Changes

I’ve been working on making my website and social media easier to find, access, and manoeuvre through. People were having trouble finding me – on Facebook especially – because, apparently, there are many Ashlée Dawn photographers in other countries. I’ve never met an Ashlee, never mind an Ashlee Dawn or even an Ashley who is a photographer, so it surprised me. I had no difficulty getting the .ca URL for my website and the .com version was even available at the time. It was quickly snatched up by someone however. I received an email within a couple weeks of setting mine up asking me if I wanted to buy the .com version. If you visit the page it’s about the horribly sad struggle men have with foot odour.  Which, of course, I find hilarious and is much better than having another Ashlee Dawn photographer’s page come up.

So, I’ve changed my links which means many things I’ve linked to in the past won’t work any more.

My website is still www.ashleedawnphotography.ca but the other areas changed a bit
If you’re look for my photos – Galleries www.ashleedawnphotography.ca/Galleries
If you’re looking for your photos – Client Area www.ashleedawnphotography.ca/Client

I changed Facebook to www.facebook.com/ashleedawnphotography.ca

Instagram is now www.instagram.com/ashleedawnphotography.ca

Now, I can’t change the fact that my name is Ashlée instead of Ashley so I know I will still be difficult to find but hopefully this does make it easier! If something seems to not be working properly please let me know. You can message me through my website, Facebook, or here. Thanks in advance but hopefully there’s no reason for you to message me.

Merry Christmas!

Ashlée

I’m sorry

Something happened a few weeks ago that made work incredibly difficult. Working on photos from home wasn’t bad but social media became impossible. I didn’t want to write about it because it wasn’t business related but it has become related by affecting the way I’ve run things these past few weeks.

Three weeks ago a friend passed away. We’ve had time to prepare because he was given a few months to live four or five years ago but that, that didn’t seem to help anyone. I honestly didn’t expect it to get to me very much. He was a great man, that’s not it, it’s just…it’s just hard to explain.

All of a sudden I didn’t want to talk to people or have anyone touch me. And I couldn’t focus on anything any more. Being happy – or at least pretending to be – by sharing photos on Facebook or Instagram and writing a blog post was hard to even wrap my mind around. For some reason I’ve also felt like I wasn’t close enough to him any more to be affected so strongly. So, I haven’t been saying much about it to anyone. But I know that’s kind of silly. And, to be honest, things still aren’t great for me. I’m not sure why exactly. I just can’t snap out of it. I’m pretty sure it’s by the grace of God that I’ve had the focus and strength to finish editing photos and to be present and professional while on location. It’s definitely not by my own strength.

I know I don’t have to say sorry for not being present on social media but, I am. I’m sorry that I haven’t been my usual self and that things like this happen to people. I’m sorry if you’re hurting and going through something right now. I’m sorry that life doesn’t seem fair sometimes and that there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do about it. Im sorry.

“Instead of asking ‘Why?’ try asking ‘What now?'” – Jeff Crozier (possibly in more elaborate words but that’s how my brain translated it)

Ashlée

Long weekend

Not only was it a long weekend in the sense that Monday was a holiday – totally thought yesterday was Sunday so didn’t blog at all – but it was also long because I had two last minute bookings. Last Wednesday I got a call from a bride saying her photographer fell through and she was getting married on Sunday! I felt so bad for their situation but seeing as I also knew who the bride was and the groom and I go back a couple decades I was so happy to be a part of it. The other shoot was a last minute family booking. 13 people, many of them very adorable children. We played at a park for an hour and I captured them as they went around having fun.

It was a wonderful weekend full of work and family for Thanksgiving but I’m definitely in need  of a day off. Unfortunately, that won’t happen anytime soon because it’s straight to work calling, emailing, and finding the people on my list to interview. My first two interviews occur this week and then the project is going to be officially started. So far it has felt very on hold but this, this might be it!

Now I have hundreds of photos to go through, happy clients, and so much more to blog and share so I must be off.

See you soon!

Ashlée

Website/Facebook/Instagram

We need your help!

Remember that project I mentioned a few weeks back? The one I was given a grant for from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance? Well, it’s time to get the ball rolling! And for that we need a lot of input from people who live in the East Kootenay!

