Whidbey photographer offers 15-minute Halloween witch portraits for $30

Amber Braxton is turning Whidbey residents into witches this weekend with a series of short, themed photo sessions. The photographer is holding the shoots on October 31 on a trail near Coupeville. Each session lasts 15 minutes and produces five digital images for the participant. This format is designed to be a lower-cost alternative to standard portrait photography, which Braxton describes as a luxury service that not everyone can afford.

Participants in the event can also create a custom spell jar. This add-on is part of a collaboration with Oaklawn Enchantments, a shop located in Oak Harbor. The partnership allows clients to take home a physical craft item alongside their digital photographs. Braxton noted that the mini-shoot format makes the experience accessible for more people during the spooky season.

Braxton is a self-taught photographer from Colorado who currently lives in Greenbank. She began taking photos as a hobby in the spring of 2016 after receiving a camera as a gift from her husband. By July of that year, she had registered her photography business. She recalled that friends in the area soon began asking her to photograph their families and children. Three years after starting her business, she left her job in community mental health to work in photography full time.

The photographer prefers to capture subjects as their authentic selves rather than through rigid posing. Her portfolio includes fine art, portraiture, and landscapes. She attributes her visual style to an awareness of how light interacts with her environment. Braxton has lived on Whidbey Island for seven months and finds the local landscape better suited to her aesthetic than her previous home in Colorado. She notes that the island offers forests, farmland, and gray days, which align with her preference for moody lighting.

This is not Braxton's first seasonal photo opportunity. In previous years, she has hosted mini shoots featuring bedsheet ghosts and people wearing carved pumpkins. She enjoys the creative engagement that seasonal themes provide for both her and her clients. She described photography as a daily obsession that has changed how she observes the world around her.

The witch-themed sessions are scheduled for Saturday, October 31. Locations are on a trail near Coupeville. The partnership with Oaklawn Enchantments will remain active for the duration of the event, allowing attendees to complete their spell jars on site.