PhotoS For Every season of life & love

Here to capture the beauty of your story — transforming life’s most precious moments into timeless works of art.

Welcome — I’m Mariah and I am so happy you’re here! I’m a wedding & portrait photographer based in beautiful Minnesota, capturing love and life across the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, California, Southwest Florida, and beyond! Take a moment to explore my site—learn more about the booking process and FAQs, get to know me on my Meet Mariah page, and browse my services + starting investments. This space is thoughtfully designed to showcase my unique approach and timeless style, so you can feel confident in choosing me to capture your day! So what are you waiting for!?

submit an inquiry BELOW to GET STARTED!

LET’S WORK TOGETHER!

I accept a limited number of select wedding/events each year to ensure that every couple receives my full attention and care! I work with clients whose style and vision align best with my creative approach, allowing me to curate a truly personalized experience just for you!

Submit an inquiry today to check if I am available for your wedding or portrait session, and I’ll make sure everything is smooth sailing from here on out! Are you ready to craft your dream photo gallery together? Let’s do this!

I aim to respond to inquiries within 1 week during my business hours!

Business Email Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, from 11AM-3PM

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT

The Booking Process

01.
explore & Inquire

Start by exploring my website to immerse yourself in my style, process, and offerings. Browse the FAQs, review starting investments, and take a closer look at my work to ensure it resonates with your vision. If everything feels like the perfect fit, head over to my Contact Form to check my availability for your desired date or session type. Let’s get this party started lovers!

02.
LET’S CHAT

After you submit your inquiry form, I’ll email you my detailed Investments Guide within 5-7 business days, along with my current availability listed. My investment guide outlines everything you need to know—rates, what to expect, and how we can customize a package to perfectly fit your needs. I can’t wait to connect and start planning something amazing together!

03.
DISCOVERY CALL

If the stars align — we’ll schedule a Discovery Call for larger projects like weddings, branding, and boudoir sessions. This is our chance to connect, chat about your vision, and tailor a package that perfectly fits your needs and goals. It’s an opportunity to ensure we’re the perfect match while customizing an experience as unique as your story!

04.
Confirmation

Once you’re ready to move forward, I’ll send an invoice outlining the reservation fee. Your date is officially booked with Love Big Live Small Photography once the reservation fee is paid and the contract is signed. Standard sessions require a 20% fee, while weddings require a 50% reservation fee. Please note that all reservation fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

05.
Let’s Celebrate

First, we will set up a date to make things official and sign your wedding contract while we sip some coffee or cocktails! During our contract meet up, we will briefly review the contract basics and begin planning all of the fun stuff. I will bring your beautiful LBLS wedding welcome folder with helpful documents & tips to guide you through the entire process!

*Meetings In-Person is For Local Weddings Only*

06.
PERSONALIZED PLANNING

Leading up to your session, we'll have a planning call to discuss details, location options, studio possibilities, and create an inspiration mood board on Pinterest. I'll send over my PDF guides covering what to wear and how to best prepare for your portrait experience to ensure everything goes smoothly. About 3 months before weddings, I send out my timeline planning questionnaire to begin drafting your wedding portraits timeline.

07.
SESSION & Payment

On the day of your session, I'll bring music to create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. My hands-on approach includes styling touch-ups, posing guidance, and capturing those in-between candid moments, while ensuring you feel comfortable and confident. The final payment is due in full before we begin your session/wedding. Photos will not be processed until the full payment is received.  

08.
The Magic Touch

The magic doesn’t stop when my shutter clicks! —Editing is where your photos truly come to life. After your session, I carefully edit each image by hand, applying my signature earthy, neutral, and timeless presets to ensure every detail feels authentic and refined. For weddings and larger projects, I sort through thousands of images, so I always deliver 50-100 fully retouched sneak peeks within two weeks for you to relive the magic right away! Editing is 80% of this job, and I pour my heart and soul into every last detail to make sure you look and feel like your best self. This isn’t just about polishing images—it’s an art form, a labor of love, and a way to preserve your story!

09.
GALLERY DELIVERY

Finally, I'll deliver your high-quality images through a secure online gallery link. All online galleries will remain open for 1 year. Please download all of your images to your computer or onto a USB flash drive within that time. Please see my FAQ’s for gallery delivery estimates and early delivery options!

  • Ready to Get Started? If my work resonates with you and you’re ready to create something truly unforgettable, submit an inquiry through my contact form above. Share your vision, and I’ll provide a custom quote tailored to your wedding, event, or session. Let’s bring your story to life with timeless, elevated imagery!

  • Absolutely! I am fully insured, covering both my equipment and liability. I will provide proof of insurance upon request. Rest assured, you’re in professional hands.

