“These are not just photographs, they are moments that otherwise would have been missed...”
- Alex
Traverse City Michigan Documentary Family Photographer
Unapologetically
unposed and unfiltered
Forget about the matching outfits and those staged sunset fields—good riddance to “say cheese.”
Life is a mix of happiness, sadness, laughter, loss, and love, and every part of the human experience deserves to be honored. We often invest in big moments like weddings, but I believe the little moments in your everyday life are just as worthy of celebration.
You are worthy of photos that capture you exactly as you are, right now, in the home where real memories are made. Let's document those moments in a way that’s true to you because this is your beautiful, messy, real life.
Day in the Life
Meet Ashlan
About Ashlan Alderton
Hi there! I’m Ashlan Alderton, a Traverse City-based photographer living in Michigan with my husband and our three amazing daughters, who are the very reason I breathe (but don’t stand too close—they’re also the reason for my coffee breath). Coffee is life. My phone’s always at 5% battery, I drive a minivan I can barely park, and my go-to karaoke song is now "What’s Up?" by 4 Non-Blondes (after "Fast Car" got tainted). I once tried to lure a coyote into my car because I thought it was a dog. True story.
In my brief college stint, I dropped out of geography because I couldn’t even find the class. I don’t take life too seriously and believe that if you lower your expectations, you’ll never be disappointed. I’m a pessimist and a Scorpio, which is a lethal combo for finding the humor in just about anything.
I’m all about good books (hello, romantasy smut), dry humor, and great food. My passion is making everyone feel like somebody, whether it’s through a chat or my photography. When I’m out and about, I can’t help but experience Sonder—realizing every random passerby has a life as vivid and complex as mine.
Maybe that’s why I love photographing people, especially families and parenthood. I get to capture the beautiful chaos of your life in Traverse City, from the big moments to the small ones you might not even notice. Let’s turn those fleeting, vivid stories into something you’ll treasure forever.
“Would I rather be feared or loved?
Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”