the CSP blog

Spring weddings symbolize new beginnings, vibrant blooms, and a naturally romantic atmosphere. With the days getting longer, the temperatures rising, and nature awakening, it’s truly an ideal time to tie the knot. Jaelyn and Kaleb took full advantage of the delightful spring weather and the stunning blossoms at Giovanetti Shelter in Urbandale, IA. This lovely […]

On a warm August day, Peyten and Nicky celebrated their love story at The Midnight Gem. The adventure that started nine years ago, on the eve of their wedding day, culminated in a day filled with unforgettable moments and memories. Like the lovely scheduled picnic Peyten and Nicky enjoyed together before the day’s hustle and […]

Miranda and Caleb’s kicked of their day at a charming countryside Airbnb cabin nestled in Winterset, IA. The cabin created an ideal ambiance for their preparations. I could sense the palpable excitement radiating between Miranda and Caleb as the morning unfolded. Miranda and Caleb selected the Francis and Thelma Jackson Building for their wedding ceremony […]

Wow! It’s been a whirlwind of photographing some pretty amazing weddings for me! I couldn’t be more blessed and honored to photograph each and every one of them.  Alyssa and Ben were just the sweetest and their wedding at River View Lodge was absolutely AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL! Alyssa and Ben’s getting ready photos were off […]

Braelyn and Cody were married on a beautiful summer day at the Rustic Rose Barn in Roland, Iowa, surrounded by their family and friends, as they said “I do.”  The Rustic Rose Barn offered a stunning setting for their outdoor ceremony, perfectly situated in front of a picturesque pond. The location also featured a beautiful […]

Emily and Connor chose Carper Vineyard and Winery in Norwalk, Iowa for their wedding and reception. Carper Vineyard and Winery was the perfect backdrop for Emily and Connor’s wedding day with the vines in the background, a lovely pond and weeping willow trees about the property. It has the most beautiful location for the perfect […]

What a beautiful day for Kassie and Tucker’s wedding. Debbie’s Celebration Barn provided the perfect backdrop for Kassie and Tucker’s “I Do’s” The joy that comes through on a wedding day is a different kind of joy. It is a once in a lifetime feeling, and I am beyond honored to get to preserve it […]

I am starting off with a very busy spring season and my heart couldn’t be more full! I feel so blessed to be working with some of the sweetest couples. Vanessa and Christain’s wedding at the Airport Winery was incredible, despite the cold weather! Weather in March can be very unpredictable and March 16, 2024, […]

Abby and Gavin are married; it was the most perfect and fun way to end a year. Not to mention, the date was 12.31.23! A date they will never forget, not only for the date but for the magical day it was!   Abby and Gavin’s day was so full of energy and excitement! Their […]

On November 18, 2023, I had the honor of photographing Abbie and Jared’s beautiful wedding at This Old Barn located in Fairfield, Iowa. The cool air made for a perfect fall wedding. Abby and Jared tied the knot on a sunny November day and I am so excited to share a peek into their day! […]

A November wedding is pretty up in the air as to what kind of weather you will get on your big day. For Katie and Trever, it could not have been more perfect! it was an AMAZING day! The day, the couple, the venue…everything was just beautiful! You could just feel the love Katie and […]

Initially Emily and Conner were to meet me at the Des Moines Water Works for their engagement session. When I arrived, I realized that it was homecoming weekend for the Des Moines area and it was full of people and vendors. So I decided to give them a text to meet me at the Des […]

One of my former beautiful brides recommended me to Braelyn and I am so delighted that she did! Braelyn and Cody are just the sweetest couple and I am so excited to photograph their wedding. Braelyn is very familiar with Ledges State Park and knew that she wanted her engagement photos at this beautiful park. […]

Katie and Trever met on a dating website and had their first date on Valentine’s Day of 2021 and have been inseparable since. Their go-to activity is spending time with their two dogs. Although rumor has it they have adopted a kitten that they adore just as much! They love spending time with friends and […]

It was my first visit to Thousand Hills State Park and it was a beautiful park. I can see why Abby and Jared love this park so much. I had a great time with Abbie and Jared during their engagement session. These two were full of smiles the entire session. Abbie and Jared had their […]

