Ethan is your typical three year old.  He is bouncy, anxious, and has a short attention span.  I recently had the opportunity to photograph Ethan at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, IA.  Ethan was a little shy at first, but warmed up rather quickly.  He was ready to pose and try out any of the fun ideas I had.  As kids get older you can actually work with them during photo shoots which makes it much easier than photographing newborns up to two year olds.  Something happens when they turn three and things get easier.  We hung out near the nature lodge for a little while capturing some posey photos of Ethan and then turned him lose on the playground to have a little fun.  We finished up the photo shoot with some shots down by the water.  Ethan, Mom, and Dad were awesome to work with.  Below are a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 7:53 AM | Permalink

Last weekend Ashley and I photographed family photos for Kristy and John.  This was easily one of the smoothest family photo sessions we've ever done.  We headed over to the art center and rose garden.  The kids were great to work with.  There is always a "warming up" session at the beginning of photo shoots with kids.  They just have to get to know you a little.  After that, you can really get some shots.  We had a good time and the photos turned out great.  Below are a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 8:05 AM | Permalink

This past Saturday Ashley and I photographed Maddie and Kyle's wedding near Deep River, IA.  (You may remember them from their engagement photos)  It was the farthest Ashley and I have traveled for a wedding, but it was beyond worth it.  It was an amazing location in the beautiful Iowa landscape.  The reception was right out on the edge of an awesome Iowa view.  The sky was blue and had intermittent clouds.  We had to battle the sun a little during formal photos, but once the ceremony was over and we got to start the candid formals we had some perfect locations for photos.  We got to shoot wedding photos in one of our favorites locations, an old barn.  As you can see from the photos below we had plenty to choose from.  Ashley had a hard time narrowing down which photos would end up on the blog.  Ashley and I were there early to capture getting ready photos and shot through all the reception events and a TON of dancing photos.  We had an amazing time and Maddie, Kyle, wedding party, and families were great to work with.  Below are a few of our favorite shots.  Congratulations Maddie and Kyle!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 12:44 PM | Permalink

Last week Ashley and I photographed Preston downtown.  Preston is just over 1 year old and a GREAT smiler!  He was awesome to photograph and did perfect, even with lots of little distractions all over the place.  We shot Preston's photos in an urban area of Downtown on a Friday evening, it was a risk that it would be busy and overrun with people, but we lucked out and things were very calm.  Below are a few of our favorites.  Congratulations Preston on turning 1!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 12:40 PM | Permalink

In early August Ashley photographed maternity photos for her cousin Mindi and husband Tim.  Since then little Boston has arrived and Ashley got the opportunity to photograph him last night.  The best thing that a little one can do during these photo shoots is sleep.  Then wake up right at the end before they realize how hungry they are.  Boston did plenty of sleeping and Ashley was able to capture Boston in his true innocence.  Below are a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 12:09 PM | Permalink

Little Hunter visited our studio a while back when he turned six months old.  Now Hunter is turning 1!  They really do grow that fast.  Cole was also along for this photo shoot and spent most of this one taking photos of dad with the cell phone camera phone.  (Actually, they didn't turn out that bad.)  Hunter was great on the photo shoot and as with all photo shoots with young ones you just have to play along with them.  Ashley was behind the camera for this entire shoot.  Below are a few of our favorites.  Congratulations Hunter!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 12:05 PM | Permalink

On Wednesday night Ashley and I headed out for a couple photo shoots.  It was such a nice night out and they were young kid shoots that we took Cole along for his first official photo shoot.  He gets really excited about photo shoots but apparently doesn't understand the photo shoot part.  It was more of a play time.  He is only 2...but someone needs to learn so they can take over someday.  Our first photo shoot was with Lisa, Matt, Lydia, and Zach.  You may remember them from a previous shoot. Lydia is about turn three and little zach is four months old.  We headed out to Water Works Park and rolled in the grass a while.  Lydia certainly had fun and Zach got to experience some new things as well.  All in all we had a great time and Cole didn't do so bad himself.  Below are a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 11:59 AM | Permalink

Erin and Evan are awesome twins born on September 1st.  They are the children of proud parents Dawn and Josh and sibling to new big brother Carsen.  You may remember their family from a recent maternity shoot.  Ashley was able to get some shots both at the hospital and shortly after their arrival home.  Newborn photo shoots are an amazing time.  It is a huge step in the family's life and a change for the entire family.  As you can see from the photos below they were cooperative enough to some shots.  Newborns make their own rules and you just listen.  Congratulations to Dawn and Josh!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 1:41 PM | Permalink

Wow...these two were fantastic.  On Sunday I drove up to Ames, IA to shoot engagement photos for Micci and Ryan.  We spent a lot of time in downtown Ames, in back alleys, and in the middle of the street.  It was a pretty quite Sunday and not a lot of people out and about, so we were able to get a ton of shots.  They had some great ideas of their own and then I threw out all the ideas I could come up with.  It wasn't a HOT day but in the sun it was warm...we clung to the shadows.  It is always best for most photos anyway.  When then headed to the park where they actually got engaged and snapped some more shots.  I had an awesome time and these two were great together in front of the camera.  They were very relaxed and engaging with each other.  Below are just select few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 11:11 AM | Permalink

