2025 Booking Launch!
Bookings for 2025 open August 1, 2025. Sign up for our email list for Early Access!
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It's more than just a mini session. It's a full experience!
Fiesta Portrait Experience!
Are you soaring into ABQ for the Balloon Launch? In need of a pro photographer to capture your epic journey? Well, look no further! With over 30 years of ballooning magic under our belt, our packages aren’t just about snapping pics—they’re a full-on adventure! Perfect for both globe-trotters and local legends alike!
Last Year's Experience Packages
Mon-Weds 10/7 - 10/9 Morning Slots
Best Selling and most popular photography package
Hang out with us and watch the launch during any one of the Festival's weekdays.
Your adventure begins by meeting us at 5:30AM at a predetermined checkpoint at the balloon park itself. There is no Shuttle Service on these 3 days.
We'll hang out, grab some breakfast, and get ready for Dawn Patrol launch which will take weather readings for Mass Ascension.
As the sun starts to come up, the balloons will begin inflating. If the Go-For-Launch is given, ascension will begin at 7am.
For the next hour, you will be immersed in colorful shapes in every direction.
Ascension will last approximately 1.5-2 hours.
- 4 hours at the Balloon Park
- Up to 3 people per slot
- No photo download limits
- Online Proof Gallery
- Optional Printing Access
- 1-2 Week Processing
- Self Drive to Park Only, Shuttle Not Available
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- In order to meet us at the Park at 5:30AM, you will need to give yourself at least 1.5-2 hours travel time from your home or hotel. Anticipate gridlocked traffic and long lines at the gates.
- The Fiesta charges for parking(Plan for $20, but it might be lower) and only takes cash.
- We will do a team meeting via Google Meet the day before to go over the details.
ONLY 4 SLOTS PER DAY
Meeting Time: 5:30AM
Approx. End Time: 9:30AM
Parking Location:
Balloon Fiesta Park, 9401 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
AVAILABILITY
October 7: SOLD OUT!
October 8: SOLD OUT!
October 9: SOLD OUT!
Morning Slots -Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 11, Oct 10, Oct 12, Oct 13
Park & Ride Days
MORNING LAUNCH
Hang out with us and watch the Morning Launch.
Your adventure begins by meeting us at 3:45AM by meeting us at Coronado Mall Park & Ride. Avoiding the traffic and gridlock, we ride the shuttle through its own route and entrance to the park. Shuttles depart at 4AM on the dot so please don't be late!
We hang out at the field and have breakfast/coffee until Dawn Patrol launches to take weather readings for Mass Ascension.
As the sun starts to come up, the balloons will begin inflating. If the Go-For-Launch is given, ascension will begin at 7am.
For the next hour, you will be immersed in colorful shapes in every direction.
Ascension will last approximately 1.5-2 hours.
Afterwards we will depart the park the same way we came.
- Up to 5 hours at the Balloon Park
- Park & Ride's Fare NOT Included, will need to be purchased separately(Does include Fiesta Admission)
- No photo download limits
- Online Proof Gallery
- Optional Printing Access
- 1-2 Week Processing
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- We will do a team meeting via Google Meet the day before to go over the details
ONLY 4 SLOTS PER DAY
Meeting Time: 3:45AM
Approx. End Time: 9:30AM
Parking Location:
Coronado Center Mall, 6600 Menaul Blvd NE Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87110
AVAILABILITY
Oct 5 Morning : SOLD OUT!
Oct 6 Morning: SOLD OUT!
Oct 10 Morning: SOLD OUT!
Oct 11 Morning: SOLD OUT!
Oct 12 Morning: SOLD OUT!
Oct 13 Morning: SOLD OUT!
Evening Slots -Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 11, Oct 10, Oct 12, Oct 13
Park & Ride Days
EVENING GLOW
The most anticipated event each day, the Balloon Glow is an exciting after dark experience where the balloons of the Fiesta stay on the ground and you are surrounded by their light!
Your adventure begins by meeting us at 4:15PM by meeting us at Coronado Mall Park & Ride. Avoiding the traffic and gridlock, we ride the shuttle through its own route and entrance to the park. Shuttles depart at 4:30PM on the dot so please don't be late!
You will have some time to grab some food and explore before the Glow begins.
At 5:45pm we will meet back up and start towards locations for photography to begin. At 6pm, the balloons inflate and for approximately 1 hour, these orbs of light will twinkle and awe you.
