Indoor family Photo Session in Des Moines

As crazy and chaotic as 2020 has been, we’ve had a beautiful fall here in Des Moines.

I can remember so many times when we’d have summer-like weather clear in to late September only to be ended abruptly with a sharp drop in temps with nothing but rain until the snow starts to fly. It seems that we’d have beautiful fall foliage for about a week or 2, and then after a windy day the trees would be blown bare.

The trees are bare now but we really had some amazing color this year. One this is for sure though, we’ve also had a ton of wind. I guess that’s one of the reasons why we have wind farms here in Central Iowa. But windy days make photo sessions extra challenging, whether it’s wind-blown hair or wind chill.

If it’s windy, rainy, cold or snowy (or crazy hot and humid), it’s nice to have indoor options for your family photo session.

This studio space in downtown Des Moines has quickly become one of my favorite places to photograph no matter what the weather is doing. This beautiful family of four is very near and dear to me and it was an absolute pleasure to capture their connection and love for one another.

Check out those missing teeth! If I remember right he literally just lost a tooth right before their session. Teeth grow in pretty quick so it’s extra special when you can capture that toothless grin while you can.

Dresses are the perfect choice for your daughter and a fun way to capture movement. If you are ever wondering what you should have your daughter wear for pictures and she has a cute dress, always choose the dress, you won’t regret it!

I love these casual shots of Mom and Dad cuddling on the couch.

With several furniture options available for use at the studio we were able to achieve several different looks in a short amount of time, which is a great option for busy families and kiddos with shorter attention spans. These kids are a little older and did a fantastic job following instructions during the session and we definitely could have gone longer (but I’m pretty sure Dad was glad this was quick!).

I always ask my clients prior to their session, “Where in your home do you plan to display your photographs?”

Maybe you have an older, outdated family portrait hanging above your sofa that you’d like to replace with an updated one.

Maybe you had fall portraits done and you’d like something you can display in your dining room seasonally.

Maybe you prefer to have all of your favorite photos together in an heirloom album that you can hold in your hands and look through together as a family, and have it proudly displayed on your coffee table.

Or, maybe you haven’t given much thought to how you will display your photos, and that’s ok. With the busyness of life it can be hard to think beyond just sharing your photos on social media. But, have you thought about how hard it is to enjoy your photos digitally if the power goes out, or your battery has died? What about when you have a poor cell or wifi signal?

With photos hung prominently in your home, not only do you get to enjoy it every day (do you really pull that photo up every day from Instagram?) but it also will give your children a greater sense of love and belonging. There are actual studies about that (I had no idea either!) and how it can actually help boost your child’s self-esteem.

It can be hard to envision how your photos will look hanging in your home, but I’m here to help with that. Virtual wall design is a complimentary value-added service with your portrait session.

If you are lacking wall space in your main living area, consider a wall cluster grouping along a staircase or an upstairs hallway.

The master bedroom is the perfect spot for photos of you and your spouse.

Beautiful portraits can be hung in your child’s room too! What princess wouldn’t love to have this hanging above her bed?

Have you had family photos done at all of the popular spots around Des Moines and looking for something different? Let’s chat and plan a fun and unique indoor session to document this time in your family’s life. What a wonderful way to wrap up 2020!