The Miller Family

At the beginning of December, I headed downtown here in Wellman to photograph the Miller family. Despite some chilly weather, we got some great family shots and pictures of each of their children.

The Smith Family

Last November, I photographed the wedding of Jaci and Jared. This year, I had the pleasure of seeing them once again and meeting their new addition, Elias. He is simply adorable! Despite not being a fan of having his clothes changed, he was a great sport for photos.

Brian & Julie {Newlyweds}

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Brian and Julie. They had a beautiful ceremony at St. Mary's in Solon surrounded by close friends and family. The reception was held at Brosch Chapel. It was a beautiful intimate gathering and was an excellent way to celebrate their love and the love of their family and friends.

Ben & Jess {Engaged}

At the end of November, I met up with Ben & Jess for their engagement session. Despite the chilly weather, we got some amazing shots. We started our session at the Iowa River Power Restaurant bridge and the wonderful prairie area on the other side of the river there. Afterward, we headed to the Ped Mall area to finish the session. We found some great spots in the alleys there. I love the pictures on the spiral staircase!

Grady {Newborn}

In November, this sweet little peanut joined me in the studio. I adore newborn sessions and this little guy was an amazing little model. At the time of the session, he was only 12 days old. It's a perfect age for newborn photos. He was wonderfully cooperative, sleeping through most of his session.

Julie {Bridal Portraits}

Last month, Julie came in for her bridal portrait session. Bridal portraits are a wonderful opportunity to get gorgeous photos of you in your wedding gown. They are typically more formal than a "trash the dress" session and are done before the wedding.

The Horning Family

Recently, the Horning family joined me in the studio for their family session. Their little guy is so adorable! He has the cutest smile and did an excellent job with the pictures. It was a little hard to get him to stay still for his portraits by himself, as he is one very busy little guy but we still got some great shots.

Zach {Senior Portraits}

I recently met up with Zach for his senior session. We started out at the Iowa River Power Restaurant bridge.

The Meyer Family

At the end of October, I met the Meyer family at City Park for their family portraits. Their boys weren't too interested in getting their portraits taken, but with alternating poses and time for them to play we got some great shots. I love the picture of their boys laying in the leaves.

The Keber Family

The Keber family was back in the studio this fall for family portraits. It is so much fun to see how their girls have grown. I began taking their family portraits when their youngest was just a few months old.

The Hall Family

At the end of October, I headed to the home of the Hall family to photograph their beautiful family. We lucked out and had gorgeous weather for the session. Their rural home was a beautiful backdrop for the session.

Mitch + Kassi {Engaged}

I had a great time recently, wandering the Ped Mall and Pentacrest with Mitch and Kassi for their engagement session. Aside from a little wind, we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall day for their session. The leaves were beautiful and I adore the picture of her gorgeous ring on the fallen leaf. Their wedding will be in October of next year, so the fall setting for their engagement portraits is perfect. They were great to work with, very laid back and fun.

Sam & Bryana {Engaged}

I recently photographed Sam and Bryana's engagement portraits. We met at the Ped Mall and toured the fun and funky alleyways there. Then we headed to City Park to get some great shots with the fall leaves and a more natural setting. They were a pleasure to work with and it was great to get to know them better before their wedding, my favorite part of engagement portraits. I'm very excited to capture their New Year's Eve nuptials!

Neshama {One Month Old}

I recently had this little doll in my studio for her one month portraits. She is absolutely adorable and was really a rather good sport about all of her outfit changes and the flashing of the studio lights. I'm sure it helped that she was surrounded by such a kind and loving family.

Kent + Sam

On October 8th, I photographed the wedding of Kent and Sam. They were the winners of our 2011 Amazing Wedding Giveaway and I can see why. Not only do they have a beautiful love story, but they are surrounding by such wonderful, amazing, and supportive friends and family. It was a beautiful day in so many ways.

Ava {Newborn}

I recently had the adorable little bundle of cuteness that is Ava in my studio. I love newborn sessions. Such sweet little fingers and toes. Little Miss Ava wasn't too keen on cooperating for pictures at first, but thankfully she calmed down and was a superstar for the rest of the shoot.

