Way Made Film + Photo

THE SHADAS 🌷

The heat didn’t keep us from celebrating these high school sweethearts 🤍

So grateful I got to capture another high school friend’s wedding!! It’s something special to see the people you grew up with start this new chapter 🫶🏻

Vendors:
Venue - Kacena Farms
Dress - Hope's Bridal & Prom Morilee
Charcuterie table - Kacena Farms
Florals - Flowers By Nature's Corner
Rings - Ames Silversmithing Gilger Designs Jewelry

THE BRUNGARDS 🌿

Thankful the rain stayed away so we could spend Saturday celebrating the sweetest couple 🤍

Vendors:
Venue: Cedar Falls Rotary Reserve
Hair:
Attire:
Rings:
Stationary: .engaging

THATCHER + KAYELEE💍

Had such a magical evening with these two on Sunday ✨🌿

I’ll be honest, getting back into the swing of things postpartum hasn’t been easy. I find myself dreading shoots the closer they come. But then I get there, and I laugh at myself for ever feeling that way because I always end up having a blast!

I truly have the best job and the best clients 🤍 Can’t wait to celebrate these two next June 🍾

THE MOORES🌿

What a beautiful day celebrating these two precious souls 🤍 It was clear Jesus was there every single moment!

Cade and Emma, welcome to the wonderful world of marriage! 💍

Venue:
Dress:
Florals:
Rings:

Long time no see! 👋

Life has been crazy in the Way Made household the last few months 🫠 We welcomed baby boy, and nearly all of our attention has been focused on him (big surprise). But as we start busy season off in a few weeks, it’s time to get back to the real world!

I’m so excited for all the shoots and weddings we’ve got coming up this summer and getting back into the swing of things! Postpartum is no joke, people 😅 But I’m ready to get back at it!!

Ps, can’t wait for Casey and Heather’s big day this fall 🤩🤍

Got to be part of something pretty special this past weekend 🤍

It's such a joy to see your best friends start a new chapter of life. I was more than honored to capture this special moment between two people who are special to me!

Congrats, besties 💍🍾

✨The Funks✨

This wedding was meant to happen while I am on maternity leave, but due to an unforeseen deployment, I had the privilege of capturing this beautiful couple 🤩

Shooting a 9 hour wedding 7 months pregnant is no joke, but these two made it soooo worth it! They were down for pretty much anything, including a fun flash session at the end of the night (check out the last pic 👀) Safe to say I'll be doing more of these for weddings to come...

Love my clients that make this job a joy, even with an achey back and feet 🤍

What I've learned from owning my own business while simultaneously having a separate full-time job...

-Not everything is going to get done all the time, and that's okay! Prioritizing tasks is extremely important, especially when it feels like you don't have enough hours during the day. You've still got a life to live!

-It's okay to say no! Whether it be to social gatherings, more shoots, or extra (optional) responsibilities at your full-time job, sometimes you just can't say yes to everything. As a people pleaser, this has definitely been a difficult one to learn, but it is so worth it to not feel completely overwhelmed.

-Taking time for yourself isn't selfish or neglecting your business! If you aren't taking care of yourself, your business is going to suffer. Sometimes you have to let off the reigns a little and relax.

As we close out another year, it's important to remember these things so your passion doesn't turn into work you dread!

Wedding second-shot for 💕

Missing fall real hard looking back at this engagement shoot 🤩

I mean, come onnnnn! Look at those leaves!! 🍂 and the cutie couple 😉

Absolutely stoked to be shooting James and Isabell's wedding at in August!

Getting real for a minute...

Going into my first year of teaching in the fall of 2022, I had minimal concerns on keeping up with Way Made business while also teaching full time. Man, did I have a reality check ready to slap me in the face 😅

As many of you have probably noticed, since starting my career as a math teacher, my content has slowed...significantly. I still absolutely love what I do with this business, but maintaining a work-life balance when you have two basically full-time jobs is no joke.

While teaching definitely has its benefits, there's no doubt it is a mentally taxing profession. When you want to do the best for your students, it takes a lot out of you. Unfortunately, that meant for me letting this page and business sit on the back burner for a hot minute.

Now with a baby on the way, part of me wonders how I'll manage! But I love this work and my clients so so much. It's definitely a labor of love, and I can't see myself giving it up anytime soon.

So, stick around, because we're not going anywhere 💛

Wedding second-shot for ✨

Mitch + Nickie ✨

I had never been to the Palisades before this shoot despite living near Cedar Rapids my whole life...let's just say it's one of my new fav locations 😍

Mitch and Nickie's wedding was supposed to be during my maternity leave, but a change of plans has put their wedding in January, allowing me the pleasure of capturing their special day!

