Balloon Fiesta Sessions
Photography Sessions at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta!
Perfect for Marriage Proposals, Engagement Announcements, Senior Portraits, Vacations & More!
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® is the most photographed event in the world. For nine days, the sky becomes an enchanted sea of shapes, colors and wonder. Need a professional photographer to cover your adventure? Look no further!
Born and raised in Albuquerque, we know how to make your experience as simple and exciting as possible. Jason Ponic has been attending the Fiesta since 1987. He know's the Do's and Don't's of the festival, how to avoid traffic, get the most for your time and the most breathtaking views and angles.
Want to get up close and personal with a balloonist? We happen to know one! Book any one of our packages and hang out with the crew of "Mr. Sprinkles!"
How It Works
Photography Teams. Ponic Photography brings you an exclusive experience by providing "Mini" Photography Sessions at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. 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 arrive early enough so you don't miss a thing!
Timeline. Contrary to myth, the Balloon Fiesta is not a fast event, it takes all morning or all evening. You simply cannot show up last minute. It takes a couple hours just to get to the event followed by a lot of waiting for the balloons to launch. If you are not prepared, you can literally miss the balloons entirely due to traffic or long lines. We've seen it time and time again. We pledge to make your experience as easy as possible and have done all the planning and prep work for you. All you need to do is arrive on-time and follow our lead.
Packages
We offer two complete packages to make your Balloon Fiesta photography experience the most immersive possible. Each provides a very unique experience and filled with photography opportunity! Unique to our packages, we don't just offer admission to the Fiesta, we offer transportation as well through the Official Park & Ride Service. This is to make your experience as easy as possible.
Morning Mass Ascension
The Most Popular!
Hang out with us and watch the launch during any one of the Fiesta's nine days. Your adventure begins at 4am when we meet at the official Park & Ride location. Avoiding the traffic and gridlock, we ride the shuttle through its own route and entrance to the park. We will arrive by 5am where we will have breakfast and hang out while 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 hours. Afterwards we will depart the park the same way we came.
Package Start Time: 4:00AM
Parking Location:
Coronado Center Mall, 6600 Menaul Blvd NE Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87110
Evening Balloon Glow
Don't Miss!
The most anticipated event each day, the Balloon Glow is an exciting after dark experience where the balloons of the Fiesta light up the night sky! Join us for an all evening experience beginning at 4pm when we meet at the official Park & Ride location. Avoiding the traffic and gridlock, we ride the shuttle through its own route and into its own entrance to the park. We will arrive by 5pm you have 1 hour to grab some food and explore before the Glow begins. A 6pm, the balloons inflate and for approximately 1 hour, these orbs of light will twinkle and awe you. The night will end with the specular fireworks show!
Package Start Time: 5:00PM
Parking Location:
Coronado Center Mall, 6600 Menaul Blvd NE Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87110
General
USD $200
About This Service
Up to four slots, 1 per couple, per event date are available. You will team up with up to three other couples per morning or evening. Dates are first come first serve. Each booking will come with a confirmation message and a pre-shoot Video Call to discuss the events.
Interested in booking us exclusively? Book out the day by purchasing all four slots.
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Pricing
Balloon Fiesta: Balloon Glow
3 hr$200
Hide Details
30 year veteran of the Balloon Fiesta
3 hours at the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta
Up to 2 People Fiesta Admission Included
Up to 2 People Park & Ride Fare Included
No photo download limits
Online Proof Gallery
Optional Printing Access
1-2 Week Processing
$50 booking fee at time of booking.
Remainder $150 is due 3 days before shoot.
Balloon Fiesta: Morning Mass Ascension
2 hr$200
Show Details
FAQ's
When do the balloons launch? 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.
If the balloons launch at 7am, why are we starting at 4am? 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 and long lines are expected. Our start time is scheduled in sync with the Park & Ride schedule.
If we miss our session, can we reschedule? Dates are first come first serve. We cannot guarantee an available slot in the event of a missed session.
What time should we arrive at Park & Ride? 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 4:45pm in the evenings. If you miss this departure time, it will be your responsibility to travel to the Fiesta on your own.
Can we book you exclusively for a morning or evening session? 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 three months in advance.
If the balloons don't launch, can I get a refund? 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.
What should I wear to the fiesta? It's going to be cold. VERY COLD. The average pre-dawn temperature at the park is 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.
Will you be able to clear people from the shot so we can have a clean photo? Unfortunately Fiesta policy expressly prohibits crowd control of any kind at the balloon fiesta. We will do our best to minimize others in your shots but we cannot guarantee it.