Laura Wills Photography

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Laura Wills Photography

➕ candid + artful storytelling
✖️ lifestyle weddings + families
✖️ iowa + anywhere ✈︎ i never read, i only look at pictures. [andy warhol]

07/14/2026

who would have thought that growing up as classmates would someday lead to running down the halls of your high school in your wedding gown, exchanging vows in the chapel there, and dancing barefoot on a crowded dance floor with your fav people (and juggling late night cheeseburgers; because of course).

the first day: 8.10.17
the yes day: 12.31.24
the best day: 6.27.26

… same halls, same building, and proof that some stories are worth the wait. congratulations, emerson + noah!! forever grateful you let me tag along for it all 💘
photography + content — laura 〰️ iowa wedding photographer / second, Austin Johnson
planning + florals — White Willow Events / Boesen The Florist
venue — Willow on Grand
hair — KELSEY- BRIDAL HAIRSTYLIST
mua — Ivy Boyd
videography — 𝙸𝚘𝚠𝚊 𝚅𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛/𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛
invitation suite — ephemera
gown — Rosalie / Dany Tabet
rings — Josephs Jewelers
cake — Glorious Desserts, LLC
live food stations — The River Center Events + Catering
bridesmaid dresses — Azazie
dj — Grant Peterson
menswear — Skeffington's Formal Wear
Iowa wedding / Iowa wedding photographer / Midwest wedding / Midwest wedding photographer/ Des Moines wedding / Des Moines wedding photographer / wedding photographer / Iowa photographer./ Midwest photographer / Des Moines photographer / Iowa venue

07/10/2026

I often get asked if I have couples provide a shot list for me to work off of on their wedding day. Here’s my take:

A shot list can only tell me what’s already going to happen - the ceremony, the first look, the toasts. But it isn’t the whole story.

The best moments of a wedding day rarely happen on cue; they happen in the in-between, in the seconds no one thought to plan for. You can’t schedule a candid tear, or a split-second glance, or the exact second the wind takes the veil with it. These moments only happen once, and they only get captured if someone is looking for them.

That’s the difference a photographer makes - not just checking off the shots you asked for, but staying present enough to catch the ones you didn’t know you’d love. 💘
Iowa wedding / iowa photographer / wedding photographer / iowa wedding photographer/ midwest wedding / midwest wedding photographer / des moines wedding

07/07/2026

putting the final touches on this gallery for claire + matt and i keep coming back to our time at the cathedral.

a gloomy, misty morning didn’t put a damper on their day in the slightest. raindrops on their vow books and umbrellas as we hurried to find cover became part of the story but what mattered was that they were surrounded by their favorite people.

a laughter-filled moment for claire and her first “bestie” (dad). private vows exchanged before their nieces and nephews came running in with hugs and snacks (the best kind of chaos). a ceremony in this historic place, and the unmistakable joy that comes with finally calling it official.

the kind of day that proves the “bad” weather is rarely what you remember most. 💘

07/05/2026

nights like these >>>
photography + content — laura 〰️ iowa wedding photographer / second, Austin Johnson
planning + florals — White Willow Events / Boesen The Florist
venue — Willow on Grand
hair — KELSEY- BRIDAL HAIRSTYLIST
mua — Ivy Boyd
videography — 𝙸𝚘𝚠𝚊 𝚅𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛/𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛
invitation suite — ephemera
gown — Rosalie / Dany Tabet
rings — Josephs Jewelers
cake — Glorious Desserts, LLC
live food stations — The River Center Events + Catering
bridesmaid dresses — Azazie
dj — Grant Peterson
menswear — Skeffington's Formal Wear
Iowa wedding / Iowa wedding photographer / Midwest wedding / Midwest wedding photographer/ Des Moines wedding / Des Moines wedding photographer / wedding photographer / Iowa photographer./ Midwest photographer / Des Moines photographer / Iowa venue

Iowa photographer / Iowa wedding / Iowa wedding photographer / wedding photographer / sparkler exit / wedding exit / second look

06/30/2026

and I’m here to capture them both 💘
Iowa wedding photographer / Iowa wedding / Midwest wedding / Midwest photographer/ Midwest wedding / Des Moines wedding / Iowa photographer / destination photographer

like saying your vows surrounded by all of your favorite people …

and immediately after; when it all sinks in.

like a portrait on the course as your guests transition to dinner…

and the reality that in between every portrait, he’d make you laugh.

or the ceremony site you’ve been dreaming and planning for months…

and your sweet grandparents totally present in the moment.

like those final moments in the bridal suite …

before your dad sees his baby for the first time as a bride.

or the incredible space, waiting for guests to arrive …

to them joining in celebrating you becoming husband and wife.

like a moment for the veil, the venue, the flowers …

and the quiet joy they shared throughout the day.

like heading into your ceremony at the historic cathedral …

but pausing for a moment, just the two of you, to say your vows.

like a portrait en route to your reception space …

and the realization that you finally get to wear a ring now, too.

06/27/2026

today’s the day (!!) 💘
Iowa wedding photographer / Iowa wedding / Des Moines wedding / wedding photographer / summer wedding inspo / Des Moines photographer / Midwest wedding / Midwest wedding photographer

06/26/2026

having your life documented is the only solution I can think of until someone figures out how to make babies keep and / or time to slow down ⏳
Iowa family photographer / Iowa photographer / Des Moines photographer / Des Moines family photographer / family photographer / Iowa wedding photographer

06/23/2026

it was only a matter of time … classmates in kindergarten, then shared summers at the lake made them family friends, and finally a date in college made it official.

so their wedding day felt like the natural next chapter of a story that had been unfolding for years.

both grandpas served as ushers, one of them handcrafted the ring box and other details, impromptu first looks with grandmas, a morning dance party with sisters and girlfriends, an emotional ceremony, every favorite person gathered in one place and the most beautiful blue sky; “joyful” hardly feels like a big enough word.

i may not have the words to describe it all, but I can show you in photos 💘 some first favs from Caleb + Libby’s best day ever; congrats, mr + mrs platt !!

venue — Little Lights on the Lane
photographer — laura 〰️ iowa wedding photographer + second, COLBY CAMPBELL
florals — Tiffany Landuyt
bridal gown — Rosalie / KYHA Bride
bridesmaid gowns — Rosalie / Jenny Yoo
menswear — Langel & Woods Clothiers
Iowa wedding photographer/ Iowa wedding / outdoor wedding / Midwest wedding / midwest photographer / wedding photographer

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