Just a quick heads up that I'm off to Maui to shoot a destination wedding and will not be in the office from Weds 2/27/13 through Weds 3/6/13. Please be aware that emails and phone calls may take longer to respond to. I will be back in the office on 3/7 to return all emails, calls, etc!Thank you for your patience and support! And... ALOHA!PS- This sexy picture is from my last photo shoot in the islands! Can't wait to share some new images!
Heather and Johannes had a simply gorgeous wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu last summer. It was actually on of the hottest days of the year... but we won't go into that! And anyway the day was so beautiful and perfect that the heat didn't even matter! Calamigos Ranch is such a beautiful property with so many charming spots for photos-- perfect if you love that outdoorsy, rustic look! The wedding was intimate and reflected Heather + Johannes love for not only each other, but for their guests who flew in from around the world. Their ceremony was unique, personal and so touching their wasn't a dry eye in sight! And Heather + Johannes beamed all the way through! The festivities continued with hilarious toasts, slow dancing, and yummy food! Can't ask for anything better than that!This was another one of my weddings that I shot as an associate for Callaway Gable. And now... on to the photos!
Heather got ready at The Four Seasons Westlake, which is lovely! And look how cute her shoes were!
Heather you are one STUNNING bride!
I mean seriously, how GLAMOROUS is she?! Just beautiful!
Love this bouquet shot and the details of her dress!
Easy, breezy, beautiful... she should be a COVER GIRL!
The ceremony was so sweet...
...and oh so beautiful...
...the smiles were HUGE...
First Kiss STUNNER!
NEWLYWEDS! YAY!
Heather and her mommy were so happy!!
And Johannes' mommy was pretty happy too! LOVE happy moms! I mean, who doesn't?!
Bridal party fun!!
These guys were too cool for school....
Romantic portraits... ahhhh they were SO amazing!!
DREAMY romance!
Laughter is beautiful!
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!
A little something different!
Soft and sweet!!
And a little sexy too!!
LOVE IT!
Loved the rustic reception...
...and the gorgeous lights which twinkled on throughout the night!
I am so excited to share C + T's Santa Barbara engagement session! These two lovebirds are getting married in July and I cannot wait! But for now... check out their engagement pics!!
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Boudoir and Glamour photography can be so many things. Some sessions stay pretty clothed, and I always encourage my clients to bring at least one dress. Because hey it's nice to have some sexy yet modest photos you could hang on your wall, or post to facebook. And I love that! But I'm not gonna lie, I LOVE when a gal chooses to go way outside her comfort zone and live in a fantasy dream world! What girl doesn't have fantasies of being a showgirl or a burlesque beauty queen?! Well if you have those secret yearnings, let's live the dream for a few minutes in our photo shoot and create some racy photos you'll never forget! Hey, you only live once so don't dream it, be it!Below are some burlesque goddess images... but they are quite provocative! So if you are a modest mouse you may want to glaze over this post!
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I just adore boudoir photography and making women feel beautiful, as you know! There is truly nothing more rewarding than helping women create positive self-images, and one way to do that is by showing the a breathtaking photo of themselves. Imagery is powerful and t can change lives. I've seen it. And I am so blessed to have clients who allow me to capture them just how they are. That allow me to capture their vulnerability, their beauty, their body, their laugh, their sassy and their sexy. I love it!I could do boudoir every day... and create stunning imagery like this:
So very sensual!
Seriously?! This is magazine cover worthy!! In my humble opinion!
Shhhh! Don't tell! FIERCE!
Jessica found me in December while reading Style Me Pretty and she immediately contacted me about photographing her 12-12-12 Santa Barbara elopement to the love her life, Norm. She told me that almost a year earlier Norm had been diagnosed with grade 4 brain cancer, and everything in their lives changed. They were engaged, but of course with the news wedding plans got put on the back burner. Norm's health was everybody's #1 concern, as it should be! But all these two wanted was to get married. They are madly in love. Soul mates. The truest of companions. So when Norm thankfully got some good news from the doctor and was given the okay to take a small trip for a few days, they knew what they wanted to do.They took a roadtrip from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara to elope! They drove Norm's restored classic 1960's VW Bus all the way. They would marry in Santa Barbara, and then honeymoon as they drove up the central coast! How romantic! And that's where I came in... to photograph the big day! I could not have been more honored! Because Norm + Jess aren't that familiar with Santa Barbara, I also kinda helped plan the whole day-- choosing the locations for the ceremony and portraits, styling their sweetheart table, and giving some vendor recommendations! It was so fun helping to create the perfect day for such a special pair!I was honored to see their elopement on Style Me Pretty 10 days ago... and decided that Valentine's Day would be the perfect day to share their story on my own blog. Because if ever there was a STRONG love that should inspire lovers and dreamers everywhere, it is the story of Jessica + Norm. Please check out the images, and read how you can help at the bottom of this post. Thanks!The two had their ceremony on Refugio Beach... and because a storm was looming, they had the beach all to themselves!
