The roots of Brayden and Chase Peterson’s BRASE Images started in college when Brayden’s soccer teammate asked Chase to shoot their sister’s wedding.
Chase, who studied art and design, was familiar with photography, and Brayden, who studied business, was developing essential management and interpersonal communication skills. Her entrepreneurial spirit sparked.
Chase immediately said yes to shooting the wedding, but asked Brayden to come along to help with the people skills and human management aspect of the day.
“I think a mix of my entrepreneurial itch and his technical knowledge, and both of our personalities, intermingling with people and being empathetic towards people in their best times came naturally,” said Brayden.
“Absorbing that energy, and the privilege it is to be invited into people’s big moments hugged both of us right away.”
Shortly after this first wedding, they began to build BRASE Images together. After a couple workshops, Brayden expanded her technical photographical knowledge, and by 2023, they were both full time for BRASE.
“Our duo is our biggest competitive advantage,” added Brayden. “We are married, we have both the in-and-out knowledge of how the wedding day goes and how the couple feels on a wedding day. Within our workflow and synergy, we’re able to manage a wedding day flow.”
Brayden and Chase define “dynamic duo,” and both add vital pieces to documenting every important moment. While emphasizing the importance of reading the room and fitting into where they’re needed at any given moment, Brayden highlights how empathy helps drive their process.
“I bring the mellow vibes to the day where I help keep people grounded, where Brayden’s a bit more upbeat and spunky on the day—also grounded, trying to bring the emotions to the forefront of the day,” said Chase.
Remaining humble, meeting people at the same level, and approaching them with open arms is how Brayden and Chase, or BRASE, carry themselves.
BRAYDEN’S FAVORITES
FAVORITE ARTIST:
Olivia Dean
FAVORITE GO-TO DRINK:
Iced Chai
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Secretariat
FAVORITE OFF-SEASON HOBBY:
Hosting
FAVORITE PLACE:
X Brand Ranch – Shawnee, CO
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Ted Lasso
CHASE’S FAVORITES
FAVORITE ARTIST:
Russ
FAVORITE GO-TO DRINK:
White Mocha
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Final Season
OFF-SEASON HOBBY:
Snowboarding
FAVORITE PLACE:
Yosemite National Park
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Criminal Minds
“WE’RE SPUNKY. WE HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY. WE LIKE TO BE GOOFY. BUT I ALSO LIKE TO KEEP THINGS PROFESSIONAL, REFINED AND ELEVATED.”
BRAYDEN PETERSON
“We want everybody to come to us as they are, and we want to meet them where they’re at,” added Brayden. “We’re open to working with anybody that’s kind and genuine. It’s all about love, and there’s all different types of love.” BRASE says they capture all the love, romantic, platonic, familial, and self love, showcased on that special day (or weekend).
Instead of a lead photographer and a second, both Brayden and Chase are leads, communicating in almost telepathic ways on the job.
“We both communicate at a high level,” elaborated Chase. “We’ve been doing it together for six years, and we’re able to bounce between each other, but can also bounce with our couples.”
Photo and video packages are flexible to fit the couple’s needs. The services offered are customizable to capture the exact vision clients have. Their main signature offering is 10 hours of photo and video.
Complementary engagement sessions are offered to all couples, which helps fortify the connection and comfort leading up to the big day.
“We really like to work with planners and other vendors and coordinators to help curate a timeline that feels both comfortable and efficient, making sure the couple doesn’t feel any of that stress below or outside of that set 10-hour package,” clarified Brayden.
The pair works with second shooters to provide additional points of view and has a smaller six-hour package. They also offer a larger package with full weekend coverage. Brayden says their ability to customize and curate the best offerings for the couple enhances the overall experience.
“I’M WILLING TO SERVE AND WANT TO SERVE, AND THAT IS WHAT BRINGS ME THE MOST JOY IN TERMS OF WORKING IN THE WEDDING COMMUNITY.”
