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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 senior 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 dancing it up in the woods in your prom dress, rocking your exceptional personal style, skipping through alleyways, majestic mountains, sparkly eyes and big dreams. I live for all of these things and more. Why? Because your senior photos are so much more than a perfect outfit or a cheesy smile. Your images are filled with celebration, life, and laughter - all to showcase your stellar self and your awesome post-graduation goals.
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 food found in downtown Missoula (because there are a lot of options 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!
You are amazing and thank you for EVERYTHING! I had so much fun! I could go on and on about you I'm just so happy and excited about this whole thing! #kristinepaulsenisagoddessandamazingatherjob
Before Kristine, I had never been professionally photographed. She did a wonderful job capturing my senior photos for me, even though I was a little nervous and worried at first. She was always quick to reply in her emails to me and one of the kindest people I have met, in the short amount of time we spent together. Not only that, but my senior pictures are one of a kind and present the best version of myself. I'm so thankful for the experience I had working with Kristine and would recommend her to anyone looking for great service, great products, and an individual that will make you feel comfortable, no matter the circumstances.
I love them!!!!!!! They look absolutely wonderful!!!!!! Thank you so so much!!!!
The photos are stunning! Miranda was SOOOOOOO Excited! She woke me up to see them. Which was amazing to see the excitement and joy on her face. Thank You for a job well done. We are going to have trouble choosing…. A good problem to have. We will always recommend you!
Wow...you did a fantastic job with my pictures. We are going to have such a hard time choosing!!! Thanks so much.
Kristine was wonderful to work with...and the images she created were incredible. We are so grateful we found her--she's the best!
Thank you again. We love all the pictures and Cam had another fabulous senior session, just like Emilee.
I just saw the photos, and I absolutely LOVE them all!! Thank you so much Kristine!!!
Thank you so much! I love every photo! I just can't decide on which photo will be my senior photo!
These look great! I love how it turned out. Thanks again, Sam
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 senior 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 senior photo information. My pricing is simple. Basic collections include coverage and a select number of files. Additional collections include coverage, a select number of files and product credit which you can choose how to use so it best fits your needs. You can also upgrade to receive every file from your session, and you can always add products/prints/files/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 seniors 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 and wall art 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 seniors 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 more 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.)
For sure! If you're in the area visiting and want to have your senior photos done in Montana, then let's do it! We'll just want to make sure we know when your yearbook photo is due at your school so we don't miss any important deadlines.
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! Lifestyle portraiture is a favorite of mine, I always have a great time telling stories via the multimedia realm, and I have a soft spot for pretty food photography. I also freelance as a photojournalist for various publications around the United States. And I photograph large weddings and elopements as well.
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 senior session information. My pricing is simple. Basic collections include coverage and a select number of files. Additional collections include coverage, a select number of files and product credit which you can choose how to use so it best fits your needs. You can also upgrade to receive every file from your session, and you can always add products/prints/files/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 seniors feel this way too. I aim for a relaxed, happy vibe that shows your true personality, 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 seniors 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, wall art, and other products that I offer. Treat yourself!
As long as you tell me your yearbook deadline and we're able to plan your session far enough ahead of time to meet your yearbook deadline, I'm happy to submit the photo of your choice to your yearbook and take care of that process for you so it's one less thing for you to worry about.
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 seniors and their families 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 yourself, 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 is done online to make it super quick and easy (if you're under 18 you'll need a parent or guardian to sign your contract). 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.
