In the latest episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich, CEO of Iron Diamond Media, sits down with Phoenix-based wedding, boudoir and lifestyle photographer Ashley Stone of Ashley Stone Photography to explore how boudoir sessions can strengthen client relationships, boost confidence and ultimately create a more relaxed wedding-day experience. As conversations around body confidence and authenticity continue to reshape the wedding industry, boudoir photography has evolved into far more than a pre-wedding gift. For many couples, it's become an opportunity to celebrate personal growth, embrace vulnerability and create deeply meaningful images that extend well beyond the wedding day.

Although Ashley is widely recognized for her romantic wedding photography, many of her couples are surprised to learn that she also specializes in boudoir. Most brides initially hire her to document their wedding before discovering her separate boudoir brand, often choosing to schedule a session as a gift for their future spouse. Ashley explains that these sessions naturally become much more than beautiful photographs. By guiding clients through an experience that requires trust and vulnerability, she builds a stronger connection long before the wedding day arrives.

Throughout the conversation, Ashley shares how she helps even the most nervous clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Through constant communication, hands-on posing guidance and plenty of encouragement, she creates an atmosphere where clients can relax and see themselves in a new light. While many sessions begin with nerves or hesitation, Ashley says they often end with clients feeling more confident than they imagined possible. She also discusses how boudoir sessions occasionally become emotional, giving women space to process insecurities, celebrate milestones or simply reconnect with themselves.

Ashley also addresses one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding boudoir photography—that it's inherently provocative or explicit. Instead, she describes boudoir as a deeply personal art form centered on confidence, femininity and storytelling. Whether photographing a bride, an expectant mother or someone celebrating a new chapter in life, Ashley tailors each session to reflect that individual's personality and season of life. She believes every person deserves to feel beautiful regardless of age, body type or life stage.

The conversation naturally shifts to Ashley's wedding photography, where she reveals that her favorite moments often happen away from the crowd. From witnessing intimate first looks to stealing couples away for quiet portraits, she treasures the private interactions that allow genuine emotion to unfold. Ashley explains that clients who have completed boudoir sessions beforehand often arrive at their wedding already trusting her completely, making it easier to relax, embrace vulnerability and create authentic imagery throughout the day. She also offers practical advice for couples considering boudoir, including why gifting an album the night before—or even after—the wedding may be a better choice than surprising a partner moments before the ceremony.

In the latest episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich, CEO of Iron Diamond Media, sits down with Phoenix-based wedding, boudoir and lifestyle photographer Ashley Stone of Ashley Stone Photography to explore how boudoir sessions can strengthen client relationships, boost confidence and ultimately create a more relaxed wedding-day experience. As conversations around body confidence and authenticity continue to reshape the wedding industry, boudoir photography has evolved into far more than a pre-wedding gift. For many couples, it's become an opportunity to celebrate personal growth, embrace vulnerability and create deeply meaningful images that extend well beyond the wedding day.

Although Ashley is widely recognized for her romantic wedding photography, many of her couples are surprised to learn that she also specializes in boudoir. Most brides initially hire her to document their wedding before discovering her separate boudoir brand, often choosing to schedule a session as a gift for their future spouse. Ashley explains that these sessions naturally become much more than beautiful photographs. By guiding clients through an experience that requires trust and vulnerability, she builds a stronger connection long before the wedding day arrives.

Throughout the conversation, Ashley shares how she helps even the most nervous clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Through constant communication, hands-on posing guidance and plenty of encouragement, she creates an atmosphere where clients can relax and see themselves in a new light. While many sessions begin with nerves or hesitation, Ashley says they often end with clients feeling more confident than they imagined possible. She also discusses how boudoir sessions occasionally become emotional, giving women space to process insecurities, celebrate milestones or simply reconnect with themselves.

Ashley also addresses one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding boudoir photography—that it's inherently provocative or explicit. Instead, she describes boudoir as a deeply personal art form centered on confidence, femininity and storytelling. Whether photographing a bride, an expectant mother or someone celebrating a new chapter in life, Ashley tailors each session to reflect that individual's personality and season of life. She believes every person deserves to feel beautiful regardless of age, body type or life stage.

The conversation naturally shifts to Ashley's wedding photography, where she reveals that her favorite moments often happen away from the crowd. From witnessing intimate first looks to stealing couples away for quiet portraits, she treasures the private interactions that allow genuine emotion to unfold. Ashley explains that clients who have completed boudoir sessions beforehand often arrive at their wedding already trusting her completely, making it easier to relax, embrace vulnerability and create authentic imagery throughout the day. She also offers practical advice for couples considering boudoir, including why gifting an album the night before—or even after—the wedding may be a better choice than surprising a partner moments before the ceremony.