Empowerment Portrait Session: Michelle Book

“I’m so proud of you.”

My mom voiced this sentiment thousands of times in my life. Every time my brother and I would experience success, or struggle through a life event that eventually became an achievement, we could rely on mom to show up with her pride. This phrase was uttered so many times, it eventually became a household joke. Now Hunter and I tell each other about the pride we experience for each other’s achievements both in jest and true sincerity. 

My mother taught me pride. She taught me to stand up tall. To be no one but myself, make decisions and move forward. She taught us that we could do anything, and would have to do most things by ourselves. She gave us the confidence to achieve without reservations. 

My mother is my safety net, but she raised Hunter and I to be so strong, that we rarely need it. My brother and I are good people. We value helping others, giving to those who are less fortunate and working really really hard for every dollar in our lives. We knew how to do all of this, because we watched our mother’s commitment to her work and to herself. 

My mom is amazing- by the real definition of the word. She built herself piece by piece, one life experience at a time, into a person Hunter and I are so proud to claim. She shows up to the task of self improvement and accomplishment everyday. She has fought through more personal struggles and roadblocks than I would wish on a stranger. And every single time, I watch her come out stronger, more amazing, more giving, and more impactful. 

Moving back to Des Moines has allowed me the greatest joy of building a life along side my mom. We are able to be each other’s dates at events. I’ll walk past Centro on a Thursday night and have the unexpected pleasure of waving at my mom and popping in for a hug. There was one day earlier this year when we were both interviewed for the same news segment, by the same reporter. While our accomplishments are different, she is fighting to end food insecurity in Iowa and I am fighting to give everyone the feeling of confidence and self love I am so fortunate to hold, we walk together on this long and complicated path of life. 

She is my mentor, even when I fight her. She is my rock, even when I’m holding her. She is my vault, even when I can’t find the words to express my feelings. Mom, I’m so proud of you. Hunter and I are all of the good things because you were there to show us what good is. Love you tons. 

My mother is who I would nominate for our newest campaign, Empowerment Portrait. I want to gift one inspiring woman the feeling of beauty and empowerment with a complimentary portrait session with hair and makeup services. Who has lifted you up, helped you in an immeasurable way? Nominate her for an empowerment portrait here!

Natalie Gendle: Badass Business Momma

A Note from Whitney:

I met Natalie just as she was opening ACADEMIC lash & beauty. We bonded instantly over our mutual desire to help people find and claim their beauty. Natalie applies lash extensions and performs lash lifts and tints while I photograph people and help them look and feel confident. We often talked about the nervous energy our clients feel before working with us. They are taking a risk, stepping out of their comfort zone and choosing to see themselves in the most positive light. After leaping into our respective services, our clients reflect on how amazing, beautiful and confident they feel. 

In addition to being business buddies, we are both huge fans of each other's talents. I get my lashes done every 3 weeks with Natalie and look forward to seeing my face as it's fully brightened by her beautiful work. Natalie has done headshots and a family shoot with me - and we both loved every second of collaborating to create moments she'll cherish forever. 

I asked Natalie to share her story of starting a business in the midst of motherhood. I know her struggle is so familiar to so many, and I greatly admire the courage she displays every day as she moves her business and family forward.

Here's the truth: I was not thriving as a stay-at-home mom. With three kids 5 and under, I was struggling to find fulfillment from an existence where I never felt I could achieve success. I worked hard to be disciplined enough to create good days but there was always another load of laundry, another load of dishes, another meal to create, another diaper to change. It felt as if there was no end in sight - no end of the workday and no break in sight. 

Taking the leap and opening ACADEMIC lash & beauty changed everything for me. Having a full-time career forces me to be more disciplined. I now thrive on the variety of my workday and in turn, this has made me a more fulfilled person. Now that I work outside the home, my family's world has delightfully expanded as well. My children have more friends, caring teachers, new experiences, time away from their parents to gain autonomy, and a bigger world. This has proven to be a very happy experience for the whole family.

