Vendor Profile: Moxie Images
Name: Moxie Images
Website: http://www.moxieimages.com
Phone: (509)869-2412
Email: nikki@moxieimages.com
Address: 6718 N. Pittsburg St.
Spokane, WA 99217
Price Range: $2,400 to $3,400
We were lucky enough to do a little interview with the lovely Nikki Belyea of Moxie Images this past month. I have seen Nikki in action in past weddings and she is so kind with her brides! One thing that I love about her work is that she is so very consistent. I have never seen an image that wasn’t of good quality come from Moxie Images. Consistency is such an important thing when picking our a photographer.
Here’s a little more info about Nikki:
Q: How did you get started? How long have you been in the industry?
N: I’ve been in business for 9 years, since June 2003. I started learning about photography a few years before that, while in high school. During my junior and senior year I spent half the day at a career center, this was in Alaska, and I picked photography for my class thinking that it would be a fun hobby. I also took graphic design for a semester to try that out. I landed a good high school job at the lovely Sears Portrait Studio too! During my senior year I told my parents I wanted to go to college for photography, so my dad and I checked out schools along the coast of California (I wanted to live by the beach!) and then stopped in Spokane to visit family. While I was here I checked out Spokane Falls Community College and surprisingly enough it was my favorite school, so I made Spokane my home. I spent 2 years getting my AA Degree in Photography and got my business license right when I graduated. I started shooting weddings that summer… and was busy ever since! Once I got a studio I was able to do more portrait sessions and expand that part of my business, but weddings have always been my focus. My business has grown enough that I was able to buy commercial property for my studio and have been there for 4 years now.
Q: How do you describe your photography or style?
N: It’s hard to label a specific style… I just do what I do and that’s probably a bit of a mixture if someone were to look through one of my albums. I like capturing natural moments, so people would call that “candid” or “photojournalism” I guess. I also make sure there are some more posed timeless images of the couple (Mom will want), along with family posed shots, which would be considered “traditional”. And when I have a wedding party in a specific location for the lighting and background, yet have them laughing and talking, then that’s called “illustrative”. I think I naturally intermix all of those styles throughout the day when it seems appropriate for each. I’m easy going and can change directions quickly and easily as time allows.
Q: What is your favorite surrounding or back drop? Or, your favorite photographic moment?
N: My favorite surroundings are usually some place I’ve never been before. I see more “spots” in places I’ve never been compared to places I’ve seen hundreds of times. Clients sometimes worry too much about the location, but I know I can make nearly anything look different through the lens. The focus is the people and my job is to make things work around them. I favor outside over indoor, so for inside weddings I like to get the couple outside for some of the photos at least. Sometimes people don’t want to go out in the heat, rain, snow, wind… pretty much any weather condition can be a problem, but those are things that can make the photos more interesting too. When we had our first snow earlier this winter I had an engagement session scheduled, we had it scheduled for a couple months prior! The couple were so awesome and willing to trudge through the snow unexpectedly. It wasn’t a perfect day weather wise, but it made for fun and unique photos!
Here’s a shot from that shoot:
Q: What is your favorite thing about photographing events?
N: For some reason when I get to the wedding location and walk into the getting ready room I get the vibe of excitement by just walking in. It’s a great feeling. I take photos of the dress, the shoes and all the other details, knowing the bride has spent so much time picking these things out. When the bride is getting her dress on the bridesmaids and moms are smiling, sometimes through tears, love those moments.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
N: With my job I love that every day is different. I also love that what I give to people is something they will treasure for a lifetime. It’s such an honor!
Q: What challenges you in your work?
N: I think the biggest challenge is the same as my favorite… that every day is different. This job requires constant learning and reinventing to keep it fresh, but again that’s what makes it fun too!
Q: What’s your average pricing?
N: All my packages include full coverage of the main events on the wedding day – up to 8 hours, including the printable digital files. I also make a slideshow within a few days after the wedding that the couple can share online while they are away on their honeymoon! I offer a free engagement session including the digital files to all my couples, this helps to get to know each other before the big day. Albums are included in most of my packages and there are a variety to choose from. Currently the packages range $2400-$3400.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living in the Inland Northwest?
N: Having 4 seasons. I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska with very long winters and just a couple months of summer. I didn’t know what spring and fall were like until I moved here.
Q: Favorite dessert? And, the best place to get it around here?
N: That’s tough since I love all sweets! But for a dessert outing I’d say frozen yogurt at Froyo. One just opened on Nevada/Lyons by my studio!
And, now, I’m craving froyo…
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