Ashley Sawtelle Photography

Once Upon a Photo

2010-11-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, photography is present in all aspects of our lives. We are constantly bombarded by images - from facebook photo tags to advertisements, it's hard to avoid images, both familiar and foreign. Can you imagine a time when capturing a person on film was unheard of?

I came across an interesting article this week - "First Photo of a Human Being Ever?", which discusses a photo taken in the 1830s by Louis Daguerre. The photos produced in these years were not meant to take pictures of people, rather objects with no motion. However, this picture (the 2nd photo in the article) possibly captures a human getting his shoes shined. The person looks like a shadow, no detail can be seen. But, isn't it gorgeous? These photos are almost like paintings! I was inspired by the article and decided to have a little fun editing the following picture. More Dorothy meets Oz than French aristocrat:

Additional photos from our fun shoot at the pumpkin patch.

A Plan Defeated

2010-10-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous time of year in Colorado! This is my fourth Colorado fall and I have to say this has been the best yet! I love the golds and rusts painted on the trees, along with weather that demands sweatshirt nights.

I also love taking pictures this time of year. Great backdrops. Last Sunday, as I was driving to Luke, Susan, and Cash's home, I was dreaming of a perfectly posed family in front of auburn-colored foliage. I strategically planned each shot - each subject's position, the composition of the shot - that I was going to take when I arrived to their home.

Ha, well let me tell you how my "plan" worked out! It didn't exactly. Cash, the cutest toddler this side of the Mississippi, let me know exactly how the session was going to go. Below is Cash's agenda for the day and I loved every minute of it:

Shot #1: The "Who Are You and Why Are You Taking Pictures of Me" Shot

Shot #2: The "I Got My Parents Right Where I Want Them" Shot

Shot #3: The "Dad! You Are the SILLIEST!" Shot

Shot #4: The "My Mom is the Loveliest" Shot

Shot #5: The "I Am THIS Tall" Shot

Let us leave this post with an understanding - toddlers call the shots.

JBF Broomfield - Free Photo Session Winner!!

2010-10-20T19:48:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I had a booth at the Just Between Friends Broomfield/Westminster Sale Event where members could register to win a FREE photo session with ASP.

Alight, now it's time to announce the lucky recipient!! Drum roll please . . . .

Amy S. of Commerce City, CO....CONGRATS!!! It was a great turnout and thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth! For participating, all JBF members will recieve 20% off a standard photo session until the end of the year. Don't forget to "like" Ashley Sawtelle Photography's Facebook Page for more news and special discounts!!

Awakening

2010-09-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

In the early morning, before a baby shoot, I get some silly anxiety dreams. You know, like the ones where you go to your first day day of class without any of the necessary books or supplies? We all have them, reflecting some sort of anxiety present in our lives. It's funny when you wake up with such relief!

In particular, when I am scheduled for a newborn session, I have lots of nervous dreams. Like, the baby cries, cries, and cries! I can't get one good shot of the baby because he is CRYING! The terror of such a situation!

I was lucky enough to take pictures of Will Harold Saunders, Joey's new baby cousin. I remember saying to his parents, Laura and Reed, "OK, make sure Will is passed out! This makes for great newborn pics because we can shape them the way we want". (What, are these babies like playdough?!)

Well, I got to their house and Will was anything but "passed out". He was awake and you could get a real sense that this little one was checking things out. Then, that anxiety hit me a bit - the crying baby dream! I took deep breath and realized this was a great gift for the session! Will was sensing his surroundings, opening his eyes, and most importantly connecting with his mom and dad.

Welcome to the world Will!

Divine Design

2010-07-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

No Candice Olson here - to all you HGTV fanatics. Meet Shelley and Jon Cooper, a truly gifted couple that turned a blueprint into a gorgeous estate. And that's not all they designed. I got to come over on a Saturday morning to capture Shelley (drum roll please) . . . . . 3 days before her due date! I have to give Shelley extreme credit here, she was the best sport about it all.

