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!!!

WAY TOO LONG AGO, I got to do something awesome! Something that made me super giddy. Happy dance giddy! Paola of Just Chic Events, aka one of the most *fabulous* people ever, asked me to photograph a surprise party she was throwing for her mom's birthday! I was pretty much over the moon! You see Paola was my wedding planner, and I just love her! Now as a wedding photographer, its pretty much my dream to work with her. Because every single thing she touches turns to loveliness! She has such an eye for detail and she is so organized with everything. Two very important traits for a wedding coordinator!So of course, I knew that the party would be super stylish (it was), and that it would be amazing to photograph (that's actually an understatement). The florals were done by the amazingly talented Kate Baker, who did my wedding florals as well. Kate is so talented and her work just blows me away. Brides if you still need a florist, Kate is your girl, and of course if you need a wedding coordinator you can't do better than Paola!So enjoy a few of the details I snapped at this super chic party! Paola, thanks so much for having me a long! It really meant a lot to me!

I thought this was a super cute idea! Paola had made a Mashed Potato Bar for guests to enjoy as one of the appetizers. Guests could fill a martini glass with either mashed sweet potatoes or regular potatoes or both, then lay on all the toppings they wanted! How clever is that?! That's Paola, always thinking up super cute, unique touches! Guests loved the potato buffet and I saw a lot of people go back for seconds! YUM!

So there was a Mashed Potato Bar for your savory side...which of course meant there had to be a dessert bar for your sweet side! This layout was so elegant and soooo yummy looking! All the guests were ogling it, and saying how lovely it looked!

Okay I don't know if Paola made these or bought these but oooh boy do they look GOOD! I love the way you can see the icing drips down the sides of the little cakes! It makes it look so homemade but also so elegant. Reminds me of something Ina Garten would make. Yes, I bet the Barefoot Contessa would highly approve of this dessert bar!

So...first off I'm back from Texas! It was a great trip and I will post about it soon...but first I gotta get to Rachel & Mark's engagement session! These two shot with me the day before I left and they have been so patient about waiting for their pics. So I didn't want to be cruel and make them wait any longer!!Rachel & Mark are a wonderful couple! When I met with them I just knew I HAD to do their wedding. They are my kind of people! There is just something about them that I really connect with and makes me so giddy to think that I get to capture their memories! Sweet!Rachel is an artist! And a darn talented one!!! Mark teaches at El Camino College in Torrance, which is actually where he & Rachel went to school for awhile. You see, Rachel & Mark were really good friends growing up. They hung out together in high school and were good friends-- but they never dated. Eventually they went their separate ways when Rachel went to college at CSU Long Beach & Mark went up north to Berkeley. But they kept touch. Then not too long ago they reconnected, back here in LA, and the love sparks flew. Soon they were engaged and now here we are! With a love story like theirs its hard not to believe in destiny and soul mates. And when you see how good they are for each other, and how in sync these two are, you just know they will be together forever and ever!Rachel & Mark chose to take their engagement pictures at El Camino College, where Mark teaches and where they spent so much time together as friends! It made for a really personal & unique shoot! I love how the pics turned out and CANNOT WAIT for their wedding (just a month away)!! Enjoy!

So I grew up as an only child...but somewhere along the way I became a middle child. Both my parents re-married (my mom married my step-dad when I was 11, and my dad married my step-mom when I was 19) and each of my step-parents has a son. So yep I went from only to middle. Kinda. I never really grew up living with either of my step brothers so I don't know what its like to, um, share and fight and go on family trips with a sibling. But nonetheless I LOVE my step-bros bros more than I can say! My older brother is 20 years older than me. I was at his wedding to my sister-in-law, Angie, when I was 8. When I was 12, their daughter Georgia was born. And I can not tell you how friggin' excited I was to be an auntie!!!! I am still excited to be an auntie, especially because now I have a niece & nephew! I take the job very, very seriously.  I love babysitting my niece and nephew, and just hanging out with them. I also love hanging out with Mitch & Angie! They are such an integral part of my life now, I'd be lost without them! Heck, they are even our neighbors, living just blocks away from us! Yep I pretty much can't get enough of them! Soooo...when Angie asked me to take some family portraits of them a few weeks ago, I was thrilled! I was honored actually, because Angie studied photography and is a pretty amazing photographer herself!So here are a few shots from our family portrait session, which we took at Kenneth Hahn Park. I really need to enjoy this park more often because its so big and beautiful! Because we're family and chatty with each other, we kinda lost track of time and got a late start! The sun was getting low, but did offer up some cool lens flare!

