Grinnell Wedding Photographer || Sophie and Jesse

Sophie and Jesse are the kind of people that you immediately feel at home with. They invite you in to their lives with kindness, the rare kind that starts with growing up in small town Iowa & ends with the never-ending love of Jesus. Sophie was a friend of mine during my years at ISU as a student, always willing to share her life and her time over a cup of tea. Jesse might seem quiet at first, but he's really full of great stories of adventure and even greater (& deeper) thoughts. These two have a passion to love those around them, and I'm thrilled to see how their marriage only grows and refines that desire! Jesse and Sophie marry this weekend, and it will be the most joyous of days. 

Jesse's family owns a bit of land around Grinnell, so the three of us adventured around the creek, "tree number one and two," the old cabin, and a wholeeee lot of wild parsnip (!!!!!) to make some memories and take engagement photos. Here are a few of my favorites:)

Cedar Falls Proposal || Erin & Jon

“I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t
Want anybody else but you.”

— Magic by Coldplay

Jon decided to come visit Erin for her birthday weekend. They went on a picnic date out at Big Woods Lake…little did Erin know what was to come after they wined & dined! Jon challenged Erin to a "most artistic photo" contest. While she lay on the ground photographing some flowers, Jon removed the battery from the camera he was using and slipped in a ring…and once Erin pulled out what was making the "mystery rattling noise," Jon got down on one knee...

These next photos are (selfishly) my favorite…after they'd had a few minutes, Jon yelled out, "AMELIA! You can come out now!" Erin's face & reaction was priceless. She'd wanted me to photograph this for sooooo long, but had told me multiple times she didn't think Jon knew that, or that he'd ask me. Little did she know that he'd started the conversation back in March. 4 months previous. HAH!

After more gawking and freaking out and us generally not knowing what to do next…we walked around the park area & took more photos! Because, what else are two photographers going to do? ;)

And, it wouldn't be a celebration without heading home to share news with the family & eating some Scratch cupcakes! ;) Erin & Jon, I'm so thankful to have been a part of this life-changing evening, and even more thankful to walk with you both through life for the rest of our years as friends.

Liz + Scott || Ames, IA Engagement

These two were a dream to photograph! I've been waiting since what seems like forever to take these photos, and the evening did not disappoint. ;) Liz was one of my first friends at ISU, and we immediately connected due to our similar taste in books & art. We quickly confided in each other about girl talk (aka, which boys we were crushin' on) and she admitted that she'd liked Scott since their freshman year "Joshua Team." It took the rest of that year, a summer together in Indonesia for a mission trip, and a fall semester before Scott called Liz up, took her to Ledges, and officially asked her out! (I still have vivid memories of sitting in the hall of her dorm, getting all the details and giggling like 5 year olds. So much fun.) Now, a year & a half later, they're engaged…and getting married in exactly two weeks! I can't wait!

Jessica + Brandon || Engaged!

As sure as I live, this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die
-Randy Travis: Forever and Ever, Amen

Brandon & Jessica met at Central College through mutual friends. They got to know each other better during class and finally started "talking"…right before Brandon left the country for three weeks over Christmas break! Distance didn't stop them then, and it sure hasn't stopped them as they've dated "short-distance" over the past two years.

Jessa (as I call her) has been one of my best friends since our 10th grade biology class. (Telling, since Jess majored in biology in college!) When I visited her at Central during the college years, it's quaint style stuck with me. Once these two got engaged, we quickly set up engagement photos in Pella! No brainer, such a good idea. (Maybe not that it happened on one of the coldest days so far…but hey, Brandon and Jess rocked it, regardless! Plus, we grabbed coffee at Smokey Row, and Dutch Letters at Jaarsma. BEST DAY EVER.)

Thank you both for being willing to face the winter winds with me! I'm thrilled to be capturing your wedding day. Jesus will be glorified, laughter will abound, and so many people who love you will rejoice with you! Can't wait for July:)

Engaged || Ryan + Lauren || Pt. 2

These twoooo!!! I swoon…October hit us again with perfect weather for their engagement session. (Remember when they actually got engaged?! So much FUN!) You really can't go wrong taking engagement photos at Iowa State University, I mean, it's in the top rated prettiest campuses in the United States! Plus, I have it on good authority that quite a few students end up here purely because of how pretty she is in the autumn…and who knows, some of them find the one they'll adventure through life with at this school. ;) 

Ames, IA Engagement Photos || Selia + Brennan

These two! Oh my goodness…it seems like all I've known of them is the two of them, together. Selia and Brennan are student leaders in the campus ministry I work for, and I think we've all known for a while (or at least hoped!) that Brennan would ask Selia to take his last name. As you can see, he finally did! ;) And, as you can also see, they are SUPER STOKED to get married! Thank you so much for letting me photograph you as you enter in to this new season of life! Keep bringing the crazy. :)

Proposal || Ryan + Lauren || Pt. 1

Ryan and Lauren are such sweet friends. Watching them grow in friendship and love has been so wonderful! I remember standing in the RCA courtyard when Lauren told me she and Ryan had just started dating…but she wasn't sure how it would work out, since they were spending the summer and next semester beginning to date. Long distance. Well, long story short, that distance had nothing on their love. ;)

Earlier this semester, Lauren mentioned that she wanted me to shoot photos of their engagement—"whenever that happens!" She thought it would be this semester, but hadn't really much idea of the timeline. "All I want is for it to be a surprise, for Ryan to ask my dad, and for you to be there to photograph it." And thanks to some stealthy planning from Ryan and myself, and a whole lot of grace from the Lord, it went off without a hitch! Even though it was chilly, the sun came out, the Crow's Nest was empty when they arrived, and they left with huge smiles and a wedding to plan! Enjoy the 'day of' photos…part two of engagement photos to come.

Ames Engagement Photos || Jessica + Samuel

I love how goofy Jess and Sam are together! They are completely comfortable being themselves, and that is so much fun to be around. Jessie and I met 3 years ago, and keeping up with her over the years has been a joy. I was so surprised (and excited!) when she asked me to shoot engagement photos for her and Sam—these two are fantastic people, and burn bright together. :) We started off shooting their engagement photos in the Ames Library (Jess is currently in grad school studying library science) and then ended our time together out at the ever-beautiful Ada Hayden park. Enjoy a few of my favorites!

Sara + Jake | Cedar Falls, IA Engagement Photography

You know that you have the best ever clients when they trust you enough to have an engagement session super early on a Saturday morning. I think all will agree that it was worth it! Jake proposed with a gorgeous ring last fall. Sara, of course, said yes! 

And in the words of Taylor Swift, these two have "mad love" and will be wed next month! Can't wait, you two!

Aaron + Grace: Ames Engagement Session

These two complement each other so well. I originally got to know Grace through my time with the UNI Navigators, and met Aaron for the first time during a summer in Jacksonville. Aaron & Grace both ended up down in Jacksonville the following summer, hit it off—and less than two years later, they're almost married! 

It was so much fun to spend an hour (during March, let me say, and on an almost-70 degree afternoon!) with the soon-to-be-Trents. They have a crazy funny sense of humor, but still politely laughed at my horrible jokes. ;) With their humor, smarts, style, and love for Jesus, Grace and Aaron are going to take this world by storm. We are less than a month away from their wedding, and it's going to be a beautiful day—I can't wait!