Angela & Paul {Engaged}

I had the sweet, sweet pleasure of photographing Angela and Paul today to celebrate their engagement! Angela was my babysitter when I was little, and I have always looked up to and adored her. Her hugs make you feel like a million bucks, and no matter how long it is between visits, she always makes it seem like it was just yesterday that you spoke. Paul brings such a spectacularly beautiful light to her...laughter always envelops these two. I am beyond blessed to have them in my life and am SO incredibly excited to photograph their September 2014 wedding. So much love and SO many blessings over you both. <3

XOXO,

Ashley

 

Roths {Family}

 I have been the Roth kiddos' babysitter for about 3 years now and have grown to love the entire family like my own. They are kind, thoughtful, fun, sweet, God-loving people and I never fail to leave their with a full heart and a smile on my face. I am tremendously blessed by this family on a daily basis and I so cherish my time spent with them.

 

The "Free Amir" Campaign

 I have been working on this blog post for so. long. I just can't seem to find the proper words to describe how I feel about this group of people tirelessly fighting for their loved one's release from a wrongful imprisonment in Iran. The love that I felt among this group of individuals was overwhelming. I could feel it with every fiber of my soul. They care so deeply for one another; fiercely connected in a love bound by the absence of a friend; a cousin; a brother; a son; an uncle. Amir is missed by countless people who need him next to them. They need to see him. They need to hug him. They need to speak to him. They need to love on him. And they need him home NOW. And they need your help.

I had planned to write a blurb about what this shoot was about. I then decided that the images speak for themselves. Take your time looking through them. Feel them. Experience them. Then, take action.

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

Amir's nephew, Sami.

 

 

Amir's niece, Maya

Amir's friends and family. "When Amir is in prison, we are all in prison."

Amir's Father, holding a sign written in Farsi.

  

  

The ultimate goal....sweet freedom.

Amir's sister, Sarah

For more information or to contribute to the effort to bring Amir home, please visit http://freeamir.org/ or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FreeAmirHekmati. Even something as simple as sharing the page or a status every so often would be incredibly helpful to the cause. Let's raise our voices and bring justice to the Hekmati family!

You can find information on 555 Studio in Detroit by visiting http://www.555arts.org/.