I had a blast photographing Abby and Gavin and Abby’s parent’s back yard was the perfect setting for the final pictures of their session. The day started out cloudy and we started earlier than we anticipated but the sun came out smiling down on Abby and Gavin and we had a beautiful afternoon for all […]

Christine and Bradley had the best theme for their wedding: LOVE! Love took front row and center at this sweet event. I simply adored Christine and Bradley’s wedding ceremony at the cutest little white church, The Living History Farms – Church of the Land in Urbandale, Iowa, followed by their reception at the Event Center […]

Peyton and Nicholas are the sweetest couple to photograph. They are naturals at posing and our conversations just flowed throughout their engagement session. I had such a great time photographing these two. Peyton and Nicholas met in college whilst Peyton and her roommate toured around campus meeting other students and faculty. Peyton and Nicholas have […]

Love triumphs over stormy weather! Every couple has that concern: what if there is bad wether on my wedding day? For Brooke and Kevin, that was a reality. All day Brooke and Kevin knew rain was in the forecast. Brooke, Kevin, and their family watched diligently out the windows pondering on if they should move […]

For Aubrey and Caden it was a perfect June day for a wedding! Aubrey and Caden’s love for each other shined throughout the entire day! Aubrey and Caden had their ceremony at the Third Church in Pella, Iowa. Such a beautiful church and surrounding area! Weeks leading up to the Ceremony, Aubrey and her family […]

Emily and Caleb had a beautiful wedding at the Westchester E-Free Church in Des Moines, Iowa. When I first met Emily and Caleb, I could see straight away the special bond these two shared. Their big day was the perfect celebration of the two of them. Just an honest celebration of their love for each […]

Madison and Josh had an amazing wedding celebration at the Pella Opera House in Pella, Iowa. The weather was perfect! Sunshine during the day with a slight cooler evening. Madison and Josh could not have asked for a better day to say I do! Madison and Josh wanted their first sight of each other on […]

Emily and Caleb had their engagement shoot in Pella, IA. Everyone that knows me knows I love shooting in this beautiful town. I had an absolute blast photographing Emily and Caleb. This couple is the sweetest! Emily and Caleb were naturals at photographs! Emily and Caleb met at Bible study at Caleb’s church a few […]

Carole and Neil had a beautiful wedding held in Melrose, Iowa on family property. Carole and Neil’s wedding was a beautiful day celebrating the two of them along with family and friends. The couples theme was lots of greenery, beautiful flowers and terracotta colors for the wedding party. The bride wore a beautiful ivory gown […]

Everyone should know by now that I could go on and on about my couples and all the beautiful things that make them AMAZING! Ashlee and Zach are so amazing! I felt instantly connected with Ashlee & Zach throughout their entire wedding planning. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate couples that stay in […]

I could tell instantly through communication with Madison that this couple was the sweetest. I asked Madison if she had a location in mind for her engagement shoot and she said she did not, so I gave her a few location ideas. I also told her about Ledges State Park which is absolutely beautiful.  I […]

I often feel endlessly lucky that I get to use my creative skills on a daily basis to create beautiful memories for all of my couples. As a wedding photographer, I see all sorts of weddings from the extremely lavish & luxurious, to beautiful intimate quiet backyard moments together. No matter the scale of the […]

I was so excited to photograph Victoria and Keegan’s wedding as I knew how incredibly wonderful and sweet Victoria and Keegan and their entire family is, having photographed a wedding for this beautiful family once before! Victoria and Keegan’s day could not have been a more perfect day! The smiles on their faces show their […]

Casey & Kyle’s wedding at Annett Nature Center in Indianola, Iowa was filled with love! Casey’s personal touch to her wedding day was amazing from the hand made special gift boxes for their girls to the cutest signs for the little ones to walk down the aisle. Such a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. […]

Sarah & Brandin’s day started with a 47% chance of rain in the forecast. As I drove to their wedding, I just assumed we would be moving their outside wedding to indoors. However shortly after arriving, the sky opened up to a gorgeous day for Sarah and Brandon with beautiful clear blue skies. Sarah walked […]

