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Hey there, and welcome to the JWP blog!  We are a photography team based in Iowa, and we hope you’ll enjoy viewing some of our most recent weddings, as well as the many tips we have for couples.  You can also enjoy some of our business and educational resources for photographers. 

Mulberry Street Tavern Engagement Session

Mulberry Street Tavern & Capitol Engagement Photo Session in Des Moines

When Kristin & Brock and I first started talking about their engagement session, she said she wanted a little bit swanky, chic, with some city vibes. We planned outfits and locations over a quick Zoom call, coming up with a few different options, but they knew from the beginning they wanted to do photos at Mulberry Street Tavern in Des Moines. This stylish bar is one of my favorite spots and was 100% the look we were going for.

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World Food Prize engagement photo session

Natalie & Alex’s Summer Engagement Session at World Food Prize Garden & Waterworks Park

Everything about Natalie & Alex’s classic chic summer engagement session in downtown Des Moines along the waterfront by World Food Prize and their gardens is what we dream of for each of our couples! Perfect light, well-appointed attire, and lots of laughter and joy!

These two are high school sweethearts and have done the long distance thing, so planning their wedding for next year at Country Lane Lodge was the next step after a heartfelt proposal at the botanical gardens of Des Moines. We can’t wait for their wedding next spring!

Their engagement photos were photographed by our associate photographer Beth – we hope you enjoy some of our favorites!

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Classic white wedding at the Monroe in Des Moines

Classic White Wedding at The Monroe in Des Moines

Sydney and Kyle’s beautiful classic wedding at The Monroe in Des Moines was our first time photographing at this venue since coming under new ownership. Formerly Noah’s event venue, a new company has refreshed the space and turned it into an elegant, chic, and classy wedding space – we are in LOVE with this space!

But first, meet Sydney and Kyle, a couple whose love story began through a dating app but quickly evolved into a romance. Their first date at The Silk Elephant in Ankeny went so well, they went out the next night as well! They shared a trip to Stillwater, MN, to celebrate Sydney’s grandpa’s 80th birthday, which was a significant moment in their relationship. They took advantage of this getaway to explore new restaurants and stores, making cherished memories along the way.

This past winter, Kyle popped the question and involved their two German Shepherds in the surprise. Using a bandana-clad message on one of their pups that said, “Will you marry my dad?” Sydney gave an emotional “yes!”

Sydney reached out within days of their proposal and already had a lot of their wedding planned – she knew exactly what she wanted! Classic, timeless, and a really good time! Their wedding day was photographed by our lead associate photographer, Beth.

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Willow on Grand Spring Wedding

This incredible spring editorial photoshoot was brought together by the brilliant team at White Willow Events and hosted at Willow on Grand in Des Moines. I’ve worked with Taylor and her wonderful team many times on wedding days and they are amazing! We finally found an opportunity to work together on a photoshoot, giving us a chance to collaborate and be creative together. We were blessed with the most beautiful spring weather (80 degrees in April is rare!) and a wonderful team – it couldn’t have gone more perfectly!

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Tips for choosing the best wedding videographer

How to Choose a Wedding Videographer

As a Des Moines wedding photographer, one of the most common questions I am asked by couples is who I would recommend for them as a wedding videographer. In the last 4 years, it has become much more common for us to work with videographers at the majority of our weddings.

We love working with talented videographers with as much passion for their craft as us, and we always help recommend some of the best videographers in our area.

Today, I’m going to share our best tips for choosing the RIGHT videographer for your wedding day.

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Elyse & Andrew’s Des Moines Engagement Session at the Capitol

Elyse and Andrew met up with me for my first spring engagement session of 2023, and we lucked out with some of the best end-of-March weather you’d ever dream of – sunshine and a light breeze was perfection!

Elyse requested classic and timeless locations, with a little bit of style – we ended up visiting a few favorite spots near the Iowa capitol building as well, and a stop for some cocktails to round out the afternoon before major storms rolled in. We finished just in time, with beautiful photos for their engagement session in Des Moines.

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Our Top Tips for a Wedding with No First Look

While the majority of our couples choose to have a first look where they see each other before their ceremony, we have a few each year who choose to go the “traditional” route and have the aisle moment where the groom sees the bride walking down the aisle, and that’s her first glimpse of her. I’ve already written about reasons to have a first look, but for those who really want to keep that special aisle moment, this blog post is for you!

Today, we’re sharing our best tips for couples who are planning NOT to do a first look, that way you have a smooth and stress-free day!

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Mulberry Street Tavern Engagement Session

Mulberry Street Tavern & Capitol Engagement Photo Session in Des Moines

When Kristin & Brock and I first started talking about their engagement session, she said she wanted a little bit swanky, chic, with some city vibes. We planned outfits and locations over a quick Zoom call, coming up with a few different options, but they knew from the beginning they wanted to do photos at Mulberry Street Tavern in Des Moines. This stylish bar is one of my favorite spots and was 100% the look we were going for.

Read the Post
World Food Prize engagement photo session

Natalie & Alex’s Summer Engagement Session at World Food Prize Garden & Waterworks Park

Everything about Natalie & Alex’s classic chic summer engagement session in downtown Des Moines along the waterfront by World Food Prize and their gardens is what we dream of for each of our couples! Perfect light, well-appointed attire, and lots of laughter and joy!

These two are high school sweethearts and have done the long distance thing, so planning their wedding for next year at Country Lane Lodge was the next step after a heartfelt proposal at the botanical gardens of Des Moines. We can’t wait for their wedding next spring!

Their engagement photos were photographed by our associate photographer Beth – we hope you enjoy some of our favorites!

Read the Post
Classic white wedding at the Monroe in Des Moines

Classic White Wedding at The Monroe in Des Moines

Sydney and Kyle’s beautiful classic wedding at The Monroe in Des Moines was our first time photographing at this venue since coming under new ownership. Formerly Noah’s event venue, a new company has refreshed the space and turned it into an elegant, chic, and classy wedding space – we are in LOVE with this space!

But first, meet Sydney and Kyle, a couple whose love story began through a dating app but quickly evolved into a romance. Their first date at The Silk Elephant in Ankeny went so well, they went out the next night as well! They shared a trip to Stillwater, MN, to celebrate Sydney’s grandpa’s 80th birthday, which was a significant moment in their relationship. They took advantage of this getaway to explore new restaurants and stores, making cherished memories along the way.

This past winter, Kyle popped the question and involved their two German Shepherds in the surprise. Using a bandana-clad message on one of their pups that said, “Will you marry my dad?” Sydney gave an emotional “yes!”

Sydney reached out within days of their proposal and already had a lot of their wedding planned – she knew exactly what she wanted! Classic, timeless, and a really good time! Their wedding day was photographed by our lead associate photographer, Beth.

Read the Post

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Families

Beautiful portraits so you don’t forget one moment!

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A luxury experience like nothing else.  For EVERY woman who wants to remember they are beautiful.