I began my photography journey four years ago and established Ellario Photography soon after. I trained in Portland, Oregon, under an experienced lifestyle, brand, and wedding photographer and, since then, have continued to seek professional and personal mentorships to expand my knowledge through various offerings in both the United States and Mexico.

I am proud to call Des Moines, Iowa my home base, but I serve clients all over the world and have a team of traveling associates who can assist me in covering sessions and weddings all over the entire United States. I understand that moments can happen anywhere, and I am committed to telling your story beautifully, no matter where it unfolds.

I am a lifestyle and wedding photographer. This means I shoot couples, families, portraiture, weddings, and elopements. If you have another interest, please fill out the contact form and note that you are looking for a service outside of my typical offerings. I will do what we can to accommodate you or put you in the hands of someone who can.

For lifestyle sessions, clients can choose between half or full sessions. Half sessions, ideal for young families or shorter stories, last for 30 minutes and capture moments efficiently. Full sessions, on the other hand, are two hours long and allow for a more in-depth and creative exploration of locations, capturing genuine emotions and facilitating a relaxed environment. When it comes to weddings, I offer customizable packages tailored to each client's specific vision. Most packages include two shooters, a downloadable online gallery for easy sharing, and print rights. Additionally, I provide options for film coverage and videography for a truly immersive experience.

I am based in Des Moines, IA, but travel is my most important brand pillar. I have a diverse portfolio, having shot in places like Texas, Mexico, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Michigan, as well as every state in the Midwest. I like to take 3-5 national destinations per year and 1-2 international dates, so if you’re planning upcoming travel or a destination wedding, let's connect. I pride myself in offering affordable and accessible travel photography, so please feel free to think big during disovery.

If I am already booked for your date at inquiry, I will ensure that you get to work with someone just as passionate and talented, who also shares your vision. To serve clients nationwide, I work closely with associates from all over the country. All work is guaranteed and ensured.

YES. I am a type-A strategic planner and love a good itinerary. Having shot hundreds of sessions and countless weddings, I innately understand the element of flow. Through our discovery meetings, I will learn what's important to you - your aestethic and your vibe. With that information, I will help lead and guide your photography narrative offering various vision boards, timelines, workflows, and recommended vendor lists. I'm all in.

YES. Wardrobe strategy is a crucial and oftentimes overlooked element of lifestyle photography. Once booking is complete, I will send you a curated What to Wear guide filled with information overload and outfit inspo. Feel free to provide any input or preferences you have, and together we will create a stunning collection that reflects your style and vision.

To reserve and secure your date, I kindly request a non-refundable retainer fee of 50% and a signed contract. You can conveniently make all payments online through your personalized booking link, using PayPal, Venmo, credit cards, and debit cards. For lifestyle sessions, the final payment is due 7 days prior to the session date. For weddings, the final payment is due 30 days before the wedding date. If you opt for one of my premium wedding packages, I offer payment plans upon request to accommodate your needs. My goal is to simplify the payment process and provide you with flexible options that align with your goals.

As a storyteller photographer, I have discovered that setting a limit on the number of images in a gallery restricts my artistic expression. Images are like words to me, and I believe that limiting them inhibits my ability to tell the story you deserve. After two years in this industry, I came to the realization that discarding uncommissioned imagery was a disservice to both myself and my clients. Since then, I have embraced an unlimited approach. This means that any image I capture that enhances your story will be included. As one of DSM's few unlimited photographers, I assure you that storytelling remains the focal point of my work.

Yes. All of our services and packages include print rights. This is a very important consideration of modern photography, so it is something we have always vowed to offer our clients. Print quality is also a very careful consideration of mine, so we have created the option to order print products in-house; look for the print shop in your final gallery. From there, you will be able to preview personalized print products, select sizes, and styles, and we've formatted them for you. We have chosen a host of printers that can only be utilized by professional photographers, so expect premium quality and priority shipping. Note: You are welcome to print your images wherever you’d like; however, I highly recommend using a professional lab. The formatting tools required to make sure those prints come out just right and retain their digital integrity are not available through bargain printers' websites. The high-quality pieces that come from a professional lab will last a lifetime. *For choosing to print in-house, a coupon code will be delivered to you at check-out. If it doesn't auto-populate, please email us at info@ellariophotography and we'll get one out to you right away.

The turnaround time for your images will vary depending on the season. During busier seasons such as late summer and fall, the turnaround time may be longer when there is a higher volume of sessions. Typically, lifestyle sessions will be delivered within 2-4 weeks during the non-peak season and 4-8 weeks during the peak season. For weddings, the delivery time is generally 4-8 weeks during non-peak seasons and 8-12 weeks during peak seasons. The ETD will be specified in your contract, considering factors such as your package preference, any add-ons, and the current season. If, for any reason, you require your images to be delivered sooner than the estimated delivery time, please let me know. I will do my best to accommodate rush requests.

No, I do not provide RAW images to clients. I firmly believe that editing plays a vital role in the creative process, and it is through this process that I shape and enhance the final result to align with my shooting style. By entrusting me and my editing team, you can expect a truly stunning and cohesive final product that showcases my artistic vision and expertise.

Ellario's editors utilize Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom for photo editing and image softening and sharpening software when necessary. As part of our standard service, all sessions include basic color, exposure, and white balance correction, along with basic skin retouching. However, please be aware that intense editing, such as removal of objects, face swapping, or any other specific requests, may incur an additional charge. These types of edits also need to be approved by the lead photographer, as they may extend the estimated time of delivery for the final gallery. Note: We want to emphasize that we are a body-positive studio. While we do utilize software to soften skin, we strongly believe in maintaining your natural beauty and refuse to edit your face or body to resemble something unnatural to you. Our goal is to enhance the aspects you love about yourself, not change them. Establishing this understanding from the beginning is vital to ensure your satisfaction with the final images.

Pricing structure is based on the CDB (cost of doing business), including equipment, education, travel, and other associated expenses. I believe that photography is a highly specialized industry, and the value of your investment is likely to reflect the quality of the product you receive. While I do not offer discount opportunities, I do provide exclusive booking promotions to the email subscribers of The INNER CIRCLE so make sure you are signed up to receive our email updates.

Yes, for destination wedding packages, all travel expenses are already included in the package price. This means that you would only need to pay a single fee that covers the entire cost, without any additional charges for travel or lodging. However, please note that for smaller sessions, such as lifestyle or portrait sessions, travel and lodging expenses are not included in the session fee and would need to be accounted for separately.

Embracing unexpected weather conditions can lead to unique and memorable photographs. Rain or adverse weather conditions can provide a beautiful backdrop and add an extra element of romance and spontaneity to your photoshoot or wedding day. As your photographer, I am here to work with you and make the most of any situation, rain or shine. If the weather doesn't cooperate for a smaller shoot, we can definitely reschedule. However, for your wedding day, I encourage you to embrace whatever comes your way and trust that we will capture beautiful and authentic moments regardless of the weather.

Once you book a specific date with me, the retainer fee for that date is non-refundable. If circumstances require you to reschedule, we can cancel the current contract, and you are welcome to book a new date by paying a new retainer fee. This policy is in place because, in most cases, I have to turn down other opportunities, such as work, sessions, or weddings, to accommodate your booking. By adhering to this policy, I can better manage my schedule and ensure that I can fully commit to serving you on your chosen date.

To ensure that I am fully prepared and available for your shoot or wedding, I carefully plan my travel arrangements. I schedule a minimum of one full day between my arrival and the day of the event allowing for any potential flight delays or unforeseen circumstances. By adopting this approach, I can guarantee my presence the day before your event, regardless of any travel disruptions.