Whidbey photographer charges $25 for 15-minute Halloween witch shoots

Amber Braxton is charging a fee for 15-minute photo sessions that produce five digital images each. The cost of these mini shoots is low enough to serve as an accessible alternative to standard portrait services on Whidbey Island.

The sessions take place on October 31 on a trail near Coupeville. Participants dress as witches for the shoot. Each session includes the creation of a custom spell jar. This item is provided through a partnership with Oaklawn Enchantments, a shop located in Oak Harbor.

Braxton, a self-taught photographer from Colorado, has lived in Greenbank for seven months. She began taking photographs as a hobby in the spring of 2016. She registered her photography business in July of that year. She left her position in community mental health three years after starting the business to work in photography full time.

"Portraits are a luxury service," Braxton said. "Not everyone can afford an hour session and I understand that." She views the short format as a way to offer professional photography to clients who find standard pricing out of reach.

Braxton learned to operate her camera through trial and error. She maintains full control over her camera settings. Her portfolio includes fine art, portraiture, and landscapes. She prefers to capture subjects in authentic poses rather than traditional staged portraits. Her work is characterized by moody lighting.

She moved from Colorado to Whidbey because the island environment suits her photographic style. She noted that Colorado tends to remain bright and sunny. Whidbey offers forests, farmland, and gray days that align with her preference for specific lighting conditions.

This is not Braxton’s first seasonal photography project. She has previously held mini shoots featuring bedsheet ghosts and wearable carved pumpkins. She described these events as a way to engage creatively with clients during the holiday season.