In This Instance Photography: Blog

Family of Three - Baby is One!

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 16:33:56 GMT

When baby turns one it is such a milestone! As a parent it is just so huge. So much happens and changes during that year and it is amazing to go through. That babies turning into toddlers phase is also so stinkin' cute!

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It was so much fun to hang out with these three and help them document this sweet phase in their lives.

In This Instance Etsy Top Nine

(In This Instance Photography) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 15:51:24 GMT

What a wonderful thing to see a year through end to end and 2019 has been a full year. As it comes to a close it is nice to reflect, both personally and professionally. It is such a joy when people select my photographs to decorate their homes and offices. Really, it makes me immensely happy. These were the top nine in my Etsy shop this year. It is a collection of travels, architecture, and my backyard - which sums up my shop rather nicely! I hope that you had a million wonderful moments in 2019 and a million more in 2020. Happy New Year!

Family of 4 Spring Photography Session

(In This Instance Photography) — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:19:46 GMT

Spring is such a wonderful time for family photographs. The world is bright and cheerful - so fresh. Also the temperatures are usually very comfortable which makes a huge difference for kids. The more comfortable kids are the more natural the smiles.

It was an absolutely lovely afternoon with this charming family of four. The sisters are just too cute.

It is always an honor to be asked to help a family document their current season of life with photographs and it is just extra awesome when I get to work with a family multiple times. I first met this family when they were a family of three, then those sweet newborn days, and now as a their youngest turns one years old - it was such a joy to work with them.

Spring Outdoor Family of 3 Photography Session

(In This Instance Photography) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 07:46:47 GMT

It is such a joy to help a family document special milestones in their lives. Especially since I have the most awesome clients and it feels like we are old friends. After making their maternity, newborn, and 3 month photographs, I was happy to see this family again and capture sweet moments of their now one year old!

We found a lovely spot with lush spring green background and let the moments unfold...

I love that we captured a few photographs of Mom and Dad together too.

It is a such an honor to help family document these seasons in their life. And happiest of birthday wishes to their sweet baby boy!

Baby Makes Four! Newborn Photography Session at Home with Family

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:17:00 GMT

It is a such a joy and honor to photograph families with their newborns. I mean babies are the sweetest and babies with their adoring families are just the best. I met this absolutely lovely family a few weeks back when we captured their maternity portraits and was so excited to meet the new littlest one.

This little peanut was just such a delight. We were able to capture his beautiful eyes and a few sleeping portraits.

This darling baby boy has a beautiful and adoring big sister. It makes my heart so happy to see siblings with their new baby brother or sister. She is so proud and thrilled to help out by giving him a bottle. Just the best.

And of course, the loving parents. Those early days filled with snuggles - that is the good stuff.

We had set aside plenty of time for this session so that we would be able to fit in newborn portraits and a wide variety of family photographs both portrait and lifestyle photos along with some wardrobe changes. Having the session at the family's home allowed for everyone to be at ease and roll with the baby's schedule. Planning for sufficient time is key to a relaxed session which shows through in the photographs.

Those newborn days are fleeting. It is so wonderful to have photographs to share with the little ones when they are grown.

Winter Maternity Photography Outdoors - Baby Makes Four

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:36:35 GMT

Waiting patiently for a baby is always a special time but how wonderful to share that time with your daughter as she waits for a baby sibling. I was thrilled to work with this growing family to capture some photographs to document this season of life.

Outdoors in the Midwest can be tricky for winter photographs. But a little patience in watching the forecast pays off. There is usually a warm-enough day to make it work. And it helps to embrace the season for what it is!

I believe it is so important to get photographs of kids with each parent. Those individual connections and relationships are important and love to have captured.

Such a sweet, growing family! Makes me so happy to get to work with them in capturing these memories.

Indoor Mini Family with Baby Photography Session

(In This Instance Photography) — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 14:10:22 GMT

Babies don't keep. It is sad but wonderful. It is also so lovely to have photographs of this time. A quick mini session for updated photographs as baby grows and changes it truly a good thing.

These are the days!

Fall Family Photography Mini Session Outdoors

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 23:20:49 GMT

Fall is such a great time for family photographs. The weather is usually ideal with comfortable temperatures and when everyone is comfortable it shows through in the photographs.

And a thirty minute session is usually just about right for kids! It gives us time to try out different spots for a variety of backgrounds and poses but not too long that they get antsy. It's all a balance, like most things in life!

Fall Wedding - The Details

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 22:53:49 GMT

It's all in the details, right? I loved the rich autumn tones in this fall wedding that I photographed. I remember all to well how much thought goes into the decisions for all those little things and like to make sure and capture them for the bride.

