Meet Trey.
This Bettendorf senior and future BioMedical Engineering major and I met up over the summer for his senior pictures. Trey has some major swag and is super handsome, so his session was not only super fun, but his photos look like they came from the pages of a magazine.  Trey knew that he wanted to incorporate longboarding and sand volleyball into his pictures, which gave us some opportunities to push the editorial envelope a bit.  I remember it was really hot and humid on the day of Trey’s session and when we got to the volleyball portion of his shoot I kept asking him to do the same thing again and again as we experimented with lighting and he didn’t complain once, even if it was 100+ degrees real feel.

Here is a little about what Trey had to say about his session with Moxie:

“Honestly, I wasn’t excited about getting pictures done but Moxie made it fun after all.  I was going for a casual look for my pictures and knew I wanted to include my longboard and to get some action volleyball shots.  I was worried about feeling comfortable in front of camera, but Karen definitely made that happen.  She helped to pick out the locations, and went above and beyond to help my mom out. I would tell anyone wondering about senior pictures to go with Moxie, Karen will make you feel comfortable and it will end up being fun.   The most memorable moment from my session was diving to hit the volleyball over and over again. I love Moxie Design because of Karen’s high quality of work.”

One piece of advice that Trey has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Go into it open minded” – great advice!!

If he could describe his overall senior session experience in one word, he would choose  “fun!”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Trey!

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Esther.
You may recognize this beauty from her recent Moxie Instagram takeover where we got to follow her for a typical day in quarantine life.  I love Esther and her genuine and kind spirit and am so happy that she was a part of the Class of 2021 Moxie model team.  During the three hours of Esther’s senior session, I tell you what – we were laughing non stop. It was like a day out of a crazy comedy movie!! People were driving by and screaming “hey baby” and “woohoo,”  there was a crazy photoshoot happening in the fountain at the same time we were shooting at Vanderveer Park, fireworks were going off while we were near the Centennial bridge that scared me so much that I remember screaming out loud and when we were downtown Davenport, something happened that I have never seen before in my eight years of being a full time photographer.  We were by a stoplight and I had Esther walking back and forth to get an action shot. I’m sitting on the ground, Sam is reflecting light and Mindy (Esther’s mom) was standing nearby.  Out of nowhere, a guy shows up with his phone and walks right in front of me. He swipes open his camera app and starts taking photos. I look around and everyone’s mouths were dropped completely open. I said something like “um, hi – what are you doing?” and he responded that she was just too beautiful not to take a photo of to remember.  I have to agree, she is absolutely beautiful and I will never in a million years forget her session.

Here is a little about what Esther had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My favorite part of my Moxie experience was THE WHOLE THING! But seriously, I think my favorite part was Karen and Sam. They both were so amazing! They make you feel so magical in that night. Whenever I am sad, I always think back to that night. My senior pictures remind me that I can be confident in my self. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Also, I loved the amount of outfit changes and location changes we got! It was so awesome to have to many different types of pictures. I went for a more casual summer look in my pictures! I found this blue dress, and I knew it would be perfect. I also added my homecoming dress!  My biggest fear for every picture that I take is that I will not look good. Like most girls, I tear myself apart in almost every picture I take. Also, I thought that I was going to feel so uncomfortable. I thought Karen would hate shooting with me because I wasn’t the “perfect” model. Wow was I wrong! I felt truly special every moment that I was there. Karen went out of her way to make me feel like a perfect model. She never stopped hyping me up and that helped me improve my confidence. In the end, my pictures turn out great. It opened a new light for me. The most memorable moment in my session was when I was standing on the sidewalk in Davenport in front of a clock tower and Karen was taking a picture of me. Suddenly, a stranger came walking by and he stopped to take a picture of me because “he never saw anyone so beautiful!” I was in so much shock, but it made me feel very special.  My best friend also got her pictures taken by Moxie and was a model with me. It was an amazing experience to be with her the whole time! We would talk back in forth about our nights and how awesome they were. I always told her how special I felt and about the crazy experiences. I would tell anyone else that they should take the time to get pictures taken! You don’t want to miss this.  I LOVED every session that I had with Karen. My experience was truly special because of all the crazy things that happened. I will remember that night from a guy taking a picture of me to people jumping in the fountain. It was so nice to have such an enjoyable night. I wish I could do it every weekend! I love Moxie Design because of all the confidence Karen brings and the nonstop laughter!

One piece of advice that Esther has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “I would tell them to be their self. Be unstoppable and have fun. This one night could change your life :)).

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “unbelievable.”

