ABOUT LOUISE

Rooted in Art. Grounded in Experience.

My work today is rooted in a lifetime of creative influences, teaching, and a deep appreciation for design. From growing up in an artistic home to guiding students and clients alike, every step has shaped how I approach photography. The short stories below offer a glimpse into the path that led me here—and the perspective I bring to each session.

My Background In Photography, Art, and Design

Art and Design in my Childhood

I was raised in a home where art and design were ever-present. My mother was an art major, and for seventy years a watercolorist. She took me to art exhibits, sometimes of her own paintings! My father was a mechanical engineer-turned-farmer who kept aesthetics in mind when creating out of scrap metal. Growing up surrounded by the artistry of both parents had an enormous impact on how I see the world, incorporate design into my work, and approach photography today.

A Student and Teacher of Design

In college I studied applied art, interior design, and fashion design. Upon graduation, I taught consumer sciences, including how design is intertwined in our daily lives via interiors, fashion, etc. Next, I became a media specialist working with PreK-12 students, their parents, and staff. One of my primary responsibilities was helping students and teachers incorporate design elements in their multimedia projects.

Photography and Design

Since childhood, I've loved photography. My background in art and working with both young people and adults has transformed into a late-blooming professional portraiture and design career. Post-teaching, I studied photography at Iowa State University. Today, a few years and many conventions, workshops, etc., later, I am thrilled to see the excited looks on my clients’ faces when they leave with their headshots and other marketing photos, specially-designed cards, albums, framed photographs, or an entire wall grouping I’ve created just for them!

Fresh, Fun, and Adventurous Style

My style can be elegant, whimsical, traditional, contemporary, painterly, or edgy depending on the subject, the mood, and the look we’re trying to achieve. I lean toward crisp detail and vivid colors, but I also incorporate soft textures and pastels. I like to clearly see people's facial features. However, sometimes the most provocative photographs have one or more features obscured. Above all, my primary constant desire is to create experiences and photographs that evoke positive emotions. As long as I keep doing that, I am confident my clients will be fully satisfied.