Jesse & Abby

On October first, I headed to the Amana Golf Course to photograph the vow renewal ceremony of Jesse and Abby. They were married a little over a year ago, just before Jesse deployed to Afghanistan. Their vow renewal was a wonderful chance for friends and family to celebrate with them and welcome Jesse back after his tour overseas.

Alexis {Nine Months Old}

Little ones grow so quickly. I love getting the chance to chronicle their first year. It is so much fun to see how much they've changed in just a few months. Alexis once again graced my studio with her beautiful blue eyes and heart melting smile. She was more interested in exploring the studio than having her picture taken though. :) We also did an outdoor session at Willow Creek Park in Iowa City. I love her little orange jacket. So adorable!!

Carter

How time has flown! Little Mister Carter was in for his 18 month portraits. It seems like just a few months ago he was in for his six month session. He is such an energetic and busy little guy. It was hard to get him to try and stay still for pictures! He had a blast running around the yard outside of the studio and we managed to get some great shots.

Quinten & Alisha

On September 10th, I photographed the wedding of Quinten and Alisha at the Marriott in Coralville. Their day was simply stunning. We began the morning as the bride and her maids got their hair and makeup done. Then we did a very special "first look" between Alisha and her father. I have to say, it was an amazing event. There were tears all around as her beaming father laid eyes on her, all grown up, in her wedding gown. Then it was Quinten's turn to see his gorgeous bride.

Tim & Candace

In August, I had the pleasure of helping assist Greg Frieden of Greg Frieden Photography capture Tim & Candace's gorgeous wedding. Their ceremony was held at Sts. Peter & Paul's in Solon. I have to say, I think the church there is gorgeous. The architecture is beautiful and the atmosphere is very intimate. After the ceremony, we headed to the Old Capital to finish their formal session. Their reception was held at Hotel Vitro, downtown Iowa City. It was a wonderful venue, definitely ranking amongst my favorite locations to photograph in.

A Little Behind

I am so far behind on blogging the many beautiful weddings and sessions I've had lately. On the plus side, I was able to spend two amazing weeks with my husband while he was home on leave from Afghanistan. The downside, I've been so busy since that my blog has been totally neglected. I promise there are some gorgeous photos and wonderful stories coming your way in the next week or two as I play catch up.

Justin & Jill {Just Married}

On the 27th of August, I headed up to Manchester for the wedding of Justin and Jill. Their day was gorgeous! We didn't take many formal portraits in the sanctuary area. Most were done outside the church or at the park just down the street. Thankfully there was a little bit of breeze since it was pretty warm out. The photos turned out beautifully.

The Alspach Family

At the end of August, I headed over to Sigourney to photograph the Alspach family. They chose a location by the lake, which made for some great photos. I think their outfit choices went perfectly with the location. The blues and greens really flowed well with the setting.

Patrick & Brittany {Newlyweds}

On August 20, I spent and amazing day with Patrick and Brittany. I started out my day at the salon with the bride and her maids as they got their hair done. Then it was off to the church. Their wedding was held in Washington at First Baptist Church. They were so much fun to work with. We did a combination of alter shots and outdoor pictures around downtown Washington. We found a little alley way, just a block over from the church, that was a perfect spot for pictures. I love the bridal party pictures there. They were a blast to work with.

Callen

This little guy is going to be an absolute heart breaker. Seriously, how adorable is he?! He was so much fun to work with. Such a smiley guy! He's an inquisitive little guy too. He wasn't too keen to sit for photos and would have rather been crawling around the studio checking things out. Thankfully, he was cooperative enough to get some adorable shots. I can't wait for his one year session!

Two of My Favorite Little Girls

I recently had the beautiful duo that is Maryann and her little sister Lilly in my studio again. They are just so adorable! They are 3 and 1, so sitting still isn't exactly something they're keen on. Thankfully they cooperated just enough for me to get some great shots of them.

