Ben + Haley

It's always fun to see a bride & groom that are a wonderful combination of confidently calm & anxiously excited. These two high school sweethearts were the perfect example of that on their day. It was a joy to capture!

Surrounded by equally excited family & friends, these two said I do in the exact church the brides parents did on their wedding day.

Their day also included photos taken at thee prettiest of trees, a spot that holds so many of their memories together. Those things combined with their pure joy & excitement made for an amazing day.

We are big fans of Haley & Ben, and we are excited to see what their marriage brings to the world!

-Courtney

To see more wedding blogs, click here.

Brooke Burnett

This girl is near & dear to us. We have been able to get to know her over the past year & boy are we glad. As sad as we are that it is her last year at Cedar Falls, we areso excited to cheer her on as she takes on a new adventure after her senior year. Plus her sweet mama already booked us for her future wedding. Groom & date to be determined.

This session had to be rescheduled due to rain, and I'm so thankful it was! We got to run around Cedar Falls on thee prettiest of days with this girl. Plus, her sweet family was able to jump in for a few! They are too much fun. 

We love this family & this shoot was a reminder of how much we love getting to be apart of people's stories.

Ryan + Robin

June 30th, 2017 | Colorado 

A wedding that involves family AND mountains?! That's hard to beat. We were so grateful not only to witness Ryan & Robin's wedding, but also capture it! I'm pretty sure I tried to take a picture of literally every detail- it was all so beautiful & reflective of the bride & groom.

Robin is Neal's cousin & we were so happy to welcome Ryan into our family. They are both teachers with the biggest of hearts. They are so fun, down to earth, and full of life. Their day was definitely a testament to that. From Robin hemming her dress with scissors just before the wedding to their favorite pizza being served to their guests via food truck, their day was a beautiful picture of them as a couple.

We had so much fun capturing them saying "I do!" to forever. We hope & pray their lives continue to impact others in a way that makes them remember this life is a gift to be celebrated! Here's a glimpse of their first day as husband & wife! Enjoy! 

-Courtney

Jonnie + Emily

July 7th, 2017 | Ames, IA

I'm truly having a hard time putting into words the amazing gift of capturing Jonnie + Emily's state-side wedding day.  An Iowa girl + a boy from New Zealand met & fell in love in the country of Myanmar. A place they ended up because of their shared love of teaching & adventure. What a story.

Their day was sweet, slow, and full of joy. It included lots of joyful reunions & introductions, tons of laughing, a few skype calls from New Zealand, songs sung by the bride & groom, hours of non-stop dancing, lots of polaroids being snapped, and a beautiful covenant made between themselves and the Lord.

We can't tell you how much we loved being apart of this day.  We are still amazed at the amount of joy + awe that filled this wedding day and how much adoration we have for this couple.

We hope this is a beautiful glimpse of their day! Enjoy!

-Courtney 

Washington D.C.

Last November we had a two day layover in D.C. and ever since we have been itching to get back. We took advantage of a few free days over spring break to visit some family & get back to one of our favorite places. We wouldn't consider ourselves "big city people,", but man has D.C. stolen our hearts in many a ways. 

I went into our three-day trip with bigs hopes to see all the things, but soon realized that it will take years for me to fully see all the sights, learn all the history, try all the local eateries, and admire all the beauty of our nation's capitol. It's not a place you can rush through and I think thats the thing that has allowed D.C. to win a top spot on my list of places I love. It makes you slow down, reflect, question, give thanks for your past, & hope for what's to come. 

Our three days spent in D.C. were just enough to remind me of those things. Take a peak at our quick trip through the lens of our good 'ol trusty film camera. We hope these photos encourage you to plan a trip to D.C., grab a history book, or seek out the history in your own backyard. 

Our days were filled with lots of riding, walking, reading, and learning. I love the fact that there is a place to reflect & learn around every corner. This trip's highlights included a tour of the Supreme Court building & the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument. My gratefulness grew right along with my understanding. 

We were lucky enough to arrive to lots of blooms. D.C. is famous for their cherry blossoms & I now understand why! As if those beauties weren't enough, we stumbled upon the U.S. Botanical Gardens as well. This place is full of beauty- from a cacao tree to more succulents than you could dream of.  It was a quick trip through some of what I would consider the wonders of the world. What beauty we are surrounded by. 

Exploring the different neighborhoods in D.C. made me love the city that much more. Colored buildings, a coffee shop with a story, & the local eateries are all it took. 

