Ashley Lynn Kesler : Photo + Art, Lake Stevens, WA (2026)

08/13/2024

35.

feels like a really significant birthday for some reason. not sure why. maybe I feel like an actual adult all the sudden? let’s assess.

I’ve been married for 13 years to the most steadfast, patient, wise, and gentle human I know. he is truly my best friend and the most involved and present father. I also get to watch him be exactly that to his students. so proud of this incredible man.

I have 3 little boys — 6, 4, and almost 2. I wasn’t the girl that dreamed of her wedding or kids but when I did speak of kids, I always said I wanted a bunch of boys. and now that is my life. it’s beautiful chaos.

I spend my days chasing these little boys around (grateful to be healthy enough to do so) and cultivating their creativity, encouraging them, correcting and teaching them, focusing on the fact that they are children and attempting to keep myself aware of that.

I get to homeschool those little boys — which is both so fun and so hard. I second guess myself nearly daily and pray that I am doing them justice. we’re committed to this process while giving ourselves and them so much grace. (I fail often)

I get to work as an ER nurse and a photographer — 2 things I’ve worked really hard to achieve. 2 things I deeply enjoy and that I believe matter.

I have the greatest community of family and friends around me that make me feel so valuable and so loved. I am honored to love them.

and what holds it all together is my faith in Him who is greater than I and the fact that I have been in therapy for the last 3 years. while this life is deeply meaningful, authentic, and beautiful — its also hard. as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized some things. one main thing being “life is hard for everyone” even if some of us make it look effortless. my eyes well up just typing that. it’s not easy, for anyone.

therapy literally keeps me sane. apart from the fact that my counselor is a LITERAL GOD SENT ANGEL — to be validated, understood, known, accepted, and encouraged by an impartial party IS invaluable. I’d be a puddle on the floor without it.

thank you to one of my best friends for these beautiful photos of my family in one of our favorite places — so grateful for you!

03/19/2024

on external validation —

in the last year I started submitting images to a couple specific publications. every time I’ve been sure I wouldn’t be accepted — every time I’ve hoped with all my heart I would be. the type of work and selects is the type of work I want to create. to be published, especially as a “One to Watch” (something I truly didn’t expect) is incredibly validating. that’s had me thinking about this thought at length. wrote too many words so here’s the 2200 characters or less version.

it’s such a vulnerable act. to put yourself out there like that and just wait. so I channeled my energy into the why. why submit images anywhere?

as I’ve reflected on this I’ve realized a few things.

being a published photographer gives me clout and social trust that is separate from likes or comments on a social media post. it is precisely external validation but in a lot of ways — it’s objective.

it’s like being validated by your counselor rather than your friend.

they have no reason to validate you and actually, their job is to tell you where you may be off base. when they say “I agree with you,” there is a sigh of relief and you feel like you’re on the right track in a whole different way. you feel seen. understood. valued.

I want to create a certain type of art — meaningful. it’s only worth spending time away from my family if people are feeling seen, known, and safe. I know that I’m creating art that does just that. I’m confident in that. being validated by Heartful and Vogue and any other publication I submit to in the future only validates that on a deeper level for my potential client. it gives something I cannot make on my own.

therefore, I’m allowing myself to want to be validated by them. I’m telling myself it’s okay to desire that. I’m telling myself it’s a goal worth having. it’s okay for me to grow my business and brand and share how I am growing as an artist. no matter how cringe I may feel — there is value in sharing. and there is professional and personal growth for me.

I want to create meaningful art. if this work isn’t meaningful and intentional — I don’t want to do it.

03/15/2024

I’ve been waiting all day to share this! I’ve written two different captions to express how I feel about it and both were too long. classic. I always just have so much to say.

so for now I’ll leave it at this — I am humbled, surprised, honored, and overjoyed to be named one of “Ones to Watch” in the Spring issue of the magazine. honored alongside so many of my incredibly talented friends — many of whom I’ve developed relationship with because of this magazine and the community has developed over the past year. there’s a beautiful camaraderie of likeminded photographers in this space, and even more than the curation of beautiful imagery and inspiration — I’m grateful for that.