Don't let me fool you, I don't do it all. Its crazy to attempt to! I am still figuring out how to delegate my old duties to ensure that I thrive in my workday and still enjoy my family time when I’m home. I have a great husband who stepped up to the challenge. He is an incredible dad and partner and his flexible work schedule allows him to pick up the slack when I can't. We sometimes hire the amazing ladies at my local laundry mat. Their “fluff and fold” services help me tackle the ever-mounting piles of laundry. We have cleaners every two weeks which take the edge off the house maintenance.  With these decisions, I've given myself the freedom to focus on how I'm best suited to serve my family and community. Leaning on the strengths and services of other businesses has proven to be a good philosophy for us as we navigate the terrain of our daily life. 

I often think of the legacy I am creating, for my family and community. I am always striving to better myself, to help as many people as I can and have the biggest, positive impact possible. Being a business owner allows me so many new and exciting opportunities, challenges, and friendships. Growing a business allows me to miss my family a little and come home to them at the end of the day, excited to hear their stories and reconnect. It has given me the opportunity to be a larger part of my community and has allowed me to positively impact the lives of others.  

The biggest change I've seen is within myself. This amazing adventure has given me the opportunity to grow into a better version of myself.  The long days, missed family meals and stressful challenges of entrepreneurship don't always seem worth it in the moment, but I know that by striving to be the best version of myself, I am also becoming a better wife, mom, community member, friend and ultimately, someone I truly like, when I look in the mirror.

Wednesdays With Whitney: Dr. Rebecca Lake

You know when you meet someone at just the right time? Dr. Rebecca Lake and I met early this year, just as her business started and mine was beginning to take off. We were connected through FemCity Des Moines and I was so curious to meet the sweet, subtle voice on the other end of the phone.

Dr. Lake makes an impact. Whether she's walking into a room or putting your body back together. While some people lead with loud voices and bravado, Dr. Becca leads with grace and a quiet confidence that immediately draws you closer. Her quick laugh and stunning smile made me feel as if I've known her for years.

Her headshots were a breeze. I loved her gorgeous, detailed tattoos, that are so symbolic of the holistic caring for creatures and the world around her. Her combination of sass and style radiated in every image.

At the time I met Becca, I was in the market for a chiropractor. I could barely turn my neck and was having trouble sleeping on my shooting shoulder. This job I love can take a brutal toll on my body and I'd been ignoring my self-care for far too long. If you've ever been in the market for a chiropractor, you will understand that it can be VERY scary. These people are applying pressure to your body - and adjusting your neck. This is HUGE decision and I was not going to settle for less than amazing.

From the very first time I visited Dr. Becca at Shine Chiropractic, I knew I'd found my doctor. She moves deliberately and continuously around the body, taking her time to find the trigger points and relieving built up tension. She has always been attentive to my hesitations and points of pain, allowing the process to slow down when needed and suggesting a different course of treatment when my body required a bigger adjustment. Our weekly appointments have been a game changer for my neck and back.

Dr. Becca recently came to me to collaborate on new website images. Her vision was simple: holistic care carried out in nature. Dr. Becca's practice is so firmly rooted in the belief that we are all connected. It only made sense to take advantage of the great outdoors. The resulting images were created in an environment that was just as peaceful as it looks. Dr. Becca brings that calm wherever she goes, and I couldn't be more proud to be her patient and photographer.

Albums are forever: Capturing your always in print

I have dozens of personal photo albums. My mom kept an excellent record of the first 10 years of my life. There are hundreds of printed 4x6 images delicately placed in plastic sleeves and enclosed in a leather 3 ring binder. I kept scrapbooks all through middle school, cutting up my precious prints and creating my own layout and story with Elmer's Glue and craft paper.

A peak into my past. 

