Families
My greatest and most fulfilling role in this life is being a mama to my three boys. Motherhood has been so much harder and so much more wonderful than I ever imagined it would. Two out of three of my boys are now taller than me, and though I wouldn't go back to the baby stage, I'll miss it forever. My biggest regret is not understanding the importance of professional photography back then. Photos of me with my babies are nearly non-existent.
Family photography is my passion and what got me started in this industry. I love children. I thought about being a preschool teacher or a postpartum doula for a long time. There’s just no bond like that between a mother and child and I know exactly how much those precious photos mean. We don’t want to forget that little curl at the nape of their neck, the dimples on their chubby hands, the gap-toothed grin, the scrunched up nose, or the way the bury their head against you when they’re feeling bashful.
I promise your children won’t be too loud, too wiggly, too silly, or too shy. (Mine are all of the above.) I’ll match their energy and meet them where they are. Whether we’re in your home or exploring outside, I want to have fun. I want the photos to represent a precious memory you had together, no phones, no distractions. Leave your kids up to me. I’ll win them over and work a little magic and provide you with photos you’ll cherish more than most anything else.
Des Moines Family Photographer
More than she was known for her accomplishments, she was known
for the way she loved.
- MORGAN HARPER NICHOLS
A few favorite family sessions.
a few favorite family sessions
“Haverlee is extremely gifted behind the camera. What makes her special is her unique ability to set the tone of the day and make her subjects feel calm and comfortable. I was fully expecting our family session to be complete chaos with a 3-year-old, 1-year-old and newborn. From the moment she walked in, Haverlee was patient and full of grace. She got right down to business and worked efficiently while exuding a calm, light and pleasant vibe that engaged my small children and relaxed all of us. It would have been so easy for me to stress out about so many little things, but with her sweet spirit she maintained a fun and happy environment and I can't thank her enough for this - it was exactly what I needed. She captured the best of our little family and delivered more amazing images than I could have hoped for. Haverlee is a very special person and I can't wait to hire her again!”
- Catelin S
Des Moines LIFESTYlE FAMILY Photographer
Family Pricing
Full Family Session - $600
One and a half hours at the location of your choice.
The full session will include time in your home and exploring outside, and allows me to capture truly candid moments of beautiful connection. More time does not equal more stress, especially with little ones. Quite the opposite. When given time to explore and shoot at a relaxed pace, looking for those magic pockets of light, I'm able to capture your honest and true selves. Your children are not required to be on their best behavior. I simply ask for you, the parents to be fully present and ready to soak up the time with your family. (No travel fees within 130 miles of DSM or Statesville NC.)
HALF SESSION - $450
An abbreviated session at one location around the Des Moines metro or Western North Carolina. We'll spend 45 minutes, focused on portraiture and posed photos and candids. (Please inquire about other locations.)
ASK ME ABOUT PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN SESSIONS FOR SINGLE MOMS.
Let's chat.
“Haverlee is, quite frankly, the photographer for our family. No matter the location, events of the day, or temperament of our toddler and newborn, Haverlee has always been able to capture the truest moments of our family. Her personality is laid back but she has a critical eye for details while shooting, evident in the photos lining our stairs. The patience she has with our little boy is captivating, I find myself wondering how she gets him to do the things he does. From newborn shoots to full family photos (not to mention all her other amazing work in between), I cannot recommend Haverlee enough!”
- Amanda W.
One week, you two!! 🤩 I’ve been looking forward to this one since I got their very first email. She’s a school psychologist and he’s a graphic designer. They love art and food and nature. It doesn’t *really* matter if you’re into all the same things as your wedding photographer but I sure love clicking with my couples like I do with these two. Their wedding is going to be a laid back party and I cannot wait to photograph their joy.
Taxes are done. Web site is updated. The weather is mellowing out. I’m itching for busy season to begin. Every job has pros and cons. The best thing about this job is the cons list grows smaller with every passing year. 🥹 I’m really grateful.
None of us moms anticipate a wedding day involving our own children. But let me tell you, it is the most special thing in the world. 🥺 I joke that I wish everyone could experience a second marriage. It was such an honor to photograph my friend’s wedding. A February wedding is ideal for one reason - a honeymoon to Mexico in February. 😉 Andrea looked absolutely stunning and I’m in love with this first portrait of her.
I’ve been working on getting more galleries on my site and I knew I wanted to feature Anna & Jacob’s wedding day. It always stands out in my mind as a favorite. I took inspiration from their heartfelt ceremony and we had my sisters read poetry at ours. I remember Anna saying for so long they’d kept their love to themselves but they were ready to share it with others. That feels like a beautiful reminder of why we have weddings in the first place. We want to gather our loved ones in one place, and we want to honor the love we share with our partner publicly. They did it in such a beautiful way.
Their wedding is now on the gallery page of my web site if you’d like to see more, including the moment Anna dropped her skirt and shocked Jacob with her jumpsuit underneath. ☺️
Photo assistant: @seth.missiaen
Venue: @mainframearts
Hair & Makeup: @lemonheadhairr
Florals: @indie.floral
Reception snacks: @thecheeseshopdsm
Coordinator: @just1jen
Good morning. It’s a dreary freezing Monday. I hope these photos give you a tiny dose of joy. This shoot was the highlight of my February so far. 😌 So sweet to watch this family grow. Baby Simon is a fluffy haired dream.
Photographing love and life in Des Moines, Iowa, Western North Carolina and beyond.