Josh & Beth {Newlyweds}

On August 13th, I had the pleasure of capturing the beautiful wedding of Josh and Beth. Their ceremony and reception were both held at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City. Honestly, I think it is now one of my favorite venues. There are so many amazing locations within walking distance from it. Thankfully the couple and their wonderful wedding party were up for a little walk. I love, love, love the orange parasols the bride and her maids had. What an amazing pop of color! I think the shots with those are my favorites. So much fun! Their wedding was beautiful and full of emotion. It was amazing to be a part of and capture. Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs!

Sarah {Trash The Dress}

In August, I had the pleasure of photographing a Trash the Dress session with the beautiful Sarah. It was so much fun! The session took place up around Lake McBride in Solon. We started out with some gorgeous and glamorous photos of Sarah at one of the beaches. Then we headed off to the boat dock, where she jumped off! Amazing!!! She was so willing to have fun with the session and the photos we got are stunning. Thank you to Sarah for being an amazing model!

Nathan & Beth {Engaged}

Sunday evening, I met Nathan and Beth at the Iowa City Public Library for their engagement session. We wandered the amazing alleyways of the Ped Mall and headed up to the Old Capital. They were so much fun to work with! Nathan was far from used to getting his portrait taken, but he did an excellent job.

Tanner is One!

Sunday, I had the adorable little guy that is Tanner in my studio. I can't believe it, but he's one already. Seems like he gotten so big so quickly. Such a cutie! His parents brought along a cake for him to smash, but aside from the toy on top he wasn't too interested in it. He did have fun playing with the toy though!

Adam & Rachel

At the beginning of July, I had the privilege again to assist Greg Frieden of Greg Frieden Photography with the wedding of Adam and Rachel. They had a beautiful ceremony at Kent Park and a fun reception in Amana. They were wonderful to work with and so willing to brave the heat for their formal portraits. Kent Park served as an amazing backdrop for this gorgeous couple.

Dan & Chantal

On July 30th, I spent an amazing day with Dan and Chantal as they celebrated their wedding. The morning started at The Fix Salon in Cedar Rapids where the bride and her entourage had their hair styled into some lovely updos.

The Larson Family

On Sunday, I headed over to the home of the Larson family for their family portraits. I think their kids are simply gorgeous! After their solo sessions, the boys insisted on photos with their footballs. They didn't want to relinquish them for any photos after that. :)

Evan & Aleasha {Engaged}

On Friday evening, I headed to West Liberty to photograph Evan and Aleasha's engagement session. I have to say, I've never been to the train depot there before, but it is amazing! Such a diverse location. We spent an hour there and got such a variety of backgrounds: the brick of the depot, the amazing doors there, the train tracks, the rail car, and even an old barn.

Evan and Aleasha were such a joy to work with, and may I say they are absolutely gorgeous. It's impossible to take a bad photo of them! I can't wait for their wedding next June. It will be so much fun!

My Beautiful Blue-Eyed Neice

Recently my sweet little niece, Trinity, came to visit and brought along her beautiful blue skirt. We paired it with a gorgeous flower clip from Elle Mirai to complete her ensemble. She looked picture perfect! The blues made her beautiful blue eyes pop. She wasn't terribly keen on staying still to have her portrait taken, but thankfully there were plenty of family members close at hand to keep her entertained. The photos we got are just bursting with personality!

Justin {Senior Portraits}

Justin and his mother joined me in the studio a week and a half ago for his senior session. They braved the heat and sun for some outdoor portraits. I have to say, I'm very impressed he wore long sleeves in 97 degree humid weather and still insisted he was fine. I was wearing short sleeves and burning up. Kudos to him for putting up with the horrible heat in the name of fashion.

Brian & Laura

At the end of June, I had the pleasure of assisting Greg Frieden of Greg Frieden Photography with the wedding of Brian and Laura. It's said that rain on your wedding day is good luck, for Brian and Laura it was. The drizzle that lasted almost all day let up just in time to reveal a beautiful sunset. I have to say though, the couple was amazing. Despite the drizzle, they braved outdoor photos, which yielded some fun shots.

