I have been dying to share these photos for quite some time! The photography world has taken me so many places and has challenged me to really look at what kind of art I want to create. This photoshoot was a complete vision I’ve had for a long time that I got to see come to life and I’m blown away at what it has done for my heart. Creating beautiful photographs is not just my job, it’s my passion. And just recently I’ve discovered how much I love capturing women…the strikingly insane beauty of women. I wanted to do a photoshoot that would be a glimpse into the kind of boudoir sessions I want to create, and I am so excited to capture more women in this way. A big thanks is in order for Brittany and Kendra who were the hair and make-up artists for this shoot, they will be doing other boudoir sessions with me as well. Also thank you Sam and Lindsey for volunteering your time and beautiful faces for this shoot! I feel so blessed. Creating something like this has been magical for me. Can’t wait to create more.

If you read my last blog post, I’ve had quite the adventures in March. This post is part 2 of my stellar vacation, the first half was in San Diego and this half was in the city that literally never sleeps. Las Vegas isn’t my favorite city…but as soon as I drive 30 minutes away from the lights…it becomes one of my favorite places on earth. The desert is a magical place. And the fact that thousands of photographers are gathering in the city at the same time for the WPPI conference makes it one big photography party. This was my second time visiting the exact same dirt and cacti filled oasis and I love it…oh I love it. Abbey, Lindsey, Brandon, and I tromped around the desert for 2 of the 4 days we were in the city and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Thank you Vegas…for having the desert so close by…it makes 4 photographers very happy :) Here are my favorite memories: GIANT margarita filled cups, Polaroids in the desert, my first and last time gambling, Lazers and Blazers (hundreds of photographers getting down on the dance floor), Jesse getting stuck in the net, I was a part of my first Harlem shake video, pizza in bed, poolside lounging, and meeting and catching up with so many amazing photographers. I will never forget any of it.

Here I am, in my office, underneath a blanket dreaming of the warm rays of sunshine that I experienced during my time in San Diego a few weeks ago. This trip was a whirlwind of sites, and colors, and experiences and I only have happy memories. The point of traveling to San Diego was to visit my dear friends Rachel and Rico, they are rad photographers based out of San Diego that I had the pleasure of meeting in Vegas last year. They took our pictures in the desert and became fast friends with Jordan and I and oh boy do I wish they lived closer. They graciously took me and my travel buddy, Abbey, in for five days and helped us to experience all that San Diego has to offer…believe me…if I didn’t love my clients and family here in the Midwest so much, I wouldn’t mind packing up a car and moving there ASAP! It’s probably one of my new favorite cities, and the people I met there definitely contributed to that. But I am going to stop talking now and let the photos speak for themselves. Rachel and Rico…thanks for being amazing friends and thank you for letting me experience your amazing city, no wonder you love it so much. I will end with these words and memories: Acai bowls, day drinking, long walks, the warmest sunshine I’ve ever experienced, the best food I’ve ever tasted, Lou is the coolest dog ever and Weenie is my new favorite cat, late night craft parties, food trucks, Ocean Beach, Sunset cliffs, succulent heaven, dinner under lights, the best vegan cheese dip on the planet, pour over coffee, Pho, The Cream Event, dance parties, confetti, laughter, and oh man…I can’t wait for the next visit :)

I may sound like a broken record, but I’m always amazed at the people my business allows me to meet and the places it allows me to go. In all honesty, my job can be lonely at times. During the week, I spend most days sitting at the computer in my house all by myself . But in that time, I’m networking with my clients and other amazing photographers in the industry and if sitting at the computer all day allows me to meet people like Abbey….then I would do it over and over and over again! Abbey is an amazing photographer located in Michigan and we met through the amazing world of the social web. Now we will be traveling all over the country next month together and I could not be more excited!

Seriously… so blessed to have people like this in my life! Can’t wait to share more of our photo adventures, but for now…here is Abbey. And this is the first time we met…

Oh 2012… you blew my mind and surpassed all my dreams and expectations. Every single person I photographed changed my life and my business in so many ways and I am so grateful for that. I can’t stop saying how lucky I feel to have such amazing clients and I don’t think I will ever stop saying that…because it is so true! So to all you love-birds out there who make my dream job a reality, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I wouldn’t be doing what I am today without you!