On my way to this engagement session, the clouds started forming, wind picked up and sprinkles started so I messaged Carole to see if she wanted to reschedule or proceed. Carole made the decision to proceed and I am so happy she did because the clouds opened up and the sun came back out. It […]

Pella, Iowa and Red Rock hold a lot of memories for Brooke and Kevin and because of those memories they chose this beautiful location for their engagement session. Pella happens to be at the start of Tulip Time making it the perfect timing for photos. We had a blast walking around this beautiful area. Brooke […]

Katie and Nick were married in a beautiful outside ceremony at Kacena Farms in Vinton, IA, @kacenafarms. Such a beautiful venue and Katie and Nick, with the help of family, had it decorated in beautiful colors of navy, burgundy and sunflowers. The sunflowers hold a sentimental memory for Katie and Nick as Nick proposed to […]

I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple than Aly and James. I loved working with this couple and photographing their special day! Aly and James had their wedding and reception at the beautiful Country Lane Lodge in Adel, Iowa. Aly and James wanted the traditional walk down the aisle first look, so before the […]

Katie and Dakota had a beautiful ceremony and reception at Bessie’s Barn in Centerville, Iowa. https://bessiesbarn.com/. It was so fun to watch and photograph Katie and Dakota’s day. These two deserve the world and really did an amazing job putting their wedding together with the help of family members. Katie and Dakota were separated for […]

I think one of the most photographic places is Pella, Iowa and I was thrilled when Ashlee and Zach wanted their shoot to be in Pella. With each new session in Pella, I find new and unique areas around this beautiful little town. Ashlee and Zach are just the sweetest and cutest couple ever! I […]

I’ve known Courtney since she was a little girl and watched her grow into a beautiful young lady! It was such an honor to photograph her wedding! Courtney and Chad’s day began with the couple getting ready at Courtney’s parents house. Such a fun group of people to be with! We then traveled a short […]

Katie & Nick chose the beautiful Brenton Arboretum for their engagement shoot. The weather was great and Katie and Nick were absolutely the greatest! Brenton Arboretum was a busy place during their shoot but we were able to capture some great photos. Katie and Nick will be married on October 15, 2021. I am excited […]

Aly & James had their heart set on Brown’s Woods for their engagement session as it was a special place to them. We walked about a mile or so to find a bridge that made for some great photos. Aly forgot her comfy shoes and was an absolute champ walking the distance in her heels, […]

Beautiful fun styled shoot! What an amazing couple in a natural landscape setting.  The couple were the sweetest couple and made this shoot so fun!  I totally enjoyed getting to meet other photographers around the area. You can believe if I have a chance to do another styled shoot, I would jump at the chance […]

It was a beautiful day for Skyelar and Joseph’s wedding. We began with bride and groom getting ready at the Big Blue Bed and Breakfast, (@bigbluebnbadel) a cute little bed and breakfast located in Adel, Iowa. Skyelar and Joseph spent time with their groomsmen and bridesmaids while getting ready for the day, a time for […]

Courtney and Chad met at the Iowa State Fair in 2017 while meeting up with a mutual friend at Stockman’s. Courtney spilled Chad’s drink and offered to buy him a new one, but Chad being the great guy that he is bought Courtney a drink instead. From that moment on it was an instant attraction […]

Elisa and Mitchel live in Colorado so initially we conversed back and forth through email. Pursuant our emails back and forth, I knew this couple was going to be the sweetest couple and we would hit it off great! One of our favorite places to vacation is Colorado and we were running out of places […]

Some people are lucky enough to meet their soulmate in high school and Skyelar and Joseph are that lucky couple. Skyelar and Joseph met through a mutual friend in high school and have been together ever since. THE PROPOSAL Joseph’s family planned a trip to Pensacola, Florida and Skyelar and Joseph went along for the […]

Katie has a sentimental place in her heart for the country and the farms in Moulton, Iowa belonging to family. My husband is from Moulton and so it is very easy to navigate the beautiful country side with him driving to specific areas that are dear to Katie. Katie and Dakota have been dating since […]

AMANDA & SCOTT HONEY CREEK STATE PARK WEDDING September is a wonderful month to get married. The days are still warm but there is a hint of the coming of autumn in the cooler evening temperatures.  Little touches of autumn color can be seen peeking out all around. Amanda and Scott picked a beautiful location […]

