I'm so excited to announce my Fall Mini-Session dates! This is the second year that I've been able to schedule these, and I'm just so excited to see what families sign up for a session. It’s always a blast hanging out with past clients and new friends. These mini sessions are specifically for families, however, if you need some simple headshots or roomie photos for your Christmas card, let me know!
Caitlyn’s mom emailed me after learning about my photography work from another friend in the Des Moines area. She asked if I took senior photos, which I love, so of course we met for coffee at Smokey Row to chat. I learned that Caitlyn is a talented dancer, enjoys the outdoors, pastels, her new puppy Luna, and art. In fact, she designed the website and logo of Panka Restaurant, and hopes to study graphic design in college! SO cool.
WOW. Where to begin with this wedding day!? Gabby and David had a beautiful summer day for their Chateau at White Oak wedding. A little overnight rain led to a cloudy morning, but as the clouds cleared and the sun appeared, humidity rose and we remembered that August never feels like the end of summer. ;) However, just a few blocks away from the church where these two married, David will finish up school this fall semester at Iowa State.
It seems like just yesterday, I had an exciting email in my email inbox from Madi, inquiring about my senior model team! When we finally met & shot our fairytale styled shoot back in May, I could tell this gal was a keeper. Madi dances, and participates in just about every way a dancer can… she’s in cheer, and dances through a local competitive dance group. She also runs track! Girl knows how to stay active, for sure. Madi’s a girl after my own heart; she love choco chip cookie dough ice cream and the color pink!
Ethan and Heidi began dating in college after becoming friends. Ethan was interested in Heidi, and asked her out …she was a little clueless at first, but soon realized his intentions and figured that she enjoyed his company, so why not try dating!? They’ve been together ever since! Ethan proposed in November, and both have since graduated from their schools in the Cedar Rapids metro and are planning a fall wedding.
Des Moines, City of Monks, da moinz… call it what you wish. But this mid-sized city in the very midwestern state of Iowa is truly one of the most up-and-coming places to live, work, and play. Although I didn’t make it here often as a child (just the occasional trip to Adventureland or the State Fair), once I was allowed to travel sans-parents, my visits to the Iowa capitol because much more frequent. Why? Well, why not!?
This glowing city (literally! the capitol dome is shiny, actual gold!) is full of unique locations to spice up your Instagram (or Snapchat) stories. You’ll find a plethora of parks, iconic and historic landmarks, and plenty of great food and drinks to boost your photo hunt. See the city in a day, or stay forever. Your choice! ;)
Where to even start with this day!!! From the moment I walked in to the mall salon, to the last song I heard exiting the VFW in Waverly… this day made a mark in my heart. I can’t even begin to share how sweet this couple is! Kelsey and Josh and their son became a family, forever, and it truly couldn’t have been a more gorgeous July afternoon to start life off together!
Before I wrote and posted on the website/blog, my mom, sister and I traveled to the land Down Under. Never in my lifetime did I expect to get to travel to Australia! However, in high school, my friend Mikayla and her family moved there… and when she started dating an Australian we realized that mayyyybe someday a trip would be in our future. So, when Kayla and Luke got engaged and asked me to be in their wedding, we decided to make a family trip (minus dad) to this continent country.
Photographing friends happens quite often in my line of work. Anyone out there surprised at all? Nah? Me either! But it was a bit of a surprise when these two asked me to photograph their fall wedding! I’ve known Brian since childhood in Cedar Falls, and we’ve become better friends since he decided to attend Iowa State University four years ago. Rebekah’s older sister is a friend of mine, so when these two started dating it felt like worlds colliding!
I’m so glad you’ve stopped by the blog to check out some of my favorite photos from Ashley’s senior session! Ashley will graduate with the class of 2020 from Waterloo West, but she came down to West Des Moines to have an adventure with me while taking her senior photos. The night we’d picked ended up being hooooottttttt as anything, but she rocked her session with no complaints and a brilliant smile the entire time. My kind of gal!
These two enjoy each other immensely, and their wedding day in Rosemount, Minnesota was an accurate representation of this pair. From Erika’s cat shoes and teal wedding dress to the flowers from her mother’s garden on the head table to the vintage 1970s corvette…this wedding day displayed John & Erika’s wonderfully fun selves!!
Steven’s senior photos took place downtown, as well as at a barn where he worked and a path he ran for cross country. I love tying in parts of each unique senior’s life! For Steven, that meant sports and drumming and a lil’ bit of “cool”.
I met Kyle & Nicole last fall, just after my move to the Des Moines area. They were looking for a wedding photographer, and so we met up at Smokey Row to chat. It went great, they booked me, and we had a wonderful evening taking their engagement photos in Ankeny by the lake. Both Nicole and Kyle are super fun yet relaxed types, so I knew their wedding day would be wonderful.
Summertime: the season when love seems never too far out of reach, nature’s twinkle lights roam the midwestern skies (love ya, little fireflies!) and when a good cold drink (lemonade, sweet tea, or Sonic limeade!) is always on your mind. Summer happens to be my favorite season, and the BEST time of year to take those senior photos you’ve dreamed about for the past 3 years at the local high school!
Just imagine planning the perfect session, snagging mom’s credit card (with permission!) to buy that perfect summer dress to wear, having a blast with your favorite photography (hopefully me!) and then getting to pick out your favorites to post on Instagram (duh!) and submit to the yearbook. But first… you have to decide all those details! Like location, outfits, themes, and just what exactly you want to do for this illustrious evening.
It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside. — Maud Hart Lovelace
Summer in Iowa, ‘tis the sweetest pinnacle of midwestern joy. From fresh Farmer’s Markets to late spring rains to iced coffee on the porch while neighborhood kids catch lightning bugs, this is my favorite time of year. Born in winter, I live for the heat of summer sweat and the vibrant sunsets. This summer marks my first full year in Des Moines, and for once, I plan to stay put for a while. I’ve planted garden flowers and carved out a space in my refrigerator for sun tea. Slowly, as the days fly by and the calendar pages flip one to the next, I settle in to this metro, this wild and wonderful city I’m honored to call, for now, home.
Two years overseas, loads of coffees, bike rides, and lots of event planning later, Joel and Libby realized they both liked each other… a lot. So they started dating. It was serious from the start, and didn’t take long for talk of wedding bells and marriage. While out in Washington State, Joel took Libby for a picnic at a very scenic spot by a mountain lake. They left engaged, ready to take on the world (literally!). And they’ll be back out west, this time in Colorado, for a late August wedding. How about that!
Jenna and Treye’s wedding took place on one of the most popular days in June! And what a day it was. A few rainstorms hit Pella right before their first look was going to take place, but Jenna took it in stride. Sure enough, after waiting it out, the rains passed and the sun came out (bringing humidity right along with it!). Classic Iowa summers. Click to see more wedding photography of this summer Pella wedding day!
Heather and Clinton’s wedding day also took place in Sioux City, Iowa and Nebraska this past weekend. June is such a wild card month, with torrential rain storms and hot sunny days. Thankfully, their wedding day was the latter and honestly, just gorgeous for an early summer wedding! The sun rose early and stuck around through the reception, shining down love on the newlyweds.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Watching one of your best friends walk through a whirlwind romance almost feels like watching a play unfold. You don’t know where the story is going, there are great laughs, little “bloops”, tears shed and although you have a feeling that the new guy introduced is going to be the one who she says yes to… it’s all unseen until it happens.