The ceremony was touching beyond words!
Jessica was sooooo happy!!
And so was Norm!
Definitely an emotional moment!!
And so full of love!!!
After the ceremony we enjoyed the beauty of the beach!!
Jessica you are gorgeous!!!
Dancing on the beach... so romantic!!
The roadtrip begins here!!
LOVE!!!
How cute is the bus?!!!
We wanted to spend some time in those gorgeous rolling hills of Santa Barbara!
GORGEOUS!!
Jessica's bouquet and floral headpiece was by Simply Bouquets!
BEAUTY!!
I styled and put together a little reception table for them! It turned out so sweet! Cake is by Crushcakes and linens are La Tavola.
How can you not just ADORE these two?!!
Back to the bus we go!
Just Married!!! There they go off on their roadtrip honeymoon adventure! LOVE!
If you would like to know more about Norm's story please check out his blog. You can also help Jessica + Norm by donating to help pay off Norm's medical bills. Despite having good health insurance the medical bills have added up... every little bit helps! Thank you!!
I always love to look back on the year, and see where my pretty photos got published! 2012 was a pretty exciting year for publications because we had our first real wedding magazine feature! A huge goal accomplished! There were many other great features in both print and online as well! I am so proud! Let's take a look back...We started 2012 off with a bang-- with a 3 page real wedding spread in Ceremony Magazine! A dream come true!
Then right on the heels of that feature... Seacoast Weddings Magazine published one of my photos on a full page! Such a pretty layout!
Our Salvador Dali inspiration shoot was featured on Style Me Pretty!!
Ever Ours featured Rachel + Sean's camping themed engagement!
Samantha + Brook's Santa Barbara Historical Museum Wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty!
We were so excited to have an image featured in the premier digital issue of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style!!
The Wedding Chicks featured Carolyn + Prescott's rustic fall themed wedding!
TheKnot.com featured Renita + Alex's wedding!
Wedding Party featured Andrew + Andrea's engagement!
And Santa Barbara Wedding Style featured Renita + Alex's engagement!
We ended the year with another gorgeous Style Me Pretty feature... this time it was Kendra + Kevin's wedding that got the spotlight!
What a great year!!! I can't wait to see where my photos end up next!!!
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Vanessa + Brett are another one of my adorable 2013 couples and I had so much fun shooting their engagement session at The Stow House in Santa Barbara. The Stow House is a historic property with both Victorian and rustic charm! It also happens to be right next to the train museum and orange orchards which makes for even more pretty scenery to photograph! It's actually a wedding venue, but we had a ton of fun using it for the back drop of this engagement session!Vanessa + Brett are so very sweet together in every way. And Vanessa was all smiles during the shoot! You could just how excited she was to take some lovey dovey photos with her man! And Brett was so excited to see Vanessa happy! And I think he had fun in front of the camera too! I can't wait for their wedding later this fall... but for now, engagement pics!
Rustic love!
So sweet!
Brett lookin' handsome!
Pure romance!
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2012 was a great year for weddings! I shot so many gorgeous weddings in Santa Barbara and destinations beyond and had so much fun while doing so! Of course it always helps when your couples are some of the sweetest, most genuine and caring people in the world! I could not be more thankful for them! Take a peak at some of my favorite 2012 weddings! And then let's all be excited for what's in store for 2013!Brooks + Samantha kicked off the year by getting married at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum:
Then Rachel + Sean had a beautiful winery wedding:
Valerie + Paul had a luxury wedding at the Montage in Beverly Hills:
Stacy + Sebastian got married at Spanish Hills in Camarillo:
Jen + Eric had a gorgeous Jewish waterfront wedding at The Ritz:
Heather + Johannes got married at the gorgeous Calamigos Ranch in Malibu (full wedding forthcoming):
Renita + Alex had a down right gorgeous wedding:
Susie and Eric's wedding had a vintage flair which we loved:
Kendra + Kevin's wedding at The Sunstone Villa was to die for:
Monika + Morgan's Santa Barbara Courthouse Wedding was lovely:
Ali + Jason had a desert hippie fete I'll never forget!
