The 9 Best Portrait Photographers in Des Moines

Hoping to link up with one of the best Des Moines portrait photographers for your portraiture needs? At Peerspace, we get it. Des Moines is Iowa’s central major city and the place you’d expect creatives from all across The Hawkeye State to gather! As a major Midwestern hub of talent, the photographers we curated for our list happen to be some of the best at what they do. And today our list is of artists who live to showcase people’s beauty.

Each of the top Des Moines portrait photographers does so using their own perspective. But all are undeniably amazing at making folks look good! Not convinced yet? Then take a moment to browse this carefully curated list and let us know what you think.

1. Anjana Olson of Lav & Lime Studio

Anjana Olson founded her Des Moines portrait studio Lav & Lime in 2012. Where other photographers prefer a bright, sunkissed approach, Anjana offers a moodier perspective on the genre. Her style includes subtle lighting, deep shadow, and classic vignettes for a nostalgic vibe.

Anjana is also very diverse when it comes to the subjects she works with in her portrait studio. Individuals, couples, families, newborns, and even the occasional dog all become fine art subjects through her gaze!

2. Whitney Warne of Ivory House Photography

Whether you’re looking for a guided studio experience or something outdoorsy, Whitney Warne is the Des Moines portrait photographer to turn to! She is a native of the city, but her fluency stems from more than her natural talent.

In fact, she also has a degree in photography and journalism, allowing Whitney to find compositions that express both beauty and story. She eventually obtained a master’s degree of fine art in photography before eventually returning to Des Moines in 2016 to found Ivory House Photography.

3. Ryan Damman

Capturing a slice of your life in an instant, from feeling to appearing, is what Ryan Damman does best! This Des Moines portrait photographer works with all kinds of subgenres in the portrait world. Life milestones like senior and engagement photography, sessions with families and individuals…Whatever your reasons or a portrait shoot, Ryan is there for you.

His style is also one of the most diverse we’ve seen. His portfolio includes naturalistic environmental portraits for editorial projects, traditional posed portraiture, candid images, and much more.

4. Theresa Schumacher

Iowa family and senior portraits are the specialties of Theresa Schumacher. She left a career in corporate IT back in 2014 after her passion for the arts would no longer be denied. Theresa now helps local clients immortalize life milestones through the magic of photography!

Best of all, her images allow her clients to revisit the emotions on display for decades to come! As Theresa shares: “I have always had an obsession for light and emotions. I fell in love with photography when I realized that I could capture both of these elements with my camera and then make it come alive again on my screen and in print.”

5. Jordon Van Zante

Jordon Van Zante is a talented Des Moines portrait photographer whose work takes him across the Midwest. Chicago, Minneapolis, and Kansas City are other cities he regularly works in, highlighting the beauty of people at their best. His approach is film inspired, often replicating the tones of classic stocks like Kodak Portra.

Jordon’s colors have a gentle character that better allows you to attend to the subtle skin tones of his subjects. Shadow and contrast also have a natural character, adding to the uniqueness of his vision!

6. Ryan Towe

Few portrait photographers are as diverse as Ryan Towe when it comes to style. From environmental portraits with narrative-filled backgrounds to classic compositions with blurred backgrounds, he is a master of making people look good! His portfolio also includes a wide range of compositional choices, including active poses, a mixture of perspectives on the human body, and monochrome portraits.

Ryan is especially talented at making the most of dramatic lighting conditions. Lens flare, golden hour warmth, deep shadow…His portraits use illumination in ways that not only flatter his subjects but sculpt the mood in subtle ways.

7. Lydia Grizzle

Self-taught Des Moines portrait photographers like Lydia Grizzle are some of our favorites to review. Their passion for their work enables them to channel their inner fine art vision as few others can.

In Lydia’s case, her images emphasize the nostalgia of retro and classic themes. Apparel choices, colors, and compositions all take us back to bygone eras that still loom large in the collective psyche. Lydia’s dedication to her vision is ideal for folks who want portraits that are polished yet decidedly different.

8. BettyAnn Photography

Posed portrait photography has a delightful character but may not be what you’re looking for. The lifestyle and candid portraiture of BettyAnn Photography is more to many people’s liking! She has been a full-time photographer since 2019 but has loved the art form as far back as middle school.

Her approach is one of cinematic color grades, emotive captures, and a documentary-oriented style. Each image feels more like you’ve stepped into the lives of her subjects. It’s a world full of warm tones, vibrant contrast, and adventures with the ones you love.

9. Tim Vorland

Tim Vorland has been a top Des Moines portrait photographer for nearly 40 years and counting! He counts 16,000+ high school seniors as happy clients of his. Not to mention the countless families and individuals who enjoy his polished and expressive style.

Tim’s approach is classic in character, with bold lighting nicely balanced between the fore and background. Shallow depth of field leaves his subjects the sole focus on the image. Yet, Tim still composes in ways that allow the background to add emphasis and story to his subjects. Gently guided poses well matched to each subject also ensure that the photo conveys just the right emotional tone.

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