40 Over 40: Meet Ashley — A Story of Dedication, Boundaries, and Becoming
Ashley carries a quiet confidence — the kind that’s earned, not given. The kind that forms after years of showing up, working hard, and learning to choose yourself.
Before her session, during our inquiry call, Ashley described her life’s journey with three simple but powerful words: dedication, perseverance, and humility. Those qualities have guided her through some of the toughest and most defining years of her life.
When her family was young, Ashley worked two jobs and went three years without a single day off. She was determined to build stability, to create a foundation her kids could grow from. Somehow, through exhaustion and grit, she fit it all in — and now her children see firsthand what it means to work hard, stay committed, and push through even when life is demanding everything from you.
Today, Ashley is the mom of two beautiful girls ages 19 and 11. They’re growing up watching their mom as a living example of girl power — not because she’s loud about it, but because she quietly lives it every day.
Stepping Into Herself at 40
When I asked Ashley what she finds most rewarding about being over 40, her answer was immediate: feeling comfortable in her own skin.
She knows herself better now. She sees red flags clearly. She’s learned boundaries — a big shift for someone who naturally tends to be a people pleaser. And maybe most importantly, she’s learned how to advocate for herself.
When we planned her session, Ashley wanted photographs that reflect how far she’s come — images that feel strong, playful, outdoorsy, feminine, and true to who she is right now.
Hitting Her Stride
Your 40s are such a beautiful time. For so many women, it’s the moment when the dust settles, the confidence strengthens, and everything starts to click into place.
Ashley is the perfect example of that. She’s still the dedicated woman she’s always been — but now she’s living with more clarity, more confidence, and a deeper sense of who she is.
Her session was a celebration of that:
her resilience, her beauty, her hard-earned peace, and the story she’s still writing.
