From first hello
to photo book in hand
This page is for couples who want to know what working together looks and feels like before you reach out.
Here's everything from start to finish, so you know exactly what to expect.
The simple version
Connect
We get to know each other, make sure it's a good fit, and plan something that genuinely feels like you.
Experience
We spend intentional time together — no pressure, no performing. Just you two, fully present in something meaningful.
Cherish
Your gallery arrives, your photo book is designed with care, and your memories have a permanent, beautiful home.
What the session feels like
Every session starts with a real conversation, not just a Pinterest board.
Of course aesthetics matter, and I'd love to see what inspires you! But my process begins somewhere deeper than that. Before we talk about locations or outfits, I want to know what this moment actually means to you. What you value as a couple. How you want to celebrate your love in a way that feels genuinely yours.
The best way to describe what I do is intentional candid photography. We're not showing up to a random location and running through a list of poses or copying someone else’s photos. We're building an experience around the details that honor what you've actually built together — the things that make your relationship distinctly you.
I'll set the scene, describe what we're going for, and then step back and let you interpret it in your own way. This is meant to be collaborative! There's no right or wrong way to express how you emotionally connect with each other. Whatever closeness, warmth, and connection looks like for you is exactly what I'm here to capture (‘:
What the wedding feels like
A wedding day with me doesn't feel like a production. It feels like a genuine celebration with someone quietly documenting it with care.
I'm not here to orchestrate your wedding or turn it into a photoshoot for “perfect” but fake photos. I'm here because something real is happening: real vows, real tears, real laughter, real people you love all in the same place at the same time. My job is to be present for all of it without getting in the way of any of it.
Somewhere along the way, people started caring more about the wedding photos than the actual wedding experience itself. But I care deeply about your wedding feeling like it’s your wedding. Not a backdrop for photos. Not a checklist of must-have shots. And most definitely not another portfolio item to promote my business.
Weddings are a real event, with real people, making real memories together. The photos will be beautiful, but only because what's happening in them is. I take that role very seriously, and it’s a honor I will never take for granted!
Next steps
Here's exactly what happens from the moment you reach out to the moment your photo book arrives.
No surprises — just a clear, caring process from start to finish.
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After you review my work, fill out the contact form or send an email to hello@aokierika.com.
Share a little about who you are, what you're celebrating, and what day(s) you’d like to work together. There's no pressure to have it all figured out, even a rough idea is enough to start.
I respond to every single inquiry within 48 hours, usually much sooner. I will never leave you on read! Even if I'm not available for your date, I'll let you know and try to point you in a helpful direction. There is no ghosting here.
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A chill 20-minute call where we get to learn about each other. I'll ask about your relationship, your vision, what feels most like you — and we'll figure out together if we're a good fit. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation.
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Once we've decided to work together, I'll send over a contract and request a 25% deposit to hold the date. Payment plans are available — just ask. Your date isn't confirmed until both are received.
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This is one of my favorite parts!
For sessions: We'll plan a location and experience that genuinely feels like it was meant for you and your partner — your favorite neighborhood, a place with meaning, somewhere you've always wanted to go. I'll also send your session guide to help you prepare for the day emotionally, outfits, and logistics.
For adventure elopements: Special guide coming soon (:
For intimate weddings: I don’t personally offer any wedding planning yet, but I have a trusted friend I would love to recommend. If you’d like any vendor recs please let me know!
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We show up, we slow down, and we let the day unfold.
For sessions: I'll guide you gently when it's helpful and disappear when it's not. By the end, most couples say it felt less like a photoshoot and more like a really meaningful date. That's the goal!
For weddings: Instead of treating your wedding like it’s a photo shoot,
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You'll receive a handful of sneak peeks within 48 hours so you don't have to wait long to relive the day. Your full hand-edited gallery arrives within the timeline outlined in your package — 2 to 4 weeks depending on your session. I edit every image with the full gallery in mind, in both natural tones and black & white.
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After your gallery is delivered, I design your custom photo book — selecting images, sequencing the story, and incorporating the personalized details that make it uniquely yours. It's quality-checked by hand (by me) before it ships to your door.
When it arrives, I hope you open it and smile immediately at how beautiful it came out (‘:
FREE SESSION GUIDE
How to prepare for
your couples session
Not sure what to wear? Nervous about feeling awkward? Wondering how to choose a location that actually feels like you? This free guide covers everything, so you can show up feeling ready, excited, and completely yourself.
✧ What to wear (and what to avoid) for couples photos
✧ How to choose a location with meaning
✧ How to mentally prepare so you feel at ease
✧ What to bring and what to expect on the day
✧ Tips for couples who feel camera-shy
Love Letters From Clients
“We felt that she went way above and beyond our expectations.”
From the first conversation to receiving the final photos, she was always well organized, paid high attention to detail, and most importantly fun to work with. We were told by many of our peers that the most important thing in a photographer is having someone you can count on, who has a great personality, and is fun to be around. (I mean, they are with you for pretty much the entire day on the biggest day of your life, lol). SHE TICKED ALL THE BOXES. We will definitely refer her services to our family and friends and hope to see her at more events. Do yourself a favor and stop shopping for wedding photographers now, call up Erika, and lock her in ASAP!
— Austin + Runa (Engagement + Intimate Wedding)
“Her communication was amazing and she made us feel so comfortable throughout the planning process and especially the wedding day.”
Erika was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is very professional and made sure to touch base with us before and during the wedding to make sure she knew exactly what our vision was. My husband and I are not the most comfortable in front of the camera so she helped give us clear and easy direction as well. We truly can’t say enough good things about her!
— Shelby + Raphael (Intimate Wedding)
Ready to experience this for yourselves?
No pressure to have it all figured out.
Reach out and we'll take it from there.
Or email directly: hello@aokierika.com