  • As a Minneapolis, Minnesota wedding photographer — I specialize in capturing weddings and special events across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, and Florida. I offer discounted travel rates to these destinations and to select international locations on my bucket list. No matter where your love story takes you, I am dedicated to preserving your special moments with authenticity and artistry!

  • I maintain all business communication exclusively through email. This approach helps me stay organized and ensures that I can provide you with my full attention. While I cherish the close relationships I build with my clients, keeping our business chats via email allows me to effectively manage both my personal and professional commitments.

    Rest assured, I am always here to answer any questions you have throughout the process. On the day before and the day-of your wedding or session, I will be available for unlimited communication by phone or text to ensure everything runs smoothly. I am always peeking at my inbox for urgent messages. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m passionate about being involved in the aesthetics and planning process and I am here to support you every step of the way!

    Email Communication Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11AM-3PM

  • To secure your date, a reservation fee is required at the time of booking. For weddings, this is 50% of your selected package. For portrait sessions, a $150-$350 reservation fee is collected to hold your session date. All reservation fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. This policy ensures that your date is reserved exclusively for you, allowing me to provide dedicated attention to your event/session.

  • After your session, I will deliver your images through a secure online gallery, allowing you to easily view, download, and share your photos. This method ensures high-quality image delivery and provides a user-friendly experience. For wedding clients, I also provide a custom glass gift box containing a USB drive with your full gallery and a selection of fine art prints, offering a tangible keepsake of your special day. This combination of digital and physical delivery ensures your memories are preserved in both accessible and elegant formats. All gallery links are live for 1 year from delivery and images must be downloaded within that time. One of many reasons why ordering a USB heirloom glass gift box is a great option!

  • Destination weddings and events are my specialty! Whether it’s an adventurous wedding, destination engagement, boudoir, or lifestyle shoot, I’m all in for catching a plane or booking an Airbnb to make your experience memorable. Contact me for a personalized travel quote—Meeting you wherever your special moments take place!

    Any location beyond a two-hour radius from our home in Prior Lake, Minnesota is considered a destination location and may require overnight accommodations. I will handle all of my travel arrangements to keep things stress-free and find the best deals!

    Clients cover the package selection + the lead photographers travel/lodging.

    Inquire now for my detailed Investment Guide

  • Choosing the right photographer is essential to authentically capturing your unique love story. My distinctive style blends candid photojournalism with editorial artistry, ensuring your moments are documented with both authenticity and elegance. By entrusting me with your special day, you’re investing in a personalized experience tailored to your vision, resulting in timeless images that reflect your individuality. My signature earthy, neutral, and timeless presets are meticulously applied to each image by hand, offering a refined aesthetic—unique to the Love Big Live Small Photography experience.

    My commitment to excellence and attention to detail guarantees that your memories are preserved with the highest quality. I handle all travel arrangements & find the most reasonable rates, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying your celebration.

    If you value a customized approach and desire photographs that are as unique as your love story, I would be honored to bring my passion and expertise to your special day.

    If you have any further questions or need additional information, feel free to ask!

  • Planning ahead ensures we have ample time to craft and capture your unique story beautifully.

    Standard portrait sessions— I recommend booking 1 to 3 months in advance to secure your preferred date and begin personalized planing + mood board creation with me!

    Weddings and larger events— I am currently booking out 8 to 13 months ahead, as dates fill up quickly!

    Please also consider the post-processing & editing timeframe when planning for your session! :)

  • No need to stress—I’ve got you covered! As part of the Love Big Live Small Photography experience, I provide detailed PDF guides tailored to my signature style. These guides include everything you need to know about what to wear, how to prepare, and tips for achieving the effortless, timeless look my work is known for.

    From coordinating outfits to prepping for your session, the guides are designed to take the guesswork out of the process. And if you still need help deciding, I’m always available to offer personal styling advice and suggestions to make sure you feel confident and look amazing on the day of your shoot. Let’s create something beautiful together!

FAQ’S

  • I highly recommend using my professional print lab, which is linked directly to your gallery for seamless ordering. This ensures your high-quality, retouched photographs are printed with the accurate colors and tones you see in your gallery. While you have full rights to print your images wherever you’d like, I cannot guarantee the quality or color accuracy if you choose an outside lab.

    You’re investing in premium photography, and my hope is that you’ll print through the gallery to truly honor the quality and beauty of your images. But at the end of the day, do your thing! You will have the rights to printing wherever you would like!

  • We all know that true artistry takes time!

    For weddings, my contracted turnaround time is 12–14 weeks, with a sneak peek gallery of 50–150 images delivered within 2 weeks. For portrait sessions, the editing window is approximately 6-8 weeks.

