I love how goofy Jess and Sam are together! They are completely comfortable being themselves, and that is so much fun to be around. Jessie and I met 3 years ago, and keeping up with her over the years has been a joy. I was so surprised (and excited!) when she asked me to shoot engagement photos for her and Sam—these two are fantastic people, and burn bright together. :) We started off shooting their engagement photos in the Ames Library (Jess is currently in grad school studying library science) and then ended our time together out at the ever-beautiful Ada Hayden park. Enjoy a few of my favorites!
These people became my family last year. We laughed & cried together. (Ok, maybe that was just me every time we watched a movie…) There were inside jokes ["Ben, your knee looks like a baby!"] and nicknames. We ate food (a lot, too much, but then…can there every be too much?!) and drank coffee. Sometimes at 11pm, which is not a good idea when the next morning happens to be a Monday. Fights might have happened, but love exceeded all of that. Dear Fortress, thank you all for living out love. "Families are made in the heart." Oh, how true this is.
Senior sessions that turn light into magic, and moments into memories…those are the sessions that keep me going. And this girl, she was perfection. Jess is in every way an artist, a dancer, a dreamer, and as sweet as they come. I just wish that I knew her half as well as I did her two older sisters! (Might be biased and also praying she decides to attend Iowa State next year so that could be a reality;) Enjoy a sampling of my favorites from our evening together…thanks for letting me have the honor of making photos of you, Jessica!
Sara and I attended the same high school, but since we didn't run in the same circles, we never met. Fast forward to this spring, when I received an email from her asking about engagement and wedding photos! It was so wonderful to spend time getting to know these two over the course of the summer, and their wedding was such a simple and personal affair. Jake and Sara wed at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, the perfect location for wedding, reception, and bridal party photos! Also…my favorite part of the day might have been Sara's first look with her son. He was so shy and yet so happy, and it is something that I'm sure he'll remember for years to come:)
My life has been one crazy, wild ride the past month.
I moved back to Ames, started to figure out what it looks like to be working with college students but not to be a college student. Somehow began adulting. (Health insurance? Automatic payments? Cooking meals and trying to eat healthy?!) Pulled some crazy long 12 hour+days, and had other days that weren't so long, therefore eliciting the desire to sleep all day. And be alone. I love people, I'm an extrovert—but I suddenly was also totally. ok. being. alone.
Oh, campus ministry. You're a mystery to me.
In the midst of not-even-sure-what-is-going-on, God has been so present. And you know what? I'm learning a lot, when I take the time to pull back from the crazy and be still for a few minutes. He's always here. And I'm still me—fine being busy, working hard, or being lazy. I still have to intentionally set apart time to retreat with Jesus and to listen. If you know me, you know I like to talk. Listening is good, but it can be hard to just shut up.
In fact, this Labor Day weekend, we had a retreat.
"What do you think is one of your strengths? What do you bring, add to, our team?" Adam asked us as we sat around the table during team bonding time.
Silence. Wow. This is hard. I can look at Liz and easily see her attention to detail as a strength. Morganne's crazy love of laughter & humor & fun, and Michael's kindness & care as things that would diminish our team should they leave. But myself?
I didn't know.
I think I said that I can talk and make small talk. But honestly, right now, I feel like my extroversion is a weakness. Talking comes more naturally than it did five years ago. Small talk is cheap, but easy. Getting to the harder things, that takes intentional questions. And waiting, silence, listening.
Listening is something I need more of. Distractions and obsession with the busyness of life is rampant, whether in college or in the working world.
Knowing this, yesterday I felt restless. Tired. Unsure. So I got in my car, opened up the sunroof. Put on some Josh Garrels and drove. Found myself at Ada Hayden. Surrounded by sunshine, the deep unsaturated blue-and-silver water, Black-Eyed-Susans, and space to breathe.
no wifi. no music playing. no friend to talk with. just me, a girl with a restless heart, a need for sunshine and the Son. two hours, 4 journal pages, a few tears, prayer, and Galatians 5 later, my heart was full. OVERFLOWING! to rest is to enter in to the presence of God, to sit at His feet and seek His face. to remember truth.