Thanks for the memories, Esther and cheers to your future!!
xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Ethan.
This Geneseo soccer star and future St. Ambrose business major was a part of our Class of 2021 Moxie model team and we have loved working with him over the past year. We were able to shoot Ethan’s main session at his grandparent’s farm, which is something that I absolutely love to do.  When we are able to incorporate a location that has sentimental value to my seniors and their families, it just makes their photos that much more meaningful in the end.  One of my favorite part of Ethan’s session was at the end when we were doing soccer pictures. I had him dribbling and doing all sorts of soccer stuff and I just kept saying “one more time” which, in the end, would always mean at least six more takes.  I am super grateful that Ethan was open to any ideas I had – his photos turned out so awesome!

Here is a little about what Ethan had to say about his session with Moxie:
My senior photo experience with Moxie design was excellent.  Being a Class of 2021 Model, I had opportunity to go a formal shoot and then my senior shoot. I wanted my look to represent me, so I went with relaxed and casual.  I have never done anything like this before. My mom encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone. In the end, I’m glad I did this because Karen is great to work with made me feel very comfortable.  I wanted to have my shoot out at my grandparents farm in rural Geneseo, IL. It is my favorite place to spend time since I was a little kid. Also, soccer is a big part of my life, so we had to do some action shots at the Geneseo High School soccer pitch.  The most memorable part of my session was when Karen was shooting through the corn stalks!  Karen and her team are professional, creative, and the best to work with!  Karen helped me document memories that I will have for the rest of my life.”

If he could describe his overall senior session experience in one word, he would choose  “excellent.”

Stacy, Ethan’s mom had some sweet things to say that I wanted to share:
“Our experience with Moxie has been phenomenal! Ethan is a member of Moxie’s Class of 2021. This experience definitely pushed him out of his comfort zone and was a great learning experience. Karen’s approach and process yields amazing results!  Her knowledge, professionalism, and creativity is best in business.

Spending time with Karen and her team has been a highlight of Ethans senior year in this unusual year of disruption with the pandemic. We made and documented memories through this process that I will cherish forever.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Ethan!!

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique potography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Reese.
This beautiful PV High School senior and I got to work together quite a bit over the last year as she was a member of the Class of 2021 Moxie model squad. Reese is absolutely stunning and at the same time, super sweet and down to Earth.  Sam and I absolutely loved getting to know her and her awesome mom through all of our shoots over the course of 2020.  I could always count on Reese to try something silly or trust me when it came to locations.  We shot at a spot that was a little bit out of town and on the way there, I had scouted a really cool yellow building. When I asked if Reese would be down to stop there on our way back into town, there wasn’t a hesitation at all.   I ALWAYS tell people that being open will lead to some amazing photos and Reese is a perfect example of that. This Moxie girl has been featured nationally quite a few times with photos from our sessions and can also be spotted on an Eastern Iowa Community College commercial.

Here is a little about what Reese had to say about her session with Moxie:
“There aren’t enough positive adjectives to describe how great my experience was working with Karen and Sam.  It was a really great way to spend the day, it felt like I was with my friends taking pictures and we were laughing the whole time.  I had a lot of different outfits and looks in mind, and Karen found the perfect location that matched each of my outfits perfectly.  My biggest fear in regards to my session was the weather, but then it turned into a beautiful day. And of course Covid was a big worry because I wasn’t even sure if I could take my senior pictures but of course Karen found a way to make it happen.  My most memorable moment would be when I saw a butterfly and tried to pick up, and Karen captured the moment beautifully and then the butterfly flew away.  Karen is so fun to work with and you”ll create lasting memories, like when she had to ask someone who did not speak English if we could take a picture in front of their beautiful yellow building.  I love Moxie Design because Karen is the best!”

One piece of advice that Reese has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“Loosen up, Karen knows what she’s doing and if you just have fun with it your pictures will reflect that.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “relaxed.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Reese!!  I can’t wait to see what your future holds!
xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Tiara.
This Class of 2021 Moxie model and Davenport West class president is absolutely stunning.
Working with her over the past year has been so much fun (and I am still obsessing over her perfect eyebrows)!!   We met up for her senior session in the summer on a super hot day in the Village of East Davenport. There, we were able to capture some awesome shots at Lindsay Park as well as around all of the super cute Village buildings.  We then headed downtown Davenport to capture some mural art and then ended our night on top of a parking garage so that we could incorporate her dad’s motorcycle into some of her pictures.  Tiara, I have loved getting to know you and am so glad that you have been a part of our Moxie squad this year.  I have to give you a huge shout out as it seems that every time I post of a photo on social media, it gets featured by a national magazine.  Get it, girl!!

