Five years married. Two beautiful babies. One epic celebration before deployment. 💛🇺🇸

I got to be a guest at this long-overdue wedding celebration for two of my favorite humans — and couldn’t resist sneaking in a few portraits for them 📸

Their love has been strong from the start (I was literally their roommate when they met 😅), and it’s only grown deeper through military life, parenthood, and everything in between.

So much love, so much gratitude, and so much admiration for the life they’re building — together and apart. 💍✨

#MilitaryLove #FiveYearsMarried #WeddingCelebration #VeteransMemorialWedding #CedarRapidsPhotographer #DeploymentLove #RealLoveStories #ForeverTeammates #LoveAndService

Every year, I get to photograph this rad little family, and every year they bring the style, the vibes, and all the joy.

This time we hit a downtown rooftop for that urban glow, and we were blessed with golden sunset light and the warmest spring air ever ☀️ 🌆

Their sweet boy just turned two and kept me on my toes - running, laughing, and launching the ball everywhere except to me (on brand for toddlers, right?) 🎾

And the skateboards? Yes please. 🛹 These three always show up with incredible energy, thoughtful wardrobe, and the kind of connection that makes my photographer heart do cartwheels.

I couldn’t narrow down this sneak peek set if I tried, there’s just too much goodness to choose from!

Studio sneak peeks coming in hot - and this one is extra special.

This sweet family has been in my life for 20 years ✨ and though life, kids, and distance kept us from crossing paths too often over the last decade, reconnecting for this session filled my heart.

Photographing their kids now as teens (after having photographed them as babies) was a surreal and beautiful full-circle moment. They even brought their two pups 🐶🐶, adding an extra layer of joy, playfulness, and wholesome family vibes to the shoot.

I’m endlessly grateful for friendships that stand the test of time ⏳ and for clients who return through the seasons of life and trust me to create something meaningful 📸❤️

Here’s a not-so-small handful of sneak peeks because… well… they’re just that stinking adorable 🥹✨

#FamilySession #StudioPhotography #IowaPhotographer #FamilyPhotos #TeenPhotography #DogFriendlyStudio #CedarRapidsPhotographer #EasternIowaPhotographer #PhotographyWithHeart #SneakPeeks #FullCircleMoment #TimelessConnections #PhotographerLife

🌸 Blossoming right before my eyes. 🌸

I still can’t believe this beautiful soul is mine.

My daughter is just a couple months away from officially becoming a teenager, but in so many ways, she already carries the heart, humor, and wisdom of someone far beyond her years.

She’s sweet and silly, kind and clever, stylish and strong.

One of my absolute favorite humans—and truly one of my best friends.

She stepped in front of the camera for fun this day and ended up modeling like a total natural, coming up with poses and ideas all on her own. I was in awe—both as a photographer and as a mama.

Watching her grow into this thoughtful, confident, creative young woman is the greatest joy of my life.

Love you, kiddo. Always. 🌺

Some friendships are like breathing — easy, necessary, essential.

Life has a way of pulling us into different seasons, and sometimes too much time passes between the moments that really matter: the hugs, the real conversations, the laughter that feels like home.

This past weekend, with the spring blooms in full glory 🌸 and the sunshine warming everything it touched ☀️, I got to spend the kind of day my heart had been missing.

Michelle stepped in front of my camera, and something magical happened ✨.

She radiated beauty, strength, resilience, and a quiet kind of joy that only comes from living fully. Seeing her through my lens reminded me not just of how stunning she is on the outside, but of all the ways she’s even more breathtaking on the inside.

Thank you, my beautiful friend, for trusting me to capture you — for showing up with so much grace, humor, and heart ❤️.

(And if you’ve ever thought about stepping in front of my camera — even just for yourself, even just because — maybe this is your sign. You deserve to see yourself the way the people who love you see you.)

Sneak peeks below… and so much more magic to come. ✨

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#FriendshipPhotography #BestFriendShoot #CapturingConnection #AuthenticPortraits #NaturalBeautyCaptured #GoldenHourGlow #SpringPortraitSession #BloomSeason #FloweringTrees #SpringtimeMagic #IowaPhotographer #EasternIowaPhotographer #PhotographerLife #CelebrateYourself
#SayYesToTheMoment

I really should have my daughter model for me more often! 📸 We had to get out and take advantage of the flowering trees and the gorgeous weather this past weekend. The weather will only continue to get better, but those blossoms will sadly be gone in a week or so. 💐

#floweringtrees #springtimeiniowa #crabapple