Wedding & Elopement PHOTOGRAPHY & More 

Mentor Sessions

Ready to truly grow your photography business? Our personalized one-on-one mentoring offers direct, tailored guidance from a seasoned elopement & wedding photographer.

If you’re new to the scene or looking to refine your established craft, working with us will help you tackle specific goals and achieve significant results. These focused, customized sessions are designed to unlock your full potential, build your confidence, and propel your business to the next level, helping you attract your dream clients and build a sustainable brand.

We Don’t promise overnight success

Or sell you a six-figure dream.

Building a career you’re proud of takes hard work, passion, and authenticity. With 15 years of experience in wedding photography, I’m here to guide you step by step, sharing insights to help you thrive as both a creative and a business owner. So let’s keep it real, no gatekeeping here!

Together, we’ll dive into what matters most to you and what stage your business is in. We can create and style standout shoots, build meaningful connections with industry professionals, and craft a brand that’s uniquely yours. This isn’t about cookie-cutter advice—it’s about giving you the tools and strategies to carve your own path and tell your own story.

Let's make it happen if you’re ready to grow, get real about your goals, and create a business that truly reflects who you are. Your journey starts here—let’s build something extraordinary together!

Invest in Yourself with Honest and Real Mentorship

  • MENTOR SESSIONS - WORKFLOW, SHOOTING & EDITING ESSENTIALS

    No fluff, no gatekeeping, just real, honest insights from my years in the wedding and elopement photography business. “No topic is off limits.”

    Master pricing, client workflows, social media, file management, and advice on building a sustainable, organized business while keeping your files safe.

    Master guiding clients, posing for natural emotion, and location scouting. Maximize your gear, experiment with techniques, and refine your editing with Lightroom, Photoshop, and other programs I use, along with custom presets for a consistent workflow.

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  • YOUR GUIDE TO ONLINE GROWTH AND VIDEO

    Guidance through the technicalities of building a powerful online presence.

    Master SEO, website conversions, pricing layouts, and accessibility, customizing strategies for your specific needs—

    Whether you're refining an existing site or starting from scratch

    Guidance on how to use your camera for video and navigating your entire video journey, empowering you to connect with your ideal clients through motion.

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WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU GROW

Your Journey, Guided by 15 Years of Authentic Storytelling.

Choosing Mariela as your mentor means collaborating with an expert in authentic storytelling. Her unique and straightforward approach to elopement and wedding photography prioritizes genuine connections and raw emotions over perfection.

With her extensive experience, no topic is off-limits. She guides you in improving your workflow, overcoming challenges, attracting your ideal clients, and building a sustainable business that reflects your passion—all drawn from her 15 years of experience..

Your Guide to Online Growth & Video

Looking to boost your online visibility and convert visitors into clients? Meet Demetris, our digital strategy expert and talented videographer.

Demetris will guide you through the technicalities of building a powerful online presence. He'll help you master SEO, website conversions, pricing layouts, and accessibility, customizing strategies for your specific needs—whether you're refining an existing site or starting from scratch.

With over 12 years of experience, He will help you strengthen your visibility and confidence in booking your next client.

MENTOR SESSIONS ↓↓↓↓

  • Coaching Session

  • 1:1 Full Day Mentor Session 

  • 1:1 Curated Styled Photo Shoot 

  • Website Refresh or Custom Website

1:1 Full Day Mentor Session

Possible Topics Include:
-Finding good light
-Interacting with clients
-How I use the gear I have
-Tips and tricks on making the most out of your gear
-Composition
-Social Media
-Website/Portfolio Critique

Software Covered:
-Adobe Lightroom
-Adobe Photoshop

Engagement or Bridal Session

We will have a photo shoot together. I will take the first half of the session to explain what I'm doing and why. During the second half, you’ll have the opportunity to take photos yourself and practice some of the tips and tricks I’ll share with you.

After the shoot, we will cover post-processing, from culling to Lightroom and Photoshop.

Investment

$3000

Sessions will take place in Southern California, at some of my favorite spots, including Joshua Tree, Santa Barbara, and San Diego.

(One Day Sessions include 6-8 hours of coverage and a 1-hour couple session)

SAMPLE Topics

We Can Dive Into during our Mentor Session

Got questions about boosting your photography skills or truly growing your business? You might be considering a mentorship session, but you're not quite sure what it would cover or how I could genuinely help you. That's totally fine—I understand!

To give you a clearer idea, here are some of the topics photographers often explore with me, designed to spark inspiration and help you take that next step:

  • Imposter Syndrome: Let’s tackle the doubts that hold you back and build confidence in your business and yourself.