I dream of shooting at their house again. As you can see from the images below, their sky-high windows and vaulted ceilings - mixed in with Balinese imported furnishings - feel like something straight out of Architectural Digest. And I swear, I want to marry the color palette inside this house! Exotic, beautiful, joy. How can you not be so excited for this family? New house, new baby, new life.

Want to see more? Join Ashley Sawtelle Photography on Facebook. Thanks for ALL the continued support!

Chiara Cooper was born on April 15th, 2010 and is dancing and laughing with mom and dad daily.

Sunshine

2010-06-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

No words necessary :)

Honeysuckle Rose

2010-05-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm not talking about Buck Bonham's cheatin' ways in this post. I'm literally referncing the color tone for this shoot. Sam and Meghan joined me at the Joder Arabian Ranch (located between Boulder and Lyons) late in the afternoon on a new spring day. Joder Ranch was gracious enough to let us use their horse stables and land as a perfect backdrop for the couple's engagement photos. I love the color and tone that came through - an actual honeysuckle rose hue that compliments not only Sam and Meghan, but the surroundings as well.

It's great when your "subjects" are actually comfortable in front of the camera. When I first spoke with Meghan I was thinking about utilizing some of Denver's urban structures as the backdrop. I quickly realized that was not the environment for these two. Both are from upstate New York and Sam even grew up on a ranch. I reached out to some horse boarders around town and after visiting Joder Ranch I knew this was the spot. During the shoot even Sam seemed to relax. Afterall, engagement sessions were established to torture young men such as himself ;) I hope these pictures provide a snapshot of their youth and love for years to come.

Congrats Meghan and Sam!

The Newbie

2010-04-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

Meet the Wentorf Family - youthful, cool, full of life - literally. As I entered their home I was greeted with lots of natural light and signs of a newly, situated home welcoming the sweetest baby boy, Elias. I believe he was just shy of two weeks when I got to picture this beautiful family. For parents freshly acquainted with parenthood they seemed very laid back and completely in the present. Erin and Eric were just happy to be documenting these moments of new life.

I loved their kitchen which featured a bay window, curtained with bright, green plants. This made for a perfect backdrop, as seen in some of the images below.

The nursery was also great for shooting - simple with all the necessities - a woven hamper (which made for an excellent background texture), a fuzzy rug, and lots of cozy wraps for Elias.

Can I be honest? This is way more relaxing and enjoyable than shooting a wedding. Not to say I wouldn't be open to the idea in the future. Maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot here for future opportunities, but this is where it's at . . . for me . . . at this time :)

Enjoy!

Momma Power!

2010-04-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite images I've ever seen of a pregnant belly. The thing is, I've taken close to 10,000 pictures in the last year (hard to believe, but ask any of my friends and they will confirm) and this is it for me so far. With natural light you are prone to a lot of these "light flickers", as I like to call them, that can produce some really beautiful shots. Sometimes these light flickers can also screw up an image too. This light flicker produces a natural curve right around Amanda's belly, emphasizing her belly's shape as she awaits her for her baby girl.

Amanda already has a ton of momma power! She established House of Doula in Denver, CO and specializes in postpartum support for mothers and families. She dedicates herself and her business to helping families adapt to the life-changing event of welcoming a new addition to the world. Not only does Amanda hold a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado, run her own business, and train new doulas she also has became a mother to Anika on April 9th. Here's to Momma Power!

Madonna and Child

2010-04-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots from my third maternity shoot.
I had the pleasure to go inside the home of Beth, Peter, Gretchen and the soon-to-be newest addition, Leif.

Beth has such a glow that reminds me a lot of the modern-day "Madonna and Child". (And, no, I'm not talking about the high-check boned-vegan, pop icon and Lourdes. Love her too, but she is not the Madonna I'm referencing here). Beth has a natural grace and beauty about her that shines through the lens. She resonates peace of mind and I have no doubt that they will be able to welcome Leif into this world with lots of love and patience.

Big sister Gretchen is sure to help! She was already teaching him how to become bilingual during our session, "uno, dos, tres . . ."

Leif arrived on 4/13 - 10 days after his due date. That will teach you how to be patient, but I think Beth already has it down!