Here is a little about what Tiara had to say about her experience with Moxie:
“My senior photo experience was definitely over the top! Karen was able to make me so comfortable and beautiful in front of the camera! She made the session super easy and devoted her time to capturing the perfect pictures for me.  My favorite part of my Moxie Senior Experience was definitely enjoying every moment of it with Karen and Sam because they have the ability to make you seem like you’ve been friends for years while capturing stunning photos! I was aiming for a diverse look throughout my photo shoot and wanted to create something different. I knew including the motorcycle would be something totally different and also have sentimental meaning.  My biggest worry was not knowing how to pose for all of the photos but Karen showed me exactly how to pose! For locations, the East Village has a variety of opportunities for pictures so I thought it would be an ideal place, especially since Karen has an eye for creating the perfect shot even if it’s in an awkward place that you wouldn’t expect. For the motorcycle, I really wanted the skyline in the background and I knew the parking ramp would be perfect. The most memorable moment was definitely on the parking ramp with my dads motorcycle. It wasn’t something I had anticipated on doing for my senior photos but with unexpected events, it was the best idea ever!! I knew Karen would create the perfect shots.  My experience with Moxie Design was amazing because Karen made it so fun and effortless rather than stressing over the perfect outfits or shot.  Working with Moxie was definitely the best choice I made for my senior photos.  I love Moxie Design because Karen’s photos capture the most memorable time of your life.”

One piece of advice that Tiara has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “One piece of advice is to try to have fun! The more fun you have, the more you’re able to connect and create the best pictures.”  Great advice, girl!!

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “perfect.”

Thanks for being awesome, Tiara!!  I can’t wait to see where your journey to the University of Arizona will lead you!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

In a world currently full of uncertainty and chaos, I wanted spread a little love to a business that we have worked with time and time again who never disappoints – Celebrate bridal boutique.
If you are looking for a special occasion dress, you HAVE to check out Celebrate in Bettendorf.  We began our partnership with this beautiful boutique shortly after they opened back in 2015.  Since then, they have grown exponentially and they recently relocated to a gorgeous building on Devils Glen Road.  We love doing high fashion photoshoots featuring their stunning inventory and they always make me want to travel back in time and be able to re-choose my prom and homecoming dresses from high school.
I always look forward to our annual spring editorial prom photo session with our incoming class of Moxie models. Sheleigh, owner of Celebrate, and I started partnering on this project a couple of years ago and loved it so much that we have made it an annual tradition.  I love watching the girls come in and try on their dresses and then get so excited when they see their reflections in the mirror.  Fast forward to when they show up for the model sesh.  These girls look AHHMAZING and our guys look dressed to the nines in their tuxedos.  One of our photos was even featured nationally by Nox Anabel (one of my fave designers)!

Celebrate has an AMAZING selection of dresses and they can be found at their new location at 3203 Devils Glen Road in Bettendorf and are currently open six days a week!

I should also mention that Celebrate is a full service bridal shoppe offering the most beautiful wedding gowns, mother of the bride and groom dresses, tuxedos – you name it, they have it.

Below are some of our favorite photos from our partnered shoots with Celebrate:

Meet Reese.
This PV senior and future Construction Management student and I met up last summer for her senior pictures.  Reese literally looks like she just stepped off a runway from Fashion Week in New York City and not only is she super gorgeous, but she is so sweet and kind.  We had some fun discovering some new spots to shoot downtown and I love the fact that Reese was absolutely fearless and would take on any suggestion that I had. Her photos are absolutely beautiful and I am so thankful that she let us be a part of her senior year.

Here is a little about what Reese had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My session with Moxie was amazing, everything went so smoothly especially concerning coronavirus.  At first I was definitely thinking of going with a more outdoorsy park look for my shoot but after talking to Karen she pushed me out of my comfort zone and I got amazing urban pictures.  I am kind of picky when it comes to how I look so I was worried that everything wouldn’t be perfect but I loved the outcome.  I loved how it wasn’t awkward at all before the actual shoot we only talked a little bit over emails but when I got to the shoot it was so comfortable.  We went to a park in Moline, this was right after the derecho madness so I was worried it would be washed out but it was perfect. There was a little stream that made for some of my favorite pictures. We also went to areas in Moline that you wouldn’t think would make for great pictures but those photos turned out amazing.  Karen with Moxie Design is an amazing photographer who thinks about all of the little things that you wouldn’t have, which in the end makes your experience so much better.”

One piece of advice that Reese has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “I would say definitely get your hair and makeup done as the package. It saved me so much stress”  Shout out to Haus of Heir for taking such good care of all of our seniors!!

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “Flawless.”

I can’t finish this blog post without a shout out to my hair and makeup geniuses at Haus of Heir boutique salon in Davenport – you guys are amazing!

Cheers to your awesome future, Reese!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Maddie.
This Assumption High School senior and future Iowa State student was part of the Moxie model squad representing the class of 2021.  Maddie has the most beautiful light blue eyes – they are magical. I loved that because we were able to work with her over the course of the last year, we were able to capture multiple looks (hello brunette with bright blue eyes – I see you)!  Maddie had some super awesome outfits for her session and we played around with some hats from the style closet, which resulted in some awesome images.