Somewhere along the way, my mom and I both stopped making albums. Although photography and family are important to both of us, our photographic records cease to exist after a certain point - can you guess when that was? If you said "when you got digital cameras" you are correct.

Neither my mom or I stopped taking photos. The photos we took on point and shoot cameras, downloaded to computers before our phones kept everything in one place, well I challenge her to find those images. There are years of my life that were documented and discarded with an accidental right click.

I am a crusader for the printed image. I print 4x6's like they're going or of style - because they are. I make albums from my photos, all the time, obsessively just like I used to. These albums are my records - they are what I'll have when my USB no longer plugs in to my future space age computer or my current computer crashes. The printed 4x6's mostly get thrown in a box. That's right - I don't treat them as precious objects. I treat them like my grandparents treated their prints. They new they should keep them in anyway they could and keeping them was more important then preserving their perfection.

This is why I decided to deliver more the just digital files. I get it. Facebook is the modern photo album. But Facebook shouldn't be the only keeper of your memories. I beg you to make prints and books. Maybe you don't love them now and maybe you only look at them once a year around the holidays - but I can guarantee your grandchildren and going to treasure having amazing photos of the people they love from times they never knew.

Ivory House Photography provide custom designed, retouched albums to all portrait and wedding clients. 

Albums are Forever: The Lachants

I make wedding albums for my couples. The creative and collaborative process it takes to craft an heirloom of this caliber speaks to the heart of who I am as a photographer. It also speaks to the relationships I build with my clients. I am accountable for delivering a memento that will stand the test of time. The Lachants were the perfect couple to share this journey with. Kind, easy going and always up for a laugh. Thank you Jamie and Dan for sharing the story of your best day ever.

- Watch the video of Jamie and Dan's album unveiling! 

"Our wedding album is amazing!!  It is such a wonderful composition of the highlights and incredible photographs from our big day. I am so excited that we will have it always. Our photos captured every moment beautifully and looking through the album reminds me of all the happy memories and fun times. I knew Whitney would produce an artistic, elegant and expertly curated account of our wedding, and I was definitely not disappointed.  She did not miss a single detail and I could not have asked for a better person to guide us through the process.  Everyone who has seen the album absolutely loved it and many have teared up!  It truly is the perfect keepsake of the best day ever and certainly something we will treasure our entire lives!"

- Jamie Lachant, Bride 2015

Capturing Your Always: The Lovely Langs

One of the greatest honors as a photographer is being able to watch families come together and grow. Nick and Allie have created a beautiful family that exudes happiness and gratitude. It has been a pleasure to get to know them individually and as a unit. Below, Allie share's a few words on her journey as a wife and mother. Thank you both for allowing me into your home and hearts.

"I feel as though when I became a mother, the world began spinning faster. Days, weeks, and months fly by so much more quickly than they did before. This new fast-paced way of life has not been easy on me with my slow and steady, sentimental nature. I find myself grasping at all of these new, little moments, trying to commit them to memory. Having a family photographer in Whitney has allowed me to freeze and capture the most important moments in the lives of my ever-changing family. 

When we decided to get married, Nick and I did not want a big, complicated event. We chose a more intimate setting and only invited our closest family members to witness our vows. It was important to us that our wedding photos be able to capture not only the actual event, but also the emotion and beauty of each moment and that is exactly what we found in the work that Whitney did for us. She was able to make us and our family members comfortable in front of the camera with her encouragement and simple direction and was in turn able to obtain some very beautiful and meaningful photographs. Not only have our family and friends complimented our photos, but I feel that they have been able to experience our wedding through them as well."

