Life on a military base often moves at a whirlwind pace: deployments, returns, promotions, and permanent changes of station (PCS). But amidst the ever-changing rhythm of service life, a quiet community of photographers on Minot Air Force Base is helping families pause, reflect, and preserve moments that might otherwise slip away.

Many of these photographers like Ashley Vanley and Lisa Fortney are military spouses themselves. They not only move their homes and families every few years, but they also rebuild their photography businesses from scratch with each new assignment, carrying their craft and passion from state to state, base to base.

“Any military spouse business owner can relate to how hard it is to move to another part of the country or world and essentially start over,” said Ashley, who has been photographing professionally for two decades. “But photography has always been a way for me to create beauty and give something of value to others.”
For both Ashely and Lisa, photography began as a personal outlet, first with film and digital cameras in their teens but has since grown into something deeply purposeful.

Ashley, who began taking senior portraits at age 15, draws inspiration from the emotions her work elicits. “I love making others happy and thankful to see themselves in beautiful photographs. When people treasure those photos years later, I feel like I’ve fulfilled my purpose.”

Her portfolio includes weddings, engagements, and the occasional family or senior portrait. Though she’s photographed across landscapes from the Colorado Rockies to coastal beaches, she’s found North Dakota has its own unique charm. “You do have to work a bit harder to find locations here,” Ashley said, “but the massive sunflower fields near Minot? They’re incredible.”

For Lisa, the wide prairie skies of North Dakota have influenced more than her backdrop; they’ve reshaped her style. “When we first arrived at Minot, my photos were more posed. But the light, the quiet, and the pace of life here helped me embrace the imperfect and lean into storytelling,” she said. “That’s also when I started doing birth photography, which changed everything for me.”

Both women emphasize that photography is far more than aesthetics. It’s about legacy. It’s about presence. It’s about emotional resonance. “Photos I’ve taken have been used in obituaries, at funerals, and for birth announcements,” Ashley reflected. “Sometimes, I’m capturing the last professional photo someone ever takes—or the first. That’s powerful.”
For Lisa, photography has become a tool for emotional processing, especially in the context of military life. Her lens has witnessed some of the most raw and sacred moments a person can experience: childbirth, deployment homecomings, and the quiet in-betweens of motherhood.

“It reminds me constantly of what really matters,” she said. “Birth photography especially, there’s such strength and vulnerability in it. It’s not just about freezing time. It’s about honoring transformation.”
Now, she’s expanding her practice to become a doula, combining her creative and caregiving instincts to support families during one of life’s most intense journeys.

While competition among small businesses can be fierce, both photographers describe the Minot AFB creative community as refreshingly collaborative.

“There’s an incredible group of photographers here,” Lisa said. “It never feels like competition. It feels like a community.”
Ashley agreed, noting how the presence of so many talented spouses encouraged her to shift focus toward weddings and storytelling-oriented work. “Everyone on base has been great to meet and work with. I love sprinkling in shoots with military families, it always feels like a privilege.”

Despite the constant transitions and challenges of military life, photographers like Ashley and Lisa remain grounded in their purpose: telling stories that matter.

“When someone looks at my work,” Lisa said, “I want them to feel joy, peace, pride, love and the quiet weight of time passing. I want them to feel proud of the life they’ve created.”

Ashley echoed that sentiment, describing one of her most emotional sessions: a father meeting his infant son for the first time after a six-month deployment. “I was holding back tears taking those photos of the family reuniting. I love being able to capture these special moments for military members and remember the sacrifices these families make for our country.”
From sunflower fields to hospital rooms, from tearful homecomings to joyful celebrations, the photographers of Minot AFB continue to transform ordinary days into art reminding us all that even in the most transient lives, there are stories worth preserving.