Sandy + Jeremy Eloped at The Bacara:
And on 12-12-12 Jessica + Norm eloped in Santa Barbara (blog forthcoming):
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Every once in awhile it hits me that not only do I have a job that allows me to be my own boss, be creative, and take photographs for a living, but I also have a job that is meaningful. That creates a good in the world. Today is one such day where I realize the power of what I do beyond the joy my work brings to my own life. While a feature on Style Me Pretty is always exciting and wonderful, today's feature is extra special. Because it is putting the spotlight on amazing couple who's love is braver and stronger than cancer. Their inspirational story and their elopement photos (taken by your truly) are featured today...and they just called to tell me how happy the feature made them, and how donations are already pouring in for them. Wow. I am humbled, inspired and uplifted. So grateful and honored to be a part of this big day and to think that my photos have helped raise awareness (about their story, this specific type of cancer, and for their site) in some small way! Amazing!Go check out Jessica + Norm's inspiring story and beautiful Santa Barbara Elopement on Style Me Pretty!
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I am so excited to finally share Valerie + Paul's gorgeous Montage Beverly Hills wedding which I shot last June! Valerie and Paul are two of the most stylish people I know! Their love of couture fashion, graphic design, and color really showed through in their unique Marie Antoinette themed wedding! Valerie wore not one but two couture gowns-- one of which was a Monique L'Huillier-- and she also wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik's AND a pair of Louboutin's! What?! AMAZING! Paul was pretty styling himself... basically these two looked as if they just walked off the runway!They had a gorgeous full Catholic Mass on the terrace of the Montage and then had a fabulous reception-- complete with choreographed first dance-- also at the hotel! I had so much fun photographing this wedding! It was just so special! This was one of the weddings I photographed as a Callaway Gable Associate. Please check it out below!
LOVE their gorgeous rings!
In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, "Hello, Lover!" Yep Valerie's clothes are AH-MAZING!
LOVED their stationery!
Oh yeah, Valerie had an amazing second outfit too!
How fun are these bridesmaids?!
Valerie was beaming as she got dressed!
The ceremony was just GORGEOUS!
The First Kiss!!
Newlyweds!!!
Oh goodness, Valerie, you are FIERCE!
Stunners!!
Kiss on fire!!!
CUTIES!
Flash those Manolo's girl!
Veil love!
What a way to make an entrance!!
Sexy choreographed first dance!
Get it!
DIP!!! LOVE!
PARTYING!
I'm very excited to announce that I've FINALLY started a mailing list for all things Ashleigh Taylor Photography! I'm so lucky to have so many clients, fans, colleagues, friends and even other photographers supporting what I do. But with the many forms of social media that I have (facebook, twitter, pinterest, this blog, etc) it can sometimes be hard to find ALL the info about what Ashleigh Taylor Photography is up to! So I've decided a neat little monthly email is the best way to keep everyone in the loop, and from there we can connect on social media as well! The monthly email newsletters will include the following content:
- Latest News, Accolades, Press, Honors, etc
- Latest Eye Candy + Photo Shoots
- The First Place we will announce contests, giveaways, and/or special deals on our products/services
- The First Place we will announce our limited availability photoshoots that we do annually (like holiday mini-sessions, or boudoir mini sessions)
- The First Place we will announce any speaking engagements and/or workshops
- Photo Tips and Tricks (for photographers AND amateurs looking to step up their personal photography a bit... we will mix some easy peasy tricks with some more advance stuff)
- Posing Tips and Tricks (for photographers OR anyone who would like to feel more confident posing for everyday pictures)
Sound Awesome??!!! Well... it IS! And even better is that to get things going we are hosting a little contest! Everyone who subscribes to our newsletter by Feb 5th 2013 will be entered in to a raffle, and lucky subscriber will win a $25 i-Tunes gift card! Score!So what are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to subscribe to our newsletter!
