The portraits you capture now will hold those memories forever.
Those little moments, the ones that you didn’t even realize were there until they had passed.
There’s beauty, there’s kindness, there’s frustration, and tears. It’s all there. It all counts. Don’t wish it away.
Take the pictures. BE IN the pictures.
These truly are the moments that define us. And, once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
From planning to prints, and everything in between.
I’m here to guide the way, making it easy and enjoyable.
From start to finish, we carefully attend to every detail to ensure a stress-free experience for everyone. You’ll be styled with glamorous pieces from the exclusive client wardrobe, pampered by one of Cedar Valley’s best-licensed hair and makeup artists, and left with custom art designed for your home so you’ll never have to worry about what to do with those digital files. I’m here to make your life a little easier so you can keep doing what you do best – being their mom. I’ll take care of the rest.
A brief call for introductions
I want to hear all about your family and the reason this moment is so important to you. I want to hear your voice and your joy. Taking the time to get to know you is important to me which is why I often schedule a quick phone call. I know your schedule is busy, and I want to honor your time. However, if an email is best, please let me know and I’m happy to serve you in the way that’s best for you.
Planning the details
I’ll invite you to the studio for your styling and planning appointment. There we can discuss all the details of your session - from what you’d like to wear to how you envision enjoying your portraits in your home. I’ll help you pick the best dress for you and from there we will choose clothes for the rest of the family. You’ll have time afterward to look at our sample album and some of the wall galleries I’ve designed.
We can discuss the details of your session at our first meeting or over the phone. It’s all about what is convenient for you. I’m more than happy to help you plan outfits or tailor a style that feels true to you. You’ll also have the option of wearing your own clothes or choosing from our curated wardrobe.
Create a memorable and enjoyable experience
On the day of your session, you can just show up. It’s truly that easy. Our hair and makeup artist will pamper you while I focus on taking pictures of the rest of the family. If you’ve booked an outdoor session, the salon is nearby and I’ll plan to meet you at the nearby field with your family. Enjoy this hour of alone time! You deserve it. When you’re done, your story is my focus and your only job is to enjoy the time with your family. We’ll laugh, share stories, and capture all the beautiful moments you want to cherish.
Tell your story your way
How do you want to remember your story? Sometimes it can feel overwhelming knowing what to choose when you love all your images. At your design and ordering appointment, I’ll guide you as you choose from a variety of products that feel right to you. Whether that means custom framed art, stunning photo albums, or a combination of the two, I want to help you decide what fits your family best and am happy to make recommendations and provide you with sample mockups featuring your images. I know narrowing down your images can be hard, but I’ll be there to help you through that process too. I’m here to help you remember your story the way you want to and to make the process of choosing easy.
Effortlessly enjoy your new artwork
If you’ve ordered an album, you can pick it up at the studio. I love watching clients unbox their memories for the first time. Most moms are just in awe as they relive all the moments, while some dads have even cried. If you dread installing frames (or multiple frames), then you’ve found the right person. One of my favorite parts of my job is coming to your home and installing your frames on your walls. My job isn’t done till the artwork is hung.
Wardrobe and styling
What if you could just show up for photos? You can.
Whether you are a first-time mom or a mother of multiples, getting your entire family ready for photos can be extremely stressful and can set the mood for your portrait experience. Plus who really enjoys taking kids to the store or sitting online for hours shopping?
We partner with you to select clothing that you and your family will love wearing. Before your session, we will work together to select your family’s wardrobe by coordinating pieces from the exclusive client wardrobe. And best of all, it means not buying something you’ll never wear again.
Our wardrobe room has been carefully curated with a selection of gorgeous dresses in a variety of soft colors chosen to flatter all mothers. Whether you prefer something simple or something with a little more detail, I'm confident we have the dress for you. You'll also find clothes for your kiddos up to size 6x. For husbands and older children, I'll send you a list of recommendations that can easily be picked up locally.
Hair and Makeup
You deserve to feel beautiful for your photos.
Incorporating professional hair and makeup for your session is one of the best things you can do to ensure your photos look flawless. Our licensed hair and makeup artist knows exactly how to create a naturally stunning look where you’ll beam with confidence and your photos will show it. You will feel more confident and that will show through in your photos. Plus, it’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about on the day of your photos.
Hair and makeup are included in all Signature Sessions and The First Year Collective.
Getting my hair and makeup done by Gabby for the pictures that Meghan took made me feel like a whole new person.
I’m not one that does hair and makeup everyday because I never seem to have the time to focus that much time and attention on myself rather than my kids/family, so getting it done made me feel absolutely amazing. I actually felt pretty for the first time in a long time. I felt a smile on my face that was genuine because I felt good in those moments. It really boosted my confidence and I’m so thrilled to have these moments pictured and look and feel good in them at the same time.
Brittany Muehling
Getting my hair and makeup done by Gabby for the pictures that Meghan took made me feel like a whole new person.
I’m not one that does hair and makeup everyday because I never seem to have the time to focus that much time and attention on myself rather than my kids/family, so getting it done made me feel absolutely amazing. I actually felt pretty for the first time in a long time. I felt a smile on my face that was genuine because I felt good in those moments. It really boosted my confidence and I’m so thrilled to have these moments pictured and look and feel good in them at the same time.
Brittany Muehling
About the studio
Our photography studio is conveniently located on University Ave in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The studio is designed to make you feel at home so you are completely comfortable and relaxed for your session. In our wardrobe room, you'll find plenty of space to unpack all your belongings so you feel settled. If you need to change or feed your baby, we've got a changing table and boppy so you can take care of them comfortably. We also have refreshments and snacks for everyone.
In our main natural light shooting area, we use simple white walls as the backdrop to ensure the focus of your images is on your face - not the props or the background. Our floors are a beautiful lighter tone with both cool and warm colors. My primary focus is to utilize natural lighting but because we live in Iowa, sometimes rainy days require studio lighting. However, with my previous training, you can be confident that your studio-lit images will be just as beautiful as natural light images.
Our main shooting space has a separate comfortable seating area with a television. This space is where you'll see your images for the very first time during the reveal at your design and ordering appointment. We can also use the TV during a session if a toddler needs a break from all the smiles.
“You’re always going to wonder if you’re doing things wrong, but that’s what it means to be a mom, to care so much about someone else that you just want to be as perfect as possible.”
NAYA RIVERA
