chocolate moose

images + design
souvenirs to cherish for always

Meet Jess

professional photographer since 2009

In a Nutshell 

I am a creative who is deeply sentimental, obsessed with her family and cats, wears scarves at least 300 days a year & uses grey, mustard yellow and loud patterns in virtually everything she does.

 How does this translate to my business? 

smile all the time, I use loads of !!! when I write, I crave golden light, textures and nature in my work and if you bring your cat to our shoot, I might forget you are there.

people love us &

our
clients
say. . .

“My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary while visiting Yellowstone National Park, and we asked Jess to take some pictures of us which would display the beautiful and natural setting of the park. The results were outstanding! Jess is so talented and delightful to work with, and she took special care to assure that we were comfortable and relaxed during the photography session. She is a true professional who is devoted to her craft, and we highly recommend Jess!”

-Irene and Keith

the value of photography

what do you see?

When you look at an image of your favorite people doing the most simple or extreme things, are you transported back to that moment? To those feelings? To the joy and laughter or the pain and crying? 

I know I am! That is the incredible beauty of images. They allow for time travel.  

You can find my full range of thoughts about the importance of remembering HERE. For now, trust that photographs such as these are something no one will regret.

Pricing

photography collections

f a q 

Where and when will our session take place?

For me these sessions are all about location, location, location. Lucky for you, I love to adventure and have hiked hundreds of miles in this ecosystem scouting out the perfect spots. If you have a particular backdrop in mind, please let me know! Otherwise, leave it up to me and I promise not to disappoint, no matter the time of year. 

The ideal time of day to shoot is starting about an hour before sunset. Depending on our location and our relative distance to western mountain peaks, that may fluctuate a bit. If evenings aren’t going to work, then starting at sunrise (with loads of coffee!) is the next best things. I know early mornings on vacation can be less than desirable, but I promise it’s worth it!

What do we do during the session?

Have you always wanted to fly a kite? Or have a tea party in the mountains? Or are you curious what the hype is surrounding huckleberry ice cream? Now is your chance to do any or all! 

The idea is that we’ll do something you’ve always wanted to do (or maybe never even thought of!) with your family that guarantees happiness, giggles and love. If a tantrum comes out in the middle, that’s no problem. We can navigate it all together! 

What should we wear?

The absolute more important thing is that you all feel comfortable. If that is your hiking clothes, perfect. If that is your favorite Anthropologie dress, also fantastic. If you want to get dressed up in your wedding outfits one more time to have portraits captured in the mountains, PLEASE call me! Wear what feels right for you, your people and your suitcase capacity. 

If you’d like to get more specific, I am happy to chat through ideas. I LOVE this sort of thing!

Do you instruct with posing? I’m kind of awkward/unphotogenic.

I get it! One of the things I think is underrated is having a connection with ANY photographer you hire. That is part of why I love chatting on the phone first and then building a relationship beyond that. Truth be told, if you think we could be friends, we are going to make great photos together! 

In a nutshell, I enjoy doing a mix of photos - there will always be the “ok, smile and look at me!” type shots, but the ones that are both mine and my client’s favorites, are when you seem to forget I’m there. So, no I don’t have a specific shot list and posing notes, but I do aim to make you feel comfortable, relaxed and at ease with the ideas, enthusiasm and suggestions I give during our session. 

One final note: the most common thing I hear at the end of a session besides, “that was fun!” is “You made me feel so comfortable!” So, I have no doubt we can do it!

How long after our session will I get my photos?

I will send a preview of the gallery within a week and typically the rest of the gallery is delivered within the next 4 weeks. The caveats to that are if it is an incredibly busy time either professionally or personally. I am busiest in May-Sept all the way around so those sessions sometimes yield longer wait times. 

Please ask if you have specific timing requests and I will always communicate the timeline at the end of the session.

How do I get my photos afterwards?

Within a few days of your session, I'll send you a link to a mobile app with a couple sneak peak images. You (and anyone you'd like to share it with!) can download the app right to their phone or tablet to enjoy the images.

Once all of your images are edited and ready to be shared (usually 2-3 weeks after your session), I will send you a link to an online, shareable gallery. You can send the gallery to all your friends and family and if they want, they are able to order products right through there. A password is always an option, though by default I leave the galleries unlocked so they are easier to share. 

How many images are included in your sessions?

Generally speaking, portrait clients receive anywhere between 30-35 images from their hour long session. Having said that, I don’t hold back fabulous shots just because I’ve reached a specific number. That’s just silly!

Do you deliver black and white images as well as color?

The bulk of the images will be delivered in color. Bright colors, sunshine and wildflowers are some of my favorite things to work with! Once I’ve done all of my edits I go back through and convert the ones that lend themselves best to black and white. You can expect anywhere from 0% - 10% of the images to be in black and white.

Will my photos be on your website and social media?

It’s a dream come true for a creative human to be constantly making new art so yes, your photos will most likely be found on my website and social media. Of course, if this is something that makes you uncomfortable, let’s talk about it! Are you a celebrity? Or in the witness protection program? Want to send the photos to your family as a surprise elopement, engagement or pregnancy announcement? I get it - let’s talk through your needs.

Am I allowed to put my photos online?

Yep! I get it - besides the distance from loved ones that 2020 dealt us, the internet is the main way we all share our exciting ventures and our best moments. The only things I ask is that if you do post them, please tag Chocolate Moose Images so people can find out more about me and if you use Instagram, please don’t add additional filters to the professional editing I’ve done.

Each session comes with not only the experience itself, but an online, shareable gallery of around 30 images. 