Imperfectly Right

2010-03-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

Really, it's March ?! This new year has rolled right on by. In a good way. Lots of shoots and growing with each one. This was my second maternity session, which I should have posted weeks ago. Here we have Lina, Matt, and Tad. Tad was born a week after these pictures were taken and was a couple of weeks early. You can tell in one of the pictures below, he was anxious to be part of the world! (See last picture)

The natural light was flowing through their home - you can't bet that. I love the glow radiating from her belly and how the light catches her in such a beautiful way. I also played around with the gorgeous shape of her belly, shown in the picture below.

The picture of Lina and Matt below, made me frustrated. The very first thing that caught my eye was the "clutter" in the background over his shoulder. However, it's one of my favorites now. You see his side of the bed - the pirate ships and skulls. This man likes his action! Then, I noticed his face and his tenderness. What an amazing contrast that shows a real human being. Some may not like this style, "Get the junk out of the shot!" Personally, I think perfection makes for a boring picture.

What do you think?

Meghan and Major - the perfect gift

2010-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

Here are some images from a session I had with my bestie, Meghan and her precious (huge) pup, Major. Meghan hired me to take pictures as a Valentine's gift for her boyfriend Jay. (Ladies, this is an awesome idea to give to your significant other, family, or yourself!!)

I love the texture, the glow, and the surroundings of this session. Meghan is such an absolute, natural beauty that definitely shines through the lens!

A New Year and Focus

2010-02-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in while, but that doesn't mean I have been idle. Towards the end of yester-year I decided to focus and put my energy into defining my business. 2009 brought me many great things, including the time to dance around with my photographic endeavors. What brought me the most joy was one-on-one portrait sessions. Getting to know someone and capture who they are. A favorite pastime is to meet new people and see how they are living....well, I think I discovered how to turn this passion into something more. I am not restricting what I photograph, but rather putting a greater focus into portraiture. The beginning of 2010 led me to scout out moms-to-be and after 4 sessions I love it!

Below are images from my very first maternity shoot with Nicole and Mark. I could not have been more blessed with such a fantastic couple. This baby girl is in for some awesome, loving parents. I met with Nicole, first, to get a feel for their interests. A common interest the couple and I both share is music and we had so much fun with it. They had a great red, music room where Mark and Nicole showed me how they grooved! In this room I discovered their "wedding painting" - a painting created by their wedding guests at the reception! I had to incorporate this painting in some of the shots.

There is so much more to come and I can't wait to share with ya'll - make sure you become a follower of this blog! I'm in the process of updating my website, adding a facebook page and adding more great pictures to share. Till next time....

Pike Place Market

2009-12-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

Had some fun at Pike Place Market in Seattle. This place is like stepping back into another time. Everyone was friendly and wanted to have a conversation about something. Spoke with some of the fishermen and local artists. Can't really beat that. Nowadays this scene is a rarity.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Fall Away

2009-12-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Goodness, I've been out for a while! Those who know me closely understand that the last month or so has been a bit tumultuous for me. My Grandma Rhonda passed away and it was devastating. However, I know she is smiling down on me and loving all these pictures I've been taking.

She was an artist herself. She was a master crochet grannie. It sounds cliche, but she definitely was not. I don't know how she made some of her creations. She would make intricate designs for doll dresses that had tiny stitching with bead work in between. Had she been more business savvy, I believe she could have turned her amazing work into a boutique one-of-kind business. But she didn't care about that. She truly enjoyed the peace of creating such beautiful pieces. I have several of her masterpieces around my house and find comfort in having them near.

Here's to Grandma Rhonda! As I create I will always remember how she found joy in creating too!

Dr. Suess Land

2009-11-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

It's been over a week since the Front Range was blasted with Mr. Winter - even though it was only October! Within a day the autumn sights quickly turned into Dr. Suess land. Huge, wet snow covered everything in sight - in Boulder alone, we received 23" inches in 2 days. Stepping outside reminded me of Dr. Suess illustrations - everything looked like a big bubble of snow. . . what do you think? Here are some pictures to enjoy. Dr. Suess land has returned back to normal with that saturated, blue fall sky again. Above are pictures of our back deck and Joey (the best snow shoveler ever). Joey's hat accumulated some inches just in the short time he was out clearing the paths.

