I met Kaelin when I was lucky enough to do a photo shoot for her sixteenth birthday.  After the first test shot, I knew there was something very special about this girl and I was so excited to have her on our Class of 2019 Moxie model team.   She is a natural model in every single image that I take and I just absolutely love having her on the other side of my camera.  Here is a little about what Kaelin had to say about her session with Moxie:

“I loved my session so much! Karen is so fun to be with and she really makes you feel so good about yourself and boosts your confidence so much. I couldn’t be more happy with my senior session Karen really blew me away!  The looks I was going for were casual, dressy, and what I do at school (cheer) and Karen photographed those moments all so perfectly.   My favorite part was the reveal, I was so excited because I know Moxie puts in all the work and does what we were expecting.  If I were to tell my best friend about Moxie, I would say  -10/10 I recommend Moxie Design if you need photos done. Karen really is amazing she’s so happy and makes you feel like a goddess.  I love Moxie Design because Karen is so fun and she loves to make sure your photos look the best they can!”

One piece of advice that Kaelin has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“Not be nervous and really just be yourself and if you have pose ideas show Karen and I’m sure she’ll love them!”

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

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

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 the lovely Kristina.
This girl is literally the picture of a runway model and when you meet her in person, her smile lights up the room.  She is super sweet too and her fashion sense is off the charts!  We had so much fun working with Kristina during the styled model session and then again for her senior session.  I knew from the first moment I snapped a picture that modeling was going to be in this girl’s future and she has since been signed by an agency.  SO EXCITING!!!

Here is a little about what Kristina had to say about her session with Moxie:

“I wanted my shoot to represent me and the things I like to do, but with a major touch of glam! This experience is something I can honestly accredit to changing my life. Shooting with Karen was my first modeling experience and she made me feel so confident and comfortable in front of the camera. After my session I took this feeling with me and was able to extend my modeling career and got signed with agency. None of the would have been possible without Moxie!  I made so many great memories, that all come back to me when I see the images we took!  The most memorable moment of my session would be the blue smoke bomb!!! We were using smoke bombs for some awesome pictures, but midway through a blue one exploded all over me!! It was a total mess but such a funny moment to look back on.  It was such a great opportunity to be apart of. Out of it I got some stunning senior pictures and memories and experience to last a lifetime.”

One piece of advice that Kristina has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Be yourself! Don’t be nervous or shy, just go out there and kill it! Trust me, Karen and her glam squad at Haus of Heir will get you looking right!”

If she could describe her overall senior session  in a couple of words, she would choose  “life changing.”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Kristina!!  Remember us when you are a famous supermodel walking the runways of Paris and Milan!!
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. 

It has been so long since I’ve done a session blog post that I’m embarrassed!!
I always have good intentions about blogging year round, but when busy season starts in April I find that things get so crazy busy that blogs fall to the bottom of my priorities.  Well, I’m here to say that the next few months our Moxie Blog will be back in full effect.
Kicking off our Class of 2019 seniors is the beautiful Trinity.  This girl is not only supermodel gorgeous, but she has a heart of absolute gold.  I have to brag about her for a minute – I lost count of how many of her teaser images from social media were featured both nationally and internationally, which is huge!  Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Trinity!!

Here is a little about what this Pleasant Valley senior had to say about her session with Moxie:

“I really enjoyed working with Moxie for my senior photos! I felt comfortable during the shoot and had a lot of fun at the locations of the photos. I was aiming for a more glam, but natural look.  Karen was super easy to talk to and was amazing during the whole process.  My biggest worry about the photo shoot was whether I looked good, since I couldn’t see the shots. The outcome, however, was amazing and am thrilled with how the pictures turned out! My favorite part of the Moxie Senior Experience was being able to go to the different locations and being able to incorporate some of my ideas into the shoot.  I would say that the most memorable moment of my session was dancing in the all green pathway in the park for the camera.  Moxie Design allows you to be truly you and express yourself in these shoots. Karen made every aspect of the shoot comfortable!  I love Moxie Design because Karen made me feel glamorous for the day!”

One piece of advice that Trinity has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Do whatever pose or use any prop that Karen suggests; they end up being the best pictures! Also, have fun!”

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 friends at Haus of Heir boutique salon in Davenport for the beautiful hair and makeup- you guys are amazing!

Cheers to your amazing 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. 

To find out that Moxie was chosen out of a group of 8,152 to represent the top 100 senior photographers from across the globe is blowing my mind right now! I am just so grateful to be able to do what I love each and every day in working with some of the most amazing seniors in the Midwest. To be honored for that is seriously the icing on an already pretty bad ass cake!  Huge thanks to all of my seniors and their amazing parents, who put their trust in me to capture this epic time in their life. A shout out to Senior Style Guide and all of the judges for this amazing honor and huge props to Haus of Heir boutique Salon in Davenport for making my girls feel so confident.  Last, but certainly not least, a huge amount of love and appreciation going out to my uber supportive husband as well as Sydney, the most amazing assistant ever. I’m extremely blessed.   #nowletsgetthispartystarted

Meet Jolee.  This Orion graduate and I met up this spring for her photo session and I was blown away by her natural ability in front of the camera.  She is just as sweet as she is beautiful and I am so lucky that we got to be a part of her senior year.

