We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashlan Alderton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashlan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve dedicated my career to documenting the everyday beauty and chaos of families around Michigan. Every “Day In The Life” session I’ve had the honor of documenting has been unforgettable and unique. The most meaningful project has been the growth of my own family. Documentary family photography is a niche genre of photography. It’s for sentimentalists and family historians. I’ve been making photos of my family long before I had children. Experiencing life is such a gift, but to photograph our life; exactly as I see it? That’s my love letter to my family. Documenting our legacy and our love has been the most meaningful project for me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi there! My name is Ashlan. I am a documentary family photographer as well as a birth photographer / full spectrum doula. I am also a mother to two adorable reasons for my coffee addiction. I’m currently photographing real life in Southeast Michigan. I started as a lifestyle photographer and quickly realized that posing people and giving them prompts wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted to tell stories about real life. I knew I wanted to show people that their everyday life is wild and wonderful and just as worthy of photographing. I’ve always been a sentimental person, but after having kids i’ve realized even more that “the days are long but the years are short” and the little things really are the big things in the end. The small details of your everyday might seem mundane and monotonous, but in 40 years from now, I guarantee you wish you had photos of the chaos of bedtime routine instead of photos of your family posed in a random field. As a documentary photographer- I come into your home and document life exactly as it is. Unapologetically unposed and unfiltered. I am excited to offer a truly unique experience to my “clients” (who I really refer to as friends). Because your story starts at birth, I also offer birth photography. I became certified as a full spectrum doula in 2020 and I offer support and documentation to families in the Metro-Detroit area. I pride myself in being a safe space where all families and people feel comfortable to be themselves. Your story matters- and I am honored to document it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think my goal when it comes to documentary family photography and birth photography is to normalize the human experience. I believe our society is heavily influenced by the media. Sadly, most of what we see is curated and only a highlight reel. People don’t care to show the messy sides of life.The tantrums, the exhaustion, the “lived in” house with outdated interiors. By telling real-life stories I think we are healing the world. By being honest and vulnerable we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of being seen and valued. I think we could all agree that when we see images that we can relate to; it helps us feel less alone. The same goes for birth photography.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is using my voice. In every way possible. My voice is reflected in the photos I make and my voice is being heard when it comes to the business end. It’s taken a long time for me to find my voice and hold boundaries. When it comes to my business; I’ve learned the power of saying “no.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashlanmariephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlanmariephoto/

Image Credits
Ashlan Marie Photography