Hey hey! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to document and craft some photos for you. You can come with a glimpse of the kind of images you want, or we can figure that out together! These sessions can be collaborative, so if you want to go for a certain look or vibe, I'm here for it. It's totally normal to also feel a little anxious about your session, so this guide is here to help ease any worries and questions. We'll cover choosing a location, outfits, the process, and more.
Couples Sessions
Session Guide
Located in Poultney, VT. This is the location I've utilized the most for its amazing versatility. We have access to an open (mowed) field with plenty of gorgeous backlight, wooded areas for a moodier look, lake access for photos by or in the water, a rustic wooden fence, and plenty of paths and areas to explore. *A $5 fee per person may be needed for admission to the park.*
Location 1
Located in Bomoseen, VT. This location offers a variety of backdrops, including: a wooden boardwalk with lots of cattails and dreamy backlight, a lake with mountains in the distance, multiple wooded areas for a moodier/earthier feel, and so many paths and roads. This location tends to be quieter or less busy than Location 1. *A $5 fee per person may be needed for admission to the park.*
Location 2
Located in Hubbardton, VT. This is the second most-used location I've utilized the most for its open fields and mountain backdrop. We have access to multiple fields with soft front-facing light, and a mind-melting view of the mountains far in the distance that get hit with the sunset. I've had the most sessions ask for drone or lantern photos here.
Location 3
Located near Middletown Springs, VT. This location I was recently granted permission to shoot on, and holy moly is it gorgeous with a ton of variety. Between the ponds, dirt road, stone walls, open fields, birch trees, and mountains. *DISCLAIMER: Out of respect to not overstay my welcome, I limit the number of times I shoot here each month.*
Location 4
Located in Poultney, VT. This location is private for those wanting a quieter or more intimate space, with access to multiple open fields, paths, overgrown trees, as well as moody pines in the distance. The grass tends to be taller here, and catches the tail-end of golden hour magic.
Location 5
If you have a location in mind (whether it's your property, family/friends property, or a public space) please do not hesitate to send photos my way so I can see if it'll work! A handful of these photos were also taken on private property that I have permission to shoot on, so let me know if any here or in my portfolio appeal to you.
Your location
You might be asking what the heck golden hour is! In short, it's the hour or so before sunset when the light is the softest. So I tend to shoot my sessions 60-90 minutes before sunset to make sure we get the most magical light, and to avoid harsh shadows and bright spots. This also means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting.
To get the soft, golden, and earthy tones you see in my work, we'll be meeting during golden hour.
Time & Light
If you want to really bring your photos to the next level, spending a little time preparing beforehand goes a long way. If you want to look and feel your best, think about what will help us achieve that on camera. Things like getting a haircut, applying makeup, going clothing shopping, picking out accessories/jewelry or props will all contribute to the photos we capture.
I also encourage you to think about what these photos mean to you. How do you want to be represented? How do you want to feel? Or others to feel? We can create a space that is fun, empowering, open to vulnerability, or all three. You just let me know, and I'll make it happen for you.
These sessions are all about you and your world. Let's work together to photograph it all.
Preparing For your session
If you are interested in bringing your dog(s) along to be involved in your photos, that's totally ok! Our furry companions mean the world to so many, and so it feels right to include them. Note that it's highly encouraged to have them leashed unless trained in perfect recall. Many of the locations I shoot at are common places that people bring their dogs, so keep that in mind! If you just want a few photos with them, some couples have brought along a family member or friend to keep an eye on them during the rest of the session. Others opt to leave the pooches in the car until the end of the session.
Bring Your Dog!
When it comes to posing for your session, you don't need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process, and even demonstrate what I want you to do if you need. I do encourage every person I work with to try things out, too! Get goofy. Get serious. Go full model if you want. If something doesn't work, we can change it up, but at least we tried!
I'll guide you through every step, pose, and prompt.
Posing
Average Golden Hour Times 05764
January • 7:22 AM
February • 6:50 AM
March • 6/7:04 AM (DST)
April • 6:09 AM
May • 5:28 AM
June • 5:11 AM
July • 5:26 AM
August • 5:58 AM
September • 6:32 AM
October • 7:07 AM
November • 6:46 AM
December • 7:19 AM
January • 4:42 PM
February • 5:23 PM
March • 5/6:59 PM (DST)
April • 7:36 PM
May • 8:11 PM
June • 8:35 PM
July • 8:31 PM
August • 7:55 PM
September • 7:02 PM
October • 6:09 PM
November • 4:27 PM
December • 4:17 PM
Sunrise
(Start Time = 15 Min Before)
Sunset
(Start = 60-90 Min Before)
There is only so much that we can prep for and control with photos, and so retouching is an extra option for those who want their favorite images to be absolutely perfect. Hell, even I retouched most of the photos of myself on my website to remove the bags under my eyes. Retouching can include things like removing stray hairs, blemishes, eye-bags, redness, slightly enhancing the eyes, smoothing out skin and clothing, teeth whitening, and so on. You'll notice a few of these changes by hovering over the before & after image here. Retouching services range $20-$40 per image.
Bringing your favorite images from "wow" to "double wow."