Here is a little about what Maddie had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My senior photo experience was fantastic! I enjoyed every second of it!!! Karen made me feel so comfortable & beautiful while taking pictures. I was nervous I would not be comfortable enough to take the pictures, however it ended up being great. Karen made me feel so comfortable! Karen picked out all of my locations based on my outfits & she did a great job!  The most memorable moment of my session was taking pictures under the pretty sunset!  If I were to tell my best friend about my experience with Moxie, I would say how fun the entire experience was. I would also tell them how much fun they will have.  I love Moxie Design because I felt so comfortable the entire time.”

One piece of advice that Maddie has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Pick out your outfits ahead of time! Don’t wait till the last minute!”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “Fun.”

Thank you for representing Moxie!! We have loved having you as part of our team!
xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Brecken.
This Alwood High School senior and basketball AND volleyball superstar was so much fun to work with!  We met up over the summer at her high school so that we could get some sports pictures and I will never forget a moment during that part of her session.  I was literally laying down on the floor of the showers in the girl’s locker room so that I could get the right angle on a basketball photo. We were all laughing so hard at how ridiculous the situation was, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get the right shot!  After we finished up at the high school, we took some shots in Woodhull and then headed out to her family’s beautiful property.  I LOVE when we are able to shoot at an area that means something to my seniors, and being able to incorporate so many different spots at Brecken’s home was out of this world.  We were at this hill at the top of their property and you could see forever and the sky was this beautiful mix of colors – I still get goosebumps when I think about it.  Brecken, you are awesome and I loved being able to work with you on your senior pictures!!

Here is a little about what Brecken had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My overall experience was awesome with Moxie! I started off with my getting my hair and makeup done at the Haus of Heir which was awesome. Then from the time I took my first picture to the very end of the night it was so much fun. We spent a lot of time in between locations getting to know a lot about each other. It was definitely a experience I recommend for someone who is looking to have a lot of fun while also getting the best pictures. I didn’t really go into my shoot having a desired look. I had picked out a variety of different style outfits and gave Karen the freedom of doing what she wanted. The results were awesome and I’m very impressed with how she made each location look awesome in every picture. My biggest fear was not knowing how to pose for my pictures. This was quickly solved the minute my first picture was taken. Karen and Sam were able to pose me and make every picture they took look natural and not staged. My favorite part of my Moxie experience was creating a bond with two of the nicest girls. Sam and Karen made it feel like we had known each other forever. They made the whole process so easy and so much fun. Wishing every day that I could take hundreds of more pictures with them. For my session I shot at a couple of different locations. We started off at my high school shooting my sports pictures. Being from a small town, the buildings around me are very rustic. Karen was able to work with everything down our main street and make it took amazing in every picture she captured. We then headed out towards my house, which is surrounded my farm land. We took pictures by barns, in weeds, along fences and some of my favorite came from the ones captured on our gravel road.  The most memorable part of my session was definitely when Sam was amazed that we had cows and got to take her picture with them. Along with just making my whole experience of getting senior pictures done special.  I would say that my experience was definitely memorable and very exciting and a fun time. Karen and Sam make you feel so comfortable and by the end of your session you have created such a strong connection with them. They also hyped you up during the whole session, making smiling so easy throughout the whole process.  I love Moxie Design because they make you feel so comfortable during your whole session!”

One piece of advice that she has for other seniors getting their photos taken with Moxie?  “I definitely recommend not going in scared to get your pictures taken. There is nothing to be afraid of, if you are someone who is shy they make you feel so comfortable. They are hype women and are there to capture the best you.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “fantastic.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Brecken!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Faith.
This Assumption High School senior, class of 2021 Moxie model and future nursing major was born to be in front of a camera.  Not only is she supermodel beautiful, but she has a fashion sense that is out of this world. Having worked with Faith numerous times over the past year, I always knew that when she showed up she would be amazingly styled from head to toe. On the day of Faith’s session the radar was showing that there was a huge chance of constant thunderstorms, but did that stop her from showing up with her supermodel A game? Not for a second. She rocked her photoshoot, which you can clearly tell by the number of photos below.