Fall Outdoor Maternity Photography with Evergreens

(In This Instance Photography) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:48:28 GMT

Guys - I love this maternity session. I loved meeting this couple and they rocked their portrait session.

Late November can get a bad wrap for outdoor sessions. The light at the right time of day is magic. And the evergreens in the Arboretum were such a great background for a late autumn-winter feel with color.

It was chilly out so we worked quickly with the occasional break to put on jackets and warm up while we moved to a new spot.

Just love how this session worked out. And am so glad that the weather worked in our favor to be outdoors in that glorious sunshine. Maternity photographs are just the sweetest keepsake of such a unique point in life.

Family of Four Fall Photography

(In This Instance Photography) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:21:54 GMT

It is so much fun to meet new families and get to work with them to capture family photographs. Kids that are nearing kindergarten start to understand the whole idea of family photographs and they really get the value in having photos with their parents and siblings. It is really cute to see them do their best at modeling and also still feel at ease enough to burst out into laughter and natural smiles as they cuddle up to their family. Kids are just the best.

This family selected a lovely nearby park that offered a variety of backgrounds in a short little loop. We walked around stopping at various points and exploring together. It was a beautiful fall morning.

I loved working with this family on their photographs. It was a fantastic morning hanging out with them!

A Summer Outdoor Wedding, Colbee & Amber

(In This Instance Photography) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:10:52 GMT

It was such a huge honor to be asked to photograph Colbee and Amber's wedding. They are dear to my heart and being their wedding photographer was amazing.

The lovely ladies planned a sweet, heartfelt ceremony outdoors and a fun-filled reception inside. The details were thoughtful and the atmosphere was playful. It was fantastic.

Tamy from 1-800Flowers Flowerama in Iowa City did such a beautiful job on the flowers. They are perfection and looked amazing.

The bridal parties got ready at the same hotel and then had a first look in a neighboring park.

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Summer Wedding Photography Iowa City

After their sweet first look, we did a few portraits...

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When Amber suggested to Colbee that we do a photo of her holding her by the foot, I just loved Colbee's "let's do it" response. Such a fun couple! Adding a little silliness to the mix is so much more fun than being super serious.

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The ceremony was very heartfelt. You can't help but smile.

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These flowers. Adore.

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All the best wishes for these two beautiful ladies.

It was a beautiful day to celebrate the start of this chapter in their lives. I am so happy that I was there to be part of it.

Newborn Baby Boy Mini Session at Home

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:36:07 GMT

Goodness babies are just so cute! I absolutely love newborn sessions. The cute little toes and noses and the adoring parents - it is all just too sweet.

It was wonderful to meet this cutie-pie baby boy after having worked with his parents earlier in the summer for their maternity photography. This mama wanted to keep it simple and schedule a mini session rather than a full newborn session. We let the 30 minutes flow at an easy pace with lots of cuddles for this wide awake babe.

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Regardless of how much time we have set aside, I think it is so important to capture photos of baby with mom and dad. He will cherish those photos when he is older.

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And wide awake means we get to see those beautiful eyes!

Newborn baby boy photography Newborn baby boy photography Such a little cutie! I had the best time photographing this sweet family and baby. It just makes me so happy to help them document this amazing time in their life.

Newborn Baby Girl Photography Session at Home

(In This Instance Photography) — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 18:29:58 GMT

Oh my gosh is this baby girl cute. It is impossible to not want to cuddle her.

Those sleeping baby faces get me every time but then again so do the observant bright eyes of a newborn. Lucky for us, this darling girl gave us both some wide awake time and napping time. We scheduled a two hour session time which allowed for a relaxed session.

Her parents are so smitten. Love is a beautiful thing.

After this sweetheart fell asleep we worked in a variety of photographs and included some more cuddle time of, course.

Adorable. Just adorable. This lovely little lady was a joy to meet and photograph, as were her parents.

Summer Maternity Photographs in the Nature Preserve

(In This Instance Photography) — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 17:48:52 GMT

Summer is a beautiful month for maternity photography sessions outdoors. But this can mean hot temperatures which is just not comfortable when you are pregnant. This mama wanted their maternity photographs to be outdoors in a natural, wooded setting and we were able to meet nice and early in the morning which meant they got the beauty of summer with more manageable temperatures!

A comfortable mama makes for a happy mama which makes for lovely photographs!

These two were so at ease and it shows in their photographs. It was a beautiful morning in the nature preserve.

