We are so excited to introduce you all to one of our favorite photographers, Ashlyn Peters. A local to the Bloomington area and a darling to our venue and sister venue, The Wilds, we are so happy every time she is working with us! Indiana Wedding Photographer, Ashlyn kindly sat down for a chat with us, and we would love to help each of you get to know her better. Featured throughout this interview are her images from Davena and Jim’s incredibly sweet wedding here at Laural Mill.
Laural Mill: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today, Ashlyn! We love you and your wedding photography so much at Laural Mill, and would love for you to introduce yourself to our readers.
Ashlyn Peters Photography: I’m Ashlyn, a wife and mama. I primarily shoot weddings, engagements, and couples but also take on a limited amount of maternity, family, and creative sessions.
I’m extremely inspired by nature and love spending my free time outdoors, hiking, climbing or adventuring with my family. My kids (ages 4 and 2) are a constant inspiration to me. I love seeing them learn and understand the world. We love exploring new places and visiting new cities together. My husband, Jake, and I especially love visiting the US National Parks and have a goal within our marriage to visit them all together.
I started my business during/right after the Pandemic and have flooded myself with photography and business education. I’ve had some amazing mentors, business coaches, and I’ve learned from so many other photographers along the way. In the *little* free time I have, I’m constantly scheduling creative sessions to continue to perfect my craft and push my limits as a creative. I’m always striving to give the absolute best to my clients.
LM: How would you describe your philosophy toward your work as a wedding photographer?
APP: My wedding photography philosophy for shooting is really simple – I want to capture and preserve the real and raw moments that two people share on the best day of their lives. I would argue (although I’m maybe biased, too) that having a wedding photographer you really connect with is the most important vendor you can book for your big day (whether that is me or another amazing photographer!).
It’s my joy to be able to connect and build a relationship with my clients, and that helps me to know what is most important to them about their wedding and what I need to pay closest attention to, to capture it best. I love working with couples that feel the freedom to be present on their day and know that they don’t have to worry about me at all, that I’ve got them 100%.
LM: We always love what you capture at our venue. What are some elements of Laural Mill that you enjoy capturing?
APP: Laural Mill is a really beautiful venue for wedding photography. It’s quiet, secluded and charming. The property is spacious and offers several different “backdrops” for photos. It’s versatile and can be transformed to fit your unique style!
LM: We’ve had the joy of sharing some beautiful moments from Davena and Jim’s wedding day with this interview! Can you share a bit about your experience with them?
APP: Jim and Davena are incredible individuals and an incredible couple. Their chemistry together is beautiful, which makes photographing them really simple. Something that stood out to me during their wedding was that they are deeply loved by so many people. This might seem obvious, or typical of a wedding… and it is! But, I could tell that family and friends are what they valued the most on their celebration. Not the party, although it was great. Not the food, although it was delicious. Not the decor and florals, although they were stunning… it was their loved ones surrounding them- supporting them. That is a whole other type of gift to have on your wedding day.
LM: We know that wedding photography can be a challenging field to work in, so what would you say keeps you inspired and in love with capturing your couples?
APP: I see it as a joy and privilege, every wedding that I get to shoot. I’m always in awe of people and their stories. I always want to photograph a couple in a way that honors and properly portrays their unique story. It’s so important to me that when my clients get their photos back, they can look through their gallery and see themselves, genuinely and authentically. There are moments of a wedding day that I’ll give direction for photos, but for most of the day, I’m watching for organic, candid moments that help tell the story.
Thank you to Ashlyn for taking the time to chat with us! To find out more about Ashlyn and contact her about capturing your own wedding at Laural Mill, please visit her website.
To book your dream wedding at Laural Mill, contact us today.