About Merrill Images

Thank you for visiting our website! We are freelance travel photographers who enjoy exploring and photographing the natural beauty and vibrant cultures of our planet. Our images have been published in numerous books, websites and other media around the world including National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian, Geo, and Outside magazines.

Meeting and photographing people are our passions. We search for the unique in each culture and place we explore. Festivals, markets, and villages with traditional lifestyles fascinate us. Working as a team, we strive to create compelling images which have a strong personal connection. Our photography is always evolving, as we nurture our creativity and grow through new experiences.

We often combine nature and adventure photography with skiing, hiking, rafting and other outdoor explorations in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Community service is important to us, and we contribute our business and photographic skills to select non-profits. To learn more about us, please read this recent article in the Bellevue Reporter.

We welcome inquiries about the range of services we offer: licensing of images, print sales, assignments, portrait photography, and private photo workshops.

Licensing Images

We have thousands of images which can be licensed for editorial or commercial use. Our specialties include children, festivals, markets, handicrafts, religion, education and outdoor recreation. Many of our images are included in the collections of Getty Images, Corbis and Danita Delimont Stock Photography. Please feel free to contact us with specific photo needs.

To view and license our photos via the Getty Images website, please click this link. Then do an advanced search, select "photographers" from the drop-down menu, and enter “Lisa Merrill” or "John Merrill" (either name will retrieve our combined images).

Prints and Photo Products

Our images are available as fine art prints and a variety of other photo merchandise, including mugs and greeting cards. The copyright watermark which appears online will not be visible on prints or merchandise. If you would like to purchase non-standard print sizes, prints with a digital signature, signed framed prints, or gift certificates, please contact us.

Lisa's Portrait Photography

Photographing people is one of my passions.  I create compelling images which tell part of a family's story and provide a window into personalities and relationships.  I work outdoors with natural light, and make the session fun. 

I like to begin each portrait project with a telephone conversation in which we discuss your wishes, potential locations and clothing guidelines.  Your portrait session can include a mix of posed and candid photos, various groupings (including pets), people engaged in hobbies, sports or outdoor recreation,  and black and white as well as color.

Within a week, I post a selection of 20+ images in a private online gallery on this website.  From here you can view a slideshow and order high-quality prints and photo merchandise to display and give as gifts.  In addition, I provide you with a CD of print-optimized images.  My fee  for the photo session and image edting and processing is $250.

I work well with individuals of all ages, including newborns, children, teens, pregnant women, adults and senior citizens. My goal is to create images which bring smiles to you and your family for years to come. Please visit my portrait gallery and contact me to schedule a photo session, purchase a gift certificate, or learn more about me and how I work.

Lisa's Private Photo Workshops

If your or someone you love enjoys photography, fuel that passion with a personalized photo workshop.   I inspire people to new levels of creativity by demystifying the elements of high-impact images, and providing hands-on personalized instruction.  My workshop is a fun learning experience that will be valued for years to come.

“Lisa presented complex information broken down into easy to see bites. She had great visuals to support her ideas, and we all left her workshop with new creative strategies. “    – Emily Blackburn, Overlake High School teacher

I welcome students of ages and experience levels, and any type of camera (including point and shoots).  After learning about the types of photography you enjoy and the areas in which you want to improve, I’ll plan a custom photo workshop.  It will include a slideshow with tips for high-impact people,  travel and nature photos, an excursion in which we'll photograph side-by-side, and an editing session. 

Options for the photo field trip include a hiking trail, a Japanese Garden, the Seattle Waterfront, Pike Place Market or a festival.  We might experiment with composition, motion, lighting, or flash photography, or we might focus on breaking down barriers so that you can photograph people with ease and enjoyment.

Our editing session will help you identify why some of your photos stand out as special, and why others don't work as well.  I'll help you select your best work, and optimize at least 3 stunning images for printing, slideshows or sharing via the internet. 

The workshop will inspire you, unleash your creativity, and help you improve your photography.

My half-day workshop fee is $250 and includes 3 hours of private instruction for one person.  The fee for each additional person is $100.  Full day workshops are also available.

Speical workshop pricing for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Graduation Gifts:  from now thorugh June 15, I'm offering private workshop gift certificates for $200, a 20% savings.  Certificates are valid through December 31, 2012. 

In addition, I'm offeering a special small group workshop on Saturday June 2 from 2-5pm.  Maximium of 5 students, only $100 per person.

Please contact me to schedule a workshop, purchase a gift certificate, or learn more.