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I'm fun-loving, I'm darn handy with a camera, and I'll go anywhere with you to make your photos...basically, I'm your photo sherpa. Above all, I believe in people, and I believe portrait sessions are a fantastic place to honestly and authentically document the magic of what makes us human - what makes YOU human. I live for the reality of eye-crinkles, belly-laughs, soft smiles, and connection. I live for the hilarity of escapee toddlers, walks in the woods, warm hugs, majestic mountains, sparkly eyes and dirty feet. I live for all of these things and more. Why? Because your portraits are so much more than perfectly matching outfits or cheesy smiles. Your images are filled with love, life, and laughter - all to celebrate you and those you care about and the places you adore.
And I'll be there for all of that, and won't miss a beat.
I'm a Missoula-based wedding and portrait photographer in Montana who loves to help you be your best self in front of my camera. The number one thing my clients tell me is that working with me is like hanging out with a friend - which is one of the biggest compliments I can receive! We'll talk as we walk, and as we swap stories we'll share some great laughs together, and get your photo jitters out of the way. In between learning about you, you'll likely hear a bit about my silly little bird, Flash (he likes to talk - one of his favorite words is "Peekaboo!"), get to know a few of my favorite things (I love to cook and really love to bake - cakes and pies make my sweet tooth happy), and we'll probably get to chatting about some of the best brews found in downtown Missoula (because there are a lot to choose from!). But most importantly, we'll have a great time hanging out with each other as people - one of whom just happens to have a camera in her hand documenting the real, awesome you.
I was born in Montana (so I totally understand the love for this big sky state and all things that celebrate western beauty), I spent a wonderful childhood in the Midwest (which has given me a great appreciation for genuine, hard-working, down-to-earth folks), and I completed my undergraduate degree in English at Carleton College (but fell in love with hand-processed film photography there - remember film?!). Knowing that the west is my true home, I moved back to Montana to earn my master's degree in photojournalism from the University of Montana and worked in Seattle at the amazing Seattle Post-Intelligencer (while it was still a printed paper and one of the best photo newspapers in the country), and eventually landed back here in Missoula, where it was clear I'd found home once again.
I love being able to explore all the beauty the west has to offer, and often venture out on photo expeditions just to have fun exploring with my camera. I also occasionally teach photojournalism classes at the U of M as an adjunct professor and delight in watching students' excitement grow. People are so interesting to me, and I find it completely rewarding to meet and photograph those who enthusiastically love their lives. Pulling from my photojournalism background, it's no surprise that I enjoy photographing weddings and portraits because there's nothing better to me than people in all their uniqueness, and I find it truly fascinating to be able to tell people's stories in a reality-driven way.
Have a hankering to learn a few more random facts about me, and take a peek at a couple more photos? (Because, hey, I'm a photographer - why not include a few more pics, right?) Get to know a little more about what makes me tick over here! I'll bet we share some of the same interests!
We LOVE the images you created for us. These will be memories we hold close and will love having with us on our journey. We are so lucky to know a photographer like you who is so talented and takes photos that really capture us. It goes without saying, but we surely look forward to working together again in the future (some day we'll wrangle up our dogs so they don't miss out again)! THANK YOU!!! Thanks for your help and wonderful work. Wishing you the best, Neil, Christy, and Rowan
You. Are. Amazing. These photos so capture the best part of parenting. Thank you a billion. I love every one of these. I really can't think of a photographer I would have rather done this session with. It was a blast, and super easy and natural, and it was so great to hang with you. Huge hugs, b
First I would like to say how AMAZING all of the photos you took are. I didn't think that it was possible to capture my family's essence as well as you did so thank you again for everything!! I can't tell you how much it means to me to finally have some amazing photos of my family!
We hired Kristine way back in 2011 for our wedding. She takes the most incredible and breathtaking photographs. When I found out we were going to have a baby I knew I wanted Kristine to take our pictures yet again. She is so personable and listens to your thoughts and ideas and creates the most incredible pictures. I'm known to be shy and she made me so unbelievably comfortable. She is a fantastic photographer and person and is worth every cent!
We really could not have experienced a better photographer or kinder person than Kristine! We met her to take family photos and could not have asked for a better day. The weather was gorgeous, the scenery was breathtaking and Kristine did such an AMAZING job of capturing the moments and our time together. We all had so much fun smiling, laughing and playing and Kristine captured every moment so beautifully. She was also amazing to work with – kind, joyful, personable, helpful, informative and always ready and willing to answer any questions (and I had a lot of them :)). We all love looking at our pictures and are so happy that we found Kristine to work with! I can’t wait until we have more moments to capture so we can work with her again. Thank you Kristine for everything – it meant so much to all of us and we couldn’t be happier with the results!