"Not long after our wedding, we welcomed Miles into our family. Those first few weeks home were spent learning about him, as well as discovering who we were now as parents. That time in my memory is a blur of feeding, rocking, swaddling, and catching sleep while we could. It was in the middle of all this that Whitney was able to capture another set of photographs for us. The morning she arrived at our house, we felt tired and disorganized and I was still having trouble finding clothes that fit correctly. I know I wondered to myself once or twice while Miles cried and we needed to take nursing breaks if maybe we should’ve done this a different time. Whitney was once again a positive and encouraging presence. Viewing those photos now, I am so grateful for them. They depict our little family at a time that we could never recreate. I look back at them in awe of how tiny and new Miles was. And even as we were overwhelmed by our new responsibilities, those photos allow me to tangibly remember how overwhelmed by love we were as well."

"Miles managed to grow from that tiny newborn to a smiling, babbling, crawling baby overnight. I can and have tried to document his amazing growth through taking a million and one cell phone pictures. However, not only do these do little justice to the fullness of his personality, but my husband and I are more often than not absent from them. And in truth, as much as our baby has changed each month, so have we grown and evolved right along with him. We had another set of photos done just after Miles turned six months old. It was a brisk Fall morning when we got to the park, but Whitney was ready to go and quickly found a great area to use as our backdrop. I can’t imagine that it’s easy to pull together two adults, a distractible baby, and an anxious dog to form a cohesive image, but Whitney managed it easily and we were out of the cold and back in the warm car faster than I would have ever expected. As I have now come to expect, we loved these photographs as well. With a family photographer, we have gained the unique perspective of documenting how our family has grown together."

"The images we have received from Whitney have been beautiful. They are something I know that we will treasure for many years. Not only do they document the important moments of our lives, but they have also been displayed as art in our home. I love that I can walk into our bedroom and be reminded of the promises and anticipation of our wedding day or look up at the living room wall to see the family we have become. Thanks Whitney!"

Capturing Your Always: The Van Houtens

Meeting Carrie is feels like meeting the human version of the sun. She just glows. Always smiling, always full of energy - her family circles around her with obvious love and respect for the warmth and steadiness she brings into the household. It was a pleasure to photograph Carrie and her amazing clan. I can't wait to do it again next year. 

"I decided to work with Whitney for many reasons - two of them being her confidence and positive attitude. She also has the reputation of being an amazing photographer. We had experienced too many years of disappointing and over-priced mall/department store photos!  Some of our family photos definitely deserve to be in the "Awkward Family Photos Hall of Fame"!  The photos Whitney took are COMPLETELY the opposite of these! Honestly, I was a little nervous about getting family photos taken at our home. I have three small kids,  three dogs and a husband which sometimes seems like an impossible herd to wrangle.  Whitney made the whole process easy and the time went quickly! The kids immediately liked her, and with all the encouragement she gave them, they quickly wanted to please her!   She even managed to get my husband to smile naturally. I'm so glad we invested in these photos. These treasures are worth every penny. The time when children are very small is very short. I love looking through my photos and sharing them with friends and family.  Thank you SO much, Whitney!"

- Carrie Van Houten: Wife and mother of three.

COMING HOME TO CAPTURE YOUR ALWAYS

Always: Every time, for every occasion - without exception.

The word always conjures certain nostalgia in my life. I am guilty of using this large and powerful word without proper distinction. Growing up, my mother would frequently retort, “Always? Your brother always starts the fight?” This happened so frequently that when I turned 18 and left home for college, the thought of tattooing the word always on my body crossed my mind more than once. The medium seemed poetically fitting. 

This idea of always propelled my return home to start Ivory House Photography in Des Moines, IA. I want to grow my life and business near the people who I know will always support me. It is with this commitment to my own legacy of always and passion for my clients' version of always that I open the proverbial doors of Ivory House Photography and welcome you with open arms. I can’t wait to meet you, your spouse and your family members. Together we are going to capture memories that will last for your lifetime and beyond.

In honor of the importance photos play in my own life, I thought it was only fitting to share a few of my favorite images. Over the past few years I've had the opportunity to work with the best photographers in Rochester. Thanks to Natalie Sinisgalli and Rachel Liz for capturing the people I love most in such a beautiful and honest way.