Vonda // Badass Beauties Project

Earlier this fall I had a little idea for a photography project and just ran with it. In short, I wanted to provide women I know with a photo of themselves that they loved. That meant something to them and made them feel happy, beautiful, strong. So, I asked each one of them to choose a location that meant something to them and then we'd meet up there for a photoshoot.

I met up with Vonda on a sunny afternoon. We took a little walk and she showed me her super secret reading spot. Not telling you where it is! :)

Stacie // Badass Beauties Project

Earlier this fall I had a little idea for a photography project and just ran with it. In short, I wanted to provide women I know with a photo of themselves that they loved. That meant something to them and made them feel happy, beautiful, strong. So, I asked each one of them to choose a location that meant something to them and then we'd meet up there for a photoshoot.

I met up with Stacie out at her barn and I had so much fun! She has a bunch of chickens and a couple pigs...and maybe other animals I missed? I was so sure we were going to get rained out, but we got lucky with perfect overcast afternoon that made for fantastic photos! Enjoy. :)

Jazmin // Badass Beauties Project

Earlier this fall I had a little idea for a photography project and just ran with it. In short, I wanted to provide women I know with a photo of themselves that they loved. That meant something to them and made them feel happy, beautiful, strong. So, I asked each one of them to choose a location that meant something to them and then we'd meet up there for a photoshoot.

I met Jazmin at her (and my!) alma mater, Augustana College! I've done a session or two at Augie before, but I never get tired of the campus.  There are several places to get great photos and the campus is gorgeous - especially in the fall! 

When I asked Jazmin why she chose Augie as her location, she talked about how it brought her to the Quad Cities and the impact it had on her life.

Augustana was my location of choice for two reasons. First and foremost, it brought me to the Quad Cities. The QC went from being my home-away-from-home to just plain "home". I have laid my roots here and while in the past I aspired to run away to "bigger and better" things, I realized that the "bigger and better" doesn't come from the place, but from the experiences and people in said place. Secondly, Augustana also is where I learned to think for myself. That is so cliché and I despise it! But I am who I am today because I became a critical thinker who questions things, speaks out, and listens when needed. I owe this and so many lifelong friendships to Augustana and my time there. #lifelongviking

We even got a couple friend photos at the end!

Kate // Badass Beauties Project

A month or so ago I had a little idea for a photography project and just ran with it. In short, I wanted to provide women I know with a photo of themselves that they loved. That meant something to them and made them feel happy, beautiful, strong. So, I asked each one of them to choose a location that meant something to them and then we'd meet up there for a photoshoot.

Kate was my very first session. When she told me she was thinking about a corn field for her shoot, I was excited! When I lived in north central Iowa, I had to commute to work an hour and it was cornfields the entire way. I'd often pull over to snap a quick pic when the sun was just right. On the day of Kate's session it had snowed about a half hour earlier. We almost bailed, but decided to tough it out and I'm so glad we did! Really, it was Kate toughing it out. I had a coat and gloves on, haha!

I asked Kate about why she choose a cornfield for her session, she told me about how it made it feel closer and connected to her parents.

Both of my parents grew up in small farm towns and joke that they raised my brother and I as country kids in the city. Whenever we did get a chance to get out of the Chicagoland area it was always for some sort of special family event. We don’t have a huge extended family so my mom relished in the road trips and being able to see her precious cornfields. The cornfields started to mean more to me after my dad went into the hospital. I’ll spare you the details, but he had a long fight for 10 months in the hospital. Every weekend I would drive to Chicago and stay with him in the hospital. On the drive I would always try to notice what was different about the landscape. Since he wasn’t able to leave the hospital I would keep him updated on the new growth, the corn being knee-high by Fourth of July, or when harvest season started. Now that he’s been gone, but I still have those drives to Chicago and back, the cornfields have become one of the places that I feel him the most. And I’ll never forget the time he came with me to steal an ear of corn out of the field!

Rosina + Family // Quad Cities Family Photographer

This family is so adorable! I met up with them at their home a couple weeks ago. The two little boys have great personalities and gave me great smiles (with the promise of a treat after, haha)! I also discovered that yelling "PICKLES!" would make them laugh. :)

Birthday Girls // Quad City Family Photographer

Earlier this fall, I had the pleasure of meeting up with these two little girls (and their mom's!) to do birthday shoot for their 5th birthdays! They had tons of energy and were lots of fun to chase around Vandeveer Park. :)

Neumiller Family // Quad Cities Family Photographer

I know Ashley from our highschool days and I was so happy to meet and photograph her adorable family! They are so sweet and another set of posing pros! I really love how these photos turned out, the lighting was fantastic. Bring on fall ya'll!