Here are a few places we were big fans of:

Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, a coffeehouse owned & operated by National Community Church. They brew fair-trade coffee & their profits go towards community outreach projects.

We, The Pizza, a pizza place that focuses on community while serving up one mean slice of pizza.

Good Stuff Eatery, a classic American restaurant with high quality burgers & fries. Oh, and don't forget the handspun milk shakes.

What a place. Hope to see you again soon, D.C.! 

Deaf Can! Coffee

"Deaf Can! Coffee exists to affirm young people in their identity as a Deaf person and as someone made in the image of God. Success is defined as young men and women accepting themselves, believing in their inherent gifts and talents, taking responsibility for their future and becoming a leader in their families, communities and careers. We are an outreach of HarvestCall Jamaica, a not-for-profit organization founded to obey God and love others." [www.deafcancoffee.com]

To see more blogs posts like this, click here.

Wayne Coyne - Waterloo Center for the Arts

Here are a handful of photos I took for the Waterloo Center for the Arts at the opening of Wayne Coyne's (of the Flaming Lips) exhibit, featuring "King's Mouth" along with an assortment of other artwork and film by Coyne.

If you live near Waterloo, I would highly recommend going to see this exhibit - simply experiencing the King's Mouth is definitely worth it! 

The exhibit is set to run until April 23rd. For more info, visit www.waterloocenterforthearts.org or like the Center's Facebook Page.

If you feel inclined, please like our Facebook Page to stay up to date with all our upcoming projects - it's much appreciated!

For more Photography Blogs like this, click here.

Gear used:

Sony a7s + a6300

Rokinon 14mm 2.8

Canon 24mm 1.4

Canon FD 50mm 1.8

Canon 85mm 1.2

Malawi // Camp Chisomo

For more information, or to watch the mini-doc "Chisomo Pa Chisomo", go to www.CampChisomo.com

Gear used:

Sony a7s, Sony a6000

Canon FD 50mm 1.8, Canon FD 135mm 2.5, Rokinon 14mm 2.8, Sony/Zeiss 35mm 2.8

Edited in Lightroom CC, with VSCO presets.

7 countries in 2 weeks

Late November I travelled with Tim Dodd across the pond for a few days of adventure and then 3 days of work in Ethiopia. Within a span of two weeks, I touched ground in 7 different countries (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ethiopia, England, and the good ole USA) - here are a few photos, mostly from the Benelux region and Germany, with (hopefully) accurate captions of where each one was taken.

Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Damrak

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tomburg Ruins

Rheinbacher Wald, Germany

Tomburg Ruins

Rheinbacher Wald, Germany

Ipplendorfer chapel

Wormersdorf, Germany

Rheinbacher Wald

Rheinbacher Wald, Germany

Farmland

Wormersdorf, Germany

Burg Olbrück

Hain, Germany

Ships on the Moselle

Kobern-Gondorf, Germany

Alken

Alken, Germany

Burg Eltz

Wierschem, Germany

Small church near Burg Eltz

Wierschem, Germany

Moselle overlook

Moselle River, Germany

Maus (Mouse) Castle

Wellmich, Germany

Notre Dame de Dinant

Dinant, Belgium

Pultney Bridge

Bath, England

To see more travel blog posts like this, click here.

Patrick + Lynn

We had the joy of photographing some of Cedar Falls' newest residents. These two, one with Georgia roots & the other raised in California, have the beautiful keys of piano to thank for their future marriage & their new home. As we walked with them we heard the adventures they had been on to get them to the place they are today. We laughed with them as we discussed the frigid Iowa winters ahead and smiled as we captured them enjoying this place they now call home. 

We were oh so grateful to spend a pretty Fall afternoon with these two. It was a reminder of how big of a gift it is to get to enter into this season of life with couples. We hope these images remind them of their new beginning in Cedar Falls & their excitement for the gifts that are to come. 

-Courtney 

To see more blog posts like this, click here.

IF:Table

My first experience with IF was the the IF: Gathering last February. I joined a local group of women for two days full of learning and asking "what would it look like IF we lived like Jesus?" It was a gift to gather with women of all ages to worship, listen to, and stand in awe of our God.  During these two days I was moved, challenged, heard, encouraged, & believed in by these new and old friends.

