Iowa State Capitol + Hello Marjorie Engagement Session
When Olivia and Justin reached out about an engagement session at the Iowa State Capitol and their favorite date night spot, Hello Marjorie, my ears perked up. First of all, the caption building? Say less, the golds, the history, the aesthetic, all up my alley. Add in Hello Marjorie, a speakeasy bar with PROSECCO ON TAP?! I was in already.
This adorable couple are getting married at Grand Teton National Park in 2025, but wanted some photos of them in the city they call home, Des Moines. I love this concept. Engagement sessions are truly about capturing who you are as a couple in this stage of your life. You may move, you may no longer enjoy Friday nights at a dark hang out, but right now, that is where you are. EMBRACE IT!
We started at the Iowa State Capitol, which is ranked as one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the nation. The gold dome on the outside is just one of the highlights of this stunning location. Inside, you will find a beautiful rotunda, grand staircases, murals and of course, the law library. The law library is filled with spiraled staircases, rows of old books and tables filled with bankers lamps (another favorite of mine).
I always go to the law library section first, as that does close at a certain point of the day. We utilized the bookcases, the large windows and of course the gorgeous entryway.
Once we finished in the library, we took to the rotunda area to capture a few more scenes. I love shooting from across the circle opening, through the stairs and all the murals. This location is certainly a photographers dream.
After that, we stepped outside to get a few photos with the Des Moines skyline.
All of these photos were taken with just 45 minutes, then we were off to Hello, Marjorie. This bar is a personal favorite of mine. The dark vibes with the pop of neon signs just make it such a statement. The cocktails are always delicious and like I said, I can never pass up Prosecco on tap. Justin and Olivia ordered their favorite drinks and we got started.
We wanted an intimate vibe, so I always had them near each other, like they were on a first day and the electricity couldn’t be ignored! They killed it. Once we got enough photos in our little corner, we went over the staple neon sign for some final shots.
I am in love with this session and forever grateful Olivia and Justin asked me to take their idea and run with it!
