A Fresh Space. A Fresh Perspective.

After two years in my last studio, I moved into a new space this summer — and it’s already reshaping the way I create.

I’ll admit it: when I first signed my first studio lease, I only committed to six months. I wasn’t sure if studio photography was the right fit. Would it feel repetitive? Would it limit my creativity?

But two years later, I’m all in. I still hold plenty of sessions outdoors — there’s nothing like golden hour in an epic location — but I’ve come to love the control and consistency that comes with creating in a studio environment. And let’s be honest: air conditioning in the middle of a Midwest summer? That alone is reason to celebrate.

This new space isn’t just a location upgrade. It’s a creative reset. And as a Des Moines photographer who thrives on inspiration, that change has made all the difference.

Same camera. Same me. Completely new inspiration.

During my first session in the new space, something clicked — literally and creatively. The way light moves across the walls, the openness of the layout, the flexibility to create — it all brought a fresh energy. Ideas were flowing. I was seeing new angles, imagining new concepts, feeling creatively recharged.

It reminded me of something important: sometimes all you need is a dream and a new perspective to reimagine what’s possible.

Jenna’s Story: Confidence Begins with a Click

Earlier this year, Jenna visited the studio for her very first modeling portfolio photography session. She wasn’t signed with an agency. She wasn’t even sure where to begin — she just knew she wanted to try.

She didn’t arrive as a trained model, just someone ready to take the first step. Her session was about showing up, trying something new, and letting the images reflect who she wanted to become. We created clean, modern portraits that captured her personality and gave her a strong, professional starting point for her portfolio.

But even more than the images, it was the experience that shifted something for her. She walked out of the studio feeling like someone with a future in this space. And just a few months later? Jenna walked in her first runway show.

Not because the photos “made her a model,” but because they gave her the confidence to start acting like one.

Why Studio Photography Is About More Than the Image

Too often, people see family and senior portraits as a luxury — and wait to book headshots or modeling portfolio photography until they feel fully accomplished. But what I’ve learned time and again is that the power of photography lies in the process itself. It’s not about arriving fully formed.  It’s about stepping into who you’re becoming, it’s about participating in the process.

It’s not just about how you look in an image. It’s about how the experience makes you feel.

As a full-time Des Moines photographer, I’ve seen this happen with entrepreneurs updating their brand, teens celebrating their upcoming graduation, clients stepping into the world of modeling, and clients simply wanting to rediscover themselves in a new light.

Studio photography gives us the freedom to slow down, to be intentional, and to create space for transformation. It’s not about the backdrop. It’s about the breakthrough.

So What? Why This Story Matters

Change can feel scary. Whether it’s switching careers, stepping in front of a camera, or signing a lease on a new studio, uncertainty is part of the process.

But here’s something a mentor once told me that’s stuck with me ever since:

“Excitement and anxiety produce many of the same chemicals in your body. You can allow that feeling to still be present, but shift the meaning of it.”

That rush of nerves you feel before doing something new? It doesn’t always mean stop. Sometimes, it’s actually a sign to go.

What feels like fear might really be possibility showing up—and asking for your attention.

By simply shifting your mindset from “I’m nervous” to “I’m excited,” you can change the entire experience. The feelings are the same, but the outcome is completely different.

So if you’ve been thinking about a session for your brand, your modeling portfolio, your family, or your high school senior — this is your sign:

Feel the energy. Shift the meaning. Book the session. Let’s create something new together.

Ready to see yourself in a new light?  Ready to embrace change?
Inquire about a studio session