This past Sunday Ashley and I photographed family photos for Carla and her family.  We had originally scheduled a studio shoot, but due to unforeseen issues at the studio we went ahead and got them outside for some shots.  We will be rescheduling the indoor shoot, so watch for that as well.  Little Bailey was awesome for the camera.  Like most little ones she was quite the spitter as well.  You have to get them in a spot and then start snapping.  You only get so much time on the clock and if you mess around, the buzzer is going to go off.  We had a great time and are looking forward to the rest of the shoot in studio.  Below are just a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 11:02 AM | Permalink

This past Saturday Ashley and I photographed Jetta and Joseph's wedding.  I'm not sure where to start, there are so many great sub-stories to the tell of their big day.  Let's list a few...Iowa v. Iowa State updates, NFL themed reception, stunning bride's shoes, "club" photos, Billie Jean, MJ, Joseph...and well, those are just a few.  Jetta and Joseph held both their ceremony and their reception at the Botanical Center in Downtown Des Moines, IA.  The weather, as has been most of the year, was perfect.  Now it was a little warm at times, but overall it was a beautiful day.  I got to spend a lot of time with the groom and his groomsmen.  Jetta and Joseph did not want to see each other until ceremony time so Joseph spent a lot of time in seclusion.  He was kept away from pretty much anyone and everyone.  So I did what I could to keep him company.  He was pretty excited when he was finally able to come down to the ceremony location.  Overall, we had a great time and everyone involved in Jetta and Joseph's big day were great to work with.  Below are some of our favorite shots.  Congratulations Jetta and Joseph!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 10:52 AM | Permalink

Last week I had the opportunity to work with Ben on his senior photos.  Ben is a lot like me, he doesn't want to be in front of the camera too long.  Mostly the reason I spend so much time behind it.  I don't mind having my picture taken, but not on an all-about me photo shoot complete with posing and agonizing over getting every shot spot-on perfect....great thing for Ben, that's not how we work.  We go out find some awesome locations and take some fun natural looking shots.  As you can see from Ben's shots below we were all over the place.  I think Ben ended up having some fun on the shoot and I think the results really reflect his personality.  Below are just a few of our favorites.  Congratulations Ben!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 11:58 AM | Permalink

Wow, what a fun and exciting wedding.  Ashley and I photographed Jill and Travis's wedding this past weekend.  The two were married and held their reception in Altoona, IA.  As a lot of you out there know, Saturday was the first week of the college football season.  Jill, Travis, and most of the wedding party and guests are all big college football fans or tailgating fans or both.  So it was no surprise to hear people calling out the Iowa v. UNI scores as they were getting ready and during photos.  Good for me, that way I didn't have to check on my phone.  Not to mention the number of guests hitting their phones during the ceremony.  These two have been awesome to work with since we first met with them.  We had a great time during their engagement photos and they were a blast to work with during their big day.  I wasn't on the party bus as it traveled from ceremony to reception but Ashley was.  Needless to say, she was a bit wide eyed getting off the party bus.  This wedding party was AWESOME!  From my understanding the party bus events ranged from drinks to cigars to dancing to mooning....yes, that kind of mooning.  Bottom line, they had a great time and it was certainly a great day to celebrate.  Heading into this weekend the honeymoon may be over, as Jill is a Hawk fan and Travis a Cyclone fan.  Ashley and I had a great time, below are a few of our favorites shots from the big day.  Congratulations Jill and Travis!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 12:10 PM | Permalink

This past Saturday Ashley and I photographed Robin and Cale's wedding at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.  These two are a ton of fun!  They had small tokens of their appreciation on each table for their guests.  They ranged from Hungry Hippos to Monkeys in a Barrel.  I also saw Magic Eight Balls and decks of cards.  They gifts for their guests certainly matched their personalities...FUN!  They were awesome to work with and the guests were some of the best dancers we've seen.  Everyone was out on the dance floor and having a great time, as were we.  Below are a few of our favorites.  Congratulations Robin and Cale!

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 1:52 PM | Permalink

Last night Ashley and I traveled north for a photo shoot with 1-month old Hayden.  I don't think anyone sleeps as much as this little guy.  With newborns you really have to work with them.  They are the boss and you just follow their lead.  In rare moments they are completely cooperative.  Hayden started out a little grumpy, but Ashley was undressing him and posing him...I would get angry too.  After a while he was comfortable with the shoot and fell fast asleep.  Ashley was able to get him setup and snap a lot of great shots.  Congratulations to the proud parents, Tricia and Brian!  Below are a few of our favorites.

Posted by Steve Nuzum at 11:23 AM | Permalink