CHASE PETERSON
THE SIGNATURE PACKAGE SURE TO FIT EVERY COUPLE’S NEEDS
HEIRLOOM: $6,800
COMPLIMENTARY ENGAGEMENT SESSION
COMPLIMENTARY ZIP DRIVE DELIVERY
FULL CEREMONY
FULL SPEECHES
HALF OFF ADD-ONS AND DISCOUNT CODE TO PRINT STORE
HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
1 PHOTOGRAPHER + 1 VIDEOGRAPHER
10 HOURS OF PHOTO + VIDEO COVERAGE
800 PHOTOS
PREVIEW VIDEO
BASE OFFERING STARTS AT $4,000.
For full weekend coverage, a complete creative team of four creators is utilized to ensure full coverage as locations change and movement ensues.
Physical deliverables like photo albums, zip drives, and motion books are all optional add-ons.
While the majority of their work is Sioux Falls, they are always open to traveling.
“The wedding industry is so unique here in Sioux Falls. It’s so vibrant—so full of life,” said Brayden. “People are so amped to get married here, which I love so much.”
Bryan and Ashley’s wedding immediately came to mind when Brayden and Chase were picking out what photos to feature. She says the attention to detail, design, floral, planning, and everything between, was beautifully executed.
“Ashley and Bryan were such intentional people, and I could tell she really cared about all of those details,” revealed Brayden.
“She cared about her guest experience, and wanted to make sure her guests enjoyed the day and could feel the love, but also just really wanted to get married at the end of the day.”
Every guest received a handwritten letter, ready for them prior to the ceremony. Brayden says this goes to show how much detail was put into the planning of the event.
“IT’S A CRUCIAL THING YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEARTBEAT ON INDUSTRY CHANGES AND BE ABLE TO ADAPT IN SOME RIGHTS, BUT ALSo sTAY TRUE TO WHAT WE’VE CHOSEN TO OFFER AND HOW WE EXPRESS AS ARTISTS AND WHAT OUR ART REALLY IS.”
BRAYDEN PETERSON
VENDORS
BOUNCE HOUSE + BALLOONS:
Elevated Air
CAKE:
Bride’s Mother, Jodie Nielsen
CATERING:
En Place catering
CEREMONY MUSIC:
Jodie (Vocalist), Janell (Pianist), Natalie (Violinist)
CONTENT CREATION:
Kay’s Content Co
FLORALS:
Fresh Flower Studio
HAIR + MAKEUP:
Mane & Ember | Alyssa Corsbie
MORNING MEAL:
Cultivated in Love
PASTOR:
Tim Selbo | Gloria Dei
PHOTOGRAPHY:
BRASE Images
PLANNING + COORDINATION:
Rebecca Carlyle | Serendipitous Events
RENTALS:
Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals
VENUE:
Laurel Ridge Barn
At the beginning of planning, Bryan was asked what his dream wedding would be. His answer was to have either George Strait or The Contenders play live music.
“George Strait was maybe a little out of reach, but Ashley was able to get The Contenders to show up,” said Brayden. “We kept it from Bryan, and it was a surprise all day.”
On Ashley and Bryan’s first date The Contenders played at Levitt at the Falls, and they loved them so much, they blew off dinner reservations.
After their first kiss at the wedding when they recessed down the aisle, they played for the couple again.
Another notable, fun additional detail was the bouncy house, bringing a playful, yet elevated touch.
“There was a stellar lineup of vendors,” added Brayden. “What draws me to the day so much is Ashley was a bride that invested in high-quality vendors and then trusted them. It created a day that went gorgeously, everything cultivated in love.”
“I JUST LOVE BEING IN THIS ENERGY OF jOY AND GRATITUDE, WE’RE JUST SO HAPPY, WE’RE SO IN LOVE, AND IT’S THE BEST THING EVER.”
BRAYDEN PETERSON
The bread and butter of the business is weddings, but BRASE also does corporate photoshoots for various clients.
“The basis of our whole entire creative process, especially when it comes to weddings, is the couple’s story,” said Brayden. “Telling a story is something that we really take to heart.”
In Brayden’s words, weddings are an amalgamation and perfect display of all the relationships fostered through a person’s life—the center point of the day being the relationship built in the marriage the couples enter.
From grandparents, to parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and friends from different eras of life, weddings bring everyone together.
“We’re not there to just be your proof of life, we want to dig into who played part in bringing you to this moment and how can we help tell that story through the photos and the videos, so when you look back on them, you’re remembering those feelings and you’re appreciating those people,” added Brayden.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BRASEIMAGES.COM+
