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Family Portraits
WOW. This session was a literal dream come true! Tanya and Alex are expecting their first, a little girl, in December— just two months out! We spent the perfect evening out in a gorgeous field at sunset, taking some photos to commemorate the short time left of just the two of them.
Happy September! With my fall mini-sessions coming up in just a month, I've had lots of questions on what to wear for family photos! Picking outfits can be a challenge, so I decided to create a few free resources for families who want to look "on point" for their pictures! (Does anyone even say that anymore?!) One great resource is Pinterest. I've created a Pinterest Board specifically for families & family photo outfits!
I'm so excited to announce my Fall Mini-Session dates! This is the first year that I've been able to really do this (hooray for full time photography!) and I'm just so excited to see what families sign up for a session.
When the Felkins family asked me to photograph their family, I was thrilled! I've known the twin girls, Sam and Alex, for a few years now and had come into contact with the rest of the family briefly over time. Michael is a pastor at a local church, and he's also officiated quite a few of the weddings that I've photographed! We started off their family photo session in their backyard. It's always special to photograph people in "their" space. Plus, that meant dog Tex could join in on the fun! He was a fan of the love, as you'll soon see.
Family photos tell the story of what bonds a specific cluster of humans, and who they are together. We don't take family photos for today, we take them for the future. They will be passed on, and remembered, for years to come! Personally, I love looking at family photos from my childhood! They help me reminisce (or wish I could) on the places we've been, the people we were, and simple things... like what I loved as a kid. (My purple corduroy overalls and matching hat, if you were wondering.) So, it was a true joy for me to drive from Des Moines to Cedar Falls to take family pictures for our neighbor family earlier in July!
This family has been a true gift to ours. They moved in next door about 5 years ago (I think?) and it's been the best thing that has happened to our neighborhood! The kids bring so much life and laughter, and almost every time I visit home, we hang out.
This sweet family has allowed me to photograph them for years now! It's been so fun to watch Emma grow from a slightly-bald baby to a walking, dancing, talking, question-asking three year old! She even held my hand for a little bit during their photo session... totally melted my heart. <3 And she also showed off her cool dance moves (seriously, she's got me beat!) and her pretty new nail polish. This little lady sure knows how to be cool!
I got to hang out with David & Ashley last Friday morning (way earlier than I am normally up, honestly!). But the light was gorgeous--especially after days of clouds and rain--and we were on a mission... to snag some 6 month photos of Lily before she crashed and took a nap. I love hanging with these friends on a pretty regular basis, and sneak baby snuggles any chance I get, but this was the first time I'd photographed Lily since she was born!
These photos were taken on a super windy and chilly October day in Iowa. The whole Hansen crew managed so well, and Isla even slept through part of our photo session! We had to get some natural light photos (of course) and even snuck into the nursery Scott's mom has made up for Isla.
People, and new friendships, are some of the very best things about life. (I'm also an extrovert and suuuuper people oriented...so that's probably why!!) It's been so fun for me to get to know Emily and Rich over the past 3 years. They are servant-hearted people, generous givers, and so kind! As I've gotten to know them and spend more time with them, I've also been able to watch their family grow. Last year, they added the cutest (and strong willed!) little girl into their family. It's been amazing to watch her change and grow, both physically and in personality! She definitely wasn't sure about the camera (or me, for that matter) but we still managed to capture some fun family photos!
It isn't too late to schedule a family session this fall! I have a few spots open yet in November, so shoot me an email via the contact page above if you want some updated family photos for your Christmas cards!
With love,
Amelia Renee
Ashley and David have become good friends to me over the past 6 years. Although I can't remember the first time I met them, I knew they were cool older college students, and yet I somehow scored an invitation to their wedding! It was a gorgeous day, and a sweet memory. Just a few years after that, they came to work at Iowa State...and I've been able to spend lots of time with them, through work and fun. David has introduced me to my favorite game (Codenames, seriously, you need this in your life!) and Ashley mentored me last year over lots and lots of coffee. It was SO fun to find out this spring that their family is expanding, and "Lil' Party" will be joining the crew in just a few weeks! We cannot wait to meet her (& find out her real name). These two will be fantastic parents, & it's going to be a sweet new season of life for them!
