Golden Ember Photography

Golden Ember Photography Hi in Sammi 👋🏼
🐾 Pet & Lifestyle Photographer | Iowa
✨ Golden hour. Real moments.
📍 Des Moines, IA

Meet Fable. 🐾🤎Four months old, already full of personality, and apparently preparing for a very serious career in dog sp...
09/04/2026

Meet Fable. 🐾🤎

Four months old, already full of personality, and apparently preparing for a very serious career in dog sports. 😂

Fable’s mom is super into training and has big plans for this little girl, including working toward her titles someday. And honestly? After spending an afternoon with her, I can absolutely see it.

She’s smart, focused, eager to learn, and has approximately zero shortage of opinions. 😂

She’s even learning how to “talk sh*t” on command, which might be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard of teaching a 4-month-old puppy.

Fable was an absolute DREAM to photograph. Watching her work with her mom and seeing how much they already communicate at such a young age was so much fun.

I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot more of this little girl. 🐕✨

Here’s to watching Fable grow, learn, and hopefully collect those titles along the way. 🤎

I’ve been seeing a lot of conversation lately within the photography community about AI, children’s photos, and whether ...
09/03/2026

I’ve been seeing a lot of conversation lately within the photography community about AI, children’s photos, and whether photographers should continue sharing identifiable images online. I’ve taken some time to think about where I personally stand on it, and I want to be open with the families who trust me with their memories. ❤️

I’m not going to stop sharing photographs of children on my photography page.

I completely understand why some photographers are choosing to remove those images, and I respect every family and photographer who makes that choice. The way images can be misused with AI is genuinely concerning, and it’s something I don’t take lightly.

When a family is considering booking with Golden Ember Photography, I want them to be able to see the real moments I capture. The goofy smiles. The tiny details. The personalities. The connection between parents and their babies. The chaos that somehow becomes the best photograph. 🥹

But my portfolio will never be more important than your comfort.

If you don’t want me sharing your child’s images online, just tell me. You never have to explain why, and you will never have to feel bad about asking.

If you’re comfortable with me sharing your session but would rather I use images where your child’s face isn’t visible, that’s completely okay too.

Because these photographs are yours before they are ever part of my portfolio. ❤️

I want to keep photographing children and families in a way that preserves the things that disappear far too quickly. The chubby little hands. The missing teeth. The wild hair. The belly laughs. The way they cling to Mom. The personalities that somehow get bigger every year.

And I’ll continue sharing those photographs when the people in them have given me permission to do so.

I don’t think there is one perfect answer to all of this, especially when technology is evolving faster than we can keep up with it. For me, the answer is to keep creating, keep being thoughtful about what I share, and most importantly, make sure every family has a say in how their images are used.

Your memories come first. Your comfort comes first. Your choice always matters. ❤️

That’s the Golden Ember way.

HOMEcoming 2026 🤎✨Homecoming season is officially here, and I’m now booking September + October dates!Whether you’re goi...
09/02/2026

HOMEcoming 2026 🤎✨

Homecoming season is officially here, and I’m now booking September + October dates!

Whether you’re going solo, bringing your besties, or showing up with the whole crew, I’ve got a package for you. 📸

$75 non-refundable retainer required to reserve your date.

1-week gallery turnaround.

Message me to book your Homecoming session! 🤎

Golden Ember Photography

Meet Ollie. 🐾🤎My mom’s big goofy goober, and one very special dog.Ollie has been through more medical issues than any do...
08/27/2026

Meet Ollie. 🐾🤎

My mom’s big goofy goober, and one very special dog.

Ollie has been through more medical issues than any dog should have to, and there have been some scary moments where we weren’t sure he’d make it through. Somehow, this big guy keeps proving us wrong. 🥹

We’re incredibly lucky to have him here today, still being his goofy, lovable self.

