Ashlee Fackrell Photography

My garden is my photography business

2018-05-20T08:32:00.003-07:00

Today I spent 10 hours in the yard, mostly by myself so I had plenty of time to think and reflect. I picked up the dogs "gifts", mowed, trimmed hedges, pulled weeds, (a lot of weeds) took a break to walk to the gas station, about a mile round trip, borrowed a tiller, watched my dad till the garden, raked the dirt, dug trenches, tarped the garden mounds, helped the Mr hang up my new patio curtain, swept the sidewalks, cleared the yard tools off my patio before calling it quits. Somewhere in there I also managed to make dinner and take a few pictures for my nephew! However, I forgot sunblock so as you can imagine I look like a lobster!

Check out my killer raccoon mask and farmers tan line! I mean does it get sexier than that???

People frequently ask me why I love working in the yard and garden so much, the simple answer is that it relieves stress. Something about working the land and getting my hands dirty!

The longer more true answer is why I'm blogging. Half of the reason is for the instant gradification I get from pulling weeds or mowing the lawn. The other more important half is the reminder of how I chose to live my life.

Having a garden is hard work, there is no getting around it. Working the land is not easy, growing plants, pulling weeds watering, pulling weeds, spraying bugs, pulling weeds, getting sweat in my eyes, you get the idea. I spend a LOT of time in my yard. I have to dedicate hours each week to make sure my plants are growing and not being taken over by bugs or diseases. Sometimes I kill plants, but I always learn from it and when it's time for harvest it's one of the most rewarding feelings I can have. To know that all my learning, hard work and efforts have paid off. To sit on my patio watching the humming birds eat, listening to my family laughing while we enjoy food that I grew, in a beautiful yard that I maintained, it doesn't get much better for me!

It's hard sometimes for me to remember that my business is like my garden. I need to dedicate hours each day putting in the hard work to get the results I want, and some seasons require more from me, but in the end the payoff will be worth it. 2015 was an amazing year for my business, I shot more weddings than I ever had and I was loving every second of it. That was until one of my last weddings of the season. For the first time in my career I had someone verbally attack me and my work, it was brutal. Most of the things they were upset about were out of my control, like what flowers were at the Temple and how I should have made them look better. Other things I didn't realize were an issue, like putting certain people in the front of family pictures instead of in the back, or I could have avoided them in the moment. I tried my hardest to do everything I could to make this person happy and in the end I still failed them, in their eyes (and words) I ruined the entire day.

I had 2 weddings left that year and I couldn't get out of my own head, terrified I would get emails with similar complaints that I had ruined their wedding, how many other people had thought this and never said anything to me?? Thankfully I didn't get any more emails like that, but it was still enough to completely shake my confidence and for me to walk away (mostly) from weddings. In 2016 I only shot 5 weddings and focused more on families, but it wasn't the same I needed my weddings, I craved them, I love being surrounded by love. So last year I went back to weddings. It was a hard year,

People often ask "Oh how is your photography doing" I politely lie to them and say things like "It's going great, I love it" In reality it's not. Last year I finally got pregnant with #2 (YAY) but I was so ill in the spring I had to turn away some weddings, and then my sweet baby came, right snack dab in the middle of fall so not only did I turn away fall weddings, I also had to turn away most of my family inquiries. I made basically $0 last year. Like I said it was hard. I'm still recovering from it, most of my clients come from word of mouth and when you're not shooting, there is no word of mouth. I just need to keep remembering that it's just like my garden, It's spring, the hardest time of the year, the weeds are taking over, everything is dead, and I'm just looking out of the window begging the rain to stop for just a few days in a row so I can get out there and make a difference. It's going to be a LOT of work, putting myself back out there, starting over with some things, but if I put in my hard work soon enough there will be a harvest. My goal has never been to become a millionaire, I just want to pay my bills on time, go on summer vacation and not stress out about buying groceries!

So here's to putting in the work, and remembering that when times are hard, I just need to buckle down and pull a few extra weeds!

**Update**

It's August, and though photography is still slow, and this 2 year "dry spell" has been the most stressful of my life, I have to re-read this post to motivate myself. Also, here is proof that hard work pays off!

Utah Newborn Photography

2018-03-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

When my first baby was born (almost 6 years ago!) everyone told me I'd fall in love with

newborn photography, but I didn't. I wanted nothing to do with it to be honest. The idea of having

a studio with props and a lighting setup and an endless supply of hand sanitizer, instead of mountains and fields and adults sounded horrible to me! I was a wedding & family photographer, not a newborn photographer. March of 2016 was a hard month for me, we'd been trying to have another baby and we'd finally gotten pregnant, but at 8 weeks I lost the baby. I've never felt so sad in my entire life. Yet I tried to put on a happy face, my brother and his wife were pregnant, due just a month before I was and it was my brothers first child! By the time she was born, I was in a studio *GASP* my intentions were to use the space to meet with my brides and have a back up location for bad weather. I was so excited when my niece was born and offered to do her newborn photos in the studio. At this point in my career I had done about 7 newborn sessions, none of them were anything to be proud about.