One of the many important things I walked away with was knowing the importance of gathering around a table. They encouraged the IF: Table, an idea based on Acts 2:46, "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts." I had recently started meeting every other week with a group of women who I would consider my people. The women who know me through & though, cheer me on, and point me to Truth. We met every other Tuesday to gather around one of our kitchen tables, share a meal, and share our lives. 

Gathering around a table has taught me a lot about Jesus. And He has taught me that when we gather, as I prepare food, or share a meal with those who know me, that He does not only nourish my body, but my spirit as well. We can love others by serving them in our kitchen, but we can also love ourselves by taking a place at the table. At this place He feeds us & we choose to honor the fact that He has made us to need Him and others.    

Here is a recent piece Neal created for the Cedar Valley's IF: Table. Our hope is that it moves more women to say YES to the table & the work God does there. 

-Courtney

Jake + Kayla

These two are near and dear to me for many a reasons, but one is that they were my very first solo shoot without Neal. On thee hottest of July days I got to follow these two around as they danced, laughed, and explored the home that they will soon share. Meanwhile, this friend is holding back all the happy-thankful-"wow, our God is so good" kind of tears behind the camera. 

Getting to photograph one of your best friends + her to-be husband as giddy as can be is about as good as it gets. It has been a gift to walk alongside this friend throughout many different seasons the past ten years, but man has this been a sweet one. These were days that we prayed & hoped for. And I am continually awe of the way He has answered those prayers. For it has been far greater than anything we could have asked for.

This weekend these two will say yes to forever with the help of Jesus & I am honored that I get to watch. I can't wait to see how He uses them for His kingdom. However, I have a feeling that Jake + Kayla are going to be bringing the world a whole lot of hope, laughter, encouragement, nerf gun battles, salsa reviews, and joy upon joy. 

-Courtney

Maja

Sometimes we photograph friends, sometimes we photograph strangers, & sometimes we even photograph strangers who have become friends. In this case we can thank the Eastern Iowa Airport for connecting us to this wonderful family!

We had the great pleasure of spending a Sunday afternoon with this beauty & her sweet parents. It was so refreshing to have a high school senior be so comfortable in her own skin & just have plain 'ol fun as we captured her in a real exciting season. We think these images capture her beauty inside & out and hope that one day they will be joy filled memories of a young lady getting ready to take on the world. 

-Courtney

To see more blog posts like this, click here.

The Burnett Family

Goodness, this was fun. This sweet family is spilling over with joy. Their lighthearted energy and the way they laughed together as they wandered around their home had such a charm about it. A charm that makes you excited about and thankful for the gift of family. A gift that takes work, time, and lots of grace.  

We felt real lucky to get to capture the Burnett family in THIS season of their family's life. A season of a son heading back to college, a sweet daughter finishing up her last couple years of high school, celebrating a brand new junior higher, and oh so proud parents who's love is still so evident. 

We loved getting to grab these moments & hope they are reminders of this season & all it's goodness. 

-Courtney

To see more blog posts like this, click here.

Johnsons Creative

Hi guys! Courtney Johnson here- excited to share that this girl is officially joining the Neal Johnson Creative team! 

This August we not only celebrate our first whole year of marriage, but also a year of Neal Johnson Creative. It has been a big 'ol gift watching Neal say yes to the talents & passions he's been given and run with it. The Lord has opened many a doors for Neal to use his camera to share the stories of many couples, companies, churches, and even children in the beautiful countries of Jamaica & Malawi. 

The Lord hasn't just been opening doors for Neal, but for me as well. I never ever would have thought my involvement in Neal's work would pass the assistant side of things. I was content and happy with cheering him on and handing over a lens when needed. However, things didn't stay that way for long. If you know Neal, you know he is real patient. And with that patience he taught this girl the ins and outs of a camera. Teaching me included lots of walks around our neighborhood with a camera in toe, lots of questions be asked multiple times, and lots of Neal quizzing Court. Throughout those months of learning I found myself not only understanding how a camera works, but wanting to use it alongside Neal to capture important moments and tell some stories.

After this summer I have found that I love getting to help Neal tell those stories. I love getting to serve those we are working for. And most of all, I love getting to remind people that their story is worth being captured. 

We are real excited and thankful for all the Lord has allowed us to do this past year. Here's to lots more questions being asked, lots more adventures, and lots more beautiful stories being told. Hooray for year two of Neal & Court Johnson and year one for Johnsons Creative!

-Courtney Johnson