Your relationship is timeless.
Your photos should be, too.
You liked it so you put a ring on it…and now the wedding planning madness begins! Picking out napkin colors or hemming and hawing over whether to invite that one crazy uncle may be stressful, but your photos won’t be. Let your love shine with a bold and beautiful engagement session! Whether you’re dreaming of romantic fairytale vibes or goofy laughter-filled candids or everything in between, I’ve got you covered.
Not engaged? Planning a surprise proposal? Been married for years? No need to let newly-engaged folks have all the fun: all couples welcome, regardless of relationship status!
Pricing
- Bargain
- $450
- 1 hour of shooting time
- 1 location
- 2 outfits
- 10 fully retouched photos of your choice
- Digital downloads of full-size unwatermarked retouched images
- Full rights to print your own images
- Standard
- $575
- 1 hour of shooting time
- 1 location
- 2 outfits
- 25 fully retouched photos of your choice
- Digital downloads of full-size unwatermarked retouched images
- Full rights to print your own images
- Premium
- $750
- 2 hours of shooting time
- 2+ locations
- 5 outfits
- 40 fully retouched photos of your choice
- Digital downloads of full-size unwatermarked retouched images
- Full rights to print your own images
How it all works
Your portrait location is completely up to you! Do you love nature? Architecture? Dreamy forests, urban graffiti, open fields of sagebrush, vintage buildings, old barns? It’s a tough decision, and if you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve put together a blog entry of my favorite portrait locations in the area for that very reason. I also recommend checking out where my other couples have chosen to shoot recently on Instagram or Facebook to see what strikes your fancy. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by all the choices but have a general idea of what you’re looking for, let me know and I’ll brainstorm with you!
(If you already have an idea of where you want to shoot, throw it at me! Anywhere in the Boise-Eagle-Meridian metro area is fair game! Locations further afield may incur extra charges, but I’m usually up for a little roadtrip so ask away.)
For one-hour sessions, we don’t have enough time to drive to more than one location, so if variety is important, pick an area with lots of options within walking distance.
For two-hour sessions, we can fit in multiple locations, although I still recommend picking options fairly close to each other so we can maximize photoshoot time. Think pairings such as Kathryn Albertson Park and the Boise Depot, the Old Idaho Penitentiary and the MK Nature Center, Freak Alley and the Military Reserve Park.
With every session we aim to get a couple main types of photos: those traditional refined romantic poses…and more relaxed authentic lifestyle moments of you two goofing off together.
For those posed photos, never fear: most people aren’t natural models and have no idea where to begin. That’s where I come in coaching each of you to perfect your pose until you fit together seamlessly looking your very best! And if anything ever feels awkward, we’ll ditch that idea and move in a different direction. No two couples are quite the same!
For the relaxed photos, even the most “candid” moments usually begin with a prompt or two…and I’m full of those! From tickling to piggyback rides to twirling, we’ll get you both relaxed and lol’ing. My goal is to make you forget I’m even there snapping shots as you focus on each other!
Within a week (often within 48 hours!), I’ll send you a secure link to view all the photos from your session. Now the fun begins: narrowing down your favs. Each package includes a set number of retouched images (Bargain: 10, Standard: 25, Premium: 40), with the option to purchase extra photos a la carte. Take your time reliving your session and bickering over favorite shots, mark your top picks with a star, and shoot me an email to let me know you’re ready!
No photo looks its best straight out of camera: #nofilter isn’t a badge of honor in professional portrait photography! I edit each of your selected photos to look their very best while maintaining realism. Editing includes:
- Skin retouching to remove blemishes and acne, even out color and texture, and brighten under-eye circles
- Teeth whitening
- Elimination of glare on glasses and brightening of transition lenses
- Removal of distracting elements such as stray hairs, litter, people in the background, power lines, unwanted graffiti, phones in pockets, etc. (when possible)
- Color and contrast enhancement to deepen tones and give each photo that extra wow factor. Occasionally I’ll use other styles such as black and white or vintage toning for variety if I think it will look great on a photo – please note if you’d like regular color editing only.
I always take special requests for editing too such as slimming, hair enhancement, or particular styles, so ask away and I’ll let you know if it’s possible.
For editing examples, scroll down to the “Before & After” section!
Each session includes high-resolution unwatermarked downloads of your edited photos via your online gallery and a photo release giving you full rights to print them however you want. Many photographers require you to print through their studio and pay expensive markups, but not me!