Kenneth Hahn has a beautiful lake and creek thing running through it! Yes, it's man-made but it still makes for a pretty background!

Here's my Leo! My nephew and I have this crazy bond! He cracks me up and actually reminds me a lot of myself when I was little. He is a unique little kid who loves to ham it up, get attention, be the boss and is dangerously smart! Yes, that can mean he doesn't always listen to the adults when he should...but I think its kinda awesome. hehe. I love that he beats to his own drum! I feel like we are kindred spirits and that I was destined to be his Aunt. It's kinda amazing how things work out in this world...sometimes your family isn't born to you, it finds you!

My niece Georgia had a playdate with her BFF Molly that day, so Molly tagged along as my assistant ;) Of course I had to shoot some pics of these two girls! Aren't they fierce?!

The girls already have developed such style! Check out their awesome shoes!!!

I love this sweet moment. :)

Mitch & Angie have been married 15 years!!! :) And they are still sooo in love!

This last shot was at the end of the day and Leo was not having any more of the "smile and look at the camera" thing. In fact he told me his face was hurting from too much smiling! LOL. I told you he beats to his own drum! So, it is what it is. An almost perfect picture. But maybe what makes this picture perfect is the fact that Leo is goofing off and just being Leo. Its so much more real! ;)

Hello y'all! Wanted to let everyone know I am out of the office from today through Dec 1st! I am visiting my dad in Texas! Yeeehaw! :) Please understand it may take me a few extra days to return any emails!I did schedule some blog posts for this week and next so please keep checking the blog. Even though I'm not in the office there will still be new content here! Enjoy!!! :)Ashleigh

Okay I've been meaning to blog this story for awhile but...I procrastinated! You see I had weddings to edit and blog and that's all I could think about. But its time that I FINALLY blog this story! I am really going to start posting in my blog 2-3 times a week now, even if I don't have any exciting photo-shoots to share. I'm going to be sharing myself with you! Getting personal! Its been hard to get myself to do it...but this story, this post is the starting point! I hope you enjoy getting to know me, the lil' gal behind all the photos! So here goes!

Almost a month  ago, on a wedding-less Sunday, my mom called me at the ungodly hour of 8:00am. I thought something bad had happened to my grandparents and I was worried. Pretty much the only time I get calls from my mom on the weekend before 10:00am is when my grandpa is in the hospital. So my stomach dropped...BUT luckily it wasn't a bad phone call. It was a phone call to report a miracle! At least that's what my mom said.

A miracle? My first thought is "OMG! We won the lottery! We're millionaires! Hooooooray!!!!" Except its Sunday. I don't think they announce the lotto on Sunday...Ughhh if that is not it what could it be. C'mon mom tell, me! What is the miracle?!!!Let me preface this by saying my mom is very open to/believing in the spirit world. Let me also preface this by saying, two years ago our 12 year old, beloved orange tabby cat named Scotty passed away due to kidney problems. We got him when I was about 9 and even though I no longer lived with my mom when he died, I always loved him SO much! And my mom loved him so so so much too! Though we have two other cats it was no doubt Scotty was her fav (and mine too).

Anywho sooo according to my mom last night she got up to get some water in the middle of the night when she felt a cat brush up on her leg, but there was not a cat there. The other two kitties were no where in sight. My mom is sure what she felt was the presence of Scotty. See, Scotty used to always rub up on her like that in the middle of the night when he was alive. Soooo she feels Scotty and says to him "Oh Scotty! I love you and miss you so much! I have been so lonely without you these 2 years, I wish you'd come back for me or send another kitty just like you to me..."

Soon after this, she goes to sleep andddd at 8am my step-dad, Al ,wakes her up!There are two little orange tabby kittens meowing at the door. They are right at the doorstep, on the porch, and have been meowing there for over an hour. Apparently Al had been hearing them and hoping they'd go away but when he realized they weren't leaving he got up and told my mom.Of course my mom was amazed and ecstatic. She took them inside and they were filthy. So they spent the rest of the day getting them groomed and getting them tested to make sure they were healthy and getting all their shots. They were healthy, although a little scrawny and undernourished!So, point is now my mom has 2 new kittens, that look a whole lot like Scotty. One is a boy named Socks (he has white feet, not like Scotty) and a girl named Sophie (she is all orange like Scotty). My mom insists they are miracles sent from Scotty. I have to say it is quite a crazy story. We never saw any kittens before in their neighborhood and still, weeks later, haven't seen more. And no one has posted "missing kittens" signs anywhere. They basically showed up out of nowhere and stayed right at my moms doorstep, meowing, waiting for her and Al to let them in...mysterious? Yes. Miraculous?? Though I am a bit skeptic, I have to say it does seem miraculous. Its probably the most unbelievable and surreal thing to ever happen to my immediate family.