Can't wait to spend the day with you two in just a few weeks 🥰

I’ve been pretty quiet on here the last few months…he’s the reason🥹

Running a business while simultaneously growing a whole human is no easy feat 😅 but I’m so thankful for this little life the Lord has blessed us with 🫶🏻

Can’t wait to welcome the newest member to the Way Made fam in early 2024 🤍

🤍🤍

Hunter + Alexis 🤍

A gorgeous (HOT🥵) September day partying away with these newlyweds!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. 🍾💍

Chris + Tacy 🤍

Can you even believe how good these two look??? The dress, the flowers, the location…beautiful 🥹

It was an absolute honor to capture the is Christ-centered union this past weekend!

Gorgeous wedding I had the honor of second shooting for back in April 🤩

From Hagemann to 💍✨

Had a blast with Nick and Rachel and the beautiful sunset 🥹

Gotta love a classy black and white photo…or a few 🤍🖤

Let's talk about 💐florals💐:

Pros of real flowers:
-They photograph so much better than artificial flowers!! While not all faux flowers photograph poorly, there's just something magical about the way real florals look through the lens ✨
-Real flowers just smell good! While this might not be a necessity for you, it's a nice added touch when you can carry around something that smells nice for most of the day!
-It's a great way to support a small business if you can find a smaller floral shop!

Cons of real flowers:
-They can get expensive! The average spent on real flowers for a wedding is about $1500...😅 (tips on how to save $$ at the end)
-They are temporary...of course, real flowers will wilt within a few days/weeks after the wedding.
-They are easily damaged compared to fake flowers, so be careful when you're waving them around during bridal party pictures!

If you're looking to save a little bit of money on your wedding but still want real flowers, here are a couple suggestions:
-Just get real flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres and artificial flowers for decorations! That way, you still get the beauty of real florals in your portraits!
-Buy real florals in bulk and put bouquets, boutonnieres, and decorations together yourself! If you're a DIY bride like I was, this might be the option for you...then you're only paying for the cost of the flowers and not the cost of labor.

Dillon + Mikayla ✨

I love all of my clients, but getting to photograph friends will always reserve a special place in my heart 🤍

I've known this girl since we were six-years-old! We've been through a lot together, and now I get to capture one of the most special seasons of her life 🥲

Congrats to the future Brummers! 💍🫶🏻

Introducing ✨The Garcias ✨

It was such a fun filled day celebrating this special couple! Despite a little bit of rain, we had a great time celebrating the newlyweds 🤩

💍

Last on my grad list is this gorgeous SLP! 😍

Even on a rainy Saturday, we were able to get some gorgeous pictures of Lindsey during a break in the rain. I mean, look at those flowers!!

It's such a blessing to see friends pursuing their dreams. We're wishing you all the best in your career as an SLP, Lindsey! 🎓

Next up on my grad list is my very own sister! 🎓

For those of you who don't know, my sister's heart stopped at a hair appointment in 2021. Despite the several challenges she has faced since her accident, she was still able to finish school on the timeline she had set once she got to UNI.

Each day, we thank Jesus that she is still here with us and that we get to celebrate her amazing achievement of graduating college!

Wishing you the best in your future teaching career, sis 😘😘

I'm a little late to the grad scene, but better late than never, right? 😅

Up first on my list of college grads is Aaron! We went to grade school together, and now here he is graduating college! It was such a beautiful night on Iowa's campus taking pictures of this grad.

Good luck in all your future endeavors, Aaron! 🎓

Lucas + Ashley | Engagement

I had so much fun with these two in April with their engagement shoot! Look at how stunning they look 🤩

These two are such a fun-loving couple who have a natural presence in front of the camera. I can't wait to shoot their wedding in just a few months! 💍🤍

Everyone always asks me what my favorite part of the wedding day to shoot is...

Of course, I respond with the bridal portraits. I mean, come onnnn 🥰

But when I look back through my galleries and see the random candids from bridal party pictures or the small, intimate touches of hands during the ceremony or the bride and groom breaking it down on the dance floor, I'm reminded of the beauty a full wedding day has to offer!

Two people, coming before God to join together for the betterment of His Kingdom is something that will always be especially beautiful for me. I love this job and am so blessed by all my clients who choose me to capture one of the most important days of their lives 🤍

Chris + Tacy 💍

It was definitely a windy day in the city with these two
💨

Nonetheless, we got some beautiful pictures to
celebrate their engagement! These two are dear friends
of ours, and we are so excited to shoot their
upcoming wedding in July 🫶🏻

The Roberts 🤍

The cold stayed away for this beautiful day last weekend! It was such a beautiful time celebrating Brandon and Leah 🥹

How can I even begin to describe this day? 🤩

We definitely got lucky with the snow for this beautiful winter wedding!

Jordan and Emma, we love your love, and we can't wait to see how God uses your new marriage!

Congratulations to the Neighbors! 🍾🥰

Wow, it's been a minute...😅

Being a full time teacher and photographer is no joke, y'all! As I've been learning the past six months, balance between work life and personal life doesn't come easy.

More to come on that in a later post…

Tomorrow is our first wedding of the year, and I'm so excited to get back into the photography mindset!

Thank you to anyone who is still here🫶🏻I appreciate you so much!