Kristine came out to our home to take photographs of me, my husband, and my two and three year old. It was extremely convenient to work with her since she's able to do absolutely everything online. She's also great about giving you reminders regarding your session. I need that because, as mom to two tiny kids, my brain is often fried. When Kristine arrived she was very warm and put us at ease immediately. I hate having my picture taken but she made it very comfortable. My toddlers took to her immediately and had the best time even though they had been at preschool and were tired that evening. The pictures turned out so beautifully. It was the best experience and we will most definitely be having her photograph our family again.
We had the best time and the photos really capture that! Thank you Kristine for sharing your beautiful Montana with us and helping to make my birthday with my “sister-wives” so amazing, blue steel looks and all. Loved everything about the session, the photos, and the experience. Can’t wait to see the rest!
Kristine takes beautiful photos. My family has used her for engagement sessions, family photos and our 2nd family wedding is upcoming in Sept 2016. We have loved her enhancing edits and have not been disappointed. We would highly recommend her. She is easy to work with, professional, makes her subjects relaxed, and can make everyone smile for the camera. She works well with people of all ages and is a photographer that captures every detail. I have had numerous compliments from friends about our photos and her presence at my wedding. My family has loved working with her and so will you!
Kristine is a delight to work with and her photos are amazing. We could not be happier with the service and products we received.
Kristine's photos bring out the magic. What a lovely woman with extraordinary talent. Every photo was amazing, and I look forward to doing it again.
Oh.My.Gosh!!!! These photos could not have turned out any better! I am in love. It's going to be so hard to choose! So hard!
Hi Kristine!! These are SO beautiful! Thank you so much! You are so incredibly talented. You captured the joy of our vacation to Missoula and a place that means so much to my mother in law and our family. We will cherish these forever. I hope you are having a wonderful end to summer - we love seeing all your pics on FB and Instagram! Thanks again!
From your first contact with me to the final delivery of your images, I want your photography to be everything you've dreamed of, and for it to be an easy, smooth experience that you enjoy - all without taking up too much of your time! I know how busy you probably are!
For that reason, I've designed portrait collections that have been specifically made for sessions that allow you to be YOU, are tried and true, and that have been tailored over my many years of photographing these genuine moments to ensure fantastic coverage and leave you with tangible, well-loved memories you can cherish for years to come.
Please fill out my contact form with your information and ideal portrait location and I'll be happy to send you detailed investment and portrait photography information. My pricing is simple. Basic collections include coverage and a select number of files. If you'd like, you can choose that collection, you can upgrade to receive every file, or you can add products/prints/additional hours, etc., either at the time of booking or you can always purchase them any time before or after your session. Easy as pie!
One of my favorite things to create for my clients is a beautiful album that tells the story of your session. Your memories deserve so much more than to be left forgotten and lonely on a hard drive. And your album is just the ticket to get them out of that no man's land. So if you're on the fence about getting one, just do yourself a favor and do it!
I personally and thoughtfully design your album, just as I do when creating your images. Each is handcrafted, customized to your preferences, and will truly make your jaw drop. They're beautiful, and your photos deserve to be highlighted in one. Let me do the work, so you don't have to!
If you're more of a print person, I also offer beautiful archival-quality prints for sale in a wide variety of sizes and options to suit your needs exactly (Costco can't hold a candle to the quality of the prints that I offer - my prints are made to last!). Let me help you get those beautiful images of yours off a phone screen and in your hands or on your walls!
Looking for more? Most of my clients don't alter the collections I offer, but if you need to customize things a bit, just be in touch and I'll be happy to discuss your needs in detail with you.
First and foremost, it's reality-driven and photojournalistic. I specialize in candid, modern photography, and work to make sure I capture the details, emotions and natural expressions that make each session unique and special. People find me friendly, easy-going and pleasant to work with, and I am nearly always smiling while I work because I love what I do. (Case in point, my face usually hurts after a session because we've all had such a good time together!)
Yep! I'm the one whose photos and style you like, so I'm the one who shoots your session.
My home base is in beautiful Missoula, Montana. That said, I do travel! Check out the next FAQ question below for details.