Jessica {Trash the Dress}

Yesterday, I had an amazing session with the beautiful Jessica from Bella Joli. She got married last fall and wanted to do a trash the dress session. So much fun! She was such a trooper to hike around the Ped Mall, train bridge, and Coralville Lake in the heat and humidity yesterday. I'm glad she did though, the photos are so gorgeous! A big thank you to Bella Joli for providing the beautiful jewelry she wore. If you are planning a wedding and are looking for breathtaking jewelry, you should definitely visit them in downtown Iowa City.

Kent & Sam

I had the pleasure of photographing the winners of our Amazing Wedding Giveaway's engagement session about a week ago. It was so much fun getting to know them better and I can't wait for their October wedding.

The Bottorff Family

I had a wonderful morning with the Bottorff family on Saturday. I am simply in love with the pictures from their session. They had an amazing orange chair they brought out to the front of their house for the photos. It was too perfect, capturing their beautiful family with their home in the background. Plus, how adorable are those kiddos?! Love 'em!

Trash the Dress: Lauren

As you know if you read my blog, I love trash the dress sessions. I think they are gorgeous. Who wouldn't want a chance to wear their beautiful gown again? My May 28th bride, Lauren, felt the same way. So we headed to the Ped Mall for an amazing session. The alley ways of the Ped Mall are such a perfect contrast to her dress. At the end of our session we stopped by Hotel Vetro's lobby. I love the picture of her on the black couch with the painting in the background. Love it!!

Sweet Little Six Month Old

Seriously, how adorable is this little girl?! She wasn't too interested in getting her photos taken, but did a great job. It took some work to get her to smile, but it was totally worth it. Her little smile lights up a room.

Jon & Amy {Wedding}

On June 11th, I captured the amazing beauty that was Jon and Amy's wedding. Their ceremony was at the First Mennonite Church in Iowa City. We started our portrait session with their first look in the sanctuary, a few alter shots, then headed outside to the beautiful little park just across the street.

The Smith Family

I once again had the pleasure of having the wonderful Smith family in my studio. Their little kiddos are so adorable! They were so fun and playful. I have to say, the black and white picture of their sweet little girls snuggled with her puppy toy just melts my heart. How sweet!

Head Shots

I recently had the pleasure of photographing the members of the AW Welt Ambrisco team. I have to say the head shots were a lot of fun and it was great meeting all of the wonderful people that work there.

Tyler {Senior}

This past Sunday, I spent the afternoon with Tyler for his senior portrait session. Unfortunately it was about 90 degrees outside plus humidity and the sun was blinding. Thankfully, Tyler was a total trooper and survived the outdoor portion of his session. We kept to the shade, but it was still very hot. I think we got some great photos despite the non-cooperative June weather.

Jason and Lauren

On May 28th, I had the pleasure of capturing the wedding of Jason and Lauren. Their day was so beautiful and so much fun. Their ceremony was held at the gorgeous St. Mary's in Riverside. I love that church. So many beautiful nooks and crannies. It is always a joy to photograph weddings there. After the ceremony, we headed to Iowa City for some more photos at Kinnick and the Old Capital. I adore their dip photo in front of the Old Capital!

Their reception was at the Holiday Inn in Coralville and was very upbeat. I don't know if I've ever seen quite so many people out on the dance floor at once! The atmosphere was wonderful. Congratulations to Jason and Lauren! Thank you so much for allowing me to share in and capture your amazing day!!

Patrick & Brittany {Engaged}

After their engagement session, I'm really looking forward to the August wedding of Patrick and Brittany. They were so much fun to photograph and were good sports to put up with the heat and humidity. I think the photos turned out great. It's hard for me to pick a favorite!

Elle-Mirai

Yesterday, I photographed a few more Elle-Mirai hats. I have to say, they are the softest hats I have ever touched and so beautiful. The yarns they use are simply amazing and they are so well crafted. I am definitely going to get one of their hat-bootie-diaper cover sets for newborn sessions in my studio. Love them! I also love their bow ties. How adorable is the fabric they use?