Early ’18

2018 was a big year for this newborn and family photographer. So, before 2019 begins, I want to reflect, with you, on all of the amazing things that happened this year.

As 2017 was concluding, everything was much different. I had just filed for my business license, and my very first paying client was newly booked. It was an exciting step towards launching this little dream of mine. Those were significant milestones, but if I was going to keep the momentum up, I needed to continue booking new families.

So, in early in 2018, I knew networking needed prioritizing. I had many meetings over tea, coffee, and pints  with photographers, mothers, birth workers, and so on. These meetings kept me busy, but I was also coordinating with a realtor and my fiancée to view homes for sale in Southeast Portland.  You see, my business has just been one part of the world I’ve been building this past year.

Meanwhile, the networking was paying off.  Thanks to many of those meetings and their burgeoning relationships, my spring calendar filled with maternity, newborn, and family sessions. Then we were handed  the keys to our first home, and the packing, moving, unpacking, cleaning, fixing, and painting began. Owning a home proved to be more time intensive than looking for one.

Mid ’18

Come summer, my calendar was filled with not only photo sessions and home improvements, but also with a wedding to plan. My fiancé and I had been engaged for over a year, but there was, of course, still so much to do.

Photo session. Book catering. Edit photos. Paint bedroom. Photo session. Alter Dress. Edit photos. Write vows. On and on: the to-do list never got shorter.

Before I knew it, it was time to stop.  It had come, the biggest day of my husband and my lives – our wedding. People traveled from near and far to celebrate with us, and to say it was the best day of my life is a massive understatement. After the party was over, we quickly packed our bags and boarded a plane to Peru for a magical two week honeymoon adventure! (More on that in a separate blog post – coming soon in 2019!)

Of course I would have loved for our honeymoon to last forever, but there were expecting mothers back home.I had 9 newborn sessions scheduled for my return, which was beyond exciting!

Fall flew quickly by. Weekends were booked back to back with photo sessions and in-person reveal and print ordering sessions. I had begun showing clients their photos in-person while also assisting them in order prints. I’ve got to say, I love being able to see reactions to my work and their photos in real time – it’s invigorating.

End ’18

Soon enough, the holidays were  upon us, and it was time for photos at a local tree farm for people to quickly get a great photo for their holiday card. Those along with other full sessions sure kept me busy during the weeks leading up to and through December.

As you can see, it’s been a busy year at Ashlie Behm Photography, but absolutely the most exhilarating. Yes, this was the year I became a homeowner and a married woman, but it was also the year I became a professional photographer and small business owner.

Thank you to all of the wonderful families who entrusted me to capture their magical moments this year. It was such an honor to be a part of your family’s memories. I look forward to seeing you again in 2019!

Now, please enjoy some of my favorite images from 2018. (I of course, had to include some of our wedding photos, which were taken by the lovely Allyson Plein, of Allyson Plein Photography)