des moines wedding photographer
I'm a wedding and elopement photographer for couples throwing a wedding in the heart of the Heartland, Des Moines, Iowa. No matter what they look like, celebrations that are uniquely you are exactly the vibe here. A quickie Courthouse ceremony followed by cocktails at Bartender's Handshake? Hell, yeah. Exchanging private vows at the Botanical Garden then hitting up an arcade bar? Down for that, too. What about throwing an all day affair at Rollin's Mansion? Or hosting an intimate ceremony at Greenwood Park with a reception at the Art Center? Say less, I'm already on board.
The way you express your commitments, whether you're calling it a wedding or an elopement or a love celebration, gets to be an intentional experience that’s authentic to you and your partner. And I’m all for it. I’m not just here to document your day – I’m fully embracing what you’ve dreamed up together.
wedding photographer
Hey friends, I'm janet!
serving des moines, iowa
documenting the love stories of the couples who are playful, sentimental and unapologetically themselves. always.
With my background in journalism and concert photography where chaos is the norm, I’m all about honest storytelling. I work with couples who want a wedding experience that reflects who they truly are - nothing trendy, nothing staged, just real life and real moments with your partner. You're in the right place if you're choosing authenticity over expectations and saying "fuck it" to the rules. Because I’m here to capture your edge, your softness, and everything in between, so your day can remain as badass and meaningful as you want it to be.
I'm Janet and I’m a music obsessed, all-the-emotions-feeling goofball who struggles daily with curly hair (because IT IS a struggle, ok!). If I'm not at a concert or checking out a new brewery I'm either snuggled up playing video games or tackling an embroidery project. Fantasy is my favorite genre (where are my Sarah J Maas pals??) and I never got over my emo phase. I mostly photograph in Minnesota, but am always down to travel wherever your celebration takes you.
I'm a proud Iowa native and Des Moines will always be one of my favorite places to photograph weddings. With the city's intimate feel, one-of-a-kind venues, and commitment to its community, Des Moines will always have my heart for wedding photography. It feels like home.
I was concerned about being uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Janet did a great job of listening to me and checking in with me throughout the day as well as making everything so fun and easy. Her communication and ability to adapt put me at ease! Janet is so fun and if you aren't friends with her already, you will be by the end of the session. On top of that, she is professional and talented at what she does and wants nothing more than to capture the true essence of people. We couldn't be happier with how our engagement photos turned out!
Whitney and Lucas
Janet brings to life what we envision for our photos.
Janet brings to life what we envision for our photos. She takes pieces of what we love, combines them with her aesthetic creativity & brings all of it together in each photograph.
Sadie and Molly
She really helped us feel comfortable throughout the process
We LOVE the photos and are super appreciative of Janet's work on our wedding photography. She really helped us feel comfortable throughout the process and we're so glad we got to meet her!
Emma and Kabs
Janet was the best choice for our wedding photographer.
Janet was the best choice for our wedding photographer. We absolutely love her work and were so excited to have her capture our wedding. She was so much fun to work with, so open to my ideas for locations, and took such good care of us on our wedding day. We loved getting to spend so much of the day with her!
Hana and Mark
Our session was super fun and personable
Janet is super knowledgeable about posing not looking overly posed and what types of backgrounds or overall surrounding areas would look best. Our session was super fun and personable and she’s honestly the sweetest human!
Morgan and Daniel
We were a little nervous because we haven't taken many photos together
Janet made it fun right from the start and put us at ease instantly. We never felt like we were posing and everything felt very natural. It was easy to focus on each other as partners and have our own tender moments and those clearly came across in the final photos. Janet also gave us great tips on some cute poses that look amazing in photos!
Leah and Jeff
She focused on what mattered most to us
We felt completely at ease with Janet! Who isn’t nervous for their wedding, but she was so thoughtful and helped us be intentional and celebrate us. We also got so many compliments on her willingness to take pictures of our guests and how beautiful our photos were. She focused on what mattered most to us, each other & our family.
Kyra and John
sneak peeks are sent within 72 hours so you can share away!
your gallery of treasured mems is delivered within 8 weeks of your day.
05
The big day is here! tons of tears from me and even more awe from you at my amazing(ly bad) dance moves!
04
A touch-base call is set for 14 days pre-wedding for any last-minute updates and to make sure we are all good to go for your big day!
03
Time to plan your engagement session—it's gonna be a blast! I'll provide planning documents; after completion, we'll finalize the day-of timeline in a call.
02
Let's set up an initial call to meet each other and discuss your needs. If the vibes are right, you'll send your deposit and signed contract to reserve the date.
01
We like you, now what?!
Do you travel?
Hell yeah! I mainly serve couples in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and Iowa, but if you're looking for a non-traditional photographer or filmmaker then I'm absolutely down to follow wherever your love takes you!
Do you assist with wedding planning?
Yes, definitely! I fully embrace my identity as a Type A creative. I'll help you build a timeline that allows for all of the things you want captured and even find locations for your portrait session.
How will you deliver our photos?
Each fully edited gallery will be hosted on a private online link for you to download and share. I recommend downloading your full gallery as soon as possible. You will have full printing rights for the photos, and it would be an honor if you displayed them in your home! To prioritize sustainability and environmental friendliness, I currently do not offer prints through my business. However, I can assist you in finding a great local print shop!
What if we want you to stay longer at our event?
Once you reserve your wedding day, I will exclusively dedicate that time to you! I will not leave until the most important moments have been captured. If you need additional coverage, we can easily add more time to your day, and I will invoice you for the extra hours. The charge for each additional hour of coverage is $350.
What if we feel awkward in front of the camera?
I promise you that you are not as awkward as you think, and I don't expect you or your partner to be professional models or actors. I will not treat you as such! As I get to know you better through conversation, I will come up with activities and prompts for our session to create a laid-back and natural atmosphere, more like a relaxed date than a formal, posed session. I also create a customized playlist based on your favorite artists, which we can jam out to during the session. No need to worry about awkward silences!