Getting to capture these memories of him and his person means a little extra to me. These are the moments we hope we’ll have forever, but never take for granted. 🌿

So grateful for Ollie, and for the chance to freeze a little piece of his story in time. 📸🤎

Happy National Dog Day. 🐾🤎For the dogs who greet us like we’ve been gone for years.For the ones who follow us from room ...
08/27/2026

Happy National Dog Day. 🐾🤎

For the dogs who greet us like we’ve been gone for years.
For the ones who follow us from room to room.
For the muddy paws, the goofy faces, the zoomies, the gray muzzles, and the quiet moments beside us.

They’re only a chapter of our lives, but to them, we’re their whole story.

That’s why I love photographing dogs. Not just the perfect portraits, but them. Their personality. Their quirks. The way they look at their person.

Because someday, these little moments will mean everything. ✨

Happy National Dog Day from Golden Ember Photography. 🐶📸

🐾 Portfolio Model Spots Are FULL!I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who signed up for my portfolio model ...
08/26/2026

🐾 Portfolio Model Spots Are FULL!

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who signed up for my portfolio model spots! 🥹🤎

I’m so excited for all of the pups and families I’ll be photographing and I seriously appreciate everyone who trusted me with their family members!

With the response I’ve received, I’m officially closing my portfolio model pricing and going back to regular session booking & pricing. ✨

If you already signed up for a portfolio spot, you are still completely locked into the discounted rate you booked under! 🤎 Nothing changes for you.

For everyone else, Golden Ember Photography is officially back to regular booking! 🐶📸

I can’t wait to turn these upcoming sessions into some seriously beautiful golden memories. ✨

Meet the 4 M’s… well, technically the 5 M’s. 😂🐾Megan, Marley, Major, Matilda & Monroe spent an evening exploring the woo...
08/24/2026

Meet the 4 M’s… well, technically the 5 M’s. 😂🐾

Megan, Marley, Major, Matilda & Monroe spent an evening exploring the woods, soaking up the sunshine, and giving me approximately 47 different facial expressions to photograph.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🤎🌲

Because dog photography isn’t just about getting the perfect portrait. It’s about capturing who they are, how they love you, and the little moments you’ll want to remember forever.

I’ve been asked a few times why I chose the name Golden Ember Photography, so I thought it was finally time to tell the ...
08/14/2026

I’ve been asked a few times why I chose the name Golden Ember Photography, so I thought it was finally time to tell the story. 🤎

The truth is, this name came from a photography session with my two dogs, Buddy and Raine.

Golden is for Buddy, my soul dog. He has been beside me through some of the hardest parts of my life and, in ways I never expected, became my medical savior.

Ember is for the part of me that keeps going. An ember doesn’t have to be a roaring fire to keep burning. Sometimes all you need is that little bit of warmth that refuses to go out.

And then there’s everything I love about the feeling of fall: warm woods, golden light, earthy tones, and that quiet kind of warmth that makes you want to hold onto a moment a little longer. 🍂🔥

This session with Buddy and Raine was where the idea started.

So Golden Ember isn’t just a photography business name.

It’s a little piece of Buddy.
A reminder to keep burning.
And a reflection of the kind of warmth I want my photography to hold.

Welcome to Golden Ember. 🤎

Some of the sweetest memories are the ones we don’t realize we’ll treasure forever. 🤎A little time with Grandma. A littl...
08/13/2026

Some of the sweetest memories are the ones we don’t realize we’ll treasure forever. 🤎

A little time with Grandma. A little girl growing way too quickly. And photographs that get to hold onto this season for them both. 🌿

This is exactly why I love lifestyle photography. The little moments, the genuine connection, the people who matter most.

✨ Golden Ember Photography
Authentic moments. Real connections. Timeless memories.

Had so much fun with this little St. Patrick’s Day session 🍀💚a mix of posed, playful, and a little bit of chaos… which h...
03/18/2026

Had so much fun with this little St. Patrick’s Day session 🍀💚

a mix of posed, playful, and a little bit of chaos… which honestly always makes for the best photos.

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Des Moines, IA

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