The Coe Collective

09/24/2024

A visual refresh to elevate and refine the brand I’ve spent the last decade developing. An aesthetic that feels lived in now but with room to grow. A place to call home for photos infused with heart.

I approached with a guarded and protective stance towards my branding. I wanted someone who believed in the work I am doing, the way I’m doing it…whether it’s cool and trendy or not. I wanted someone who would advocate for me and my brand every step of the way.

Delcy showed up for me and protected my brand and cherished it like it was her own. She not only heard me, but she also understood me. We collaborated and day dreamed and built a visual representation that truly reflects my heart and soul. She transformed statements like “less Easter more overstuffed couch” into something truly homey, heartfelt, and honest.

It’s likely not surprising, to those of you who have been here for a while, that I love the way people gather—especially over food and drinks, under twinkling lights and low burning candles, surrounded by the dull hum of chattering and live music. The couples I get to work with are, and have been, food enthusiasts, music lovers, and people gatherers. They care about the experiences their guests are having as much as their own. They, too, love to gather.

I am eager to fill my 2025 calendar with weddings hosted by couples who believe that good parties begin with good food and good people. I know you’ll find room at my table, a place you’ll belong to, a person who’s ready to celebrate your love. Details on how to book with me can be found at thecoecollective.com 🥂

It takes a village to make the dream come true:
Brand Identity (by )
Illustrations (by )
Caffeine + workspace (by )
Emotional support friends: , .delgado, , and many more

To everyday life + extraordinary love 🥂

07/15/2024

Micah + Krissy + their just married snack break 🥂

05/22/2024

I had one Polaroid left in my camera, and the rain was about to pour down on us. The Tulip Court girls were gracious enough to let me snap this photo of them!

I had a blast at Orange City Tulip Festival this year, and I can’t wait to get my film developed from the rest of the weekend. :)

04/29/2024

03/14/2024

I’m opening my calendar for March through July for family portrait sessions.

Weekday (Mon-Thurs) sessions: $500
Weekend (Fri-Sun) sessions: $750
All sessions have digital + film included
Option to add on memento books for each child 🫶🏻

We usually spend around 60-90 minutes together. In your home, around your neighborhood, at the park, somewhere important to you. We’ll do some everyday life kinds of things—the stuff that maybe feels boring, but it’s the stuff that connects you and your family for a lifetime. Reading books, stacking blocks, chasing around the yard, blowing bubbles, playing your favorite game, making dinner, swinging on swings, going on your weekly donut run…

I want to give you family photos that feel like a family member took them. Photos that you can print off and stash in a shoebox. Photos that feel lived in now and are infused with heart for the future.

Photos that tell the story of how you lived in this moment.

See you this spring and summer?

01/14/2024

The other day, I asked “how do you know it’s an ‘Ashley’ photo when you see it?”

And your responses left me in tears—good tears, but tears just the same.

You said things like:
- “people let their guards down around you which allows you to peek into their souls and translate that into imagery uniquely them“
- “people aren’t trying to BE, they just ARE…and you make yourself available to that”
- “your clients and your guests feel like themselves”
- “makes me feel like I was there and I know those people and they’re my friends”
- “I feel like it’s always a moment happening. Like a real, show stopping moment”
- “I feel like I REALLY see the people in it. YOU see people fully.”
- “Photos that feel like your best friend who happens to be really good with a camera took them”
- “a black and white photo of an indoor cocktail hour and there’s like 6 people in the frame”
- “It looks lived in”

I feel so seen by all of you. That my heart and soul that goes into my photo work churns out imagery that resonates with you all. That the work I’m creating is attracting the clients and supporters who share these values with me.

Cheers to us, and the lives we are living, and the love we are sharing 🥂

PS: I still have prime June and September wedding dates available in 2024. I’d be delighted to photograph you. 🫶🏻

01/02/2024

There are two essentials to staying present and enjoying your wedding day to the max: time and space.

TIME
Give yourself enough time to enjoy your wedding festivities and the people in attendance. Set your priorities for the day’s events: how do you want to spend your day and who do you want to spend it with? Whatever your top priority is, give yourselves plenty of time to enjoy it!

Budgets get spent quickly during wedding planning, but I promise you won’t regret adding an extra hour of photo coverage. My general rule of thumb is to find the bare minimum and add one hour. For most couples I work with, that looks like 7-8 hours of day-of coverage! I don’t want you to feel rushed from one event to the next throughout the day, hurrying to get your big moments and experiences in before your photo coverage ends.

SPACE
Whether you have a lot of space or just a little, it’s important to use it well. If you are planning a big event, find a venue that can accommodate more than you’re planning to invite. This allows tables to be spread out more so you can easily bounce from table to table to see your guests. If you have a lot of space, spread out your activities! Cocktail hour on the patio, dinner in the reception hall…

Keep your getting ready, ceremony, and reception spaces nearby each other! Minimize drive time so that you and your guests can spend more time partying instead of parking. 😉 Speaking of getting ready spaces, make sure your room(s) are big enough for ALL your stuff + your vendor teams! Your hair and makeup team needs space to set up and do their job, while your photo and video team need space to move around documenting the experience. Cramming 10 or more people into a hotel room can feel overwhelming.

Intentionally planning + critically thinking ahead of time about the time + space available to you on your wedding day will help you stay present to better enjoy your special day.

Even better: hire a wedding planner to support you. They’re well-equipped to manage both time and space 🥂

10/05/2023

I am SO far behind on posting over here.

To make up for it, how about a photodump of some of the best things I’ve been up to this summer and fall! 📸

I have been all over the Midwest to photograph weddings and families and I’m loving every experience.

I’ll try to post more frequently this winter. But for more up to date content, connect with me over on Instagram! 🥳

Photos infused with heart. 🧡

thecoecollective.com

xoxo,
Ashley

07/02/2023

Today’s photo series is inspired by a prompt from : people’s drinks at weddings. 🥂

This was fun to comb through the archives for. I shouldn’t be shocked that it’s one of my most common photos to find in galleries. Food and drink show up in my photos a lot because I value good food, good people and a good party. I love nothing more than seeing people crowded around tables with food and drinks flowing, enjoying each other’s company. It’s why I host my own dinner parties with friends.

Cheers to the good stuff friends. 🥂

05/07/2023

Use your family photo session as a chance to make core memories, get grass stains on your jeans, and play until your cheeks are rosy red from the chill in the air.

No boring portraits here 🧡

My books are open for portrait sessions now through end of July. 🥰

thecoecollective.com

04/19/2023

My website refresh is officially launched!

Inside of my website, I hope you feel at home. I hope you see evidence of a life well lived and think that your life is worth being photographed like this, too.

I wholeheartedly believe that the story you're living is full of magic. Not the stuff of legends. The good stuff--the everyday ordinary kinda magic. The tenderness, the kindness, the goofiness, the playfulness...the big emotions and the contagious laughter. The stuff that makes us human.

Here, you'll find photos infused with heart. A collaboration between my heart and yours. You'll never have to be anyone but yourself in front of my camera. And I promise, I'll never make you out to be someone you're not.

When you get your photos back from me, I want you to see photos that feel lived in. I want them to be nostalgic both now and in 20 years. I want your photos to feel like coming home to yourself and the people you love.

You are welcomed here. My door is open. I'm excited to photograph you. From wedding days to lazy Sundays and all the life in between, I'm ready for you.

xoxo,
Ashley (she/her)
The Coe Collective🧡

thecoecollective.com