hey there, friend
GET TO KNOW THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Hi there! I have been exactly where you are.... searching for someone to take my family photos...or headshots...and even my senior portraits (a hot second ago)! If you don't have someone in mind, the process of finding someone who you love AND who will provide a good experience can be really tough!
That is why I believe in the experience. It is SO much more than just getting the one photo where everyone is smiling / just one for the yearbook. It is about being able to create memories WHILE we get the photos of your dreams. One step in doing that is getting to know me & why I do this job.
I am married to my best friend, Evan. Although we both graduated from the same high school in Montana, we were not high school sweethearts, that flame kindled a handful of years later! We started dating in November 2015 and were engaged by September 2016, then married March 2017. We wasted no time!
We have four adorable daughters, Isla, Ruby, and twins - Lucy & Cleo. They are the light of our lives and we love doing life with them everyday! If you follow me on insta, you will see a lot of them on my stories!!
Evan is in the US Army and we are currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan. We absolutely the love this opportunity to soak in the sunshine and island life. We have also lived in Washington, North Carolina, and obviously, Montana. For the time being though, we are living it up on Oki!
Traveling is one of my favorite things to do! Fun fact: the first wedding I ever photographed was a destination wedding in Hawaii. Since that wedding in July 2011, I have photographed over 100 events and been to Ireland, Aruba, Mexico, Alaska, Florida, Arizona, Texas and Maine to photograph love (and families)!
I am easily persuaded with Sweetheart candies, frozen yogurt, and gummy bears!
I am honored to do this job. Capturing the most important moments of your life is something I will never take for granted. Aside from creating timeless photographs and serving my clients well, I strive to also be your friend at the end of this!
i'm mary
this photo is by moss and mountain photography
"1000% you have to use Merry Character Photography. No question. Mary goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience and that you absolutely fall in love with your photos. You will not be disappointed!
- Lindsey K
- Megan E.
"Mary shows great passion and interest in her clients and makes them feel comfortable and confident behind the camera. She brings joy, laughter and love to her sessions and it shines through her photos!"
"She makes you feel so comfortable and you have such a good time. I don't think you can get any better pictures from anyone else. I promise you, you will have an amazing experience and get amazing photos!"
- Abbey M.
"We would recommend Mary to absolutely anyone. She captured our day better than we could have ever dreamed! She brings so much energy and life always and it shows in the final images. She is incredibly talented and so good at what she does! I would 100% recommend her to anyone looking for a wedding photographer!"
- Jenna + Matthew
Havre, Montana
the process
FROM INQUIRY TO SESSION DATE
5. ROCK OUT your session! We will play some music, have some fun and create some bomb a** photos!
6. SNEAK PEEK within 24 hours of your session!
7. Then finally, GALLERY DELIVERY no later than 10 days after your session! (If you choose a collection with limited digitals - this process is slightly different - but you still get your images freaky fast!)
8. A FRIENDSHIP for the rest of your lives with ya girl!
1. You have already checked off the first step:
TO INQUIRE
2. I will EMAIL you back & shoot you a text to make sure you get that email. No Spam box will stop me!
3. After that, if you decide to BOOK I will email you over a proposal, contract and your invoice. There is a 50% non refundable retainer due at the time of booking, everything else isn't due until 30 days before!
4. I will email over my STYLING GUIDE to help plan everyone's outfits to make sure you look great!
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the collections
CUSTOM COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Up to One Hour of Photographing
Complimentary Style Guide
15 edited digital images
Online viewing/ordering gallery with high resolution
images for printing
COLLECTION TWO
$425
Known as the "Mini" Session
20 minutes of Photographing
3 edited digital images
Online viewing/ordering gallery with high resolution images for printing
COLLECTION THREE
$275
A LA CARTE
Additional Digital Images / Single - $65
Upgrade to Full Gallery - $300
Custom packages are available upon request
*50% of collection non-refundable retainer due in order to book session
**Payment Plans Available. Please inquire.
***Tax not included, when applicable
Up to 2 Hours of Photographing
Complimentary Style Guide
75-100 final edited images
Online viewing/ordering gallery with high resolution images for printing
COLLECTION ONE
$625
galleries
I believe in your legacy.
I speak with exclamation points because I get really excited for everyone I photograph.
I LOVE life & everything that comes with it. Tears, joy, laughter and sorrow. It all works together to create the beautiful life you are living right now!
I am going to get "deep" here for a second, but when you think of your life when you are 80, you will be able to tell stories and share memories of your life and milestones, but the only evidence you can physically show someone is photographs. Documenting your life right now is SO important for your legacy, your family's legacy.
I truly believe that when you invest in photography you are investing in your legacy. 30, 40, 50 years down the road your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will look back on these beautiful photographs and know that their lives stemmed from an outpouring of love. They will look back on the photos and laugh at the memories they had during those times.
I know this because it is what I do with all the photos my mom saved over the years & what I do to this day with my daughter's photos. Time is so fleeting and photographs capture the moments you may forget. The feeling I get when looking at my own lifetime of pictures is unbeatable and THAT is what I want to capture. Not only for you, but for your legacy.
Your legacy is important to me.
this is my why
Do you travel out-of-state or out-of-country for sessions?
Absolutely, positively x three hundred billion! Traveling is something I live for. I have a bucket list of locations I would love to photograph at & will give you a swingin' deal if your destination is on my list! Either way, inquire with me & I will happily fly to you!
what do you consider your "style"?
I consider my photography:
bright
colorful
timeless
FUN!
What if my kids don't cooperate?
I have been there, mama! Trust me. Prepping your kids for what is to come is the best way to ensure success with your photos. But, after all is said and done, they have minds of their own! If we have a full on meltdown and cannot move forward at all - we can reschedule your session with a $100 reschedule fee. But rest assured, I have never, in 10 years had to do this - I am a kid charmer!
WHAT IS YOUR SHOOTING STYLE?
I am very interactive! There will be very few times where all I have you do is smile at the camera. I love using movement and dancing to work out real big smiles from everyone!
I can promise you, by the end of the session, even the most skeptical - don't want to be theres - will have had a little bit of fun!
HOW DO WE BOOK YOU?
Once I have answered any questions you may have and you have decided that my experience is exactly what you are looking for, the next step is a booking proposal. I will create an online proposal that will walk you through the packages and when you're ready, you can save the date by signing your contract and paying your retainer online.