SAMANTHA & JAC – MARRIED Samantha can still recall the exact night she and Jac first met: March 16, 2019. Samantha could be seen waiting nervously for her first date with Jac when he walked in. The minute Samantha made eye contact with him, she knew he was going to be “the one!” Fast forward: […]

LAUREN & BOBBY MARRIED! Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that wedding planning can be a monumental task for any couple, but when you add new regulations stemming from a global pandemic, it goes from challenging to fraught. However, the pandemic did not stop Lauren and Bobby from have the wedding and reception […]

Amanda & Scott Engaged I met up with Amanda and Scott at their wedding venue at Honey Creek Resort. Amanda, Scott and I had chatted a few times via email but I especially love talking with my couples about their big day during their engagement session. It gives me such great opportunity to discuss their […]

ERIN AND RYAN Des Moines Summer Wedding On June 13, 2020, I had the pleasure of second-shooting with Kirstie Veatch.  A little about Kirstie: we happened to meet by pure chance with me inquiring about her need of a second photographer and then happily accepting, only to find we clicked even more than I had […]

A “Lake Darling” Engagement Shoot There’s always a bit of a struggle when it comes to shooting engagement sessions in this early-spring time in Iowa. The weather can be so unpredictable and we never really know what the temperature will be! We can have 70 and sunny in early March and then cold and windy […]

Elizabeth and Gage are married! Elizabeth and Gage booked their wedding at the Valley View Event Center in Moulton, Iowa many months ago. Their plan was to have an outside wedding on April 11, 2020, which would include all of their family and friends and end with a glorious reception to celebrate. With the date inching […]

Have you ever attended an outside wedding or elopement in the winter? Well I can tell you, Greg and Ashly’s elopement in the country was one of the most charming weddings I have had the pleasure of photographing. This wonderful couple chose to elope off the beaten path in a snow covered area under a […]

Courtney & Ben met in October of 2017, just when the leaves were starting to change color and the air could be felt with the perfect crisp bite to it. Their love for each other quickly grew through their mutual passion of fun road trips, fishing, family time, and a shared project on Courtney’s new […]

Treyten & Gabrielle’s day began with a blessing of rain! As we all know if it rains on your wedding day, it’s supposed to mean good luck and a blessing. We thought it would be impossible to get any outside photos but this beautiful bride and groom challenged the rain and had their first look […]

Wow…I have to say, I think I love shooting in Downtwon Des Moines. Had the opportunity to second shoot for this couple and had such a blast. Enjoy a few shots I captured from this beautiful couple and their day!

TESSA & BJ’S COUNTRY LANE LODGE WEDDING! When I first met Tessa & BJ at their engagement session, I could instantly tell that this was going to be a super fun couple. They laughed, joked, and kept me laughing throughout the entire shoot! I also know this couple was all about the love that they […]

When I met this couple in a small coffee shop in Des Moines, I knew we were a great fit!  Courtney & Ben are the sweetest couple ever! We had a great laugh because I am completely non directional and actually passed the small coffee shop where we were to have our meeting. However, I […]

I am ever so lucky to have great couples like Tessa and BJ.  I can’t explain how hot it was outside and this couple kept going.  Tessa & BJ have the kind of love for each other that will last forever and you can see it in every photo. I had so much fun with […]

Logan and Kensington were married at Honey Creek in a beautiful outside ceremony. Logan and Kensington looked stunning as they stood before their family and friends, and to make the moment even sweeter they had their little boy, Liam, to hold their hands and be a part of their day. Little Liam was a little […]

Gabrielle and Treyten started their shoot at a location called the White Breast, a little beach located at Red Rock.  We ended our session in the beautiful town of Pella where they have the most amazing tulips blooming. Meeting couples like Gabrielle and Treyten make my day.  This couple is the sweetest ever!  Gabrielle and […]

Elizabeth and Slater are married!! The morning of the wedding kicked off hot and humid – but that didn’t stop this couple from having the most stunning day! It was the little things throughout the day that made this wedding really shine. The bride began the prepping with hair at Just Teasin’. Erica and Brittany […]