Northwest Iowa Family Photographer
Take a look inside my first photography shootout in Honey Creek, Iowa hosted by Mackenzie Pudenz Photography.
We had such an amazing time! If you haven't heard of a shootout, it is essentially a photoshoot that many other photographers can attend and everyone takes photos at the same time. I stumbled upon this shootout randomly on my instagram and realized it was only a couple hours from me so I knew I wanted to attend. It was very nice to network with other photographers and get to hear about their businesses and families.
The location was stunning and the family was beautiful and so much fun to work with! I will definitely be attending more of these in the future!
Why do we wait?
Why do we put off doing the things that we want to do? Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the day to day, the hustle and bustle of life, but we should take an extra few minutes a day to plan the things we actually want to do. There are numerous times in the past when I would just put off taking my girls photos or planning my family photos because at first glance, everything can be a little overwhelming. What would we all wear? Where are we going to take photos? Do I REALLY need photos done? How will we get this scheduled with all the other crazy things we have going on this summer/fall/spring/winter?
The truth is, in the moment, everything can seem a little overwhelming and it's easy to push something off or find an excuse for why it really isn't "needed" right now. But those kids aren't getting any younger. Those milestones aren't getting any closer together. Those moments of carrying your baby, holding their hand, being the their whole world.... those moments are getting closer and closer to being "the last time" -- one of those poems that I have always hung onto (scroll to the bottom of the page to read). There are moments of childhood where you just look at your little one and think "gosh please just stay little" those are the little moments that speak to you to slow down, love harder, be happier, be present. Just the other day, my 9 year old fell asleep on the couch and it was at that moment that I went to pick her up and realized I couldn't carry her to bed. She had gotten too big and too heavy. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and realize that it was going to be the last time I carried her to her bed. The last time she wasn't too heavy for me.
One thing I have though, are those photos. I cling to those moments that were captured of our family when I held my babies in my arms. When we gave airplane rights and could swing them between mom and dad. When you could put your little girl up on your shoulders. It brings me so much joy to capture these memories for the families I work with! To know you have these moments to cherish and remember for years to come, makes my heart so happy!
Photos are more important than you might realize at this exact moment in time.
As your family photographer, I take all of the work out of planning out your family photos. My services include my own personal stylist who works with me to find the perfect outfits for your family with direct links to everything you need to buy. She can work with things you have in your closet or get you a whole new set of outfits for the family on a budget.
My approach to photography is very laidback and natural. While we will capture several formal, posed portraits that you can print and hang around the house, I also want to focus on the essences of your family. So your photos show each of your personalities and quirks, and portrays your unique family dynamic.
I want to show the real, raw and imperfectly perfect moments, because they matter the most. These are the moments you’ll cherish the most years from now. Reach out to book those family photos. Don't push them off and think "we don't need them this year". Children grow so much each year. Family dynamics change, they lose teeth, they hit a growth spurt, their personalities bloom, and there are so many reasons to capture those babies exactly as they are. Bottle it up and relive those moments that may not seem significant right now but looking back on them years from now, you will be so thankful you took the time to get photos done.