Here are some pics I took of the little guys, two days after the showed up!

Meet Socks!!! Isn't he adorable?!!!! Even though he has white on his chest and feet, there is something so Scotty-like about his face! His expressions remind me of Scotty so much I almost cry! Its so sweet!

This is Sophie. I only have two photos of her because she did NOT like her picture to be taken. She's so diva like that!

Hello Mr. Socks!

SLEEPY FACE!!!!! Oh my goodness. So cute it hurts! I know there are some cat-haters out there, but really how can you hate on something so cute and sweet?!!!!!!

This is my last photo of Sophie! The groomer put a little Halloween bandana on her! Too cute!!!

So now I ask my readers, have you ever experienced a "miracle?!" I'd LOVE to hear your stories. Or even if you have any cute kitty or puppy stories (yes I love pups too, I don't discriminate), I'd love to hear them!!!! Animals make my world go 'round. I can't get enough of them!

Cindy & Douglas got married in beautiful Marina Del Rey at the restaurant Cafe Del Rey! I absolutely love the Marina. It's one of those places that is picture perfect, so I was super excited to be shooting this wedding! And it did not disappoint! I was  a little nervous before arriving to the hotel where Cindy was getting ready. You see I normally do engagement sessions with my couples, but Cindy & Douglas had only found me a month before the wedding and didn't have the time to do an engagement shoot. I like to know my couples well by their wedding day, to feel like we are already friends. So going into this after only having one quick meeting was a little nerve wracking. Lucky for me, I felt like I became fast friends with Cindy & Douglas. They are so easy going and warm. And when I saw how caring and nurturing they were with each other, well, my nerves didn't last long! :)One of the most fun parts of the day for me was shooting the couples shots. We had been walking around the Marina hoping that we'd see someone who'd let us shoot on their boat. At first it seemed unlikely. Then, we saw a man on the LA County Fire Boat. So Cindy very kindly asked if we could snap a few pics on the boat, and the Fire Dept Crew was kind enough to oblige. HUGE Thank You to them!! I loved how the shots we got there turned out...and in fact I'd love to go back and shoot more! It was that cool!Cindy & Douglas had a beautifully intimate wedding affair. Just their closest family and friends came to witness their union, and to share a celebratory gourmet dinner with them at the delightful Cafe Del Rey. Their wedding really touched me because it was exactly what a wedding should be-- a declaration of love surrounded by your nearest and dearest. I know sometimes weddings can make us all go crazy and  it is easy to get caught up and forget the real focus-- the real focus is that at the end of the day you are married to the one you love more than anything. So it was really heartwarming to be at a wedding where it was really all about two people committing to each other forever. And what's even better is that Cindy & Douglas were so giddy happy, so in love, so full of joy! I could really see how special the day was for them, and that it would be a memory they would cherish for eternity!And I got to capture the memories, with Jenn King as my trusty second shooter by my side! How crazy cool is that?! Below are a few of my favorite shots from the day and of course even more pics are in the SLIDESHOW.

Cindy's bouquet was wrapped in her grandmother's handkerchief. It was such a meaningful touch. I love the delicate lace trim. Just beautiful!

I love how happy Cindy looks here! I think she had that realization "I'm getting married today!!"

I really love first looks. It is always such an emotional filled moment, which makes for some of the most moving photos of the day. And what makes first looks even cooler is that it leaves so much more time for pictures, and makes the wedding timeline much less stressful. I think all brides should highly consider doing first looks. And take it from me, a newlywed, they don't make the walk down the aisle any less special!

I love this photo of Cindy and her Dad. It's so sweet. She gave him a gift and then started to cry. Then I cried behind the camera. Shooting and tearing up. Yup that's me. I'm a daddy's girl so I guess I'm kinda a sucker for sweet father-daughter moments!

