Meet The Team
At Picture Perfect Date, the real magic isn’t just in the cameras or the locations — it’s in the people. Our instructors are the secret sauce, each bringing their own unique flair, style, and special touches to the experience. From calm encouragers to high-energy hype masters, every one of them has a way of making couples feel confident, comfortable, and ready to shine.
No two instructors are the same — and that’s the beauty of it. Whether you’re looking for a guiding hand, a fun spark, or just someone who can make you laugh while you learn, you’ll find the perfect fit right here.
Kate Ball
Founder & CEO
Kate is the creative force behind Picture Perfect Date, blending over 20 years of experience in people strategy, coaching, and event design with a lifelong love of storytelling and connection. She created Picture Perfect Date with one simple goal: to help couples see themselves the way others see them — vibrant, confident, and camera-ready without the awkwardness.
Kate believes the best photos aren’t about heavy gear or stiff poses — they’re about confidence, laughter, and real moments. With her signature mix of sass and sparkle, she’s built an experience that empowers couples to capture memories beautifully, anytime, anywhere.
When she’s not designing experiences that make people shine, you’ll probably find her out adventuring with her two beloved dogs, belting out cheesy karaoke, singing along at an ‘80s or ‘90s rock cover band gig, or passionately cheering on Arsenal FC (sometimes all in the same weekend).
Anjanette Hewitt
Community Ambassador
Anjanette is our resident social butterfly, chief cheerleader, and community queen — the heartbeat behind our outreach and word-of-mouth magic. She’s the one making sure everyone feels connected, welcomed, and excited to be part of the Picture Perfect Date community.
When she’s not championing our workshops, Anjanette wears many hats (and pulls them all off flawlessly). She’s a celebrated artist, painting tutor, clothing designer, amateur stand-up comedian, event MC, and a top-ranked senior colorist. It's fair to say she has a gift for bringing color and creativity into every space she touches.
Life outside of work is just as vibrant: she adores her puppy Maggie and is often spotted travelling all over the state cheering on her other half, Sean, as he rocks the Pacific Northwest with his three bands: Total Metal Recall, Face the Music (an ELO Tribute Act) and Maiden Seattle.
Scott Takema
Business Operations Analyst
Scott is our Analytics Alchemist — which means he has a rare knack for taking streams of raw numbers and turning them into clear insights that actually drive results. His focus is on the behind-the-scenes magic of social media marketing and campaign performance: tracking how our ads perform, spotting trends, and making sure every dollar spent brings couples through the door.
But Scott’s role isn’t just about ads. He’s also a steady hand, helping Kate to keep the business side of things humming — from accounts to payroll to compliance — so the creative magic up front is supported by solid systems behind the scenes.
Outside of work, Scott swaps dashboards for golf courses, game-day with the Las Vegas Raiders, wine tastings, impromptu adventures, and the occasional trip to a casino. Whether he’s analyzing numbers or reading the odds, Scott brings the same mix of precision, curiosity, and just-right risk-taking.
Etelle Ebner (Ellie)
Photography Instructor
Hi, I’m Ellie!
I’m an internationally trained, multidisciplinary photographer with a BFA in Cinematography — but more importantly, I’m someone who believes photos should capture not just how you look, but how you feel.
Over the years I’ve photographed it all — couples, families, newborns, fashion, even pets — and the magic is always the same: connection. My sessions are relaxed, fun, and easygoing, designed to take the pressure off so you can actually enjoy the process (and maybe even forget there’s a camera involved).
With years of teaching experience, I know that great photos aren’t reserved for professionals — with the right tips and encouragement, anyone can take them. If I can do it, you can too, and I can’t wait to show you how.
Kevin Gilbert
Photography Instructor
Kevin T Gilbert is an award-winning photojournalist, expedition leader, and photography evangelist. A Panasonic Lumix Global Ambassador, he is a passionate voice for getting it right in the camera.
For more than 30 years, Kevin has captured news and human stories from the White House to Capitol Hill, from Super Bowls to superpower summits, and from the jungles of Borneo to behind the scenes of television’s biggest reality shows.
As a five-time President of the White House News Photographers Association, Kevin earned more than 40 honors in the prestigious Eyes of History contests. His lens has documented four U.S. Presidents—and even two fictional ones during his work on NBC’s The West Wing.
In 1997, he joined forces with reality TV super-producer Mark Burnett and went on to shoot more than 20 productions, including The Apprentice with Donald Trump, Eco-Challenge, The Contender, and Rock Star: INXS. He later became the first contract still photographer for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and TLC, traveling the globe to capture unforgettable imagery. To date, his work spans 81 countries across all seven continents.
Kevin also founded Blue Pixel, one of the most influential digital creative groups in the U.S.
Through it all, Kevin lives and breathes photography and storytelling. He can always be found chasing the light, sharing his knowledge, helping others succeed with their craft, and enjoying the moment—one frame at a time.
Bill Holt
Photography Instructor
Bill Holt is a seasoned freelance photographer with over 20 years of experience capturing portraits, editorials, and commercial campaigns for brands like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Eddie Bauer, Kodak, and Condé Nast. His work has been featured in everything from glossy magazines to global advertising campaigns, but his favorite images are always the ones that feel natural, fun, and full of life.
Now, Bill brings that same expertise to teaching couples how to photograph each other in a playful, editorial-inspired way. His workshops focus on capturing authentic connections—genuine laughter, subtle glances, and real moments—rather than stiff poses. The result? Images that feel like you at your best, with memories that last far beyond the photo.
Shelly Oberman
Photography Instructor
Shelly is an internationally published photographer with over 30 years of experience capturing everyone from Stephen Hawking to the Seattle Seahawks. Her portfolio spans editorial, commercial, and portrait work for clients like HBO, Prevention Magazine, Pacific Science Center, and Bank of America—but at the heart of it all, Shelly’s passion is helping people feel confident in front of the camera.
Her philosophy is simple: everyone deserves to look and feel their best. With her expert eye for lighting, posing, and angles, she makes even the most camera-shy feel comfortable and beautiful. In her workshops, Shelly guides couples to see each other through a photographer’s lens—teaching partners how to highlight one another’s best features and capture images that radiate connection and confidence.
For Shelly, it’s not about stiff poses or perfect smiles. It’s about creating space where people feel relaxed, authentic, and celebrated—so the images reflect not just how you look, but who you are together.