WeddingDay Pro Spotlight: Ashley Auger, Smitten Mitten Photography

Your wedding day goes by fast when you’re having fun. You’ll want a clear memory of the best day of your life, down to the smallest details. The right photographer will capture the pure magic of your day, taking snapshots of each and every moment, big and small, making it easy for you to look back on. The gorgeous images they provide will be your reference to relive the day you said “I do” for years to come, so you want to make sure you hire a professional.

Coming to the industry with a background in business, Ashley Auger of Smitten Mitten Photography is highly detailed and ready to handle anything that life throws at her. She focuses on capturing the memories, magic and most importantly, the fun of your big day. Authentic and skillful, Ashley holds every wedding she works on close to her heart. We got the exclusive chance to sit down with her to talk a little more about Smitten Mitten and what drives her as a photographer.

Tell us about what motivated you to start your business.

"I could easily say it was when my daughter was born, but the real motivation was our best friends. They had struggled with infertility and the Christmas my daughter was born they found out they were expecting. That moment capturing their baby announcement photos was the flipped switch of my passion for capturing moments so intimate and meaningful that I knew I didn’t want to do anything else."

What is your business background? What skills should we know about?

"I started in the industry about 15 years ago working my way through college as a day of coordinator and event planner. I always loved photography, due in part to my grandfather being an event and wedding photographer in the 80s and 90s. I eventually kept doing gigs until I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business. I picked up a camera about two years later, started taking workshops, capturing landscapes and friends' kids while working on my master’s degree in Business Marketing."

As a business owner, what do you strive to accomplish? What should potential clientele know about you?

"In every facet of my business my goal is to make this an easy process. The booking should be easy, but there should also be tons of information for the planning and getting to the day of. I really strive to help in any way I can. Between vendor referrals to bustling a dress before the reception, we are the time clock and the ones that capture every detail of the day. That as a photographer this job isn’t just about pretty photos—it's also about the relationship to the clients and their families."

Tell us about your services. What do you do that makes yours unique?

"I am a full-time wedding and family photographer. My goal is to take my couples from wedding day, through their babies growing up. I think my couples can attest to this, but I am not the average show up and take photos photographer. I am Type A, highly detailed and organized to a T. I capture big and small moments, but at the flip of a hat will bustle a dress, repair a broken bustle, pin some flowers, fix a floral arrangement or replace a veil. For me all those details a bride thinks she has to worry about, I try to anticipate and handle on the fly."

What is your favorite thing about what you do? What creates fun in your job?

"I love the people! From my couple, to their bridal party folks to their guests, some of my most memorable moments are the ones getting to know the people. When you get the chance to know their people, you know the couple more and you become like family. I’ve had such great chats at the end of the night from parents of the couple or their bridal party folks!"

What are the most common questions you get from your clients? Can you tell us some words of wisdom on those?

"'Have you photographed at our venue' is easily one of the biggest we get frequently. There are so many venues, in just our state, that many times we haven’t had the chance to. The best answer though is how the photographer is going to ensure they can cover your day. From providing galleries that are similar to your venue, or understanding why you chose it in the pre-booking process, really allows us to understand the aspects of the venue that are important to our couples. If I am in the area to a venue or it's close to my home base, I actually set up a tour of the venue if I haven’t photographed there. I meet with the venue coordinator so I know the ins and outs of the space!"

What tips would you give your clients? What are the best tips you have for the big day?

"Make sure to work with your photographer on your day of timeline. It's something I start working on with every couple after booking. You need to know how your time is going to fall throughout the day for all your vendors, but your photographer knows how much time they need for photographing each portion of your day. All photographers see your day differently, so the time they need/want is also different. Always clearly explain and lay out where you see value in your photos. Are you going to be a bride who loves having tons of details? Your photographer will need to know that. It also helps put you at ease to know your plan for booking the rest of your vendor team like hair and makeup!"

What are you in love with about your industry?

"I love the support and community there is in the wedding industry as a whole. We really are true to being there for one another and it is something I still hold dear to my heart. We are all so encouraging and constantly learning from one another. I have made some of the most amazing friendships through my time in the industry!"

What are the important questions that couples should be asking when shopping for a wedding photographer?

"Ask for full galleries! You want to know your photographer can handle all aspects of your wedding. But also take time to look at the photographer’s portfolios. Make sure you’re happy with their work, how they edit but also how they capture your day! Find out what their process is for backing up your images. Are they doing it immediately after your wedding and are they backing them up in multiple places? And finally, ask them about their turnaround times so you know when your images will be ready!"

What is next for you? What’s in store for the future?

"The future is so bright right now. After five years in the business I have really figured out who I am as a photographer and where I want to go. For the new year, I’m going to be mentoring new photographers and business owners in the industry. I’m excited to start teaching them all the things I learned the hard way on. Using my business degree and the vast knowledge of social media and marketing, I want to teach a course on Instagram. I also want to focus on the clients who have come to me for years and enhance their experience."

are you a bride or groom-to-be?

We'd love to plan with you on weddingday-online.com. Let's get started!

 
are you a wedding extraordinaire?

Join WeddingDay Magazine in inspiring brides by partnering with us! See how here.