I just want to say again how FAB a venue Cafe Del Rey is! Gorgeous setting...and YUMMY food! Even if you aren't planning a wedding, just go there for a romantic address! You will thank me! Here is the info: Cafe del Rey 4451 Admiralty Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292

To see more images from Cindy & Doug's beautiful wedding please watch the slideshow below! Enjoy!

Cindy & Douglas - Thank you so much for trusting me with your treasured memories! I loved capturing your joy and your love. You two are a beautiful couple and I wish you all the best! Please stay in touch!

So, I had been toying with the idea of offering Holiday sessions for awhile. But I procrastinated. I can be an expert procrastinator sometimes...I learned it from both my parents! Soooo...now its the week before Thanksgiving and I'm finally solidifying the plans and making an announcement.... I'm gonna offer Holiday Portrait Sessions! Hooray!Basically these will be mini-versions of my 2 hour sessions! Family portraits, couples portraits, pictures of just the kids, pictures of just YOU! Heck show up in your wedding attire and a Santa hat, and make it a mini Mr. & Mrs. Session! ;) But really, I was thinking this would be the perfect kind of session for other procrastinators who haven't gotten their holiday card pictures taken, or who love to give pictures of themselves to their parents for X-Mas presents (ummm...yeah you caught me! I love to give my parents the gift of me! LOL)!!Here's the info:When: Sunday December 6thWhere: Downtown Culver CityWhat's included: 45 minutes of photography time. I will put the un-edited images online in a gallery for you. You pick your 5 favorite images. I will fully edit your 5 image picks, and put the hi-res versions on a disc for you to cherish forever! And of course, you have printing rights to the 5 images, so you can make all the cards you want!How Much: $100Please contact me at info@ashleightaylorphotography.com for more specific details or to reserve your spot!! This is on a first come, first serve basis and spots are limited!And since I can't leave you without a picture...here is a teaser from my family session with the lovely Mitch, Angela, Georgia and Leo!

Soooo the past few days have been crazy! I've been working hard editing because I want to get two weddings up on the blog before I leave town to visit my daddy on Sunday. Add to that the fact that I'm slowly but surely revamping my new branding theme into every aspect of my blog, and that included changing my workflow a bit....which means stress! Change can be hard. But once you adapt, things get easier, and you see why it was sooo good you made the change. I think I am in that phase now!But anyways...I've been hard at work for Crystal & Steve! I gushed about them last week, when I posted a teaser from their wedding! Well, I will gush a little more! Crystal & Steve got married at The Odyssey in Granada Hills! The view there is amazing, and the ballroom was just so lovely with its wooden walls, and big windows! I loved all the DIY Crystal did, the yummy candy bar, and watching the kids dig into the chocolate fountain like it was going out of style! But what I really loved about this wedding was watching a family come together. Watching Steve give his vows to not only Crystal, but to her two kids Lindsay & Jacob. I gotta say, I cried!! It was really a moving moment...but the thing was, the vows were clearly a formality-- a verbalization of something that already existed. Because from the moment I saw Steve, Crystal, Lindsay and Jacob all together I knew they were already a team. They were already looking out for each other. They already were bonded to the core. And I loved it. It was the kind of thing that affirms your faith in love and in the world.Another thing I loved about the wedding was the amount of kids in attendance.  It was truly a family affair! Everyone was included, and everyone was happy to celebrate Crystal & Steve! It was truly a joyous event-- which is what weddings should be! So please enjoy the photos below and don't forget to watch the SLIDESHOW at the bottom of the post for so many more images!Thank you to Marlene of I Do Events to beautifully coordinating the day, and Sean Lee of Masters of Ceremony for keeping the reception jumping, and bringing out the bubble machine which made for some super awesome photos! And of course big props and a thank you to my girl, Jenn King, for second shooting with me. You are FABULOUS!

I loved that Crystal wore a Dodger's garter! I wore one too for my wedding!!! ;)

Crystal made these invitations herself! Aren't they beautiful?!

I love how Jacob looks in this picture! Happy and full of anticipation!!

The flower girls were too cute!!!

These next two photos are my fav shots of the day! The light was just magic and Crystal looks SO STUNNING! She definitely worked it out!

Candy bars = nom nom nom. I love them! Every wedding should have one!!!

All I have to say is BUBBLE MACHINE!!!!!! Can every wedding have one of these too?? LOL. They sure make for some groovy photos!

I love this picture of Steve & Lindsay! It's sooo sweet! Makes me want to dance with and hug my own dad!!