Thankfully my sister in law was super excited about it, and she came to the studio and something in me changed. I still wasn't interested in being a newborn photographer but I also didn't hate the idea as much either. 3 months after she was born, I was pregnant. I was so nervous and trying not to be excited, just in case, but by the time I was about 5 months along, I was already daydreaming up a newborn session. When my sweet baby was born I met up with one of the other girls in my studio and we took some of the most beautiful pictures. That was it, I was sold. I loved everything about it and I knew I needed to take pictures of more babies. I mean, who doesn't want to snuggle babies??

I put out the call asking for a newborn model, and a sweet friend sent her sister my way. I'll be forever grateful! I still thought in the back of my mind, "It wont be the same when it's not MY baby, and I wont want to do it" but that quickly vanished and the session started, and with every newborn baby that comes my way, the more and more its all I want to do!

This is a picture of my niece, I still had no idea what I was doing!!

Still learning, but getting MUCH better, this is my sweet baby girl, 1 year after my niece.

And here is this sweet boy, that was not only a dream to photograph, but confirmed that this is what I really want to do, and that I actually do love taking pictures of precious little newborn babies, in a studio with props, and backdrops.

Eagle Mountain Lifestyle Photographer | Utah Family Portraits L Family

2017-05-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

These sessions are in my top three favorite! The only other two things I love this much are weddings and births! All three are full of real true emotion, things you can't fake, and things that tug on my heartstrings!

Mapleton Utah Wedding Photographer {P Wedding}

2017-05-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about having friends in the photo world is we get to photograph with each other all the time and it's a total blast!!
I had so much fun second shooting this wedding with Angie from Angie Clayson Photography, she is a hoot and one of my dearest friends!!

Springville Utah Senior Photographer | Saratoga Springs

2017-05-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

How can kids grow up so fast? I swear this guy was just born! I now have 2 nephews that have graduated from high school and I'm starting to feel really old! This guy is a total goof ball and so tender hearted! Congratulations B!

Springville Utah Lifestyle Photographer | B Family Portrait Session

2017-05-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am completely in love with documentary family sessions! I love the idea of having the day to day things in life captured. They are my favorite kind of photos to find of my parents, grandparents and other family! These one hour sessions are so much fun, and the memories captured are truly special!

B Family

2016-02-12T12:49:00.001-08:00

I am trying to catch up on all the blogging from last year! This is my own family, I think the last time we had a family photo with all of us there was 10 years before this, Yikes! Enjoy my beautiful fambam!

Utah Engagement Photographer | Provo Utah

2015-10-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

This was a first for me, instead of doing formal pictures, these two wanted to have two engagement sessions. One in the spring and one in the fall, I am totally okay with it! I pulled up a few minutes early and sat in the parking lot freaking out because it was raining, a lot! Their spring pictures it was so HOT and muggy down by the lake I think I sweat off 2lbs in front of them, and now it was pouring. I got out of the car and joked, I promise I wont be soaked in anything on your wedding day! Good thing they think I'm funny, or at least they pretended! Thankfully about 5 minutes into the session the rain started to tapper off and within 15 minutes it stopped. It made for some amazing images so I'm really glad we didn't change dates!

Utah Wedding Photographer | Tibble Fork Reservoir

2015-07-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

I feel like I could go on for ages about this girl! I have so many memories of her but most of them would probably embarrass her so I'll skip them! I was so excited to see some guy walking around with his horse while we were up doing these pictures and I asked her if she wanted some pictures with his horse, which she said yes, but I think deep down, she was so nervous. He was so nice and we more then happy to let us borrow his horse for a few photos before they kept on their way, and I'm so glad she braved it up for at least a couple pictures!

Utah Wedding Photographer | Payson LDS Temple

2015-07-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

There is something so fun and magical about a backyard wedding. I love how relaxed they are and how enchanting! This was no different, it was beautiful! Every one from both of these families was so welcoming, and kind. I really felt like I belonged and I am so glad I was able to be a part of this special day!

Payson LDS Temple Sealing

2015-07-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

First off, I am so happy I was able to photograph this sealing! This is one of my dearest friends, we've known each other since elementary school! She called me over a year ago and said she was getting married and wanted me to take the pictures, so I pulled out my planner and... I was already booked :( I couldn't believe it. Well, the next spring when she and her husband were ready to go to the Temple, she called me with the date they had picked out, and guess what, the same thing happened! This time I was determined and was going to shoot two weddings in one day (crazy I know) About a week later she told me they were going to move the date back by a month and FINALLY I had the day free! I can't tell you how happy I am for these two, and how much I love their little family!