If you’d like to simplify your photo order, you can also order directly from your gallery for top-quality, competitively-priced prints shipped straight to you via my preferred lab out of Santa Cruz – far superior to the likes of Snapfish and Walgreens. Boutique prints on materials such as canvas and metal are also available!
Before & After
FAQs
How far in advance should we schedule?
- Off-season (December-March and July/August): 2-3 weeks is usually enough lead time for weekdays, more for weekends
- High season (April-June and September-November): 2-3 months at least – ALL fall dates usually sell out by the end of August!
I always keep a waitlist and may be able to fit in last-minute bookings occasionally, too!
What days of the week do you shoot?
I’m typically available to shoot any day of the week, including Sundays! I only take a maximum of five sessions per week though and only one per weekend, so slots fill up fast. I take off most major holidays and am out of town on many summer weekends.
What time of day will our shoot take place?
The best time of day to schedule a portrait session is when the sun is low on the horizon, typically an hour or two before sunset (or a sunrise session if need be, but it’s often quite a bit chillier, and yawning + shivering isn’t ideal for photos!). Afternoon sessions aren’t completely out of the question, but when the sun is directly overhead, we end up making a beeline for shaded areas, which limits our options.
Are you LGBTQ+ friendly?
Yes! Love is love, all are welcome!
Can we do a home session?
Yes! Clear as much space as you can in whatever room(s) of your house you want to use, and I’ll bring professional lights to make your house look bright and beautiful. Home sessions are more flexible as far as time of day, although if you plan to do any photos outside too, we’ll try to schedule for when the sun is low on the horizon for best results.
What should we wear?
That’s completely up to you – wear whatever makes you feel confident but comfortable! Feel free to bring a couple different looks from formal to casual so we can mix it up.
What not to wear:
Avoid busy patterns – you don’t want to blend in with the scenery! Avoid transition lenses if you wear glasses, since they go dark very quickly outdoors and never look totally clear even after retouching.
Can we bring multiple outfits? Where do we change?
You’re welcome to bring a change of clothes, but try to keep it simple! Some folks are fine with ducking behind a few trees to change outfits whereas others would rather return to their cars to switch gears, so factor in comfort levels and the complexity of the outfit change. It’s rare to have bathrooms nearby to use as changing rooms, so consider bringing a large blanket as a privacy shield!
Can we bring pets?
Yes!! I love furry friends. If you bring a corgi, I’ll love you forever! Consider allowing a little extra time for your pets to adjust to new surroundings and settle down, though. Fur babies are like small kiddos: they never want to cooperate on picture day!
What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
One of the downsides to on-location photoshoots is that we do end up being a slave to the conditions…sigh! Overcast skies or a few drops aren’t a problem, but if the forecast is calling for heavier rain/snow or unusually high winds, I’ll rebook you (no charge). I keep a close eye on the forecast leading up to sessions and will let you know as far in advance if possible if the odds aren’t in our favor!
What if we get sick? Do you have a cancellation policy?
These things happen! Just give me as much notice as you can and we’ll reschedule, no charge.
When do I pay you? Do you require a deposit to hold my spot?
No deposit needed to reserve your date, but please give me at least 72 hours’ notice if plans change! I do require a 50% deposit at the time of your session, with the rest due only after you receive your finished photos.
What payment methods do you accept?
I can accept checks, cash, Venmo, or Zelle. I can only accept credit cards via PayPal with a 3.75% processing fee.
How long after our session will we get our photos? What about the retouched versions?
My typical turnaround time is one week, although it may take up to a week and a half during busier times of year. If you have hard deadlines to meet, let me know and I’ll try to expedite things. Look for previews from your session on Instagram and Facebook a day or two after your photoshoot!
Why are engagement photos so expensive??
I get it – when our 21st-century selves are used to snapping dozens of photos a day for free, it can seem unfair and unwarranted to pay someone else $$$ for the same thing…but it’s not the same thing! Portrait photographers invest thousands of dollars in camera bodies, lenses, lighting equipment, and editing software that far exceeds even the most sophisticated smartphone camera. Behind every click of the shutter is thousands of hours of practice and study in gear, lighting, and posing; after every click of the shutter comes many more hours of editing, editing, and more editing. It’s much more than the simple push of a button!
What's new on Instagram
About me