I'm just glad we got some early snow to cover those mountains and I'm so ready to get my skis on!

Nick Seaman's Fundraiser @ Avo's THIS SUNDAY!

2009-10-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! Just a reminder that Nick's fundraiser will be at Avo's this Sunday from 10:30 AM till 10:30 PM. Live bluegrass music, foods and drinks, and great people coming together for a great cause! $15 cover. Let's help Nick and his family! WOOO HOOOO!

In addition, please remember that Ashley Sawtelle Photography has dedicated the month of October to help raise money for Nick Seaman. All month, 50% of proceeds from her Fun Art Prints gallery will be donated to Nick.

SPECIAL OFFER @ Fundraiser: If you order prints during Nick’s Fundraiser at Avo’s on October 18, 100% of proceeds will be donated to Nick Seaman. My portfolio will be on display to order customizable prints between 12-4 on Sunday.

Please check out my website at www.ashleysawtellephoto.printroom.com or go directly to my Fun Art Prints at http://ashleysawtellephoto.printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=ashleysawtellephoto&gallery_id=1765252

See ya'll there!

This image "Peak Through" was taken on our way back from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The scenery reminds me a lot of my Papaw - he was a true cowboy! He belonged to the Sheriff's posse in El Paso and you rarely saw him without his wrangler's and cowboy hat. I miss him so much, but this picture reminds me of his spirit and that he is always with me. Love you Papaw!

Fun Prints for a Worthy Cause

2009-09-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

Happy autumnal equinox 2009! I love fall - the colors, the smell, that crazy change in weather! To celebrate, I have decided that this is a perfect time to introduce my fun art prints!

One of our dear, good friends, Nick Seaman, needs our help more than ever. Nick was diagnosed with testicular cancer back in March and has been fighting like mad. He is in great hands with Dr. Einhorn and his incredible team at Clarian Health - Indiana Hospital. However, great care comes with a hefty price tag. So, I decided that from now until October 31st 50% of the proceeds from my "fun art prints" will be donated to Nick and his family. Wish him luck as he is off for surgery next week!

My prints are ideal for adding some flavor to that boring room in your house or as the perfect gift. I decided to take pictures for my own home because Cost Plus can only make soooo many generic prints, right? Now you can mix and match from my collection of prints for a very unique design that cannot be found anywhere else. The best part is that my prints are EXTREMELY reasonable!

Featured Design Ideas:

Mix and match prints from my gallery and buy these collection of black, modern frames for only $28.
Have a lame bathroom that needs simple, decorative touches? How about Trio, Icehouse or Juanita Mobiles?
Need a gift for a Colorado native? TelluRIDE and Home on the Range are original Colorado images by yours truly!
Do not see the exact image you envisioned? Give me a shout and I'll shoot it for you!

Also, black and white and sepia versions are available. And if you order 3 prints or more I'll give you 10% off! If you plan to order please let me know so I can advise on the best cropping options and answer any questions you might have! Can't wait to hear form you!

website: Ashley Sawtelle Photography > Galleries > Fun Art Prints

And..... GO NICK!

Hootenanny!

2009-09-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Joel and Regan's couple shower out in Windsor, CO. BEAUTIFUL place with incredible views looking east towards the Rocky Mountains. Here are some shots of the couple during their Western-themed shower. Gotta have a black and white for the old-time feel!

Also took some pictures of Sara and Brad's cute lil' man, Jacob. He has got such a personality and he will play with you all day! Such an adorable face! We all had a great time getting together to celebrate Joel and Regan getting hitched! YEEE HAW!

Party Time

2009-09-02T18:27:00.001-07:00

I was hired to capture Bonnie and Steve's "Casino Night" to celebrate their birthdays. It was a blast! First I took some shots of their adorable family. The first picture is with their daughter and gorgeous cake! I love how the sun hits their faces here.... adds I nice glow to the pic. By the way, this cake was insanely cool. It was Vegas themed with glitter, bright colors and 3D objects all over!