Here is a little about what Faith had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My senior photo session with Moxie could not have been better!! It was fun and relaxing.  I wanted some editorial shots and more traditional senior picture poses. Karen captured those looks and more!  My biggest fear going into it was honestly the  weather! It was a stormy week with a 90 percent chance of rain the night we took the photos! Karen was an awesome weather watcher and we never got rained on. I love Karen’s work and I was so excited to work with her!  My favorite part was the reveal-  It was so fun seeing the pictures!  The locations were so unique. We went to a bus station, a random downtown brick wall, a park, the river… Karen has the eye of an artist! She can make any location work – she has a special eye and will match your outfit with your background. It’s amazing!!! I can’t even pick one moment that would be the most memorable. The session was fun, not a hassle or stressful in any way. Karen is a master at her craft and the entire experience is over the top amazing!!!  A senior photo shoot with Moxie is an adventure –  It’s fun! A must!  I love Moxie Design because it’s step above the rest in every way.”

One piece of advice that Faith has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“Step outside your box! Have fun!”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “UNBELIEVABLE”

Thank you for representing Moxie this year, Faith – it was so much fun to work with you!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Madeline.
This gorgeous Geneseo senior and Class of 2021 Moxie model has been so much fun to work with over the past year.  Madeline has always been up for any crazy idea I may have – lay in the middle of the road? sure! Take ten minutes of her session to capture a few vintage pictures? of course! She even scored permission to shoot at this beautiful historic building that had some awesome architecture and these really cool swings in the back.  I have to say that during her main three hour session, the weather was probably the hottest we have ever shot in – we were melting just minutes after stepping out of the car.  Even faced with this big challenge, Madeline didn’t let it affect her photos at all.  She looks like she stepped out of the pages of a magazine in every single shot, hence the reason that there are so many photos from her sessions below.

Here is a little about what Madeline had to say about her session with Moxie: “My senior photo session experience was absolutely magical!! Karen and Sam made the experience so comfortable and fun, and the pictures came out fantastic! It was definitely one of the highlights of my senior year, and it was so special to have my Mom by my side through it all. The looks that I was going for in the shoot, I tried to correlate with my locations. I don’t really have a specific style and it seems to always be changing, so I tried my best to incorporate several looks that kind of defined it all! I think that Karen did an amazing job styling my looks at each location that we utilized. My biggest worry about the photo shoot was the temperature! The day I got my pictures taken it was real feel 103, and it was pretty gross outside! The outcome was the use of several oil blotters and the AC blasting between locations, but everything worked out great!! My favorite part of my Moxie Senior Experience was the bond that Karen, Sam, and I made. Immediately it felt like we had known each other for YEARS before my shoot, and it was so freeing to be able to be myself around them and not be scared to try new things and step out of my comfort zone with some of the poses that Karen recommended I try!  My locations were all located in my hometown of Geneseo. My hometown is super important to me, as I have grown up here my whole life, and made so many special memories. I chose each location based off of the outfits that I chose for my pictures, and they all had some sort of significance to me.  It’s hard for me to choose just one moment of my session that was the most memorable, because I loved every minute of it! If I had to pick just one though, I would have to choose the last couple shots of the night when Karen had me posing in the middle of Route 82 when the sun was setting. <3  Karen and Sam made the session comfortable, personalized, super fun, and relaxed, all while keeping things professional. They allow you to step outside of your comfort zone, which provides growth in confidence and the desire to try new things. The photos turn out amazing, and you most definitely won’t regret it!  I love Moxie Design because Karen’s pictures are incredible and she makes everything so comfortable and personalized.”

One piece of advice that Madeline has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “One piece of advice that I have for other seniors getting their photos taken is just be yourself. I know that sounds so cliche, but honestly if you make the most of the experience and put yourself out there, your pictures will turn out amazing!”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “unforgettable.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Madeline !!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Anna and Mia.
These gorgeous Assumption High School girls are on our Class of 2021 model team and I have loved being able to work with them.  My dad is an identical twin, so I have always had a special place in my heart for twins.  I loved watching their interactions during our shoots and I absolutely adore their relationship. We had so many laughs during their main session – there were hundreds upon hundreds of gnats and mayflies everywhere. I remember Sam and I were walking around their aunt’s house to get a lay of the land and we were absolutely swarmed, so much so that we couldn’t see and we couldn’t stop laughing.  Did the twins let this affect their photos? Not even for one second.  They seriously brought their supermodel games for their entire session.

Here is a little about what Anna and Mia had to say about their session with Moxie:
“It was lots of fun, and Karen made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera. Our biggest fear was not knowing what poses to do, but she brought along pose ideas. We never felt uncomfortable and always found out a fun pose. Our favorite part was definitely having fun.  We started off at our family’s restaurant, then in the East Village, and then at our aunt’s house. We picked them due to their woodwork, scenery, and importance to us and our family. While Anna was taking a picture, there was a pizza delivery man walking to our aunt’s house. So to get the perfect picture, Karen told her to look at him and laugh. It turned out to be one of her favorite pictures from the shoot.  If we were to tell our best friends about our experience, we would say that it was so much fun, the pictures are amazing and that we 100% recommend Moxie Design.”