The project is going to focus on people who stand out in the East Kootenay: Cranbrook, Kimberley, Radium, Invermere, Jaffray, Wasa, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Elko, Canal Flats, Wardner, Moyie, Bull River, Fairmont, and so many places in between. We will be travelling the area talking to and photographing community members and then returning, in the spring, to many of the towns to share the final project.

As someone who grew up in the Kootenays I have a pretty good idea of the towns themselves but my social circles in them are fairly small. I’m definitely going to need help figuring out who should be included in the project. So, I created a survey. This survey is made to give suggestions and lead your mind to think about people in multiple areas of the community. You don’t have to fill in each question or give only one response per question.  It’s also set up so that you can do the survey as many times as you’d like. This way you can give suggestions for multiple towns.

If  you wouldn’t mind, perhaps you could share the survey on any social media, through email, and/or by telling someone about it. I need as many responses as soon as possible to really get an understanding of who to start contacting.

Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C599Y2K
Link to this blog:
https://ashleedawnblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/we-need-your-help/
(There are also multiple sharing options for this blog at bottom of page)

I am so excited to do this project! There are so many aspects that will be difficult but I’m really looking forward to meeting some of the amazing people that make our area what it is. To follow along as the project progresses you can subscribe to this blog (enter email in box top right of this page) or follow me on Facebook or Instagram

Click here to take the survey!

Thanks in advance for helping with this project,

Ashlée

Website/Instagram/Facebook

 

Working away

I went away for two weeks and I thought I would be able to write while I was gone. Boy was I wrong! Between the lack of Internet connection and how busy I was there was no way I was going to be able to blog. I tried it once but by the time I was ready to post I had lost internet connection. I thought about it again later but I was just too tired. So here I am, two weeks later, telling you I'm back and will have so many photos to share!

Ashlée
Website/Facebook/Instagram

Grand Opening…of sorts

I didn’t get a chance to launch my business in an exciting way. I don’t have a store front so there wasn’t a grand opening event or anything. So, I have decided that I’m going to do a giveaway. It’s going to be a giveaway with a twist though. I’ll have more details available in a week or so when the giveaway goes live. 

You’ll see it first on our Facebook page so head over there and like the page to see it soon!

Ashlée 

Website/Instagram/www.facebook.com/ashleedawnphoto 

Grant = Project!

I am so excited to announce that I have been approved funding by the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance for a project that I proposed earlier this year!

Throughout the next year I will be traveling to towns in the East Kootenay capturing photos specific to the project and then returning to those towns to display the final outcome. I will share details of the project soon (some details still need to be finalized) as I will need community participation.

I am so excited to take this on as a new business and someone who was born and raised in the area.

Ashlée

Website/Facebook/Instagram

Grad Season

Was super busy with photo shoots today. Grad season is so much fun. It’s busy but everyone is so happy and kids are so excited. It’s been a wonderful, optimistic day filled with sentimental family and so much laughter. 
Will share soon!

Ashlée 

What do you think?

I’m in need of some help and you might be the one to help me! I have been working on my Website, Facebook, Instagram and Blog to make them more attractive and user friendly. This is, however, hard to do without input from multiple people. I’m asking friends, family, clients, and strangers to take a look at my sites to critique and give advice. I want to know what flows, what doesn’t work, what is missing, what’s good, and what there needs to be more of. I want personal opinions from a wide arrangement of people.

You can reach me on here, message me on Facebook, or message me from my website (click on “Contact Me” on the menu bar).

I greatly appreciate your participation,

Ashlée

Sunday Funday

Sunday Funday had a totally different meaning to me a couple years ago but it’s still my fun day. I work 6 days a week but always make sure that I have my Sundays off. I don’t do office work and so far haven’t had to book a shoot on Sunday either. It’s my day to go to church and spend with my family.

I live in the same town as my parents, siblings, and their families. A Sunday get together can sometimes have north of 20 people at it (you should see Christmas!). I usually don’t get to spend time with my nephews during the week because they’re in school or in bed by the time I’m free. Unfortunately, with my part time job, I don’t get to have sleep overs any more either. I make sure I still hang out with them and show them I love them by playing or going for walks with them. 

Family is so important to me and so is my time off. It helps me refuel for the week, keep my priorities in check, and stay in touch with everyone.

Do you have a certain day of the week you recharge?

Ashlée

Website, Facebook, Instagram