Please watch the slideshow below (preferably with the volume up) to see many more photos set to the tune of Crystal & Steve's first dance song!!!

Crystal & Steve -- thank you so much for trusting me to capture your special day! I loved every minute of your wedding! I think you guys make the most wonderful family ever and wish you so much happiness together! Please keep in touch!

Am I a lucky girl or what? I booked two amazing weddings for November-- three days apart! Awesomeness. My first of the two took place Saturday...and it was awesome...the teaser is the post below. The second wedding was today. Yes people, TODAY! But I am already home, pics loaded, and already I have a teaser ready. BAM! Like magic. I guess I'm just supeerrrrr excited to show pics from this wedding! It was beautiful!! It took place in Marina Del Rey! I LOVE Marina Del Rey! And even cooler we got to take pics on a fire department boat. We just have hook ups like that ;)Soooo...for now here is a teaser of Cindy & Doug's awesome wedding! Hope everyone enjoys and stays tuned for more. Oh so much more!Cindy & Doug - thank you so much for letting us share in your special day! It was all so heart warming and beautiful! Truly a perfect wedding! I wish you both so much happiness and can't wait to share more pics with you!

Yesterday I had the pleasure and honor of photographing Crystal & Steve's wedding! I had worked with Crystal before and loved every second of it, but I had never met Steve. I almost always do engagement sessions with my couples and get to know their couple-vibe well before the wedding. So I was a little nervous. Well, Crystal and Steve blew me away...blew me away with their love! Okay, I know that sounds grossly cheese-o-riffic, but it is true! Crystal and Steve are SO in love. And they are just comfy with each other. They get each other. Crystal knows what Steve needs. Steve knows what Crystal needs. They already feel like family. There was so much love and tenderness last night, and I was really moved to be able to witness the coming together of this beautiful family!I  can't wait to blog more pics, but I gotta gear up for another wedding on Tuesday-- get ready Cindy & Douglas ;) Sooo for now, I will leave you with one of the many awesome shots I grabbed last night!Crystal & Steve-- I hope this teaser will tide you over! Thanks so much for everything yesterday! I can't wait to show you more beautiful pics soon!!! ;)

When I met Lillian and Gary, I knew I wanted to shoot their wedding. I could just tell they were such genuinely sweet, kind, wonderful people. And their love was palpable. I just knew their wedding would be so warm and happy. They asked if I had ever photographed (or even been to) a traditional Chinese wedding, and I hadn't. I'm so glad that it wasn't a deal breaker, because I had such a great time photographing their big day!I loved learning more about Chinese wedding traditions. I absolutely loved the door games they played. Basically, the groom shows up at the bride's house but the bridesmaids refuse to let the groom and groomsmen in to see the bride until they prove themselves by passing certain tests and playing certain games. It was really funny watching the groom and his guys have to paint each other's nails, do push ups, and beg and plead to get passed the bridesmaids. In the end the boys got revenge on the poor bridesmaids with some mad silly string action! And boy that stuff really sticks around!!!After the door games, Lillian and Gary had a beautiful tea ceremony. Then we took some fun shots over at the San Gabriel Mission before heading to their reception at New Capitol Seafood. Lillian kept telling us how she wanted us to have some authentic Chinese food! And we did! We ate like kings!! I LOVE seafood like no other so let me tell you I was in heaven between the shrimp, scallops, fish, and lobster. Yes LOBSTER. Nom. Nom. Nom.Lillian and Gary, thank you for trusting me to shoot your wedding! It was a beautiful day and I feel so honored to have been a part of everything. I hope you love the pictures!!!  Also, thank you to Jenn King for second shooting with me!!Below are some highlights of the day...and at the bottom of the post is the slideshow! Be sure to check it out!

Lillian bought two pairs of shoes for the wedding and still hadn't decided which pair to wear when we arrived. I thought it was too adorable!

Knock knock! Here comes the groom to see his bride!

I love the anticipation in Gary's face here. You can tell he is dying for a glimpse of his future wife!

Gary had to paint the nails of one of his groomsmen in order to see Lillian! Love that the girls really went for it with the bottle of pink glitter polish!

When Gary finally passed the tests and was allowed to see Lillian, he rushed to her room where she was waiting for him. It was a total fairy-tale moment! And look how excited he is. You may all swoon now!

Lillian's bouquet was absolutely gorgeous. Love the mini purple callas and the green cymbidiums!