3 of my photos were featured in this issue and you can get it for free with the link in my stories or my bio. even if you’re not a photographer, it’s so inspiring to see such soulful, intentional work. pictures of real families from all over the world.

thank you Brooke for the countless hours you’ve spent making this incredible collection of art a reality and for the way you’ve championed artists to do things differently and encourage one another. the beautiful culture of community over competition has flourished here and I’m just so grateful to be a part of it.

and thank you to these incredible parents for allowing me a window into the beautiful way you love your babies. thank you for giving me the opportunity to show you that YOU are the art. I’ll never get over the privilege.

03/04/2024

I refreshed the page and stared at the screen as if I wasn’t able to read for so long.

a photo of mine being accepted by feels like a dream come true. it’s validating and encouraging and fills me with so much joy. I really appreciate the vision and mission of photo vogue and truly am just so honored to be accepted alongside so many other incredibly talented photographers from all over the world — from all different walks of life. thank you, thank you, thank you.

intention and meaning hold so much value to me. if they didn’t shine through in my art, my art wouldn’t be authentic. when I submitted this image on the website, I named it ‘generational love.’ parents holding hands and the children following suit. except here, the children are leading the way. the parents have set the example that is impacting the children in such a meaningful way. we don’t even fully understand the impact we are making on our children — in good ways and possible not so good ways. but they are the next generation. half way through our life, we will be following them.

now we take care of them — then they take care of us.

are we making the impact we want to make? are we being intentional? are we giving them the confidence to thrive in this big, wild, beautiful world? these are questions that consistently bring pause to my own life. and although I’m not getting it all right, I sure do try to do my best by them.

this image of my friends was taken this past fall — so many beautiful shots from this session (and so many others) and I haven’t even shared them yet. someday I will. been busy bringing up some kind, brave, and wildly fun boys.

🏷️ : photo vogue, , documentary family photography, Seattle family photographer, Washington family photographer

03/01/2024

what’s more honest than an expecting mama dancing around a studio in underwear and suit jackets? 😆

although this isn’t typically what you see from me, I do really love an editorial moment. something that may not actually be you and your real life but is fun and helps you see and feel your beauty.

I imagine Nancy’s children seeing these images of their mama someday and saying WHOA. our mom was a smoke show. our mom held us with such grace and love. our mom worked really hard to grow us. our mom is beautiful. our mom is an incredible woman.

you’re gonna be the best mom Nance. thanks for frolicking around for me ❤️‍🔥

these photos were all edited with my friend new SUNDAY presets. I had the honor of testing them out for her this past month. they come out at the beginning of next week and are delicately beautiful. I found myself preferring the edit here over my own preset I usually use on every image. gorgeous work from an incredible human. If you’re a fellow photog, check out . so excited for you, Ro 🫶🏼

🏷️ : Seattle maternity photographer, Seattle family photographer, Seattle film photographer,

02/28/2024

it’s beautiful, becoming a family of four — and in ways, it’s deeply painful. the way your heart yearns to meet and know and love this new baby like it did before is familiar — understanding how you will love anyone else the way you love the first is not. everyone tells you how your heart doubles in size and you’ll love them just as much and in unique ways and not to worry. but what about that first baby? will they be okay? will the know my love for them hasn’t diminished? will they feel abandoned? will they love the baby? will I lose my bond with them? will they resent me?

the unknown and guilt and fear can be overwhelming. and then you hear that cry on the day that new one is born and it all falls into place. a piece that was meant to be with you all along. a piece that was meant to come right at that exact time. the greatest gift you ever gave your first born — a forever best friend. and an additional love of your life.

these are some of my favorite family photos to document — the season with only the firstborn. precious memories to look back on because although those feelings change and you realize worrying wasn’t necessary, you never forget how you felt then. spending everyday of the last 6 weeks wondering if they would be okay and sitting together in your well of love for them that hits the core of the earth.

Mikayla, Brice, + Mace
January 2024
Joshua Tree, California
waiting on baby brother

PS/ I tried to put both black and white and color in this post and liked too many of each. then there’s the just maternity photos. and the film. and the super 8 🙃🫶🏼

PS+/peep that last frame — a film shot of Mace taking super 8 footage of his parents 🥹

01/16/2024

This guy loves me more than I ever knew was possible. As a father and as a husband he is present, kind, intentional, involved, careful, wise, encouraging, and nurturing. He is passionate. He is beyond what I could have ever wished for. He doesn’t have social media and is a curmudgeon about it and I love that about him. He is his own unique person and doesn’t feel the need to fall into any expectation. He is a strong and careful leader. When I asked the boys what they love about him, Charlie promptly said “he is kind.” I couldn’t ask for much more as an example for my boys. He understands the deep responsibility he has in raising 3 little boys to be kind, resilient, and respectful men with deep character and integrity. I think they have the best teacher.