Afterwards are the following events:
- 7:30 pm Team Fastrax™ Skydiving
- 7:45 pm Drone Light Show, sponsored by Sandia Resort & Casino
- 8:00 pm* AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Afterwards we will depart the park the same way we came.
- 3.5 hours at the Balloon Park
- Park & Ride's Fare NOT Included, will need to be purchased separately(Does include Fiesta Admission)
- No photo download limits
- Online Proof Gallery
- Optional Printing Access
- 1-2 Week Processing
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- We will do a team meeting via Zoom the day before to go over the details
ONLY 4 SLOTS PER DAY
Meeting Time: 4:15PM
Approx. End Time: 8:30PM
Parking Location:
Coronado Center Mall, 6600 Menaul Blvd NE Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87110
AVAILABILITY
Oct 5 Evening : SOLD OUT!
Oct 6 Evening: SOLD OUT!
Oct 10 Evening: SOLD OUT!
Oct 11 Evening: SOLD OUT!
Oct 12 Evening: SOLD OUT!
Oct 13 Evening: SOLD OUT!
How It Works
Additional Information
Slot 'Mini' Sessions. As a 30 year veteran of the Balloon Festival, Ponic Photography brings you an exclusive experience by providing "Mini" Photography Sessions at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Our approach is simple, providing each client with affordable yet breathtaking photography from the most photographed event in the world. Each day of the Fiesta is divided into a Day Team. Each team consists of four couples. These four couples attend the fiesta together! In the three hours we have, we rotate through each couple so that each will get equal photography time! By booking up to four couples per day, we can lower the cost of the session making it affordable to all. We have you arrive early enough so you don't miss a thing!
How Long Is Your Session? Despite common belief, the Festival is not a quick event; it spans either the entire morning or evening. Arriving last minute is not an option. It takes several hours to enter the event, followed by a considerable amount of time waiting for the balloons to take off. In total, expect to spend at least 3-4 hours. Without proper preparation, you risk missing the balloon launches due to traffic or the Fiesta's lengthy queues. We have witnessed this scenario repeatedly. Rest assured, we are committed to ensuring a smooth experience for you by handling all the planning and preparations. Your only task is to arrive on time and follow our guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us via chat or admin@ponicphotography.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The balloons launch only in the mornings. Mass Ascension is at 7AM every morning of the Fiesta's nine scheduled days. The evening Balloon Glow is a static display, not a launch. There are no launches after 7am except for private balloon rides and competitions.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is not a fast event, it takes all morning or all evening. You simply cannot show up last minute and expect to get in. Most of that time you are waiting either in line or in traffic. On average, it takes approximately 2 hours to enter the Fiesta. Security clearance, bag checks, traffic jams and long lines are expected. Our start times have been carefully designed after years of trial and error. It is very common for traffic to completely gridlock in the hours before launch, and you would not want to be stuck in traffic while the launch is happening!
Dates are first come first serve. We cannot guarantee an available slot in the event of a missed session. In order to remain on schedule for the benefit of all clients, our sessions begin at the posted times on the dot.
You should give yourself at least 1.5-2 hours from the moment of leaving your home or hotel to arriving at our checkpoint. Anticipate gridlocked traffic, long lines at the gate, and a huge mass of people to walk through while in the park itself.
In order to adhere to our event schedule, all clients should arrive no later than 3:45am at their Park & Ride location for the mornings and 4:15pm in the evenings. If you miss this departure time, it will be your responsibility to travel to the Fiesta on your own and meet us.
Yes you can. To book us exclusively, you will want to purchase all four available slots for either the morning or the evening. Dates and slots are first come first serve and we tend to book up at least two months in advance. You can also reach out to us to have us set you up a VIP for a specific day.
We unfortunately cannot offer refunds in the event of a balloon ascension or glow cancelation. This is due to the fact that events are not officially canceled until the last possible moment, long after we've already arrived at the park. The "Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta" reserves the right to either delay or cancel a day's events at the last moment without warning. 98% of all cancelations are weather related. If it raining, windy or foggy, the balloons will not launch.
It's going to be cold. VERY COLD. The average pre-dawn temperature at the park is at least 40 degrees or lower and it will remain that cold until after sunrise and after the balloons have launched. We recommend dressing accordingly with heavy coats, long pants and comfortable, warm boots or shoes.
Festival policy expressly prohibits crowd control of any kind for both safety and attendee benefit. We will do our best to minimize others in your shots but we cannot guarantee it.
For 2024, Park & Ride does not run on Monday-Wednesday.
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Ponic Photography seeks to serve all potential clients. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status.
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