Des Moines Winter City Engagement Session - Laura & Derek

I photographed Laura’s older sister wedding at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and was so excited when Laura reached out to me for her own wedding day at Toast Ankeny!

All of Derek and Laura’s major relationship milestones happen in the winter and in the city, so it made sense they take their engagement photos in the winter in the city as well. They also brought their mini Bernedoodle Norman for a few pictures which I loved! If you have pets, engagement sessions are a great time to get family photos 😊

Their engagement session is a great example that you can have vibrant photos even in the winter time when things aren’t quite looking like the winter wonderland we all envision and see on Pinterest. See for yourself below!

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Randi Kate & Brad Wedding - Decorah Iowa

Randi-Kate and Brad were high school sweethearts who said I do to forever at Decorah Lutheran Church in front of all their family and friends. The amount of support and love they had from their family and friend was so sweet and very evident throughout their wedding day. Although it was oddly warm and there was no snow in sight these two still had a beautiful winter wonderland wedding day 🙂

For their reception Brad and Randi-Kate celebrated at T-bocks located in the heart of downtown Decorah.

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).

BashDSM Winter Wedding Styled Shoot

Every year I put together a styled shoot to prepare for my new wedding season, meet new vendors in the area, and get creative to kick start my year 😊I began planning in fall 2019 and knew I wanted to do a winter themed styled shoot for 2020, so I stuck with some classic winter colors: deep emerald green, red and navy to help emulate the feel of winter whether or not it snowed the day of the shoot.

This year I worked with 9 local vendors that knocked it out of the park in each of their wedding specialities:

Venue: Bash DSM

Florals: BC Floral

Decor: Vintage Love Rentals

Bride’s Look: Modern Dress

Groom’s Look: The Tux Shop

Cake: Creme Cupcakes

Makeup: All Dolled Up Makeup Designs

Hair: Liz Carpenter

Invitation Suite: Invitation Haven by Paige Payne

I was so happy with how each moving piece came together and it has me SO excited for all of my 2020 weddings. Scroll through to see my favorites from each part of the day ❤️

Cheyanne 2020 Senior | Des Moines Iowa Senior Photographer

Cheyanne and I met at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for her senior session. It was so fun to spend time there and explore the grounds without all the craziness and thousands of other people. Cheyanne was a natural and gave me serious and sweet through out her session. I wish I could slay the serious looks like her! I just end up giggling 😆 As we walked and talked she told me that she was enjoying summer, but so ready for her senior year. Better watch out East High School because Cheyanne is ready to crush it this year! Scroll through to see for yourself.

2020 Seniors, don’t forget to book your own senior session! It’s never too late ✨🎓