day to plan where we will set it up. I need about a 12x12 space. I like it to be out of the way enough to not mess up your pretty decor but I don't want it to be so far out that guests can't find it!What if we want a different background than just plain white... something that matches our decor?You are welcome to provide a custom background to match your decor if you want. Please check with me for dimensions.Besides hiring you to set up Phunky Booth is there anything I need to do to make it a success? Like, should I supply props?Yes!!! The Phunky Booth is truly a collaborative effort between ME the photographer and YOU the wedding couple! I want every Phunky Booth to be different so I ask that YOU supply the props. Some prop ideas I love:

-funny hats or head pieces (crowns totally count!)

-funny glasses

-boas

-dry erase boards so guests can write messages to you

-any kind of signage

-other fun toys or costumes (swords, squirt guns, toy hand cuffs, SILLY STUFF)

I also ask that YOU (not the DJ) take the mic and announce to guests that the Phunky Booth is open for biznass and that you want ALL of them to "get down and dirty" or "bring the PHUNKY" when using it. This gives your guests the permission to be SILLY and let loose. They normally take the word of the wedding couple much more to heart than a generic DJ announcement.Lastly, don't forget to USE the Phunky Booth on your big day! Pull your guests into it and take pics with them! Not only will you appreciate the memories you created with your loved ones, but you will also be encouraging more people to use it!Soooo.... that's my introduction of the Phunky Booth!! Hope it was helpful and has you alllll excited! Of course leave comments with your thoughts or questions!xoxoAsh

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Here at Ashleigh Taylor Photography, we are really gearing up for 2011 and trying to take things to a whole new level!! I am SO committed to giving my clients THE BEST. That means the best experience, the best customer service, the best photos, and of course the best products to showcase those photos. There is NO better way to preserve and showcase your wedding photos than with a wedding album. And I'm super excited about our new albums for 2011!!These days, it seems albums get overlooked. Brides want digital files, and often that's all that is considered. But it shouldn't be. Because if your house was burning down, I doubt the first think you'd think to grab would be a disc. You'd probably first think to grab your photo albums. Furthermore, flipping through images on a computer is not an ideal way to share images with family, friends and your future kids and grandkids. It's just not a warm, cozy environment and it doesn't have that same gratification you get when you hold a photo and gaze at it.One of my favorite memories as a kid was taking out my parents' wedding album and flipping through it with my mom. I sat in her lap and we looked long at each photo. I was filled with wonder! My mom looked like such a beautiful princess and my dad looked handsome! I saw my grandparents and aunts and uncles all looking so young and happy.  Everyone looked amazing. I liked seeing the flowers, and the cake, and my mom and dad's first kiss. It didn't seem like their love story. In my mind, it was my story. Because in my little kid mind, it was that magical day, and my parent's love, that made me possible.Now looking at my parents' wedding album has a whole new set of emotions. So many beloved family members in it are no longer alive. And its so nice to hold onto their pictures through this album. It was a day where they looked their best and were so happy. And that is exactly how I want to remember my family that has passed-- particularly my grandparents who passed this year.Do not underestimate the power of a wedding album. It is an heirloom. It is your family history. And it will not just be a treasure to you, but one day it will be treasured by your kids, and grandkids, and even great grandkids. It will last the test of time and be handed down through generations. I just can't envision anyone handing down a disc with such love.And since, the importance of an album is so great, and since these albums must last the test of time, I have chosen to have all my weddings albums made exclusively by Leather Craftsmen. Leather Craftsmen has been around forever and there is a reason for it. They offer gorgeous, quality products and have amazing customer service. I am always searching for the BEST products to offer my brides, and Leather Craftsmen really is the BEST when it comes to albums.

The albums are delivered in a beautiful box! The box is sturdy and a great way to store and protect your album when you don't want to show it off! ...And I love that my logo is imprinted on the side of the box!!

Every album we design is unique! There are so many ways you can customize your cover. Each album comes standard with one cover photo and one line of imprinting on either the front, back or spine!! You can also choose between a leather or book cloth cover! Both are STUNNING!Below is a book cloth cover and we've added a stripe for a bit more pop! I LOVE the texture of the cloth-- and that it is vegan friendly!I love that the albums can really capture each couple's personality and style and yet still maintain a timeless elegant feel. It is the perfect accessory for your coffee table! I can guarantee that everyone who comes over will actually want to look it at! ;)

Here is another view of this STUNNING book! It's 12x12 which is quite an impressive size. It truly makes a statement!

For this album, we imprinted the bride and groom's name on the back of the back! It keeps the design clean, chic and a bit unexpected which I LOVE!

I LOVE the full page spreads!! Look at how stunning that is!

These books are modern and timeless. They are flushmount which means the pictures are printed right on the pages...and the pages lay flat!

The pages are Leather Craftsmen's standard thick black pages! They are guaranteed for life and won't warp or bend! The albums are all SO well crafted and made with care. These albums are meant to last for a lifetime and then some...this is definitely something to pass down to your grandkids and even your GREAT grandkids. Truly an heirloom!

I also love the luxurious leather covers as you see for Rachel & Mark's album. This cover is in Mahogany and it's so rich and gorgeous!

For this 10x10 album, we had the couple's name imprinted on the spine! It's super classy looking!! This book could not be more clean, classic and timeless!

We keep the designs so simple, with just a few photos per page and clean white backgrounds. This way your book will always feel timeless and the focus in always on your pictures! So beautiful!!