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This baby is so loved! I am thrilled and honored that I was able to capture and help document this special time in their lives.

Meeting Baby Henry - Newborn Photography Session

(In This Instance Photography) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:20:37 GMT

Gosh I love newborn photography sessions. Babies are such sweetpeas and I have so much fun capturing their portrait along with the love their family has for them.

It was such an honor to get to meet sweet Baby Henry and to see his parents again after our maternity photography session.

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This sweet baby is so loved and adored!

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This newborn photography session was done at home when the baby was nine days old. Having the session at home made it so easy for the parents and everyone was relaxed. Baby Henry was a dream giving us both bright eyes and sleeping moments for a variety of lovely photographs. It was such a joy to help them capture these memories.

Baby Photography in the Park

(In This Instance Photography) — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 01:23:13 GMT

Babies are cute. Dogs are cute. Parks are lovely. Babies and their dogs in a park make for a lovely set of photographs to cherish.

I was really excited when this family contacted me for a family mini session in park near their home. Baby photography is often indoors but a beautiful June morning outdoors can be just a breath of fresh air. The natural setting with green grass and lush trees is a beautiful background for a baby with his/her family.

This little one's parents are so completely smitten! It was a joy to meet them and help capture this moment in their lives.

Newborn Baby and Now Family of Four Photography

(In This Instance Photography) — Tue, 22 May 2018 15:37:04 GMT

Babies are magic. They are quite simply amazing and I truly love to photograph a growing family. I was so excited to see this lovely family again and meet their newest addition to the family, a sweet baby girl that makes them now a family of four.

Having the newborn and family photography session take place at home lends a very personal, authentic element and makes it so much easier for the family. As kids grow, they love to see those familiar elements of home in their photographs.

You know what else is magic? Sisters. There is just so much fun ahead for these two darling little girls!

It was such a joy to be able to capture photographs of this unique time in their lives for this lovely family.

Spring Maternity Photography by the Lakefront

(In This Instance Photography) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:13:03 GMT

There is so much to love about springtime. Add to that the excitement of a family growing from two to three and it is quite the season!

I had such a wonderful time getting to know this family. They are fun and kind and going to be awesome parents. We walked along the lake shore path for a outdoor, woodsy setting and natural backdrop for their photographs. It was a perfectly relaxed spring maternity session.

They are such a lovely family and I am honored that I was able to capture photographs of this special time in their lives.

Fall Family Photography in the Prairie

(In This Instance Photography) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:15:25 GMT

I had a blast working with this family of three on their fall family photography. We had a gorgeous autumn day and the prairie was a wonderful setting filled with variety of backdrops.

Prairies are great locations with young kids as they simply feel carefree which helps in attaining natural expressions in photographs. This darling little girl is full of character and I enjoyed getting to know her and her parents. Getting to meet so many awesome people is a great perk to my job!

November can be such a gorgeous time for family photographs. In Madison Wisconsin the prairies light up with the autumn sun and crisp leaves while the cool air makes it very comfortable - it is lovely.

Fall Maternity Photography in Madison Wisconsin

(In This Instance Photography) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:40:42 GMT

Working with a couple on their maternity photographs is truly something special. This is such a magical time for a family. There is so much anticipation and so much love.

Pregnancy is a unique transitional time in our lives. I remember all to well getting woken up at 6:30am on the dot each day by my baby's kicks, this perhaps prepared me for the early riser baby I soon welcomed into my arms. Even when you feel just a bit more on the uncomfortable side, the pregnancy glow is there and it is time to be treasured.

I was so excited to work with this beautiful couple to capture this time in their lives. The late autumn glow went so lovely with this mama's pregnancy glow. Fall is a lovely transitional season which seems quite the match for such a time of transition in a family.

They looked gorgeous. It was chilly out, as it can be in late November, but the sunshine mixed with autumn trees and prairie was lovely setting for their maternity session.

Hello World

(In This Instance Photography) — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 18:14:39 GMT

Hi there and welcome to my very first blog post! I am really excited to start sharing more of my work and writing about photography and life. This blog will be mostly about my photography work but that often blends into my personal life through travel or local adventures so there will a bit of both in my posts.

I've been taking photographs almost my entire life. Ever since receiving a pink 110 film camera when I was a child I have loved photographing the beauty around me in our amazing word. Many cameras later and countless hours of refining my craft it is with great pleasure that I get to make art for people to enjoy in their homes, whether that be a fine art print from my shop or family portrait session.

I look forward to sharing favorites from my recent adventures on this blog, both portrait sessions and my fine art photography. Let's see where this takes us!