Ashley Drake Imagery

07/07/2025

Sometimes plans change, and something even more beautiful unfolds 💫

Allyssa and Mitch, now officially Mr. & Mrs. Sanders, turned a rained out wedding day into the most magical elopement style session at the sea. With every detail lovingly brought to the beach, their love radiated through every wave, every moment, and every frame.

It may not have been the original plan, but it was everything it needed to be ; intimate, emotional, and simply unforgettable. ✨💍

Congratulations to the sweetest couple, your love story is one for the books. 🥂

07/03/2025

Something a little different 🇺🇸

Congratulations to SSgt Serrato!

As a USMC Veteran there is NOTHING I love more than seeing women moving up the ranks especially when they’re mothers. It’s hard enough being a female in a male dominated branch, add being a mother in there and you almost feel like the odds are stacked against you most days. This women right here shows that you can be both a stellar marine and a present, caring and loving mother all at the same time.

Plain and simple, she’s a badass 🤝🏻

07/02/2025

From our very first session back in 2021 to now capturing their engagement, Holly and CJ have truly become such a special part of my journey as a photographer. When Holly told me CJ popped the question, I was over the moon! Their engagement session was a dream, equal parts timeless and fun, with formal portraits and playful water shots to match their personalities perfectly.

These two have a love that radiates, and getting to freeze these sweet moments in time for them is something I’ll always be grateful for.

Also, if you’re local to Morehead City and a dog lover like me, you have to check out Holly’s shop, K9 Corner ! She’s a certified canine nutritionist and has curated the best selection of healthy treats, food, toys, and adorable accessories. My pup is obsessed!

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06/29/2025

It’s my birthday 🎉

Use code “BIRTHDAY” and get $25 off any session booked for August! Offer ends July 1st!

www.ashleydrakeimagery.com

06/28/2025

Back on the coast with this sweet family who first stepped in front of my camera when their baby girl was just 3 weeks old. Now she’s 10 months, full of curiosity and the sweetest giggles, and I’m so honored they chose me again to capture their memories while on vacation. Watching families grow year after year is truly the heart of what I do. ✨

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06/22/2025

Pregnancy isn’t just about growing a baby it’s about growing into a new version of yourself. A little more patient, a little more powerful, and a whole lot more full of love✨

This maternity session meant EVERYTHING to me. Emma reached out to me back in 2022 to have me photograph her boyfriends military homecoming, a couple days later HE was reaching out to have me photograph the their surprise proposal. All that led to me photographing their engagement photos, fun couples photos, and biggest of all, their wedding last May.

When Emma reached out to me and told me she was pregnant, I was over the moon! And now I’m photographing this new chapter of their life and I am so honored they have chosen me over and over again🫶🏻

06/18/2025

I’ll take family sessions that look like this over fake smiles any day 😍

This family was laughing and playing so hard they forgot I was even there, and that’s the goal of all of my sessions!

06/10/2025

These tiny cards hold entire lifetimes. Moments that will never happen again. The last photos of a grandmother holding her newborn grandbaby. The last family beach trip before the kids outgrow the magic of digging in the sand. The last belly laugh shared by three generations around the kitchen table.

As a motherhood and family photographer, this is the part of the job that humbles me the most. The weight of these memories is not lost on me. Behind every click of my camera is a heartbeat. A story. A fleeting chapter that someone, somewhere, will cling to when the house grows quiet, when little hands no longer reach for theirs, when voices become memories.

And sometimes, these photos become all that remains, a tangible thread connecting us to what was.

So when I hold these cards in my hand after a session, I pause. I breathe. I think about the love and the life that was just lived in front of my lens. Because these aren’t just images. They’re someone’s forever.

Thank you for trusting me to hold your memories. It is the greatest honor of what I do. 🤍

06/03/2025

Sunflower minis are LIVE!!

Address will be sent after booking!

Link in the comments to book🌻

06/02/2025

The sunflowers are blooming and I’m OBSESSED ! Also speechless over this session

Proof you can wear the dramatic dress for any kind of session✨ dress can be found in my client closet 🫶🏻

06/01/2025