2012 wasn’t always easy and yes being a photographer is a dream job, but there were struggles. There were moments of weakness and there were moments when my heart felt bruised. But there were moments of change and growth and I am so grateful that photography always pushes me in new and unexpected ways. I am so excited to see how I change in the coming year…so very excited!

I want to say a HUGE thank you to all my family and friends who have never stopped supporting me over the last 3 years. AND to all the amazing photographers that I have formed amazing friendships with over the last year, you all inspire me so much and I am so lucky to just know you! And you better believe I’ll visit you all in California, Tennessee, Michigan, Pennsylvania and all the other amazing places you all live!

And to my husband Jordan….my second shooter, my cheerleader, my best friend, and the most supportive man ever! I wouldn’t be doing this without you…you encouraged me to follow my dreams and never once questioned my ability to do so. I can’t wait to travel the rest of the world with you and I can’t wait to achieve the rest of our dreams together. Yeah that’s right….you complete me. (I told you I was the cheesiest person alive!)

And thank you God for blessing me in so many ways. This is all because of You! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13

Now sit back and relax and scroll through tons and tons of photos…I have too many favorites.

When people ask me how business is going and how the year has shaped up, I can’t help but get emotional. I can’t believe so many people trust me to capture some of the most important moments of their lives….seriously…that is my job? How did I get so lucky?

So today on this beautiful fall day, I am so thankful. So thankful for the amazing people in my life and so thankful that God has blessed me in so many amazing ways. The pictures below are from on top of Chicago in the Willis Tower. They remind me how big the world is and how small I am in it….yet life’s moments and the relationships we have with others are HUGE…they are a BIG deal!

I hope you all can feel on top of the world today…the fact that we can love and be loved by others is such an amazing thing…how can you not feel on top of the world when you think about that?

ERIN WESTERMEYER

Congrats Erin and I will be emailing you soon so you can get your free website! Thank you to all who entered and let’s show some love to Erin for winning! Her twitter handle is @erinwestermeyer and her facebook page can be found here :)

I am back from the sunny coast of California (which makes me sad) but I am SO EXCITED to announce this awesome giveaway for you all! The big haired beauty Promise Tangeman has graciously offered to give away one of her amazing Stylegroups in honor of her new fall collection being launched, RIGHT HERE on the blog! WAHOO!!!!

So if you have looked at my website at all, you will know that is a customized version of a SiteHouse Stylegroup and has completely changed my business for the better! The best part is that these stylegroups are used in the amazing software called: SHOWIT FAST. It is an amazing tool for photographers to create a custom built website using drag and drop technology…my grandma could make a website if she wanted, it’s that easy to use! The even more awesome thing about it is that you can build your site from scratch or use one of Promise’s designs as a template and customize it the way you want or you can just drag your pictures into her design in an hour and be done! AWESOME!!!!

As you can tell, I am pretty excited. Showit and SiteHouse Stylegroups completely changed my life as a photographer so I am super excited for one of you to have the chance of winning one of these sites! That’s up to $350 in value!

So here is what you have to do to enter:

1. Visit the Sitehouse Stylegroups website and browse the different designs, then come back here to the blog and comment in the comment section below stating what your favorite design is and why! Make sure you include your email in the form!

For extra entries, do one or all of the options below.  If you do, tell me which ones you do when you leave a comment for the overall entry or else I don’t know to add extra entries for you :)

2. “Like” the SiteHouse Designs Facebook Page

3. Share the giveaway on facebook with a link to this blog post (so people know where to enter).

4. Tweet out the following phrase on twitter: Enter to win a @SITEHOUSEDESIGN stylegroup over on the blog of @AshleyDruPhoto http://ashleydrublog.com #ashleydrusitegiveaway

The giveaway will run for one week and I will randomly select and announce the winner next Wednesday the 12th! The winner will be able to choose whatever design they would like as their prize :) Good luck everyone!!!

Life goes by way too fast and I am forever grateful for these moments…

Disclaimer: Jordan and I don’t do wedding videography full time but have truly loved getting to experiment on our very trusting friends! But who knows, maybe in the future :) Enjoy everyone!