West Des Moines, Iowa
Authentic portraits and events
Family Sessions: Toddler & Child
Family Sessions: Teenage Years
Learn more
Community Galleries
Sports Galleries
Hi, I'm Mackenzie.
It felt like I blinked and our oldest was in college. It made me realize how precious family photographs and portraits really are.
As a former journalist, I understand the heartbeat of a story. As we collaborate, I'll ask for yours. That's my approach: I want to get to know you and your family! Let's take the pressure of family photos off and have a little fun with our time together.
I spent the first half of my career writing about schools — which gave me a lot of experience helping children and parents feel comfortable in front of a camera! Now I'm the one making images, and I love it.
What's your approach to photography?
I take a photojournalistic approach — I'm seeking authentic moments and natural emotion. That's why I don't work from a rigid list of poses. (We'll move through all the normal family groupings, don't worry!)
I want you to be yourself, and I've discovered that when I allow the sessions to unfold, the best moments present themselves. I'll ask you questions, share posing guidance, and prompt you with questions or activities (depending on your children's ages) to elicit natural smiles. This works especially well with young children.
Read more in my FAQs and our sample galleries of children and teens.
What are community and sports galleries?
I've been taking my camera to community events for a few years, just for the fun of it. I started sharing these photo galleries as a community service. You can view them at no cost and make a single-image purchase (print or digital) for personal use.
View the Community & Sports Galleries here. If you're interested in event photography, please see my photography packages.
Have more questions?
Read our FAQs!
What clients say
"I loved all of Mackenzie's photos. I was nervous about how the session would go with our toddler, but Mackenzie knew what to do and captured our family perfectly."
"We were thrilled by how easy it was and how comfortable Mackenzie made our family feel. When a child says, ‘I like her. She is really nice,’ it means she connected, and that’s important. Mackenzie has a gift for engaging with people and making them feel special. "
"I’ve already hired Mackenzie for another photography project, and we’re booking her soon for more family photos because our children asked when they could do it again!"
