Welcome!

My name is AJ Ash, and I am a family portrait photographer based in Des Moines, Iowa.

I have been carrying a camera with me for 15 years, and I continue to find so much fulfillment chasing moments both big and small. I love helping families, couples, and high school seniors capture the milestones and memories that matter most. I find it a privilege to share in these precious and fleeting moments with you. I find so much inspiration by looking the natural wonders around us. My perfect time is a clear night spent under the stars, or hiking to a remote location - always with a camera in hand. Landscape photography was my first love, and I am always chasing images that capture that same sense of wonder. I truly love anything that allows me to press the shutter button on my camera. I spend every free moment thinking about, researching, and practicing photography. Booking a session with me is more than picking a photographer, it's peace of mind knowing that you will receive timeless, beautiful imagery to remember this moment of your lives.

— AJ

Black and white portrait of a man with short dark hair, beard, and mustache, wearing a black shirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile, against a plain light background.

Person in blue shirt and khaki pants holding a camera outdoors in a park with trees and a white gazebo in the background.

A person taking a photograph of a vast field under stormy sky with dark clouds, green grass path on the left, and a fence separating the field from the path.

Person with dark hair and gray hoodie taking a photo of snow-covered mountains with a camera, standing in a forested area with tall pine trees.

Person crouching and taking a photograph of the colorful eroded rock formations at Badlands National Park under a blue sky with clouds.

A person in military attire sitting on the ground, taking a picture of an aircraft's bomb with a camera. The aircraft has a black bomb with white lettering that says 'Have Gun...' and various labels and markings.

A person with a dark hat and blue jacket, sitting on rocks by a green river, takes photos of a forested mountain landscape with snow patches under a cloudy sky.