Lily Johnston Senior

Lily, a 2025 Johnston senior, wanted nature filled senior photos with an edgier feel. We started at Gray’s Lake in Des Moines. Who would have thought such a great flower field would be in Des Moines? :) One thing I love about Des Moines is there is such variety within a 15 minute drive! For her second location, we went to Des Moines Water Works Park. I love how having a second outfit and different scenery can bring variety and a different perspective to each senior session. I had a so much fun bringing her vision to life for Lily’s senior photography session.

Looking to get your senior photos taken? I love taking senior photos and bringing to life exactly what each senior wants! Whether it’s at the beach, in a studio, on the basketball court, track field, tennis court, by the lake, in a flower field, in your ballet gear, downtown, with your favorite book, your instrument, or with your dog I’d love to be your senior photographer.

I specialize in Des Moines senior portraits and will travel to Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Saylorville, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines, and Waukee.

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10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Your Engagement Session

1. Do I feel comfortable in my outfits?

There is nothing worse than tugging/adjusting your outfit every few minutes. When you feel comfortable you will be naturally more relaxed and get professional photos that feel like you. Just to be clear, comfortable doesn’t mean you can’t dress up. If you feel super comfortable in a form fitted dress - rock it!

2. Am I picking out my outfit to please someone else or because I love the outfit?

Trends are fun and who doesn’t love being complimented on your outfit? But if you are so focused on pleasing others you most likely will look back on the photos and be disappointed in what you chose. Don’t try to please your mom when picking out an outfit. My advice is think of what you enjoy wearing within your closet and pick what feels like your best self/the most confident in.

3. Does my ring need cleaned?

Getting your ring cleaned is free at the store you purchased it from and most jewelry shops and will make a big difference in close ups!

4. Do I need/want to order anything for my session?

Maybe you have your eye on a specific dress or want to order new shoes - be sure to order it enough in advance so you aren’t scrambling the day of because your package hasn’t arrived yet.

5. Do I want to get my hair and makeup professionally done?

If you don’t enjoy doing your makeup and hair yourself save up and treat yourself to getting them done professionally. Or you can use this session as a time to trial your wedding day hair or makeup. Or if you have a friend that loves doing hair and makeup reach out to them and see if they’d be willing to do yours!

6. Do I want to include any props?

Props could be champagne for a champagne pop, a piece of furniture, flowers, your favorite snack/food, or your favorite drinks and are a fun way to incorporate your personality in your session.

7. Have shared my expectations or anything special I want to include in my session with my photographer?

Maybe you have a specific vision or want specific photos. Be sure to tell your photographer this! The worst thing you can do is assume they already know what you are thinking - this always leads to dissapointment.

8. Do I want to include my pet?

Your engagement session is a great time to include pets and get a few quality professional photos with your furry friends. Or if you want to have an in-home session a great way to include your entire life into.

9. Are there any sentimental spots I want to include in my engagement session?

Where you met/first hit it off, your first date spot, go to date spot, or proposal site are all great places to incorporate your engagement session

10. Do I want to take off work and make an afternoon/day of my session?

Make an entire day of it or go on a date after your engagement session. Use the engagement session as an excuse to take the day off and get some extra quality time together. Life is too short not to 😊

Aaron & Baylie Noce DSM Wedding Day

My first wedding of 2022. There is always something extra special about my first wedding of a year. All rested up and creative juices ready to flow I was pumped for Aaron and Baylie’s wedding day to say the least 😊

Both were all smiles from start during getting ready downtown at the Des Moines Marriott to finishing up on the dance floor at Noce DSM. They did all the prep work before and truly were able to relax and have a blast during their day. I can say with confidence that they fully took in and enjoyed every moment on their wedding day, which I loved seeing and want for all my couples!

They decided to keep their wedding day small and invited 50 family members and friends. One huge plus of having a smaller wedding is that you get to spend real time interacting and experiencing the reception with your guests. And If you think less people means less of a party well Aaron and Baylie definitely proved that wrong! They had every single guest out of the dance floor up until I left. Not even tornado sirens stopped them (thank you Iowa weather). They even got me out on the dance floor with them for a song or two 😉

Thank you Aaron and Baylie for trusting me with your memories and making me feel like a close friend by the end of the day. Wishing you two a lifetime of love together 🥰

A love letter to Des Moines

Dear Des Moines,

Some photographers love living in you, but escaping to epic locations to experience more. I love staying and adventuring in the heart of you. Some photographers love seeking out new locations, I love finding new ways to photograph your familiar spots. I love driving around your city and finding spots that people pass by every day without a second glance but shout, “photograph me!” the second I see them. I love turning ordinary, every day, spots into places couples will remember a lifetime. I love being surrounded by your city. I love that I can drive a few miles from downtown and be surrounded by complete nature. Des Moines you are special. Des Moines you deserves to be shown off. Des Moines you are just right. You’re not too big and not too small. I love finding couples who love Des Moines as much as I do. It’s my goal to become a Des Moines photography connoisseur. To know where all your secret (and not so secret) photography spots are. To know when the light is going to hit you just right. To know how to make the city that others think is small time shine. Some photographers dream of filling their schedule with travel. I dream of 10 couples who dream of having their wedding day in Des Moines. I never grow tired of you. I could never grow tired of you even if I tried. You simply are the best for me.

I love, you, Des Moines.

The best is yet to come for us.

<3 Megan

Alayna and Michael Downtown Des Moines Engagement Session

Alayna and Michael wanted to spend time at their first date spots during their engagement session which I LOVED. It’s one of my favorite things when couples choose to be photographed in sentimental spots that are important to them. We started out at a rooftop to get some classic and fun Des Moines city photos, then moved to get coffee at Horizon Line (one of my local favorites), which happens to be the starting spot of their first date. After realizing how perfect these two were for one another, we walked to the park and they told me their goofy and super cute story of their first kiss in the exact spot we were sitting. Next we took the long way to their favorite bar and ended the night sharing a drinks and just chatting about wedding planning and life more. These two were so fun and they had me smiling the entire time and honestly made me feel like an old friend. I am so excited to be photographing these two wedding day this fall. Scroll through to see their infectious smiles and love for one another!