One piece of advice that the girls had for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Don’t be nervous and just be yourself.”  – great advice, girls!!!!

If they could describe their overall senior session experience in one word, they would choose  “unforgettable.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Anna and Mia!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Morgan.
This Geneseo beauty, Moxie model and future Iowa State Architecture major and I have been working together for the past year and I have loved every minute of it.  Morgan is drop dead gorgeous, and without question, one of the kindest and genuine souls that I know.  She comes alive when she is in front of my camera and her eyes are the most clear and vibrant shade of blue.  I have to give a huge shout out to Morgan because back in June when we did her senior session, the weather was less than pleasant. It literally thundered through the first hour and a half and then we hiked to a waterfall (because the radar said it was going to clear up completely).  Well, the rain never went away and we got stuck under an bridge for at least 45 minutes.  Did that obstacle get her down? Nope, not even for a minute.  In fact, we even shot in the pouring rain!  We did have to reschedule the second half of her session because of the downpours, and it was like Mother Nature was messing with us because it was thundering the entire second day too (but luckily no rain)!! Morgan, you are such a wonderful person and I am so thankful to have met you and your amazing mom!! Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year.

Here is a little about what Morgan had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My senior photo session was better than I could have ever imagined. Karen and Sam made it feel so natural.  I was going for two different looks in my session. One was soft and classic and the other was edgy and in the city. I loved both and feel the photos capture all of who I am.  I was nervous that I would look unnatural when I tired to pose. I’ve never done anything like this so I had no idea what to expect. When I saw the finished product I couldn’t believe how natural and beautiful the photos turned out. I’m an aspiring architect so I was looking for a modern skyline as one of my locations. We were hoping to go to Davenport but there were safety concerns but Karen thought on her feet and found another amazing location. The other location I was really excited about was the stream in Devil’s Glen. Karen let me get in the water despite the rain. The locations captured who I was and we had so much fun at each of them. I loved working with Karen and Sam! The most memorable moment of my session was watching Sam run out into the rain with her coat over head to see if we could keep shooting. I would tell my best friend to use Moxie Design for their senior photos.  The pictures will turn out better than they could believe and they will fall in love with Karen and Sam.  They are so funny and easy to talk to I felt like I had known them for years.  I laughed so hard throughout my session.   The Moxie Design session process is so personalized and the day feels magical. I love Moxie Design because they helped me find my confidence.”

One piece of advice that Morgan has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“I would tell other seniors to trust the process. It will probably feel weird at first but if you go with the flow and listen to Karen the pictures will speak for themselves. Don’t be afraid to try something that might seem a little crazy.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “magical.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Morgan! I can’t wait to see what your amazing future holds! xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Bella.
I have had the pleasure of working with this Moxie girl and our Class of 2022 cover model many times over the past year and I have to tell you, she brings her A game every. single. time.  Not only does she have the most gorgeous eyes and amazing hair, but she is just as beautiful inside as she is out.  When we met up for her senior session, she had secured a farm outside of town that was absolutely beautiful – there were horse stables, rolling hills, open fields, huge iron gates, you name it – and it was perfect!  To even take her shoot to the next level, she brought some balloons and baby’s breath that we had so much fun experimenting with.  Fast forward to our thrift store challenge, where she came in as the winner, collecting the most votes on social media.  With multiple national features and scoring the cover of the Moxie magazine for the next school year, I’d say this girl is well on her way to becoming a supermodel while attending nursing school next fall.

Here is a little about what Bella had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My experience with Moxie was out of this world!! Karen made me feel so amazing! She brought me so much confidence and I couldn’t picture my senior session any other way.  I was going for a Boho/Country type atmosphere with a location that was unique and different – I wanted something most people wouldn’t have.  My favorite thing about my senior experience was Karen makes you feel like you’ve known each other for years. It helped me with my confidence and to have fun with it.  My biggest fear was doing a serious face but after Karen giving me the confidence the serious face pictures turned out amazing and one of my favorites!  The most memorable thing about my session was that I had my session during a global pandemic and while in a pandemic Karen still made it possible for me to have the best senior session I could imagine!  Moxie is the best thing ever!! You get amazing photos and a friend out of it! You come out feeling even more confident going into it.  I love Moxie Design because Karen makes me feel beautiful inside and out!”

One piece of advice that Bella has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “To have fun with and try something new because you can get good pictures you didn’t think you would get.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “amazing.”

I can’t finish this blog post without a shout out to my hair and makeup artists at Haus of Heir boutique salon in Davenport – you guys are amazing!

