soulful, authentic and timeless imagery based in west michigan

Today on the blog (yes y’all, I blogged! What?!) I’m finally sharing a wedding I was so honored to be part of. The culmination of three days, amazing vendors and all the beauty and magic of northern Michigan in the summertime! I’m SUPER PROUD this one guys. Link in profile of a million photos to one of the best days!! #ashleyslaterweddings #filmphotography #northernmichiganweddings
I love finding the alcohol bottles at wedding receptions because I think they are just so beautiful on film! Anyone else?! Just me?! #weddingdetails #filmisnotdead @tcwhiskey
Only 5 months until Michigan summer which means weddings, Lake Michigan and perfect sunsets! Funny enough, it has finally decided to snow here today but I still have wedding season on my mind!
The good news: this couple made the cover and inside of my north wedding magazine!! The bad news: my husband didn’t let me know we only had decaf coffee left... 5 cups in and I was like WHY ISNT THIS WORKING?!?! 🥴 #fail. Edit: my three year old just cut his own hair with scissors so the day is just really shaping up to be great. 😧
These bouts are so colorful and fun! This past year was so fun to try styling in different ways— love how this job allows so much personal creativity! #bouts #weddingdetails
Love this sweet couple in the loveliest garden setting! Just like last year, I’m excited for events with loads of COLOR this summer!! #ashleyslaterweddings
It’s 2019!! Yesterday we celebrated my husbands birthday and I finally know what day it is again (there was a bit of time there when I was in pajamas and very disoriented for a few days 😂). I’m excited to share a lot of wedding work and sessions here and on my blog that I’ve been meaning to share for several months...so stay tuned and YAY for a new year!!
It’s the last day of 2018... and while this year was amazing I’m so many ways (new baby! Paying off 154k of debt! Learning that eliminating gluten and wheat would END my joint pain!) it also had its fair share of challenges (husband breaking his back, too many trips to the ER to count, parenting challenges). . I will only reflect on the past year by looking for the blessings and realizing you have to take the good with the bad, and at the end of it all our family is happy, relatively healthy and together. I would say that’s a 10/10 blessing wouldn’t you?! . But 2019. Goodness, I’m ready for you... to photograph all the beautiful bride and grooms I have this year, to continue our journey of health and growing our own food and flowers at @bluebellacres, to continue the work my business partner and I started 5 years ago at @bloomtheworkshop and to continue raising these crazy, fun and wild three little boys! . Here is to a year full of opportunity stretched out before us. To making goals reality, putting dreams into motion and just being present and enjoying the amazing gift being alive is! Happy New Years Eve!!! #2019letsgo
Top 9! Paying off debt, welcoming baby Luke to the family and lots of weddings... I’m ready for 2019 and all that it will bring! #topnine
Well. I’m finally doing something I started talking about this time last year: documenting our cut flower and vegetable garden here in Michigan. @bluebellacres will be the space we share our success and failures, growing tips and share all the things I wished that I had access to when I started my garden two years ago. If you’re interested at all in flowers, farming or gardening this will be the place I’ll be at! Would love to have you follow along!!
Only 7 days until Christmas— so officially, Happy Christmas week!! This was our holiday card this year (when you have 3 kids 5 and under you find ways to NOT look at the camera!) I want to wish everyone the best last few days leading up to the celebrations happening at the beginning of next week. This family time is so precious, especially as my children grow up so (SO!) fast. We will be doing lots of festive things including our most important tradition— Christmas Eve church service. How can you not get excited and filled up to the brim with hope when we celebrate the one who brings us hope this season?! 🎄 #christmascardswithtoddlers #thisisus #happyholidays
Happy Friday!! Ashley here, owner of this little corner of Instagram. I’m a photographer, wife and mom of 3 little boys and 1 little Yorkiepoo girl 🐶 . On today’s #fridayintroductions let’s chat about the holidays. Can you even BELIEVE next weekend is basically Christmas?! I’m checking off a holiday bucket list item and finally making it to see a performance of the Nutcracker ballet tonight! . Still to do: make cookies, decorate our homemade gingerbread house with the kids and complete snowmen ornaments with the boys to give as gifts! . What is your number one holiday must-do tradition?!
I’m not exactly sure what this groom was saying to his bride during their first look, but they were both just as excited as could be and it was SUCH a special moment. Having private first look time can be incredibly special (not to mention calming nerves, getting more of an emotional reaction and allowing for lots of time for bridal party portraits!) But my favorite thing, is that completing photos prior means getting to join cocktail hour or reception that much earlier! #ashleyslaterweddings #firstlook
A floral installation for ceremony is always a good choice... swipe to see the blackberries and hops used in this one! 😍 florals @thedaysdesign #ashleyslaterweddings