  • A Legitimate and Legal Business: Learn how to legitimize your business with a proper license, contracts, insurance, taxes, and all the essential pieces to protect yourself and your clients.

  • Behind the Scenes of Business: From pricing, branding, and workflows to client communication and management, I’ll show you how to simplify the back end so you can focus on what you love most.

  • Wedding Photography: I’ll guide you on creating a valuable client experience, capturing raw emotions, and building your dream wedding portfolio.

  • Marketing Deep Dive: Simplifying blogging, Instagram, Pinterest, and email marketing to create a strategy that works for you.

  • Equipment and Editing: Are you nervous about gear or editing? I’ll help you master flash photography, Lightroom, and more so you can feel confident in any situation.

Let's chat if any of these topics speak to you—or even if you’re unsure where to start! This is your chance to elevate your skills and business on your terms. Ready to take that step? Let’s make it happen.

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One-on-one Curated Styled Photoshoot

I will help you create a stunning editorial that perfectly represents your brand and style. Don't worry about competing with other photographers; focus on your brand. I’ll assist you in strategically planning, coordinating, and enhancing your portfolio. You will have access to my guidance, a curated gallery, and expert advice on social media and marketing. We will also walk you through the process of communicating and obtaining collaborations with other wedding vendors and venues step by step. I will also teach you how to spend less on a styled shoot.

The service starts at $1,500

I'd be happy to provide you with a quote. The price will depend on how intricate or simple you want your shoot to be, as well as what it will include. When you think of a styled shoot, always keep in mind the hard costs, such as florals, and rental delivery fees for tablescapes, among other expenses. Let's work together to create something unique!

My goal is to create a shoot utilizing my contacts and spending the least possible, and Collaborations are exactly what the word means: “ A Collaboration.”

COACHING SESSION

$300

A 1-hour online session - tailored entirely to you. Whether it's business, shooting, editing, workflow, website audit, camera settings, posing prompts, client experience, or more! And all the in-betweens, we'll dive into the topics you're most eager to learn about. If we need more time, additional hours are just $200 each.

If you're local to Riverside, I offer an in-person 2-hour coaching session for $500; additional hours are $200 each.

Website REFRESH? or Custom Site?

Do you need a refresh on your existing website and gallery? You may need a new website design and need help and guidance. I have Graphic Designers, Website creators, and SEO experts within arms' reach! I work with "Muse Media House." to enhance, fix, or create your website with a detailed curation and/or walkthrough. And optimize for search engines.

Starts at $1,800 for Refresh

Complete Custom Website design starts at $2,800

SEO + Marketing Monthly Subscriptions start at $1250 per month

View some samples of our past clients customized websites.

The Nature of Things

Custom Website Design

A Touch of Class Events

Custom Website Design

Mariela's mentorship is amazing. She knew her stuff and was able to give me some great advice that helped me improve my business. I'm so grateful for the insight and feedback that she provided me.

— Skii F.

Got Questions?

we have answers

  • For your in-person mentorships/workshops that includes the live styled shoot with models, photographers often book a mentor session around 6 – 12 months in advance.

    For any mentorships without photographing models, you can book at a minimum 1 month in advance (subject to availability)

  • During our mentor sessions, I'll take the time to ask thoughtful questions to truly understand you, your goals, and where you want to grow. From there, we’ll dive into every aspect of building your photography business—both as a creative and as an entrepreneur. Together, we’ll craft a learning experience that’s completely customized to fit your needs and aspirations.

    If you already have a clear idea of what you want to focus on, that’s perfect! I’m an open book and promise to approach our time together with complete transparency and honesty. No fluff, no gatekeeping—just genuine guidance and actionable insights to help you thrive.

    I’m so excited for the chance to share what I’ve learned and help you take the next step in your journey. Let’s do this together!

  • My in-person mentorships are held around November through to March.

    For online mentorships, I am available year round with limited availabilities during June – September due to elopement + wedding season

  • If you have booked an "in-person" session, we will do our best to plan around the weather! If we are not having it, then rescheduling will happen. For non-weather related rescheduling—LIFE HAPPENS—we will try our best to reschedule for a better time. I extend the same rescheduling foundation that I do with my couples—the first time is complimentary, and each time after that, there would be a $200 rescheduling fee. The biggest thing here is if we are trying to reschedule around our models and other vendors.

    If you want to reschedule your virtual meeting, no fee applies! 

  • If you're ready to rock and roll, fill out the contact by clicking on the button below.

    I AM SO EXCITED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND WATCH YOU THRIVE!! 

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