    Any additional requests after wedding sneak peeks are sent will be invoiced for the ‘Rush Gallery’ fee.

    I take great pride in delivering high-quality, polished images, and I meticulously edit each one to perfection. While these timeframes are approximate, I always work diligently to get your galleries to you as quickly as possible, and sooner than expected.

    Rush Gallery Delivery is offered on a limited basis upon request and is based on my current editing line-up. Additional fees apply.

  • I offer a Rush Gallery editing service for clients who need their images sooner, depending on my current editing lineup. For weddings, I can deliver your full gallery within 3–4 weeks, and for standard sessions, within 1–2 weeks. This expedited service is available on a limited basis and comes with an additional fee for me to clear out my schedule, but I am happy to make it happen! If you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll check my current editing schedule! :)

  • I specialize in photography for luxury weddings, elopements, couples, destination events, lifestyle portraits — (families, motherhood, seniors, newborns), spicy boudoir, and branding photography. Each session is tailored to your story, with personalized styling guidance, custom PDF prep guides, and my signature timeless editing style.

    Whether it’s celebrating love, life, or your brand, I’m here to create unforgettable, authentic imagery just for you.

  • I invest in the best to ensure your moments are captured with precision and artistry. I shoot with the latest cutting-edge Nikon USA mirrorless professional cameras. My main chick is the Nikon z7ii— renowned for her exceptional image quality at 46 megapixel resolution and reliability. My gear lineup includes a variety of high-end lenses, with three main lenses I trust for versatility and clarity. (35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4, 80mm f1.4, & 24-70mm f2.8). For unique situations, I rent specialty equipment, such as telephoto or underwater lenses, to bring your vision to life.

    No matter the lighting conditions, I’m always prepared with advanced external flashes to ensure your photos are beautifully lit in my signature style. For an added touch of nostalgia, I incorporate Polaroid film cameras to create fun, instant prints—perfect as keepsakes or client gifts. If you’d like more of these charming prints, additional film packages are available to enhance your session.

    When you book with me, you can rest assured knowing I use only the most advanced technology and tools to deliver timeless, high-quality imagery tailored to your story.

  • The number of images you receive depends on the package, session length, and any additional time booked. I don’t believe in withholding your precious moments, so I send all the best shots! On average, I deliver 60–75+ images per hour of shooting.

    Weddings: You can expect 700–1,200 fully edited images.

    Lifestyle Portraits & Boudoir: Typically, 100–250 fully retouched final images.

    Every session is unique, and I’m committed to delivering a collection that beautifully captures your story.

  • I’ve had a camera in hand since 2007. I began photographing projects professionally in 2017. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to capture weddings across the U.S. and would love to expand internationally. If your wedding is in one of my dream destinations, you may even get a discount on travel expenses—so don’t hesitate to reach out!

  • Absolutely — Retouching is one of the most time-intensive parts of my process, and it’s something I take immense pride in. It’s also one of the main reasons clients seek out my photography services! My editing style features a signature blend of timeless, earthy muted tones that I’m most known for. I carefully remove minor blemishes, scratches, and bruises, and lightly soften under-eye discoloration to enhance your natural beauty while keeping the images authentic, organic, timeless, and true to life.

    I do not perform extensive Photoshop work or body alterations, as I firmly believe in celebrating your natural self. This is where my posing expertise as a dancer comes into play. Please note that I only work within my signature editing style and cannot accommodate requests for other editing aesthetics. For additional in-depth editing requests, extra fees may apply.

    With my retouching, you’ll always look like the most confident, beautiful, and authentic version of yourself!

  • For larger weddings or events with complex logistics, a second shooter is incredibly valuable in ensuring every angle and moment is captured flawlessly. They also provide an extra layer of backup for any unexpected technological issues and a second perspective on your entire wedding day — that means more photos in your final gallery!

    For events with over 100 guests, a second shooter is highly recommended and may be required to ensure all the special details and moments are beautifully documented. If you want comprehensive coverage and a stress-free experience, adding a second shooter is the perfect choice! I will arrange with one of my trusty faves!

  • Absolutely! After nearly a decade in the wedding industry, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some truly incredible professionals/artists, and I definitely have my favorites.

    Once you’ve officially booked with me, I’ll share my exclusive Vendor Recommendations List—a hand curated PDF guide featuring my top picks for venues, bridal wear, hair and makeup, DJs, and more.

    Love Big Live Small Photography is also a top wedding photography vendor at some of the most stunning venues in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond, including — Woodhaven, Pinewood Weddings & Events, La Pointe Weddings & Events + more!