Happy birthday my love. I’m so happy to be your wife.

Here’s some family photos taken throughout 2023 in 3 of my favorite places — the Oregon coast, Illinois at my childhood home, and in Seattle. (And that cover photo? Any chance I can get to post a photo from my dream maternity photos, pregnant with my last baby Reaux, I’ll take it)

12/28/2023

The Leventer Family on 35mm Film 🎞️

This shoot was such a dream. Claire and Al are the kindest people and have a most precious baby boy, Otto. They invited me into their home and we documented the sweet Saturday mornings of this season — tea and milk in bed, playing in the sun soaked living room, looking out the windows, and hanging with their pup, Bubba (who is the same age as Otto!!)

It’s unclear if I’ll ever stop sharing from this session — I decided the first of many needed to be the film. Film is absolutely next level. The beauty and detail retained amazes me every single time. The emotion is more palpable. I don’t know why — it just is.

Thankful for people like Claire and Al who trust me to document special seasons in their life.

Together we can create heirlooms for generations to come to enjoy. Future nostalgia unlocked. 🔓

2024 sessions will be available to my email list first next week! Make sure you’re on my email list if you’re interested in a full session, film session, or super 8mm home video in January- May 📽️

11/16/2023

The Trosvig’s — black & white edition

Maybe I’ll just always post a b&w version when I share a session. If I’m honest, sometimes I wish I could only deliver b&w images. I love them 10x as much as the color images every time. There’s something so timeless and nostalgic and at the same time completely other than life. In nothing else, other than film, is there a lack of color. Maybe that’s why they seem so emotive. Moments feel elevated effortlessly. Your distraction is reduced. You’re able to focus on what matters in the photos — the feeling. And feeling is captivating. Feeling takes us back.

How we felt is what we want to remember.

11/14/2023

Sure fire way to cancel the stress in family photos and instead make it a good time? Make it fun for the kiddos. Do something they love.

The Trosvig boys love dad’s truck and got to treat it like a jungle gym for this session. And after that we walked down to the river to throw rocks and watch the Salmon spawn. What little boy dreams are made of.

A camera can tend to shut kids (and dads 😂) down. Watching your loved ones come to life instead is a game changer. Without the stress, true connection and relationship can shine though in the images. And when you look back on them, there’s a genuine joy and fondness.

Honestly, I’m so done with the way things were. Ain’t nobody got time for another source of stress in this rat race.

The Trosvig’s, September 2023 ✨
Pt. 2 (& my faves) coming soon

10/21/2023

10 photos from this incredible location last fall. This place has so much versatility and is so beautiful!! Check out my stories for some footage from this place last week and all the glorious spots! So excited for the magic we’re going to make tonight 🤍✨

I have some wiggle room due to last minute moves on session times if you still need to get some family portraits this year. DM if interested and for more details.

A little note: I am contemplating the reality of mini sessions and if they fit in well with my philosophy. I’ll be changing what they look like, at the very least, for next year.

I’ll be releasing regular sessions for next year differently as well. If you are thinking about booking one, make sure you’re signed up for my email list on my website.

Thanks for being here pals.

10/17/2023

pt. 2

I have a bit of an obsession with black and white images. I learned this years ago when I realized almost everything I was pinning as inspiration was b&w. There’s something so nostalgic and timeless and deeply moving about a black and white image. I’m also massively picky about b&w edits and am chronically tweaking mine, but these feel pretty right.

I couldn’t pick just a few from this session, as I typically do, so here’s a whole post of them.

Slide 1, 5, and 10 are my faves. What’s yours?!

The Herrick Family — The Oregon Coast — August 2023

Ashley Lynn Kesler : Photo + Art

08/13/2024

03/19/2024

03/15/2024

03/04/2024

03/01/2024

02/28/2024

01/16/2024

12/28/2023

11/16/2023

11/14/2023

10/21/2023

10/17/2023

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