Thank you representing Moxie Design, my friend!! You are the best!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Everyone knows that this year has been absolutely crazy for a million reasons.  One of our first sessions of the year was with Seth and his awesome mom, Laurie, and even though his session was before the impact of COVID really affected our business, we did hit a speedbump during his session that is one for the record books.  We met up on a day in the spring to capture Seth’s senior pictures as he was about to graduate. Seth is a super athlete, so we were going to capture both baseball and football images once we finished up downtown Davenport with his traditional senior photos.  We started with baseball and then wrapped up at Assumption’s fields and headed to Brady Street Stadium, where we had gotten permission to shoot that afternoon/evening for his football pictures.  We entered the stadium (with all of our equipment, including three off camera lights, multiple lenses, cans of smoke, etc.) and we shot his football photos – everything went super well and Sam and I laughed through the entire session with Seth… until we got to the gate at Brady Street and realized that we had gotten locked inside!  Luckily, Sam parkoured her way between the two stadium gates and went to my car, retrieved a step stool and slid it over to us.  We somehow managed to get over the fencing gate (that is eight feet tall may I add) and were able to laugh at it once we were safely to our cars. So happy to have been a part of Seth’s senior year and provide him with a photo shoot he will likely never forget.

Here is a little about what Seth had to say about his session with Moxie:
“My senior photo session with Moxie Design was really fun.  I was going for a casual and sports looking shoot.  I knew I wanted to shoot my sporting pictures at the high school and football field, but outside of that, I let Karen decide.  My favorite part of the shoot were the football pictures that we took at Brady Street Stadium and the most memorable moment of the shoot was getting out of there when the gate was locked.  My experience was professionally done but easy going.  I enjoyed working with Moxie Design because Karen is professional, but makes you feel super relaxed.”

One piece of advice that Seth has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Know what clothes you want for a change.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Seth !!xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Meg. This Geneseo senior and future Mizzou student and I met up early last fall on a warm and windy day. Not only is this girl a supermodel, but she’s also an avid fisherman and was able to fish in the Illinois state tournament!! We started out downtown Rock Island and finished up in a gorgeous flower field where we captured an image that was featured nationally by two separate high school senior publications. Here is a little about what Meg had to say about her session with Moxie:

“It was very easy-going. I never had to force a smile because Karen and Sam had me smiling the entire time! Conversations were easy, and it was overall a very enjoyable experience. It felt like I had known Karen for much longer than just a few hours. I really just wanted to look well dressed for my senior shoot. I wore a few pieces of clothing that I already owned, but I also purchased a few new looks. Personally, my favorite outfit was the floral two piece that I wore because I love the boho style/vibe it gave off! My biggest fear was the weather, fake eyelashes, and my hair. In the end, the weather was not as great as I had hoped. It sprinkled a little bit, however the lighting was perfect. I had never worn fake eyelashes before, but I am glad I did for my shoot because they really make my eyes pop. The rain didn’t hurt my makeup at all, but it did make the curls in my hair fall. Thank god it didn’t end up super frizzy, though! My favorite part was probably meeting Karen and Sam. You were both so much fun to get to know, and you blessed me with some beautiful photos! I love the rustic look in senior pictures, so I kept a close eye on the Moxie Instagram page for ideas. I really didn’t have many specific locations in mind for my shoot, so I kind of just left it up to Karen. I was very pleased with everywhere that she took me! Honestly, my most memorable moment was probably changing in the pop up dressing room while battling the wind!  I most definitely recommend Moxie Design for senior pictures, and I would encourage anyone to use some of the accessories that Moxie can provide! I love Moxie Design because of the very personable photographer that enjoys making shoots super fun while snapping some of the best photos you’ll ever own!”

One piece of advice that Meg has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “I wish I would’ve planned my outfits out a bit better than I did. I guess it really depends on how you want to dress for your shoot, but I really wish I would’ve incorporated a long flowy dress or skirt into my shoot. So my most important piece of advice is to look at other senior pictures and find ones that interest you for ideas. They can give both outfit ideas and pose ideas that will be helpful before going to your shoot. You don’t want to miss out on every great photo opportunity!”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “enjoyable.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Meg!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Colin. This Moline High School senior and future University of Dubuque student and I met up last fall for his photo session. I was super excited that Colin wanted to incorporate his love for basketball into his shoot! Even though it was pretty cold on his session day, he had no problems owning the court in his basketball gear. If you follow us on Instagram, we post behind the scenes videos and photos after each of our shoots. While we were at the park, I was joking around with my basketball skills and accidentally made a three pointer. If you know me at all, you know that my athletic abilities are non-existant, so it was an unexpected jackpot surprise that I will never forget. We were super excited that in addition to Colin’s awesome mom, Julie, coming to his session, his sister Erin (who we worked with a few years ago) came along too, which made for lots of smiles and laughs.

