Downtown Des Moines Engagement Session - Bailey & Aaron

I will never get tired of exploring downtown Des Moines with my couples. Bailey and Aaron requested downtown views for their engagement session so we started at the Women’s Achievement Bridge and ended outside the State Historical Building.

Don’t want to do an outfit change but still want some variety in your engagement session? Aaron and Baylie are the perfect example of how to do this! Going to a second location can give the same outfit a totally different feel ☺️ Scroll to see them during the prettiest Des Moines sunset.

Aaron and Baylie were so sweet and easy going. I had such a fun time witnessing their relationship and being the third wheel during their engagement session. I’m so excited to photograph their wedding day at Noce Des Moines this spring!

Danielle and Jake Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens Engagement

Danielle, Jake, and I all went to UNI together just a year apart and actually majored in the same thing: Graphic Design. It was so fun to reconnect and swap stories about shared experiences and professors. We started our time at the Botanical Gardens. Danielle and Jake explained that they work from home and often find themselves working from the upper botanical garden space, so it seemed like the obvious choice to have their engagement pictures in this special spot. 😊

Associate work for Grace T. Photography

These two were so effortlessly stylish and their esthetic was made for the Botanical Garden in my humble opinion. After we left the the garden, they sweetly asked if it was okay if we switched up the second location and went to their favorite bar instead, Up-Down. I LOVE when couples want to be photographed in spots that are important to them, so I said Heck yes! and we headed downtown to finish their engagement photos.

I had a blast hanging out with Danielle and Jake and it got me SO excited for their wedding this August 😍(engagement sessions always do).

Top 10 Locations in Des Moines for Engagement Sessions

Unless you have a sentimental heart and want to recreate a specific date night, picking an engagement session location can be overwhelming. That’s why I’m sharing my top 10 picks of Des Moines engagement session locations to help you have less stress and more fun while wedding planning! There are so many gems in the city, but these are the places that I continue to come back to because of the variety and because couples genuinely love them 🙂

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

With outdoor and indoor locations the Botanical Garden is a great spot to get greenery all year round no matter the weather. The inside features a classic greenhouse with tons of different colors, plants and corners perfect for any engagement session.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

If you are an art lover this is a great spot to combine the outdoors and art in your engagement session. In the middle there is a little hill where you walk up and get a view of the city in the background as well. This spot is close to the library, and classic downtown sidewalks giving you many options for your photos.

The Travelers Roof Top

For those classic views of the city this parking garage roof top has a great urban feel and lots of variety within one location. This location is known for the Travelers sign that is often featured in the background of images.

Des Moines Art Center

Although you cannot photograph inside of the Art Center, the exterior of the building is available to use. This is a great location for urban feel with large white walls and without the typical crowds of downtown.

Greenwood - Ashworth Park

This park has it all, benches, a lake, trail leading all around the lake, beautiful trees, and prairie. This location gives tons of variety and is beautiful all year round.

Arie den Boer Arboretum

Located in Water Works Park, this location features beautiful colors throughout the year. In the spring it features whites and pinks, in the summer it’s green’s galore, and in the fall those classic oranges, yellows and greens really shine.

The Rose Garden

Located right behind the Des Moines Art Center, this location has beautiful greenery, winding paths and roses in the summer time.

Water Works Park

Further back in Water Works Park, this location is perfect for the nature loving couple. With 100’s of acres this land has ponds, lakes, a variety of trees and wide open fields.

Historic East Village

For the couple who loves the city and wants those classic views Historic Downtown has many little corners and that classic Des Moines city feel. It also features a beautiful wall that is green the majority of the year and changes to orange in the fall. A little note: the wall is private property, so be sure to reach out and get permission to use it before hand.

Downtown Coffee Shop

The following coffee shops have great natural light and are cozy spots for coffee lovers filled engagement session:

• Horizon Line Coffee

• Scenic Route Bakery

• DreiBerge Coffee

• Mars Cafe

Engagement sessions are complimentary in all my wedding packages! Engagement sessions are a great way to get some quality pictures of just the two of you (and maybe your fur babies) and for me to learn more about you two during our hour together!

Cooper Senior Session | Prairie City Senior Photographer

We ended up rescheduling Cooper’s session twice due to rain, but third times the charm really was true for us! We got the perfect fall day for Cooper’s senior photos. We started the session at his childhood home in Prairie City. His backyard had so much variety that I enjoyed exploring and using during his session. He started out looking super dapper in his navy suit and that switched it up to a more casual look. Cooper loves cross country and soccer, so we made sure to some photos of him in his uniforms as well. Once we were done making the rounds at his house, we went downtown to check out the new mural in Prairie City. Scroll through to see my favorites of Cooper and the new mural for yourself!

It’s not too late to book your own senior session for winter or spring 2020! Gone are the days that you have to have photos taken before your senior year starts. I love documenting senior’s and what has made it special for each senior.

Zach and Tia | Downtown Des Moines Engagement Session

Here it is folks, part two of Zach and Tia’s engagement session. For a different feel we went downtown and snapped some portraits in front of the beautiful ivy wall that I’m now obsessed with. I love how changing outfits and locations can create a totally different look in engagement photos. Which is why I always recommend my couples bring two outfits to their session for some variety 🙂Scroll down to see the wall I’m talking about and Zach and Tia in all their cute glory.

If Zach and Tia were to start a band I’d like to think this would be their cover art 😎

I’m counting down the days until I get to photograph these two again on their wedding at the Teachout Building downtown! 😍I have availability for 2020 and would love to document the moments that are most important to you on your wedding day so you can have them forever!