Lillian wanted to be sure I got some silly shots of the bridal party. If this next picture isn't silly then I don't know what is!

Now for some romantics...

Some reception details...

For more beautiful pictures of Lillian and Gary's wedding please check out the slideshow below!

Last week I had the pleasure of shooting Crystal's boudoir photos! We had a great time rockin' it out, posing and being fierce!! Before the shoot Crystal had told me how hesitant she was to take boudoir photos, and I'm SO glad she pushed herself to take the jump! Doesn't she look absolutely fabulous in all these pics?! She has a little bit of Tyra in her for sure!! ;) Let this be a lesson to all brides who are hesitant to take boudoir photos-- don't be afraid!!! If you take the leap, trust your photographer, and let loose (just a little) you will be rewarded with fab photos!!! I'm convinced that all women have a little super model inside just dying to get out, and I love that I can help women embrace that side of themselves!Crystal-- thank you for trusting me to take your b-pics and I am soooo super excited for your wedding in November!! You are going to make such a gorgeous bride!! Hope you enjoy these...I'm sure your soon-to-be-hubby will!!Crystal & her fiance text each other a lot! He just happened to text her during our shoot! I love that I caught this moment!! :)

Saturday I got to shoot Lillian & Gary's lovely wedding! They are such a wonderful couple & the whole experience was so fun! I just wanted to share a little teaser!! More to come soon!!

I'm pleased to announce that Ashleigh Taylor Photography is now on facebook and twitter!!! Please become a fan on facebook by clicking below AND follow me on twitter @ashleightaylor8! Thanks!!!

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Every single aspect of Chris & Priscilla's day was beautiful, unique and so personal. When we arrived at the bridal suite, we were blown away with Pricilla's gorgeous Enzoani gown and blue Christian Louboutin pumps! Swoon! It was right then we knew that the day would ROCK! And it did! Priscilla and Chris came up with the cutest theme for their wedding-- pumps and sneakers. It was pretty much the perfect representation of their personalities. How so? Well, Chris is chill, funny, and the definition of cool, which is what a classic pair of sneakers is all about.  And pumps are a fitting representation of Priscilla because she is stylish, sophisticated, and an all around lovely lady. And like sneakers and pumps, Priscilla and Chris are the perfect complement to each other. Though at first the two may may seem like opposites, you quickly realize they each bring something to the table that the other one needs, and that's why this relationship is going to last forever.  :)Michelle Black of Lehr and Black nailed the decor of the wedding to a T. The "Sneakers and Pumps" theme was fully integrated into every detail, and done with such class and elegance! Michelle also decorated the reception with lots and lots of prints from Chris & Priscilla's engagement session!! When I saw my pictures enlarged and displayed throughout the reception room I got so excited!! It was a really cool feeling to see the images in print and displayed so nicely. Michelle even had some of the photos printed on candies, which were interspersed throughout the candy buffet! Too cute!!! Seriously, no detail was left untouched! And then, as if things weren't amazing enough, Joeleen of A Sweet Design (who coincidentally also made my ultra-fab cupcake tower for my wedding) created two luscious cakes for Priscilla and Chris. One of the cakes being a replica of Pricilla's Loubotins and Chris' Nikes!! As always, Joeleen's work is fabulous and delicious! We had a great time photographing and subsequently eating the cakes! hehe ;)But it wasn't just the decor and the theme that made this wedding so unique. Priscilla and Chris chose nontraditional music for the ceremony, but music that really represented who they are as individuals and as a couple. When Priscilla walked down the aisle to "I Say A Little Prayer" by Dionne Warwick I started to tear up. It was the absolute perfect score to a beautiful moment. Their ceremony was also very personal, and filled with such love. Both their moms presented the rings to them and gave a little speech/blessing. The love their parents have for them warmed my heart. You could tell it wasn't just the happiest day for Priscilla and Chris, but it was also the happiest day for their parents! And isn't that what weddings are about? The joining of two families into one great, big, uber-loving family?! Yes, I think so!By the time the reception rolled around, Chris & Priscilla were ready to party!! They kicked the night off by dancing to "Run This Town" by Rhianna, Jay-z and Kanye! Awesome! And from that point on the fun kept coming. From the Best Man's hilarious speech, to the bouquet toss which took three times to get right, to the dance floor jam packed with all of their friends and family getting down to hip-hop! It was awesome. And I felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to document it all. So thank you Priscilla and Chris, for letting me into your lives, for trusting me with your beautiful memories. I hope you love these photos and will always treasure them!I also have to give a ginormous thank you to my homegirl Jenn King for second shooting with me, and also to all the vendors who came together to make this wedding day so beautiful and amazing to photograph. Michelle Black, Joeleen of A Sweet Design, Meredith at The Malibou Lake and Mountain Club and DJ Ricky Jordan-- THANK YOU! You guys rock and I hope to work with you all again!I will seriously shut up now and show you the pictures. Also, as always, be sure to check out the SLIDESHOW at the end of the post!!!Sneakers & Pumps lined the aisles! Love it!Below is my favorite shot of the day!!!The reception room was impeccable! Look at these tablescapes...And the lovely details...And the amazing candy buffet...Some up close details...The bling...These are really only the tippy-tip-tip of the iceberg. For more swoonilicious (yeah I just made up that word!) eye-candy please ch-ch-check out the SLIDESHOW below!!! And make sure your volumes is up, homies ;)