So there's this myth. This myth that I HATE. And that's that boudoir and/or glamor photography is only for young women. For twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings. When everything is tight, toned, flawless. It drives me nuts. First of all, at no point in life are we ever perfect, right ladies? Even twenty year olds have insecurities about their looks. Second, age has nothing to do with sexy. Sexy comes from within. From vulnerability, confidence, courage, accepting oneself. Sexy comes from embracing life, living in the moment, and life experiences. Sexy is as much about a beautiful mind and spirit as it is about the body. Age ain't got nothing to do with it!I LOVE to photograph women who are forty, or even better fifty, and know they are (or simply want to feel) fabulous! Women who want to celebrate their journey, their sensuality and feel beautiful again. These are seriously some of my favorite sessions, and I've been lucky to photograph a few "50 and Fabulous" sessions lately. Check out this one sexy lady below... and see how gorgeous she is, inside and out!
Flirty and fun!
Get it!
Owwww! Fifty and FIERCE is more like it!
If this is what 50 looks like then I can't wait for it!
Gorgeous!!!
Soft and ethereal!! LOVE!
If you are in your forties or fifties and feeling a little stuck, a little bleh, a little like you need to a little push out of your comfort zone... or if you are feeling pretty fabulous, brazen, and ready to grab life by the... horns! Well then I would la-la-love to photograph you! Definitely contact me, I promise it will be so fun and give you a new lease on life!
Wow, wow wow. From the wee earlllly days of my wedding photography business I longed to be recognized by Junebug Weddings and listed among their directory of World's Best Wedding Photographers. I admire their site. They really do showcase THE BEST photographers and images. With them it's not just about pretty details, but actual high quality photographs-- technically sound and artistic. And I never really thought it would happen that they'd ever have me on their site. You see, Junebug limits how many photographers can be on their list in each major city and LA (where I used to live)?! Well I knew that was waitlisted. The application process to be a member is rigorous. I never bothered applying because I just was so sure I'd be rejected... I folded up that dream and put it in the way back of the linen closet in my brain. To collect dust and to only be looked on rare occasions.So you can imagine that when I received an email last week from Junebug INVITING me to be on their list of Top Photographers in Santa Barbara/Best Wedding Photographers in the World, I nearly fell out of my chair. I seriously re-read the email about three or four times.Hrmmm it does say "Dear Ashleigh" ... Hrm it was just sent to my email... I think that's my email address... yeah it is...OMG THIS IS REAL?!Yep, I was in shock. Giddy shock. That shock where a little dream you tucked away because you didn't fully believe in it actually comes true. It's the best kind of shock to feel-- euphoria. So today my little listing went live on the Junebug site, and I am so humbled, proud and honored. Dreams do come true friends... even if it's just a quiet vision you hold for yourself while you do a lot of groundwork... it's possible no matter how crazy it seems!Go check out my listing as one of Santa Barbara's Top Wedding Photographers and let me know what you think!
2012 was such a great year that was jam packed with drop dead GORGEOUS engagement shoots! Most of my shoots took place in beautiful Santa Barbara County, since my business moved there at the beginning of the year! It was great shooting in my new hometown--- so many fabulous locations! I also think my clients really enjoyed the scenery Santa Barbara had to offer!I also loved these shoots because on each one I had so much fun getting to know my clients better! Some of my couples got married later in the year, and some of these sessions were for my 2013 brides! But either way, the engagement sessions created such a bond between me + each client, and that is a great thing! I am so thrilled with how each session turned out! My year was filled with so much beauty, so much love, so much joy! Take a look through my pretty year in engagements....
SWOOON, right?! Now doesn't that just make you want to have an engagement (or anniversary session) with your love?!! If you are engaged or know someone who is and is getting married in 2013 or 2014 please contact me! I would love to get you or your friends/family in front of my camera to create some glamorous yet genuine images!
I was so excited to wake up and see Alicyn + Jason's wedding--scratch that LOVE BALL-- up on Green Wedding Shoes today! Ali had told me throughout the planning process what a help and inspiration reading Green Wedding Shoes was.... so it's fitting that her wedding should be up there now to inspire others! Plus, it's always fun for me to see my photos on an AMAZING blog like that! Hooray!Check out the Green Wedding Shoes Feature Here:
Ashley + Lance are an adorable couple getting married at the stunning Sunstone Villa in July! They found me on their short wedding planning to trip to Santa Barbara and booked me on the spot! And the only time we had left to shoot their engagement session before their flight back home to Dallas was at sunrise less than 48 hours later! Crazy! But oh so fun! Ashley and Lance were great sports about getting up before daylight and also taking pics in weather that was LESS THAN THIRTY-TWO DEGREES! Seriously! It was actually freezing out! And yet despite all the obstacles, Ashley and Lance just radiated love. We had fun walking the streets of Solvang and then driving through the rolling hills of Santa Ynez, and I think we created some gorgeous imagery!Special thanks to Page of About Face Make-Up Artistry for making Ashley look extra fabulous! And now... the pics!!