After the kids went home it was adult time! After a few cocktails the party was off! It's so great to see friends come together and reconnect. The ladies talking to each other and the guys catching up as well. The next picture illustrates how the girls were representing! It was awesome to see everyone come together and smile!

Of course I had to capture the crowd, but I believe the point and shoot of a crowd can be boring. Others shots need to be incorporated to capture the feel of the night. The last picture shows just that. You get the crowd in the background and the flavor in front - Vegas!!

Great night, fun people and a dance floor. . . Now that's a party!

Thanks to Bonnie and Steve for letting me shoot their night!

The Hunt for Red October

2009-08-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have never seen this movie, but it's the first thing that comes to mind. I have mind flashes of Sean Connery down in the submarine with rigid red light outlining his every move . . . is that even The Hunt for Red October?

Actually I wasn't with Mr. Connery or in a submarine. Just at Forest Room 5 for a sweet surprise birthday party. (Check this bar out, it's one of my faves in CO). The two pictures feature the Burns brothers. Trust me, you don't want to mess with these guys! I was inspired by the artwork behind them that brought this intense fiery glow that was basically my only light source. No flash. I know "to each her own", but I love this look! Grainy, underexposed and contrasts of dark shadows against ferocious light - ya, I like it.

The last pic of the candle may seem pretty simple. But I really liked how I managed the depth of field on this one. The party favor to the right and the far off candle to the left in the distance.

Thanks to Aaron Burns for his intelligent direction! And to Dave Burns who has a killer jaw bone!

Dance Like No One is Watching

2009-08-11T18:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from Jazz in City Park (Denver). So amazing! The majority of the dance participants are kids going crazy - swarms of them! I wish more adults would dance like that. I love the picture of the girls with all the bright colors on. You can see the movement and how much fun they're having.

Good reminder to let loose and dance away!

Downtown Connection

2009-07-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from one of my first shoots of the summer. Just me and my camera. No flash or tripod. I went downtown to Union Station and started to explore. It was a blast! I must have been down there for 2.5 hours and only covered about 2 blocks!

What I loved most were the people who just came straight up to me to tell their stories about Union Station. I spoke with a fella sitting on a bench outside and he told me the 2 wings of Union Station are the original ones built in 1881. The middle and tower portion was burnt in a 1894 fire, but quickly reconstructed. One of the pictures shows the arch of Union Station that was presented to Denver by Mayor Robert Speer on July 4th, 1906 - it is grand! Especially on this night against those blues of the sky.

When I entered Union Station you could feel the energy! Even though it was very empty I was consumed. I spoke with the janitor and he started telling me about all the ghost stories and for a minute I thought "maybe this dude is a ghost!" Ha . . . maybe he was!

How about that cab picture? I thought I was just taking a picture of the cabs, but if you look closely you'll notice a man knelling on the right. I believe he was doing his prayer sets at dusk. Not sure which religion, but gotta love his dedication in between his cab trips!

I like to connect with a city like that. Even though I lived near downtown Denver for over 2 years, I had never been inside this historic landmark. I think my generation has lost that connection with their community. I want to get it back and find out more.

Road Trip to . . . Trinidad Diner!

2009-07-27T16:19:00.001-07:00

If you have ever been on a Sawtelle vacation you know that road bumps along the way are destined. On our way to meet my dad and his wonderful wife, Jane, in Santa Fe the inevitable occurred. Dad's transmission on his RV went kaputz! So what would have been a magical weekend in Santa Fe, turned into a family dinner in Trinidad.

Joey and I got to witness first hand how amazing dad and Jane are! After all that trouble and money down the drain, they still find time to enjoy blueberry pie . . . at the good ol' Trinidad Diner!

Lesson Learned - thanks Dad and Jane for making me aware (again) not to sweat the small stuff!

Don't forget to check out www.ashleysawtellephoto.com or http://ashleysawtellephoto.printroom.com!