Here is a little about what Colin’s mom, Julie, had to say about his session with Moxie: “It was so fun! We were laughing and having a good time together. Colin was able to show his true fun self and Karen and Sam helped him feel confident. We were going for an urban yet natural and relaxed feel for his session.We worried that it would be too cold or Colin would feel uncomfortable. In the end we made the best of the cool but sunny day and Colin was able to relax and have fun. My favorite part of our Moxie session was seeing Colin laugh and smile while working with Karen. As far as locations went, Karen offered suggestions and she was right on. We also used the park is where Colin began to love basketball. The most memorable moment of the day would have to be Colin shooting hoops and Karen making her shot too. I love Moxie Design because it was a fun and easy experience and you will have photos that you love.”

One piece of advice that Julie has for other seniors getting their photos taken? Be yourself, be open, choose clothes that show who you are.”

If Julie could describe Colin’s overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “great!”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Colin!!

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Stephanie.
This beautiful Assumption senior and future University of Iowa student and I met up on a warm fall day last October. I remember that day was super bright out and as I was getting to our location where we would meet up, I saw this beautiful shadow pattern on a brick wall. I was super excited when I showed Stephanie and she was up for using it as a backdrop for some of her city photos. Sam and I had a very fun afternoon with Stephanie and her parents! Here is a little about what Stephanie had to say about her session with Moxie:

“My senior experience with Moxie Design was super fun. Karen made it very easy and enjoyable!! I was going for a natural look outdoors with my pictures. I can’t think of a favorite part, I loved the entire shoot, especially the shots at Riverside – it was so much fun!! I love Moxie Design because my session was terrific and amazing!”

One piece of advice that she has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Just relax and enjoy !!!!”

If Stephanie could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “memorable.”

Thank you for letting us capture your senior year, Stephanie!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come. 

Meet Bailey. This Davenport North recent graduate and future University of Iowa psychology major and I met up last fall for her senior session. I can’t even put into words how awesome working with Bailey and her mom were. Within the first ten minutes of meeting, it felt like Sam and I were lifetime friends of Shelly and Bailey and we were all laughing non stop. Add to that the fact that Bailey is such a natural in front of the camera. She has the most beautiful hair and porcelain skin and this million dollar smile, not to mention that she is super cool and chill and one of the most hilarious people I have ever met.

Here is a little about what Bailey had to say about her session with Moxie: “It was AMAZING!! I will always and forever recommend everyone to do their senior photos through Moxie! It was so much fun. I was constantly laughing and made so many memories. The pictures were just the cherry on top of an amazing time with Sam and Karen. I just wanted to express myself through the pictures and I trusted Karen a lot after seeing her previous shoots and she made my ideas come to life! I wanted to show different aspects of my style and my personality. I was so scared that I would be incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. I was stressing out about not looking good in pictures or them not turning out well. Karen, as always, blew my expectations out of the water. I was so comfortable, she made me feel beautiful. The pictures came out better than I could have ever imagined. I didn’t know I could look like that HAHA! My favorite part of the experience was going to Karen’s and having the reveal. I had two sneak peeks and I was freaking out when my reveal day was finally here. It was so much fun, and Karen makes everything 10000x better. I truly felt like the pictures represented who I was perfectly. I think the most memorable part of the session was the feeling I had during the whole experience. I felt so loved and I felt so confident. I stepped out of my comfort zone and had no insecurities because of how amazing Karen and Sam made me feel consistently throughout the entire shoot. IT WAS AMAZING! You need to take your pictures with Moxie – you won’t regret it. They make you look like a model when you really aren’t and you don’t want to miss out on Karen because she is so frickin’ cool and such an awesome person!!!!!!! I love Moxie Design because of Karen and her crazy talent in photography.”

One piece of advice that Bailey has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Trust in your photographer, whoever it is (hopefully Karen). That was my biggest struggle. I had never met Karen before the shoot, just messaged over Facebook. After the first two pictures, I instantly trusted in whatever she wanted me to do. Want me to throw a black fur thing over my shoulder? Why not. Want me to do this weird pose and walk in slow-mo? Sure whatever you say Karen. Those photos where I trusted her and her idea, ended up being my favorites. Karen knows what she is doing, so LISTEN TO HER, you won’t regret it. Just pose and look pretty.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “unforgettable.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Bailey!!

xoxo,

Karen

Moxie Design is an award winning boutique photography studio that specializes in providing a boutique high school senior photography experience in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas including but not limited to Moline &  Rock Island, Illinois, Davenport & Bettendorf, Iowa.  Karen Bishop, owner of Moxie Design, has been recognized on both a national and international level as one of the top up and coming high school senior photographers in the industry.  Moxie Design will offer you not only images that represent the awesome person that you are, but an experience that you will remember for years to come.