I've been able to do 2 sessions of this family (last spring's here!) and it has been just a blast to watch Emma grow up! This was my favorite session. Not only was the light and weather perfect, but Emma is talking and old enough to really have fun with. ;) She let me pick her up at the end of the session and actually didn't want to let go! Hahaha kids really are the best thing.
I am so glad that Katie suggested doing photos out by the bluebells! The Katoski Greenbelt Trail is known for its carpet of tiny blue and purple flowers in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. People come from all over to take strolls, picnic, or take family and even wedding photos among the bluebells! We definitely caught them at just the right time, too!
If you're interested in a family photo session of your own, I would love to connect with you! Just shoot me an email via my "contact" page up top.
Des Moines family photography, Ames family photography, Cedar Falls family photography
This family came into my life last summer (2015) and I'm SO glad for that! Emily and Rich are just wonderful people, and when I found out they were expecting, I was thrilled. Their little girl was born this summer, and I finally got to meet her when we photographed some family portraits in Cedar Falls during the fall. It was a little wet, but the trees were gorgeous & they modeled perfectly! Cheers to blogging photos 5 months late. ;)
I get a lot of people these days asking me if I photograph babies. The answer is: not often. But, it's always a treat to! My favorite way to photograph little ones is within the context of their family. Parents, siblings, those who love them most—surrounding them with moments of love! So it was a pure joy to escape to Ankeny in October to practice my family photography and make photos with this cutie & her parents! Thank you, crazy fall weather, for giving us a perfect evening with golden light and magic floating about in the warm breeze.
PSA: I am, in fact, booking for 2017! If you're interested in connecting about proposal photos, wedding photos, or anything else…consider me your gal & shoot me a note via my contact page! I pretty much serve anywhere in Iowa (and I LOVE to travel!). Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
It's always so fun to travel for photo sessions—even more so when you get to catch up with friends! Rachel & Nick were friends who asked me to photograph their engagement photos…then their wedding…and now, maternity photos! Little baby girl J is due next month and is going to be so well loved by her parents & Willis. :) Also: is this nursery not the cutest thing?! I love how Rachel has it decorated! Not to mention, this baby crib is Nick's. So sentimental and sweet!
On a personal note, I'm heading down to my new little apartment in Ames for the school year soon & would love to photograph senior photos, engagements, and family/maternity photos in Ames or Des Moines this fall and winter!
This family has always treated me like an extra daughter, and even let me take their family photos when I was just beginning my venture into photography! (I'd like to think I have a better idea of what I'm doing now. ;) Coming home to Cedar Falls and getting asked to photograph a family session or two is always a treat, and this one was extra special for me. It was wonderful to stop by their house & enter the joyous chaos a few weeks ago when, see the little boys so grown up, the two oldest home from college, and be reminded of those days gone by!
I've been wanting to explore some pumpkin patches around the Ames & Ankeny area for a while…so when my cousin Sara contacted me about taking some fall photos of her family, I was thrilled! We had the most gorgeous fall afternoon to explore Geisler Farms, and then headed in to town for a few more photos. What I didn't know is that they were also announcing their pregnancy! Our whole extended family is thrilled to help them welcome their second son this spring—Sara has two sisters, so it's kinda fun that she and her sister both have boys! :) Sara & Ben, thanks for coming this way and letting me help you share this exciting news and capture some memories of your family of three.
This family is one of the most genuine and loving families you'll ever meet! Kirsten is warm and inviting, always creating and making a comfortable space for her family and anyone around her. Alex is one of the most passionate and encouraging persons you could know—he loves his family, his job, and people in general. Together, these two are a power couple! God has called them into full time ministry with college students, and together they love, train, and serve students well. I know this from firsthand experience. :)
Kirsten and Alex met at Iowa State when they both accepted a two year commitment to do campus ministry. They fell in love with ministry and each other during those two years, got married, had Claire, accepted a new position leading the ministry at UNI (Go Panthers!) and just a few short weeks ago, welcomed their newest addition, sweet Nola Mae!
I am so excited to watch this little family blossom and grow, just as their garden & porch flowers, and even their students in ministry will. Newmasters, it is an honor and blessing to call you friends and co-workers. Thank you for allowing me to take your family & newborn photos!