While I do give clients all of their edited images for their own use, providing you with printed products makes my heart happy. I am proud to offer high quality canvases, albums and prints which compliment the colors and aesthetic of my work perfectly. Please consider finishing off your experience with such items in an age where images often live only on computers or flash drives.

Do you offer printed products such as canvases, metal prints or albums?

I sure do! And truth be told, creating and delivering any or all of the fabulous products that I offer is one of my favorite parts of my work. It always pains me to hear that my clients never do anything with their images but text grandma a few. Or worse yet, they had them printed at a less than professional printer and are so disappointed they threw them away. You took the time and effort to have these photos taken, now PRINT them and FEATURE them in your home by using high quality materials! Let me help with that.

How far away from Gardiner will you travel?

Included with all sessions is travel within 30 minutes of Gardiner, MT in any direction. 

Having said that, I LOVE travel! If you have specific ideas, please give me the details and we can talk through a custom travel quote.

Can we do multiple locations and outfits?

No problem! At the end of the day, this is your time and vision. Let’s discuss your ideas to determine if that will extend the time of the session and if any additional fees may be involved. The goal is to create memories, so if that means formal outfit + your favorite sneakers, I’m your gal. 

I’m excited! How do I book? And how do I pay?

I’m excited, too! 

Please contact me with as many details about your trip as possible. I ask for payment in full and a signed contract to hold your date(s). Once I have received both of those, I close off the dates to any other clients. 

I accept a variety of payment - the easiest is with credit card, though I can also accept Venmo, cash or check. 

What is your preferred mode of communication?

I typically start out communication with clients via phone but then will often switch to emails or texting. I find it’s great to put a voice with a name and often times it’s easier to hash out thoughts and details on the phone. Once that is established, texting or emailing about travel plans/weather updates works well for me. 

If you would like a zoom or FaceTime chat, I am more than happy to put a face to your ideas and dreams ahead of our meet up! That’s fun too! And you know what, if you would like to write me a letter and send it in the mail, I’ll accept! I’ll gladly provide my PO box. 

What is your policy for rescheduling due to inclement weather?

While it is true that my favorite condition to shoot in is when we’re all in sandals and the sun is hovering just above the skyline, I’m no stranger to working in cold temps, a white out blizzard or foggy, misty weather. If, however, it is dangerous or just not going to work for [insert reason], I am flexible. 

Typically when we talk about your available schedule, we’ll talk about 2 dates in case of bad weather. I like to have a backup factored into my calendar to ensure we can make the best of your limited time in the area. 

What is your cancellation policy?

I understand plans can change, especially after living through a year like 2020 AND the flood of 2022.

First, $50 of your fee is non-refundable.

Beyond that: if you need to cancel your session the first thing I would like to try to do is reschedule within your existing trip or even for a future trip. If that is not possible and I can rebook your date, I will refund you in full. If it is 30 days or more away from your session, I will refund 50% of the session fee. If it is less than 30 days out, there is no refund.

While this is my policy, please feel free to reach out with your specific situation.

Are you insured?

Sure am! I have liability and equipment insurance. Besides that, I am also permitted to work within Yellowstone National Park which involves both a logistical, paperwork commitment as well as a financial commitment.

What happens if you get sick or injured?

That has yet to happen, though of course anything is possible and it’s good to know the options. Thus far, the only draw back that I can think of about living in a remote area where I am the only one doing what I’m doing means there are no backup photographers waiting in the wings for me to be sick or injured. Therefore, if that were to happen and we could not reschedule within your trip, you will be refunded what you have paid thus far.

Can I give this as a gift?

Fantastic question! You are a thoughtful person, to be sure.

Yes, Chocolate Moose Images has gift cards available for purchase. You can give the lucky recipients any value from $20 to the full price of a session.

Ready? Use this llink to go for it! Otherwise if you have questions, please get in touch and I can help customize the gift.

What if I want you to do photos of my pets?

I thought you'd never ask! Pet photography is where I started out and animals are a real love of mine. I have a dog and 2 cats and could talk about them at length for hours. 

The only difference I see with pet photography vs. people photography is that we’ve got tail waggers instead of high-fivers. There are very similar challengers and highlights but in the end, the goal is the same …

Let’s make sure we document your loved ones in order for you to take home souvenirs you can cherish for always. 

To see more specific information please go here, to see a gallery of images go here and to get in touch with me go here. 

What should be my main take away from exploring your website?

If there is anything I’d like you to take from my work, my site and my persona it is joy, energy and family. 

I could fill this space with loads of garbley gook, but instead, I hope at this point you’ve gotten a feel for who I am. I believe with all my everything that photos with those you love is something you will never, ever regret. They will live on in memory books, digital clouds and on fridges, at the very minimum.

I’m STILL not sure I need custom portraits - it feels like such an [insert your concern]?

I get it. For me, I feel awkward in front of the camera. I also have been a solo, thrifty traveler living off of a waitress wage, so luxury expenses are something I consider strongly. 

But let me paint another picture for you: 

* How often do you get to travel with your people, especially considering 2020? 

* And how often do YOU take the photos of the rest of your people but never show up in the images? 

* Do you get to see mountains, bison or thermal features on the regular? 

* Do you have other family members who care about you and would love to have an updated photo of you and your loved ones on display in their home? 

Remember it all and do yourself, your family and your future a favor and document this adventure professionally.

Loving this idea?

Let’s chat!

Gardiner, MT
952-220-3595
@chocolatemooseimages

Gift Cards Available