Top 10 Dsm [and surrounding] Wedding Venues for 2014

As a photographer, I have the opportunity to work with many different wedding vendors, talk to a lot of brides, and see a ton of unique venues.

 Here is a list of my top 10 Des Moines metro and surrounding area wedding venues for 2014 [in no particular order].

 Your venues set the stage for your entire day. And they should bring just as much joy to YOU as they do your guests. Happy venue shopping!
Contact: Jauqelin
Email: info@rollinsmansion.com
Phone: 515-657-7288

Contact: Nicole Barreca
Email: nbarreca@worldfoodprize.org
Phone: 515-245-3735
   
Salisbury House and Gardens
Contact: Bonnie Bronson
Email: bbronson@salisburyhouse.org
Phone: 515-274-1777 ext:1004
Contact: Allison Fegley
Email: fegley@hoytsherman.org
Phone: 515-244-0507 ext: 212
 West End Architectural Salvage
 
photo credit: http://www.westendsalvage.com/explore/first-floor/
Contact: Becky
Email: info@westendsalvage.com
Phone: 515-243-4405 

  Zart1312

photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/zart1312/117073554988883
Contact: MariBeth
Email: zart1312@yahoo.com
Phone: 515-468-0498 
   
Stonehaven Barn

photo credit: http://yourenotdreaming.wordpress.com/where-this-is-all-going-to-go-down/stonehaven/
Email: stonehavenbarn@gmail.com

  Jester Park Lodge
Phone: 515-287-0877

photo credit: http://hansencompany.com/folio_slide/jasper-winery
Contact: Katie
Email: katie@jasperwinery.com
Phone: 515-282-9463 

photo credit: http://www.penoach.com/rentals
Email: j.k.olson@live.com
Phone: 515-993-4374  


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2013 Business Milestones


    Ever wonder what the year of a photographer looks like? Well, here is a nicely organized list of business milestones from 2013. [Man I feel productive]. What a great reminder that many small steps can add up to one fabulous year of moving forward. Cheers to 2013! And 2014....here I come!

·      Survived my first FULL year in business [praise the good Lord]

·      Renovated the basement into my showroom [best decision ever]

·      Implemented in person consultations as well as viewing and ordering sessions

·      Phased out of online proofing and online ordering 

·      Implemented Square credit card service

·      Purchased new iMac [and LOVE IT]

·      Purchased newest version of Photoshop

·      Completed a 3 day intensive wedding workshop at MAIPP [Mid-America Institute of Professional Photography] 

·      Put up two wall portrait displays for cross marketing at The Barking Lot and Salisbury House
    
·      Phased out of offering digital files on discs [now only limited digital files available via USB thumb drive]

·      Successfully ran my first Puppies in the Park session

·      Photographed my Dad fishing at sunrise and sunset [bucket list item]

·     Was chosen to be highlighted as a top wedding vendor on Wedding Lovely Feature
    
·      Partnered with DSMVibe to cover the following shows:
o  The Milk Carton Kids
o  Tommy Emmanuel 
o  Wild Child and The John Butler Trio 
o  Max Wellman 

·      Partnered with the following small businesses for cross promotion:
o  Salisbury House 
o  Des Moines Arts Festival 
o  Beaverdale Farmer’s Market
o  Rescued Junk


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2013 Brides

BLESSED BY THESE WOMEN!

As 2013 closes in, I am reflecting on the beautiful women I was lucky enough to photograph as brides.   Thank you for choosing ME to document and share your day. I am blessed by each one of you. I am slotting for 10 weddings in 2014. Can't wait to see what the New Year brings!

With love...
Kerri



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Beauty That is Soul Deep


Here is something I hope I can remind ALL of my clients of: the power of having a beauty that is [soul deep]. A concept near and dear to my heart...and WHY I EDIT LIKE I DO. In today's industry, it is so easy to get carried away with "fixes" in photoshop. As a professional, I DO use photoshop, however I am always very mindful of just how much I use it. Every client I have ever worked with has brought about their OWN natural beauty. In my business model, I am doing the client a disservice if I don't remind them of, bring out, and photograph their natural, inner beauty. Please take the time to read & "share" if this hits close to home.

Beauty That is Soul Deep

"Your physical self is by no means the totality of who you are. It does, however, reflect who you are: a unique spiritual being of extraordinary beauty and importance. When you understand this and see yourself in this way, you will treat your body as if it housed a soul, and you will live your life as though it were a part of a grand design. You will be rewarded with an unmistakable radiance that comes from deep within and shows on the outside too….

You don’t have to look like the women [and men] in the magazines. They usually represent one idea of beauty, an idea dependent on youth and abetted by cosmetics, lighting, and the art of touchup. What you’ll have instead is a glow that can be neither bought nor bottled.

Until quite recently, contemporary culture didn’t put much stock in having a lovely soul. This was probably because nobody could figure out how to make a profit from it. Whatever the reason, that message to devalue the beauty that arises from deep within crept into the collective consciousness. In reality, though, inner beauty is the only kind that truly matters because it’s the only kind that goes the distance.

You can count on it to persist, even if you don’t feel well or you’ve been up all night with a sick child or when you’re ten – or thirty – years older than you are now. And since this beauty is soul-deep, you may even be able to take it with you when you go.

You can think of its outward expression as charisma or grace, as class or poise. When you have it, your eyes really are windows to the soul. Your smile can put anyone at ease. An irresistible attraction emanates from your personality, so that, regardless of your age or body type, you are beautiful…This is the radiance that can light up a room, light up your life, and give you the kind of beauty that passing years will never diminish.

This is the kind of beauty that is truly worth celebrating, and it can’t be purchased in the cosmetics section at Bloomingdale’s. Fortunately, we don’t have to acquire it from outside ourselves. We have only the discover it and set it free."

Credit:
Book: The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever in an Age of Less
Author: John Robbins
with love...
kerri

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I Call Them Just Darling

One thing that remains constant throughout my work is that I try to capture natural joy. The joy that happens when a Mom is with her entire family. The joy that takes place between a Dad and his daughter. The joy that is naturally found between a bride and a groom.

Joy defined: the newest Mr. & Mrs. Christianson.

With Lindsey and Mike, you can see the joy and you feel the joy, because when then two of them are together, they are just simply HAPPY! ...... 

I was honored when they asked me to photograph their wedding day. Lindsey is one of the hardest working gals I know. She wears her heart on her sleeve. And hands down, won the heart of Mike. 

It is such a beautiful thing when two genuine, good hearted people come together to start a life. I am honored to be called a friend as they start their journey.

Lindsey & Mike, thank you for letting me capture YOUR joy. Wishing you DECADES of happiness.

with love...
Kerri











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