Walking back to the parking lot, full of feels and rejuvenation, I saw them. I mean, really saw them. Yes, they'd been there when I'd passed that way earlier, but now I remembered. Last week, I'd asked Jesus to give me flowers. Flowers are some of my favorite things in all creation, and I'd wanted some surprise gifting of a bouquet to sit in my room. Instead, Jesus had slowly drawn me out of my room and to Ada Hayden…where wild flowers (the best!) are growing and blooming in abundance! Oh, what a sweet gift and reminder from the King of Creation!
Now, you all know I'm a photographer. So, having only my handy dandy iPhone in my bag, I pulled it out to capture them. And realized that being a photographer is such a temporary, short-lived thing.
I'm created for Heaven, for Eternity.
This soul of mine, it longs so deeply for Forever. "He has written eternity on the hearts of man." But I live in a broken, dying world. It cries out for salvation, redemption. It reeks of rust and spoiling food, of decay and dust. We all race against time. I fight it, and in some ways, I fight time with my camera. The desire to remember, so capture and keep beauty.
Friends, dearest hearts, all beauty comes from God! He is beautiful, and in creation He has reflected that—from breathtaking mountains to delicate field flowers. In my race to capture photos of newborn babies or a sunset, I am seeking to capture time. To stay in the forever, in the eternal beauty, to somehow grasp it in between my fingers.
In Heaven, there will be no photographers. At least, I don't think there will be.
I don't have scripture to say that—so I could be mistaken! But in eternity, those who are with God will forever be with Beauty. It will not fade.
"No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."—Revelation 22:3-5
What joy! No longer will I be trying to soak up the moments before they pass, remember the colors of the sunset before it goes away or the butterflies before winter comes—I shall reign with the Lord forever, and be surrounded by His (and all) beauty...in every moment, for all eternity!
“I haven’t seen her
For a month or so
Young love feels like finding buried gold”
Kyle and Bailie met in college. Over time, a friendship and then relationship was built. Even as Kyle switched universities (to the other side of the country!) to pursue pastoral ministry, and Bailie finished her degree and began working a few more states eastward, their relationship has stayed strong. This is not due to their own strength, bur rather, that their relationship was founded on Christ, His love, and His grace.
Kyle and Bailie had such a perfect wedding day! Not only was the weather wonderful for their outdoor wedding at The Celebration Farm, but joy was so evident in every moment & step along the way! From their time praying together before the ceremony (but no first look!) to the time of worship during the ceremony, from enjoying the yummiest Mediterranean food for dinner to dancing the night away with dear friends and family, this day was 100% them & absolutely glorious to behold.
Wedding Venue: The Celebration Farm
(with help from Katie!)
Caterer: Oasis Falafel
Dessert: Heyn's Ice Cream
Florist: Hyvee Floral
I love film. And the easiest way to shoot it is, of course, disposable cameras. Yes, I'm fully aware you haven't used one since 6th grade camp…but I love the suspense that they bring. And, they give you prints in HARD COPY of the photos when you get a disc of them (at walmart, anyway)! So, so much fun.
This is a sprinkling of my last year—from my last night in Jacksonville at the Secret Lake, to the State Fair, seeing my grandma's house for the last time, college shenanigans, and my last week in college.
This girl is a fireball of fun! It was a blast adventuring with her to find the best bits of light when we hung out a few weeks ago. Have the best senior year ever girl & keep shining bright!
Collin and Jackie wed on an absolutely beautiful June day. Surrounded by friends and family, they began forever together under a wide and weathered tree…while watering their own small sapling & promising to nurture their love in the same way. The Howes had a Mayowood Stone Barn wedding in Rochester, Minnesota—this is now one of my favorite wedding venues! Future brides, pleeeease book this venue & hire me! ;) I won't have to think twice about shooting here again. From the cleverly named "Bridle Room" to the swing hanging from a property tree to the lovely view of a summer sunset through the corn, the Mayowood Stone Barn has it all!
