Ashley Simmons Photography

Ashley Simmons is a NYC-based Wedding Photographer specializing in candid and observational storytelling and artfully documenting the unscripted moments that make your wedding day uniquely yours. Utilizing both digital and analogue film formats, Ashley’s documentary approach is sincere, intentional, and rooted in honesty. Ashley is primarily based on the East Coast and is available for travel worldwide.

  Behind Ashley Simmons Photography

What draws you to wedding photography?

Wedding days are one of those life milestones that feel so precious. They are often a melding of two worlds, cultures, and life stories. It feels like an honour to be able to witness days like this again and again and to be the one who gets to artfully preserve it.

How do you want couples to feel when they revisit their photos?

Above all, I want couples to feel connected to their photos. Almost as if their photos were a mirror reflecting their experience back to them in a way that feels honest, artful, endearing, maybe even a little unexpected. I want their photos to feel lived-in and true.

Where do you find creative inspiration outside of weddings?

Lately I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from my children (2 and 4). I love to observe how they play and interact with their environment with such wonder, spontaneity, and excitement. They have a genuine interest in understanding and connecting with the world around them. I try to lead with that same curiosity every time I pick up my camera or meet someone new.

What are your favourite moments on a wedding day?

My favourite moments on a wedding day are the ones where I see you fully living in your element. Singing at the top of your lungs with your eyes closed on the dance floor, holding onto a tight hug with your best friend, catching that flicker in your partner’s eye from across the room. The moments I see you truly relishing in the day are my favourite by far. 

Is there a dream location you’d love to shoot a wedding in?

As someone who was married in the backyard of their childhood home, my dream location to photograph a wedding is somewhere that feels like home to you. Perhaps it’s somewhere you’ve never been. As long as it gives you that pull on your heart and is somehow tied to your story, I know I can find inspiration there.