Are these two CUTE or what?!
LOVE!
So in love! In fact, I'd say these two are smitten!
Those gorgeous rolling Santa Ynez hills!
You two are both SOOOO good looking!
CUTENESS!
GORGEOUS!!!
To see more of Ashley + Lance's beautiful engagement, view their slideshow CLICK HERE or watch below:
I am so excited to share this gorgeous Santa Barbara wedding which took place at the Courthouse and also at the Santa Barbara Hyatt. Monika and Morgan were the cutest couple ever! They were sooo giddy all day and just so genuinely overjoyed to be tying the knot! They chose to marry in Santa Barbara because they used to live here together and just love the town, the beach and the architecture! I captured all those things throughout the day, but more importantly I captured the love they had for each other!This wedding was my last one in my associate photographer position with Callaway Gable. Thank you to Janelle Stephanie for second shooting! Hope you enjoy!
Monika had the cutest hanger made for her dress!!
GORGEOUS Monika! Also love the perfume!
Oh goodness, Monika, you are STUNNING!!!
The ceremony at the courthouse was beautiful!
Monika cried tears of joy!!
Woohoo!!! NEWLYWEDS!!!
After the ceremony we had a lot of fun with the bridal party at the Courthouse! I call this one "Reservoir Dogs" hehe ;)
Giddy girls!
The cutest bridesmaids! They were ALL smiles!!
The whole bridal party was great to work with!!!
FIERCE!!
Then we let the group go to cocktail hour and had some time for some sexy and romantic portraits! Here we are in the mural room!
These two are soooo good looking!
Morgan you are one lucky fellow! Monika is a a stunner!!!
Love!!!
There's that architecture!
Love!!
Swoooooon!!!
We then headed to the Hyatt, which is just across the street from Leadbetter beach! Score! Beach portraits it is!
Beautiful!!!!! Love those yellow shoes!!
So sweet!!!
The reception was full of succulent details!!
And yellow everything!
Their first dance was so sweet!!
And then they got their party on.... :)
In December, I was very lucky to be able to photograph Jeremy + Sandy's beautiful elopement at the stunning Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara! Sandy + Jeremy were contestants on The Amazing Race, and they said that surviving the show together just cemented that they are meant to be! If they could travel the world, complete crazy challenges, and live out of a backpack together for weeks on end, they could definitely survive any and all of the challenges of life together! So Sandy, Jeremy and Jeremy's son Grant headed down to Santa Barbara to say their i-do's. Their ceremony was so loving and heartfelt. They even included Grant, by having him read a sweet poem, and then Jeremy had a special reading for Grant as well. Tears of joy were shed as we all shivered on the beach in December. I was their only witness (over 18 I should say), so I even got to sign their license! What an honor!It was a beautiful day for a beautiful family. I couldn't have been more thrilled to document such an intimate wedding, for three incredibly warm, genuine, caring and thoughtful people! I love my clients! And I LOVE weddings-- big or small! Check out the images below:
Th grounds of the Bacara are so lovely! And the staff was nice enough to let us use a golf cart so we could navigate the vast property!
L-O-V-E!
Seriously, how gorgeous are these two?!!
Grant was one incredibly cute ring-bearer! 
This is just adorable! I LOVE it!
An intimate ceremony on the beach...
...full of sincerity, love...
....and pure JOY!
NEWLYWEDS!
The GORGEOUS couple! LOVE them!
I always love seeing my client's engagement sessions featured on wedding planning blogs! It just validates how creative, stylish, fun and inspirational Ashleigh Taylor Brides are! LOVE! I am so excited to see two of my recent Santa Barbara engagement shoots featured on two rad sites-- Santa Barbara Wedding Style and the Wedding Party App blog! Check out Renita + Alex's feature in Santa Barbara Wedding Style
Check out Andrea + Andrew's feature in the Wedding Party App Blog