SMLXL

Utah Wedding Photographer | Payson Utah

2015-07-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite sessions of all time. Not only because this couple is to die for, stunning and amazing personalities, or because they nailed every shot (because they did) but it was just so much fun. We had a blast the 2 hours we were out and laughed to tears!

Utah Engagement Photographer | Provo Utah

2015-07-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

I've known this girl since I was a tiny kid. Her family is like cousins! This love story is so cute! These two met while they were both serving LDS Missions in California, She came home before him and they wrote letters to each other and then he came home and the rest is history! Aren't they the cutest??

Utah Wedding Photographer | Thanksgiving Point Wedding

2015-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

I hadn't shot at Thanksgiving Point in YEARS and I was so excited! I did get nervous because we were a little bit running behind and then they informed us that they would be closing early that day for a private event and we had less then 2 hours! I know you may be thinking that's forever, but these gardens are 55 acres and you have to drive a golf cart around! Luckily everything turned out perfect and we even got a little extra time with no one kicking us out, I know I'm probably biased but... I think they turned out amazing! Seriously, her dress, the flowers, the light! It was perfection!

When it's this hot, I send my grooms off with my reflector to cool off their future brides!!

S Family

2015-06-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have the most amazing clients! I hope to be friends with this family for the rest of my life!

M & M Engagement

2015-06-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

The first time I met these two I just knew I had to work with them! I was even more excited with they wanted to have two engagement sessions instead of one. One in the spring and one in the fall. I couldn't be happier!!

Utah Wedding Photographer | Jolleys Ranch

2015-06-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

I love when I get to shoot in the same location but a new time of the year! I typically am only up here in the fall, but it was stunning this time of year and I'm so glad this is where they wanted to go, it was the perfect spot!

S Senior Pictures

2015-05-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

I love senior sessions, I always have so much fun. I do come home feeling a little old though! This girl is stunning, I had such a good time getting to know you better and just chatting away!

Broadway

2015-05-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago on a Monday evening I got a phone call asking if I was available the next day around 3pm, "I can be" I replied "Whats the occasion?" The person on the other end of the phone was a sweet lady named Lori from Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton and she had a couple that wanted to elope the next day and asked if I was free to take their pictures. I met Lori at the Provo Bridal Fair where we both had booths this spring and I was so excited she had thought of me to take the pictures! Obviously I said yes! I spent the next morning realizing that I didn't know anything about the bride and groom, I didn't know their names, ages, or their story! I was a little nervous when I pulled up to shoot their wedding but when I met Kimberly and Russell my nerves turned instantly into excitement!

These two amazing people are from North & South Carolina and were out here on a little vacation. Russell is a HUGE fan of BYU, he even asked Kimberly to marry him at a BYU game! Monday afternoon they decided they loved Utah so much they wanted to get married here before they went home, and so they did! I can't believe they pulled this off in less then 24 hours, it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to and I feel honored to have been able to join them on their day! Kimberly even had some of the most personal details, her mothers clutch, and her grandmothers wedding band!

Lori did an amazing job at finding everything they needed to make this day happen, and everything went absolutely perfect! Congratulations again to these two beautiful people that I know feel I can call friends!

Cake: Maceys

Flowers: Wright Flower Company

L & S Engagement

2015-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things is when a couple requests that we do their pictures somewhere that is special to them. These two asked if we could go back to the place where they got engaged and I was all over it! How awesome are they?

C & B Engagement

2015-05-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love this couple and this session! Talk about one of the most down to earth couples ever, they have so much fun together and are seriously just perfect together!

The M Family

2015-05-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

It's funny how much I care about my clients after only spending a few days with them! I was so honored to photograph this young couples wedding and then so excited when they called me the next spring for family pictures! Of course it started pouring down rain the day of their session so we moved it indoors and had a blast anyways!

S & J

2015-05-04T13:27:00.002-07:00

S & J

This girl is one of my favorite people, and just ask her, I am by far her very favorite cousin! I was so excited to hear these two were getting married, they've been together for what seems like forever and they are just perfect for each other!

I could easily have these two model for me any time!

Congratulations you two, I am so happy for you and love you both, I'm glad I was able to spend the day with you taking pictures, and I was able to be a guest at your beautiful wedding.

Spring Pictures

2015-04-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

These are three of my very favorite girls!!! So glad they are a part of my life!

Olivia is 3

2015-04-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my baby is 3 already! Man time just rushes right by doesn't it?? Make her stay little! Also, this cute little ruffle dress was mine when I was a toddler!