Oh, hello! Thank you so much for waiting. Remember the days when I blogged regularly? I now realize that is not always possible. ;) This summer has been one of the fastest yet (I hear they continue to speed up as the years go by…) and also one of the hardest.
Why one of the hardest? Well, I am currently not doing full time photography, like I may have expected in years past. Instead, the Lord has re-directed my steps into another beautiful and wonderful thing: college ministry! I have been involved with a wonderful organization for the past 5 years, and the Lord has graciously allowed me to take the next one or two years to serve this ministry at my alma mater (Iowa State—Go Cyclones!) This allows me to use my areas of gifting *cough* photography *cough* as well as be stretched in other areas, like discipleship and sharing the Gospel. Right now, I am fundraising my salary so that I can be on the campus full time. If you'd like to hear more about what I'll be doing, join my support team, or get my newsletter updates, shoot me an email! I still have $1400 in monthly support to raise in order to be on campus full time…and under a month to raise it. However, my God is the Ultimate Provider (one of His names even means that: Jehovah Jireh!) so I am praying a lot & asking just about anyone out there. Every bit helps get me closer to Ames and to students that need Hope!
One of my summer goals or ideas was to create a small video (I love playing with video and rarely get to!) about summertime. We live on an acreage, so summer evenings here are picturesque. I want to remember these sweet days with little neighbor babes and perfect sunsets for years to come. The video isn't done yet (neither is summer! hah!) but here are a few still shots to give you an idea of what is to come. :)








This family is one of the most genuine and loving families you'll ever meet! Kirsten is warm and inviting, always creating and making a comfortable space for her family and anyone around her. Alex is one of the most passionate and encouraging persons you could know—he loves his family, his job, and people in general. Together, these two are a power couple! God has called them into full time ministry with college students, and together they love, train, and serve students well. I know this from firsthand experience. :)
Kirsten and Alex met at Iowa State when they both accepted a two year commitment to do campus ministry. They fell in love with ministry and each other during those two years, got married, had Claire, accepted a new position leading the ministry at UNI (Go Panthers!) and just a few short weeks ago, welcomed their newest addition, sweet Nola Mae!
I am so excited to watch this little family blossom and grow, just as their garden & porch flowers, and even their students in ministry will. Newmasters, it is an honor and blessing to call you friends and co-workers. Thank you for allowing me to take your family & newborn photos!
Rachel and Grant have a ton of love for one another. (#athertonoflove) This day threatened us with rain, but ended up with just the perfect amount of overcast skies for beautiful portraits & the sun even shone during the reception at the end of the evening! These two are full of life & adventure (they chose Australia as their honeymoon location, so that tells you something!) and they're working hard to make a difference. Rachel is currently in medical school, and Grant is working hard to support her. Together, they make a great team. I can't wait to watch you two fall more in love over the years!
Flowers: Flowerama
Cake: UNI Catering
Dresses: David’s Bridal
Ceremony: United Church of Christ
Reception: UNI Commons
You know that you have the best ever clients when they trust you enough to have an engagement session super early on a Saturday morning. I think all will agree that it was worth it! Jake proposed with a gorgeous ring last fall. Sara, of course, said yes!
And in the words of Taylor Swift, these two have "mad love" and will be wed next month! Can't wait, you two!
It's something special when friends get married. It's even more special when they ask you to photograph their wedding day.
My trip to the most beautiful state (good luck convincing me otherwise!) had three phases: staying in Denver with Jan, the Springs with the Sandquists, and Summit. Words can't describe how I feel about these people & this place…so photos.