REtouching
Hover for before & after
I want you to be comfortable in the outfit(s) you pick, and to feel like *you* with whatever you wear. With that in mind, there are styling choices we can make that work well with both my editing style and your personal style. Neutrals are always an amazing option for any location, and work well with pretty much everyone. Go white or off-white for brighter, elegant look, or darks for a moodier vibe. A common pairing is a neutral shirt with blue, black, white, or tan/brown pants. Some go formal! You'll see some of my favorite outfit choices below.
I want you to feel comfortable and confident, and the best way to do that is to wear clothes you feel great in.
outfit picks
Going formal is absolutely an option for those wanting sleek, professional, elegant photos. For those wanting to go more masculine, consider a fitted suit and tie. For a feminine look, the favorite go-to are dresses (that you might wear to a wedding or formal dinner). Dressing formal also lends itself best to Black & White edits.
Formal
04.
One thing we often forget is the texture of the clothing we wear! This can add a refined or elegant element to your photos that draws the eye in. Texture adds an added layer of contrast to your photos by subtly combing one or two pieces (or more) of clothing with different textures.
Texture
03.
If you're not feeling like doing all solid colors, patterns can work great too! If you go this route, remember to have solid color pants to avoid too many distracting elements going on at once. Opt for colors that compliment your eyes, hair, etc.
Patterns
02.
Neutrals are your best friend, and are the most flattering tones to wear. White, soft-white, ivory, black, tans, and browns. They're my top recommendation, and lend themselves best to my editing style! Dark navy, olive green, or any other muted or darker colors as a second outfit.
neutrals
01.
The Process
When we first meet up for our shoot, (I'll be so excited to meet you in person if we haven't before!) I'll run you through what I'm thinking for everything. This is also a great time to talk about any ideas, hopes, or questions you might have. I am an open book when it comes to sessions and photography, and no question is off limits. If you want to have music during your session, bring a playlist! If you've brought a pet, we'll decide whether we want to get photos with them at the beginning or end of the session!
After your session I'll sort through all the photos to remove all the shots that are blurry, or where you're blinking, or that just didn't work. During the editing process, I edit each photo individually in my signature moody, warm, earthy style. Once I feel like they're ready, I'll upload them to an online gallery for you that you can share (or not), where you can download your favorites (or everything). I'm hopeful that between my work, my website, and this guide, you'll trust me and my craft.
+ 72-Hour Rush
+ B&W Gallery Copy
+ Full Gallery Retouch
+ Gallery Extension
+ Golden Guarantee
↠ Up to 30 Minutes
↠ 1 Location
☾ 25+ Images
+ Unlimited Downloads
+ Printing Right
↠ Up to 2 Hours
↠ 1-2 Locations
☾ 50+ Images
+ Unlimited Downloads
+ Printing Rights
Numbers
Pricing and Packages
PACKAGE II - $400
PACKAGE I - $650
Add-Ons
I'm so glad you want to work together and help pay my bills. When you choose a kick-butt visual storyteller (me), you aren't just choosing someone who will kick butts. That part's important (obviously), but there's also the part where I'lll be the person you'll be hanging out with for a good chunk of time. We're going to rock what we work on together, and I want you to know that you're in good hands. I'll bring the snacks.
I've been shooting more and more sessions where we incorporate lanterns or a drone at the end. If you're not into either, which is totally fine, skip this section. We can break the lanterns out as the sun sets to get that beautiful moody blue haze. Or do sky-down portraits with a drone overhead (where you lie back facing the sky with the ground as your backdrop). Both of these are totally optional. You can opt for one, both, or neither, but I like to offer these as FREE options for unique photos during your session.
I can bring lanterns for moody dusk photos, or a drone for sky-down portraits. Or both.
totally optional
Totally. Cloudy weather means our light is really soft and even, and so it can be flattering and easy to work with (and also moodier). However, if you really want a sunny look, we'll have to reschedule and try and shoot for an evening when we get that golden/magic hour light. Note: Vermont is the cloudiest state in the US (Seattle is only the cloudiest CITY) so keep this in mind.
The average amount of time it takes for me to deliver your edited galley is about 2 weeks or so! During September + October it may be 4-6 weeks because it can get so bonkers busy! I do my best to send you sneak peeks when able, and if I can't decide between two different edits when I start your photos, I'll send you them to find out which you prefer!
Your balance is due by the end of your session. I accept Cash, Check, or Venmo (Martin-VanBuren). At this time I require a $100 deposit to reserve your date. You are not locked into package, so if you decide during our session that you want more (or less) time, we can do that! Retouching + print orders in your gallery will require a credit card.
You are welcome to bring as many outfits as you want within our timeframe. For one and two hours sessions, I've had people bring 3-4 different looks. For seniors during these longer sessions, I've had some bring one light outfit, one dark, one neutral w/ color, and a sports jersey/uniform. You'd be surprised how many photos we can still capture even with a bunch of outfit changes.
In the event we have to reschedule (due to any circumstance) please just let me know as soon as you are able. Life happens! I try and make sure I have open spots available that we can reschedule to, although it may not be during the same day of the week. Also note that during my busy season (September + October) I have limited days to reschedule.
Absolutely! You get full printing rights for all the images in your gallery. If you need printing recommendations, I highly recommend mpix.com (and I can even upload your gallery to mpix for you). If you would like to further support me and my work, you can also order prints through your gallery, and are printed by Millers Lab (only accessible to professional photographers.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's get started.
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