Introducing Kirsten Ashley Photography

I know there have been crickets on the blog for about a month now. I am so backlogged with images to edit, it'll take me another month to catch up. But the main reason for the hiatus I am proud to announce, is the launch of my new company -- Kirsten Ashley Photography. That's right folks, it's official. I received my Handwerkskarte last week that allows me to have a registered local business in Landstuhl, Germany. I have been hard at work since January ironing out all of the details for this spectacular debut. I can barely convey how excited I am!!!!!

Kirsten Ashley Photography is lifestyle sessions capturing everyday moments that make up your life. I offer sessions for families, portraits, high school seniors, children, couples, & engagements. I also have five categories of fine art images to be sold as prints: Architecture, Adventures, Foodie, & Fenestrations, & Mother Nature.

If you are interested in booking a session please visit the website and feel free to contact me with questions.

To visit the site: Kirsten Ashley Photography
To visit the Photography Blog: Kirsten Ashley Photography Blog
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There will be a huge amount of catching up on the blog soon, I promise. In addition to tons of images to edit and post I'll be seeing the Aiduk girls this week in addition to a triple date with the Amrein's and the Thompson's. Laura and I are heading out to do some seriously location scouting today and I just hope the weather cooperates. I wish you all a beautiful Monday!!!!

U R AWESOME | A Valentines Inspired Photo Shoot

PRESENTS!!!!! Before Photoshop Class, Jess walked in the door with an armload of magical things. Turned out she was the surprise gift fairy that day and she brought me real mittens and a German laundry drying rack! I am so beyond excited! I definitely used the mittens already when D and I tried to go out after it snowed on Saturday morning and took pictures. Perfect gloves for taking photos!!!! My fav feature is the velcro to hold the "mitten" part in place. and ho-ly geez the laundry rack! I have wanted one of these bad boys for too long. We don't have any space to hang our laundry right now so I have been hanging it in the doorways which is a pain in the butt when you're trying to clean house and have to walk through said laundry hanging doorways often. So J I can't thank you enough! It was so kind of you to think of me... it's the small things in life right?

Last week for Photoshop Homework I snagged my next door neighbor Jaimie Thompson out into the snow for portraits. In the blog post "The Good Life" Dana and I were the witnesses to their wedding here in Germany! Now J has been able to come over to stay for a while and in an awesome stroke of luck, they are our next door neighbors here in the apartment!!!!! It feels like college again to have a girlfriend so close by. Need a cup of sugar? No problem... I am especially grateful for when D gets deployed. So this week is Valentines Day.... and in honor of the heart holiday I took Jaimie out to get some photos of her with some V-day props. I must say, J you are lovely!!! Thanks so much for being my subject for a couple of hours! Next we'll have to snag your husband for a couples shoot!

Oh Monday.... how I have adored you lately... Seriously. It's the only day where I usually don't have anything on the calender. This week, while not as jam packed as weeks past, is still full of design. German Fasching (like Carnival or Mardi Gras) is this week and I'm determined to get pictures this year! That will serve as my PSC homework this week. I have several clients who are soon to be presented with web design work, so I'm thrilled to be putting those projects together. And of course, good 'ole Valentines Day is on Thursday!!! Which means I need to get on the sugar cookies, STAT! Happy Heart Day Week ya'll! Miss and love you!

Picture Perfect? | Focus On Skin

The Proper Technique to Eat An Apple. Until about a week ago I was seriously unaware that there was one. In our house lately we've amped up the fruit quantity big time to offer a healthier alternative at snack time. This small change in co-habitiation has allowed me a glimpse into the inner workings of my husband's brain. I'm not sure what caused me to study him with rapt attention while he was eating an apple after his work out.... but I was simply fascinated. Stunned into observant silence. D's a big guy. Big guy = big mouth. His bite size compared to mine makes me feel like a small child. Which means I don't share my food with him without setting bite size standards. Wait. That's another story for another day. Ahem. Apples aren't all that big, so it is a wonder to me that he doesn't eat the deliciously crisp fruit in four bites. Instead he chooses to work his way around the apple in with decisively calculated precision. There is in fact also a particular rhythm to accompany the phenomenon I was witnessing, which only added to my intrigue. Bite-CRUNCH-CRUnch-CRunch-crunch. Bite-CRUNCH-CRUnch-CRunch-crunch. It was at this point I saw the perfect pattern along the base of the apple and was immediately genuinely elated. I flailed my arms in the air for him to stop and he paused apple half-raised to disrupt the geometric art. "Can I please take a picture?!?!" I asked in what probably sounded like insane curiosity. D looks at me with concern for my sanity, holds out the apple and gives me permission with a single word "Sure... ?". I held the wondrous specimen, careful not to drop it in fear of destroying something so precious, and I proceeded to photograph evidence that will live for years to come. So there you have it.... Apparently there is a proper technique for eating an apple.

This past week in my Photoshop Class, I taught how to edit skin. This one is definitely a personal point of pride for me because I have been editing skin in photographs since I can remember. I have learned through talking to other photographers who weren't born with perfect skin that this is normal, and often helpful. Many clients want to look like a movie star in a photograph, so my goal was to arm my "students" with a wide array of editing techniques from a completely natural look to glamour movie-star perfect.

Paula Amrein was gracious enough to be my subject for this week's homework. The weather that day was dismal. Rainy, winds up to 20 mph, overcast and grey with literally almost no light. Usually German rainy days simply give us diffused light. Not on this day. So I used this opportunity to also practice my indoor lighting techniques. Please feel free to leave comments as I am interested in hearing feedback.

There's quite a bit in store for the rest of this week. Blue Grass Jam on Friday, possible photography fun with Megan, and to those of you watching the Superbowl this weekend be glad that you don't have to start watching at 10pm. There's never a dull moment around the W's house, so stay tuned for more adventures! I love and miss you guys.... Happy Friday!