Couples and Engagement Sessions
One day a few years back, I was looking to compile a fun social media post celebrating 10 years of marital bliss with my husband Justin. We have been best friends since high school, so finding a ton of photos of us together should be easy, right? I mean, we've been together nearly 20 years! But I was only able to find 15 photos of us together without the kids. FIFTEEN. Totally pathetic!
Don't be like me. Romantic photos of you and your beloved should be a priority every now and then. When my daughters are my age, I want them to have photos of their parents young and in love, despite life's daily monotony and chaos.
Schedule your couples mini today for your anniversary or Valentine's Day present.
What Makes Me Different:
* I got my start as a landscape photographer and I firmly believe that the background in any photo is just as important as the subject. I take great care in finding magical backgrounds.
* Have a vision? Spam me with example photos and I can hep you get into those poses!
* Have body insecurity? No problem! I know all the tricks. Don't feel bad about letting me know before hand and I can work some posing magic!
* My sessions are super chill and laid back, and dare I say, FUN.
* I will take charge of posing and tell you want to do and how to look good. I'll show you the back of my camera so you can see how they are turning out. You will even learn tips and tricks to use for every day photos with your phone!
* I pride myself on exceptional customer service, before during, and after our session. Want to text me photos of your outfits and ask my opinion? Have a creative idea you want to spam me with? I'm here for it!
* I will have most shoots edited and back to you for download within 7 days (at the very longest, 9 days during peak season which is August-Dec).
* If it rains on our booked day, you can apply your full deposit to another day at no additional cost.
* I have two distinct edited styles, and clients get to help choose: during the editing process, I will send a sneak peek album and ask clients which "look" they like best. Some people prefer my dark and moody look. Others prefer natural. (30 minute sessions will receive my classic natural light and bright edit). More on my two styles here.
Location:
To know what openings I have available, I first need to know what location you want to use. Do you want classic Gig Harbor maritime looks? Skansie Park is amazing in the morning. Want rolling golden fields and woodsy looks? Sehmel park 90 minutes before sunset is my favorite. Kopachuck Park is my fav for ferns, forest, beach and driftwood. I created my blog just to help clients choose. Each location has pros/cons and examples I have taken. Be sure to click on "older posts" to see them all.
Here are some places I love to use:
Pt. Defiance (60 minute sessions only): choose two areas: rose garden, woods, beach, or all three if we add 30 minutes. Weeknights only (gets crowded on weekends!)
Sehmel Park (woods and boardwalk): mornings between 9-11
Sehmel Homestead Park: golden field and split rail fence area: weeknights only July-Oct, 2.5 hours before sunset).
Bella Bella Beach (The Demolay Sandspit): driftwood and beach and a small woods area near the parking lot
The Gig Harbor Lighthouse Sandspit (per Coast Guard rules, by donation only); lighthouse, beach and driftwood. 60 minutes only. Accessible only by boat, and I have one.
Packages
20 minute Minis
I offer 20 minute promotional mini sessions on various dates from April-August only. The dates and signups area always posted 2 months ahead of the sessions on this page.
30 minute package:
Quick and easy, but not skimping on quality! I am famous for being able to take as many great photos as most photographers do in one hour, yet you will not feel rushed. 30 minute session and 10 edited images chosen from a full edited gallery of at least 35 photos: $375 plus tax. Additional images can be purchased for $15 each or the entire gallery for a discounted price. Available weekday evenings and weekend mornings between 9am-12pm.
I offer 30 minute sessions at these locations: Skansie Park (9-10:30am), Bella Bella Beach Sandspit on Fox Island (AM weekends and weekday afternoons, excluding sunset sessions), The woods of Sehmel Park (9-11am), Kopachuck Park (10am-noon, and we would have time for the woods only), Sehmel Homestead Park field and pond (weeknights only, 2.5 hours before sunset). For examples from each location, click my blog tab above; it highlights each location with pro and cons and examples taken at each park. Click "older posts" to see them all, or scroll down the page to some linked locations I love.
You receive your choice in the final edited style. More on that here: Classic vs modern
Beach Sunset Sessions:
Sunsets are fickle things in the great NW! There is constant wind and cloud monitoring to start at the right time, and they usually get rescheduled at least once because of the weather. My record was 5 times, but they are amazing shoots and worth the effort! Sunset shoots usually take 45 minutes, starting 30 mins before the sun sets, and going 15 minutes into "blue hour." Best May-Sept. $550 for 15 edited images, with the option to purchase extra right form your gallery for $15 each, or the entire gallery of 100 photos for a discounted rate.
60 minute package:
Have it all! 60 minute session and 20 edited digital images for download, chosen from a fully edited gallery of at least 60 photos: $650 plus tax. Additional images can be purchased for $15 and the entire gallery can be purchased for a discounted price. Anywhere within 30 min drive of Gig Harbor. For location inspiration, click my blog tab above; it highlights each location with pro and cons and examples taken at each park. Click "older posts" to see them all. With this package, you receive your choice in the final edited style. More on that here: Classic vs Modern
Here is a recent 60 min session shot at The DeMolay Sandspit
Video Reel Add-on: I recently got a mount for my camera to hold my iPhone14 Pro, because if a photo is worth a thousand words, a video is priceless! I will have a video going the whole time of your session, and I will edit the video footage in a reel with music, capturing all the love and smiles. Because when else will you have video footage of you looking your best and loving on each other? My guess is never! If you have a favorite song, send me the YouTube link and I can extract the music to use in the video, otherwise I will use my discretion. You choose vertical or horizontal. 1-minute edited video of your 30 minute session: $100. 2-minute edited video of a 60 minute session: $150. Example of a reel from a 30 minute session here.
What do I wear, How do I pose?
Don't miss my FYI page!
How to Book:
I can’t wait to work with you! Please send me a message using the Contact tab above and include the following info:
1. The location you want to use. If you don't know, click on my Blog tab; I created it just to help clients choose a spot. Each entry spotlights a different location with pros and cons and examples if photos I have taken there. Be sure to click on "older posts" to see them all!
2. What package you would like. All my package prices are located under the "Sessions" tab above. Prices are at the bottom of each page.
3. How many family members and their ages. It helps me to start thinking up poses and groupings!
4. Optional: your session goals, if any.
Once we decide on a date and time, I will send you a booking page to fill out a questionnaire and sign a contract. A $50 retainer is due upon booking to reserve your date. You can pay both the retainer and the remainder (due the day of the session) from that page via Venmo or Paypal. And don't worry if you don't have either; you can use Paypal as a guest and use a credit or debit card.