One way to say it is this: I don't even remember meeting the Merrills—they've just blended perfectly into our lives! Although we did meet at one point around when I was 7, I don't remember it…I just remember years of playing american girl dolls, reading books, running around on their farm, missing them when they moved to Georgia (and 10 years later…Spain!), and being thrilled when they moved back to Iowa both times! They've been an encouragement and blessing throughout the years. Merrills, you have my heart—thank you for letting me hang out with y'all and capture some moments for you on my camera!
“We’re on top of the world
Now darling, so don’t let go
Can I call you mine?
So can I call you mine now, darling
For a whole life time?”
Just a little over a month ago, these two tied the knot during one of the most beautiful April days. Grace was stunning—her dress was new, the shoes borrowed, and she even had a blue bead in her hair, while Aaron looked just like the man of his word that he is in his gray suit. They did a first look and photos in a local park, and the ceremony was held in a nearby church—full of love, worship, communion for the newly married couple, and letters that they read to one another. Each and every person there was special in some way to the Trents, and it truly was a celebration of what the Lord has done to bring these two together!
I can't help but love this lady. A year ago, Morganne (my roommate) and I eagerly looked at all the names of the girls on our floor—you know, to see if any of them looked familiar at all. ;) How surprised was I to find out that one of the girls on the other side of the hall was the younger sister of an acquaintance! I imagined that we would become friends, and hoped that she would choose to become involved with our campus ministry…but I never imagined a friendship this sweet.
Emily belongs "to the race of Joseph" as the dear author Lucy M. Montgomery put it. She is full of kindness and giggles and joy, music and art and facts about this intricate world we inhabit. It's been an amazing ride to get to know her. Morganne & I have loved having her in our room for movies, late night girl talk, homework parties, and just everyday life.
Em-girl, thank you for being a wonderful dear of a friend and modeling for me. Have a fantastic time at Jax, and I'll be waiting to hear all about it in August! ;)
Hello friends!
I have not been on my blogging game lately, but school is almost finished and graduation is just around the corner! Once summer hits and I am shooting more sessions, you can be sure to find more writings and photos here:) Until then…it might be a little hit and miss!
One thing that I've always found fun is when other photographers and bloggers put out their current "wishlist"—it gives you an insight into their personal lives & what they value. Maybe that interests you. If so, feel free to stick around and see my current wishes!
I love these "Botanical Prints" from Rifle Paper Co. They're so simple and beautiful. Wouldn't they just brighten up any space?
This semester I found Lara Casey's blog, read her story, and fell in love with this woman's passion for Jesus, her family, and people! She also just released a book a few months ago, and I'm really hoping to get my hands on a copy & dig in to what I can learn from this lovely lady and the wisdom she has gained from the Lord in her life.
I've been putting off buying a pair of chacos for a long time…and I think it's finally time. Adventures are ahead! Proper footwear required;)
How can you not love this apron from Anthropologie?! Also, the pockets. Win/Win.
So, what about you? I'd love to know what items you've been eyeing this spring! Practical or fun, feel free to share below in the comments!
Love always,
Amelia Renee
Family photo sessions are so important. They might not happen every year, but I especially think that families with young children ought to take photos every few years at least. This is the time of life that you are busy and on the go alll the time, so photos are a wonderful chance to slow it down and spend some fun time with just your family! Not only that, but your kids are growing and changing in their interests and personalities on the daily, so every once in a while it is great to capture them in who they are today. (Calen is all about trucks these days. Josie finally learned to read and loves it! Zachary went to science camp and loves doing "experiments"…our kitchen is always a mess but he's learning & loving it, so it's worth it! Katie is 5 months old—growing fast!)
Because I love family sessions, and because the School Sessions is an amazing cause, and because my time as an almost-college-graduate (AHHH!) is very limited, I'm specifically offering family sessions Easter weekend. [Friday afternoon/evening and during the day Saturday, April 3 & 4th, 2014.] If you're interested in more details, shoot me an email or inquiry!
Also this doesn't have to be exclusively family sessions! If you're a high school senior this year and still need photos, or you're wanting some couples engagement photos, that works too! ;)





