Check out Kathryn and Adam’s romantic fall engagement photos at Sugar Bottom in Iowa City, Iowa!
It’s been 11 months since I kicked off two months of (almost) straight travel! My birthday returns each December, and as I’ve made my way into the “late 20’s” I choose a way to celebrate life with friends, activities that bring me joy, and usually some good food & drink. :) Last year, in Dec. 2019, I voyaged to Nashville— the city of music! Two concerts by a few of my very top artists drew me there, and I definitely left part of my heart in that sweet city. Enjoy some of my rambling thoughts & sweet memories of Nashville, TN!
Audrey & Jordan knew they wanted to get married in 2020, so nothing (even a pandemic!) could stop their engagement in April. However, like every other couple this year, their wedding plans shifted. Instead of a Chicago wedding, they picked Audrey’s family’s farm near Iowa City as a venue. It was simple and stunning… see for yourself!
Hailey and Landon made my job SO easy. These two are magical together now, and I know they’ll have an even greater impact on the world around them in marriage. We had a chilly but gorgeous fall afternoon for their engagement photos… click through to see more!
View this sweet country-rustic wedding day in Story City! Full of gorgeous laughter, a stunning lace wedding dress, French blue suits, and bridesmaids in flowy burgundy wine gowns… you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a most celebratory wedding!
Whitney & Daniel snagged the most popular day of 2020 for their wedding… October 10! (Aka 10/10/2020!) They had a fabulous day planned but with Covid-19 changes, they decided to switch to a more intimate day, celebrating with family and close friends in Des Moines. Fall showed up in perfect form, and Whitney and Dan tied the knot under warm October sky. Enjoy some of my favorite photos from their backyard wedding day!
I grew up in Cedar Falls with Laura’s family. I honestly can’t remember a time in Iowa without knowing them! So it was a fun surprise to get an email from Laura, saying that she’d love to have me photograph her wedding to Andrew. Click the post to read more.
Leah goes to school in Humbolt, and our original plan was for her to come down to Des Moines for her senior photos. Well, weather changed plans (as happens in Iowa!) and we rescheduled to a new date with time constraints. So, Ames became our landing spot and did we have THE BEST NIGHT for her seniors or what!? She was so sweet, and I just loved her style & confidence! Check out some of my favorites.
Fall vibes, a golden field of grasses, and changing leaves can only mean one thing… fall engagement photos are HERE! I love this time of year, as nature transitions to what will be winter. It’s the brightest time of year for color! And these bright humans— Geoffrey and Kristie— brought lots of laughter & kisses & sweet moments to their engagement session at Grimes Farm in Marshalltown, Iowa. Click the link for more!
I can’t believe this trip happened. Heather and I almost always plan a trip after one of our friends gets married… last time it was Seattle, this year…. Moab, Utah! This trip cost us less than $500 total apiece (honestly less than that… my flights were $200 so the Utah portion was more like $300) and full of amazing views and great memories. I can’t wait to go back someday!
I’ve had a crazy first month of “fall”… although it hasn’t hardly officially started yet! Seniors are truly some of my very favorite sessions to photograph, and I’ve been so thankful to have loads of incredible high school students ask me to capture this season of life. Check out a few recent highlights from some photoshoots!
Clover Barn has been my dream wedding venue since Kim & her husband built it back in 2017. I even blogged about it when I visited in 2018! However, none of my brides chose it as a venue. It wasn’t until early 2020, when Kim’s younger daughter, Sierra, got engaged, did I even have a chance. And let me tell you… it was worth the wait. This wedding was INCREDIBLE, full of beautiful details, and even kinder people. So much love for this couple and day!
Click to see more of this sweet, intimate elopement at Snus Hill Winery just outside of Des Moines, Iowa.
Click to see more of this stunning wedding at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa!
Emma’s seniors turned out so well! It helps that we’re friends & she seemed at ease in front of the camera. We laughed a lot, and enjoy two wonderful evenings— one downtown Des Moines, the other out at Brenton Arboretum for some gorgeous nature photos. Enjoy!
Not too long ago, I saw a few other photographers post similar blog or Instagram posts, and I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon! After all, sometimes brides want the input of a photographer but don’t know what questions to ask. So, here you go. Some of my top directions for 2020 and 2021 weddings! Did any of them surprise you? What would YOU include!? Leave a comment, and make sure to let me know if you’re considering any of these ideas for your wedding day.
Oops… I’ve been working on blogging these wedding photos for a week now! Worth the wait, they sure are. Kirsten & Mike married outdoors on a cool, rainy Saturday in the woods of Michigan. These two met at Au Sable Institute, where they interned during a summer and fell in love with the land & each other. Mike proposed to Kirsten on a bench there just last summer, and they finally married on their dream wedding date (8.8.2020!) despite a pandemic and surprise rainstorms.
curious how to add some flavor & personality into your senior photos, so they look like YOU and less like… well, everyone else’s!? this blog post will help you plan for your senior photography experience with Amelia! make sure to follow along on Instagram for more ideas & behind the scenes fun!
she did post college.
After graduation, Audrey moved to Chicago with some friends. They made a life there, she started grad school, and she also met a cute guy at church. That friendship turned into something more, and not long ago I got an email from Audrey telling me that she and Jordan were engaged!! She asked what my availability was this fall for wedding photography, and here we are. Since I was coming through Chicago to get home from Michigan, we picked some spots to take engagement photos… now October can’t come soon enough!
These two are so much fun! I met with Kristina last year, before the world changed drastically, and we dreamed together about her wedding day at the Tea Room in downtown Des Moines. Well, 2020 turned on us and Brian + Kristina moved their wedding reception to next year, with an intimate ceremony planned for this fall. Thankfully, they made time to take engagement photos this summer & it was a blast to hang out in East Village and a nearby lake.