Last Friday I shot Chris & Priscilla's ultra fabulous wedding, with Jenn King as my trusty second shooter! It.was.amazing. SERIOUSLY! The whole day blew me a way so much that I have kinda been on a high from it ever since. Friday was also the first time I really felt with all my heart that I was definitely meant to pursue wedding photography. I am on the right journey. And that is a good feeling to have.I know I am still at the beginning of my journey. Still learning so much, and soaking everything in. Still building my arsenal of gear. Still building my brand. Still figuring out the business & my place in the grand scheme of things...But as I edit the photos most of that melts away (hey I'm a perfectionist, I'm always going to have some anxiety!) and I just feel confident it will all fall into place for me.But enough about me.... look at Chris & Priscilla's pretty faces!!Swoon...I love veil shots & I love stylish, radiant brides! And Chris was one cool lookin' groom! Priscilla & Chris, I cannot wait to blog more of your images!! I hope this will tide you over for a tiny bit! I promise there is MUCH more to come!

Today the fabulous Christina of TinaMolina Events (remember, she coordinated Thomas & Erika's wedding?!) announced that she is giving away free wedding coordination to one lucky couple! I was really excited by this because as a photographer & recent bride, I whole heartily believe that a good DOC is essential to every wedding. I've said it before, but weddings are SO stressful-- especially on the bride. Having a coordinator handle all the little details takes oh so much weight of the bride (and the groom! and the parents! and the bridal party!), and can prevent any last minute stress & catastrophes. A happy bride & groom equals a happy photographer and great photos! So...point is, I was thrilled to see Christina give back by offering her services up for free.Upon giving Christina the kudos she so greatly deserved, she asked me if I would like to join the give away as well and throw in some free photography for the lucky couple. I was flattered and of course said yes!So I'm happy to announce that whoever wins the TinaMolina give-away will also receive a free two hour photo session (bride's choice of either boudoir, engagement, or trash the dress) from me. The prize not only includes the 2 hours of photography time, but also a CD of 50 fully edited images & printing rights to these images!There are a few rules & stipulations on my end:

• Sessions must take place within 20 miles of the 90232 zipcode
• Sessions must take place within the next 6 months
• If the winning bride chooses a boudoir session, she must book/provide the hotel room. Ashleigh Taylor Photography is not responsible for hotel/location costs.
• Brides currently booked for, or in  negotiations to book, boudoir sessions are not eligible for free boudoir should they win this contest. They may, however, still participate & do an Engagement or Trash The Dress session.

Those are just my little rules! Please go the TinaMolina Blog for further details & for info on how to enter!!Go! And remember, you can nominate yourself or someone else who deserves it!! :)

Last week, I got to shoot one very sexy lady's boudoir pictures at The Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. Oh boy, what a lovely hotel that is! And the rooms have big, beautiful spa tubs, which made for some excellent & ultra-sultry bubble bath pictures! Boudoir sessions are my favorite kind of session to shoot. They are playful, fun, and totally empowering. I love seeing my clients walk out of a session with a boost of confidence and energy, and this session was no different. I am so lucky to have had such wonderful boudoir clients, and hope to have many, many more!I truly loved how the photos turned out from this session, but I can only share a few shots with you because the bride wishes to remain anonymous. Hope you enjoy these few teasers!

There is now a new email for Ashleigh Taylor Photography. Please note our new e-mail address: info@ashleightaylorphotography.com