Yes indeed, and I love it! Missoula has my heart, but I certainly photograph sessions outside of town (Glacier National park sessions are definitely a favorite of mine!). I also adore traveling both in the states and internationally! So if your session is taking place somewhere particularly awesome or remote or beautiful or exotic or meaningful to you, then by all means, take me with you so I can help capture it all for you. For sessions requiring accommodations and/or airfare I quote on an individual basis and make all travel arrangements myself. (The only additional cost for destination sessions is the travel costs and any permits needed to photograph legally, otherwise destination sessions are priced the same as Montana-based sessions.)
Nope, but that's not a bad thing. I specialize in on-location photography, which means that - whether your shoot is indoors or outside - I am happy to go to a favorite place of yours to make your images. This means that your images will be unique to you, hold more meaning for you, and really ensure that your photos speak to who you are. Plus, the world is our backdrop! We've got beautiful, natural, real locations (again, both inside and out!) in abundance and right at our fingertips - let's make use of them! No Sears portrait studio fake backdrop images here!
Yep! Weddings, elopements, high school seniors and headshots are all favorites of mine, I always have a great time telling stories in the multimedia realm, and I have a soft spot for pretty food photography. I also freelance as a journalist for various publications in the United States and around the world.
Typically I recommend weekday afternoons or evenings (depending on the time of year) to make the best use of our natural light, and because I generally have more availability on these days. (Oftentimes on weekends I'm photographing weddings.) However, that being said, I occasionally have Sundays available and even some Saturdays during my off-seasons. And, while I recommend shooting later in the day so we can revel in the most beautiful light possible, I can also be somewhat flexible on your start time, so we can make sure your session also works well with your schedule!
To provide the best possible service and turnaround to my awesome clients, I photograph a limited number of portrait sessions per year. If you think you'd like to book with me, it's best to be in touch sooner rather than later to ensure I can get you on the calendar before the year fills up.
Please fill out my contact form with your session information and ideal location and I'll be happy to send you detailed investment and portrait photography information. My pricing is simple. Basic collections include coverage and a select number of files. If you'd like, you can choose that collection, you can upgrade to receive every file, or you can add products/prints/additional hours, etc., either at the time of booking or you can always purchase them any time before or after your session.
Absolutely! Believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel and many of my clients feel this way too. I aim for a relaxed, happy feel that shows closeness and interaction, and we'll keep it natural and fun, but it won't be awkward or forced. I'll help direct you enough so you know what to do, but not so much that you won't recognize yourself in the images. And most often I'll be letting things flow naturally without any interruption, so you won't even have to worry about striking a pose.
The number of photos I make varies greatly depending on how many hours I'm shooting and what is taking place during your session. I shoot as much as I can without sacrificing quality for quantity, so my clients generally see anywhere from 25 to 200 images. I retain copyright of your images, but you will receive personal usage rights for any images that come with your session choice or any additional images you purchase, which means you can print to your heart's content and share as much on social media as you'd like! Just please print your images and don't let them languish on a lonely computer hard drive - your beautiful memories deserve better than that! If you don't foresee yourself getting around to doing that, ask me more about the albums and wall art that I offer. Treat yourself!
Once I send you my investment and photography guide, to answer any further questions and get to know you, I'm happy to schedule either an in-person meeting at my Missoula location, or we can set up a phone call too if you're not in the Missoula area or have a busy schedule. Many of my clients are very busy; I understand that and am happy to accommodate a day/time that best suits you. This meeting isn’t about selling my services or upgrading your collection - it is simply to see how you like me, to get to know you and your vision, and to see if we’re a good fit. I want you to be beyond sure I'm the right photographer for you and want you to feel completely at ease with me. Trust is so important, and the more you trust me, the more you will be able to totally be yourselves, and feel free to completely and utterly be present in each and every moment.
Take a peek at what's in my bag over here.
Absolutely! I'm a stickler about having backup gear, backed up cards, and always carry insurance (both equipment and liability), and then I back it up all over again to multiple places after your session.
After I've sent you my investment and photography guide, and when you're ready to book with me, I'll send you a contract to sign which can be done quickly and easily online. Once that's been signed and I've received your retainer payment for your session, I'm officially your photographer! I do book my session dates on a first-come first-serve basis (as I haven't yet figured out how to clone myself ;) ), so I do not hold dates until I actually receive the retainer and signed contract. If someone else is asking about services on a date you've inquired about, I will be in touch with you to inform you of their interest and make it as fair as possible for all parties.