I hope everyone enjoyed this little preview of our new albums!! :) Want to see these beauties in person? Fill out an inquiry form and let's meet in person!! :)

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When I was 16, I refused to get a digital camera. All the cool kids were doing it, but I refused. Why? Was it a love of film and its qualities? Kind of but not totally. Was it because I was afraid of learning a new system? Nope. Was it because I always refuse to give in to trends? Eh...No... So why? Because I absolutely LOVED getting my film developed, and that feeling of getting pictures back from the lab and flipping through them. That feeling? It was THE BEST. Nothing could beat holding your memories in your hands and then getting them framed and enjoying them. I was super afraid that if I went digital, I would be too lazy to print out my pics and I would never be able to enjoy looking at prints again.So clearly, I am a firm believer that pictures should not just live on a disc. Pictures are made to be held, to be looked at, to be displayed, to be preserved and cherished. I just don't believe that can really happen when a client walks away with only a disc. All to often, I hear stories of clients who have their pics, and love them and love having the disc, but never get around to actually printing or displaying the images! And I totally get that life can get in the way, and a disc can just sit in a drawer untouched...which is why I offer some super awesome prints, canvases, and albums for my clients! I encourage clients who have already invested a significant amount in professional photography to go the extra mile and get a professionally made album or canvas or set of prints. And the clients who have taken my advice thus far have been totally thrilled! :)Over the coming weeks, I want to showcase more of the products I offer here on the blog! I have also been re-thinking my collections, and how to get more fabulous products into each collection so that brides at every price-point can walk away with something more than just a disc!! How does that sound? More on that later...But for now I want to talk about one of my favorite products that I offer, and one that has been a HUGE hit since I started offering them at the end of last year...and that is....::drumroll::BOUDOIR ALBUMS!Boudoir sessions are very special, most of my clients invest in these pictures as a gift for their wedding night, anniversary, significant other's birthday or even holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day. I know that my clients have gone the extra mile to create some fabulous boudoir pictures. They invest in not only the photography, but also hair and make up, sexy outfits, cute props, a fabulous hotel room, and often times take off work for the session just so their man won't suspect anything! After they have invested so much, I want to make sure that the final images are presented in a beautiful way!

My boudoir albums are more like fine art albums! I LOVE that the covers feature one of your amazing photos printed on canvas and wrapped around the book! It really makes a statement!!

I try to keep all my designs super clean and simple, so that the book will always be timeless and so the focus is always on you!! ;)

The books I offer feature thick, flush mount, pages. The books lay perfectly flat when opened and as you can see have no gutter! This allows for GORGEOUS images to span an entire spread! Isn't that stunning?!

Of course, the books are also printed at a professional level with the highest quality inks and photo paper! Clients always tell me how they are blown away by how vibrant all the colors look and how crisp the photo quality is! You can not get that level of quality when you purchase consumer market books via companies like Blurb and My Publisher!And also, the books are acid free and archival quality. They images will not fade or yellow! These books are guaranteed by the company who prints them to last a lifetime!

Here's a look at another recent album. Notice how we designed the cover a bit differently! It's still super modern and stylish, and we featured several photos instead of just one big one!

Again, I LOVE full page spreads. They seriously are breath taking! Can't you just imagine your sweetie's jaw dropping if he flipped through his book and saw something like this?!

Hope you enjoyed this closer look at our boudoir albums! Stay tuned for posts on our wedding albums, engagement books, and gallery wraps!! :)

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Earlier in the fall I began researching products I could offer to my clients beyond just a disc of their images. You see pictures are meant to be looked at. They are meant to be held. They want you to flip through them. There is nothing like having your pictures in your hands. It SO beats looking at them on a screen. I want to be sure that my clients end up with prints of their photos, or better yet beautiful books of their photos. So they can pick them up and admire them often. So they can rest easy that their photos are preserved in a beautiful, tangible way. So they can enjoy them forever.So I researched and picked some products that I think are FABULOUS. And that I am confident my clients will love. I ordered a bunch of samples of these new products, and will be featuring each product on my blog within the next month or so.The first product I want to feature is a Boudoir Art Album. I always get asked from brides how they should give their b-pics to their guys and if I offer any kind of album. So now I do. These albums are more affordable, and a bit more artsy-modern than a traditional wedding album. They feature a STUNNING wraparound photo cover, matte paper, vibrant colors, lay plat pages. The pages are thick but have a slight bend to them, but they wont tear, fold or dog-ear. These are archival quality albums that will last a lifetime. These albums come with 15 spreads (30 pages) which means you can fit 30-50 pictures in it. I am offering them in 2 sizes:  6x6" and 8x8".  My sample is the 6x6". Here are some pics:

The pages lay perfectly flat so that you can *barely* see a fold.  There is no gutter, and no color variation in the minimal fold.

One advantage to the lay flat pages is that you can have a single photo over a full page spread. And boy is it gorgeous!!!!

Even in the 6x6" size you can still fit multiple photos on a page and have it look fabulous!

Clients, you can view this sample boudoir album during your boudoir session, or if we meet up for a consultation prior to the session!And now on to my another Boudoir topic....Is anyone up for another MARATHON BOUDOIR SESSION in JANUARY 2010?I have gotten a few inquiries about when my next marathon session will be... I thought it could be great to offer one in early-mid January for gals looking for potential Valentine's presents and also for any Spring Brides! I would need 3-4 girls to participate. So please let me know if you think you are interested. If I hear back from my readers that their is significant interest I will set it up!!! So let me know!!!