Here is a little about what Jolee had to say about her session with Moxie:  “My overall experience was awesome! Although I was extremely nervous before my session, Karen made me feel comfortable. I felt like a model the entire time!  I wanted an outdoorsy look with grass and trees, as well as an urban look in the city. I matched my flowy, light colored pieces with the wooded area and my bold colored pieces with the urban setting. My biggest worry was how to pose! However, Karen’s first order of business was to teach me just that. Karen and Sydney constantly made sure my pose looked right for the shot and helped me adjust as needed. I had nothing to worry about! Feeling like a model was the best part of my session. Karen made me feel comfortable and allowed me to make the shoot my own while guiding me in the process. She was so excited for a few of my ideas and the pictures turned out awesome! I had so much fun and I’m glad to call Karen a friend.   I will never forget when my life flashed before my eyes after stepping on a loose plank on the bridge at the park! Surprisingly, I survived and DIDN’T tumble to the ground, but it gave everyone a good laugh.  I love Karen and her crew and I can’t imagine a better turnout for my senior pictures! Everything was perfect and I had an amazing time despite the rain and bugs.  Karen is the sweetest person ever and I am so thankful for how confident she made me feel during my session. I definitely recommend Moxie Design— they’re the best! I love Moxie Design because Karen made me feel like a QUEEN!”

One piece of advice that Jolee has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “I’d say “Don’t be nervous!” I know it’s easier said than done, but my biggest worry was taken care of at the very start of my session and I felt confident and comfortable the entire time. Karen is there to make you feel great and capture your best looks. Also, just have fun!”

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

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!

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

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 Aviana.
This swimming all star and I met up on a super cold day in November, but you would never know it by looking at her images.  She absolutely showed up ready to shoot like this was her profession – the cold never got to her for even one second.
With supermodel good looks and amazing wardrobe choices, her images look more like a spread in Glamour magazine than that of a high school senior session.  I was so impressed with her in learning about her extreme dedication with her swimming career and when I saw her medals for the first time I was blown away.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this soon to be Pleasant Valley graduate!

Here is a little about what Aviana had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My experience with Karen was amazing. I’ve done multiple photo shoots throughout my life and she does a great job at making you feel comfortable and confident throughout the shoot. It made the three hour shoot go by so fast because your having fun and laughing the whole time. My biggest fear was that the photos wouldn’t match the ideas I had pictured in my head. I remember as she was showing me some of the photos throughout the shoot I started feeling better and when I was at my premiere I couldn’t stop smiling because of how much I loved the photos.  My favorite part of the shoot was getting to talk and laugh with Karen. It made the whole shoot really laid back and fun.  Definitely get your senior photos done by Moxie.  Karen goes above and beyond for you in your session and makes the whole shoot really laid back and fun while at the same time making you feel confident in comfortable. Even if you’ve never had pictures taken in the past and don’t know how to pose, Karen helps you by giving you ideas and showing examples of different poses to try.  I love Moxie Design because Karen made my session memorable.”

One piece of advice that Aviana has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Try to find looks that capture who you are as person. It will make you feel so much more comfortable throughout the shoot. And then get your photos done by Moxie Design. :)”

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

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

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 Emma.

This future Illinois State student was so much fun to work with and each one of her wardrobe looks was AHH-MAZING!  I remember one moment specifically from Emma’s session.  We were in the district when I saw some red bike racks just hanging out in an alley.  I quickly moved two of them together to make for an awesomely unique shot that played well with the look that she had on at that moment.   I love this girl’s personality, style and the fact that she was up for any crazy idea that I threw at her.  I’m so happy to have been a part of her senior year.

Here is a little about what Emma had to say about her session with Moxie:  “I was definitely going for a wide range of different looks including casual things I wear frequently and more dressy outfits such as my junior year homecoming dress. I wanted to choose outfits that I thought best described me and displayed who I am.  I enjoyed every single second of my shoot, it was so easy and I became comfortable so quickly. I have never had professional pictures taken before my senior shoot and I was surprised at how at ease I felt just minutes after starting the shoot. Overall I am still so happy with my shoot even five months later!  I was worried that I would not like the way I looked or regret an outfit later on. I realized shortly after the shoot began that I didn’t need to worry about any of those things! I felt immediately comfortable and I knew my pictures would turn out perfect, and after seeing them for the first time I can confirm that they really are perfect.  My favorite part of my Moxie experience was how Karen took the time to get to know me, and how she made me feel so at ease and comfortable in my own skin. She is such an amazing person and photographer that I am glad to have met during my senior picture experience, she truly is the best part.  When deciding my locations I struggled almost as much as I did with my outfits. The only place I knew I wanted to go was The District in Rock Island. I thought this would be a cool place that would go with some of my more casual outfits. As for the other locations I left it completely up to Karen because I trusted she would pick the best spots for me!  The most memorable moment of my session was when I was about to change into my homecoming dress when I realized that I had brought the wrong one! I was so upset when I realized it and was immediately worried that my dress pictures would be ruined but looking back I am SO glad that accident happened. I am convinced that it was meant to be that way, as my dress pictures are stunning, and I wouldn’t have wanted them any other way.  The process was so fun and easy and Karen is so friendly and funny!  I love Moxie Design because of Karen’s insane skill and way of making girls like me feel confident in ourselves!”

One piece of advice that Emma has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “I would tell other seniors not to worry about getting their pictures taken! I was very nervous about getting in front of a camera because I had never been in that situation before, but it’s not as scary as it looks!”

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

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!

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

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 Megan.

This gorgeous soon to be Pleasant Valley graduate and I met up on an absolutely freezing day in November.  I was so proud of her for not letting the cold weather have an affect on her session – she rocked it like a super model.  What’s super exciting is that one of her photos from this session was featured nationally in Senior Year Magazine!  What could be better than that?  Only one thing – having Megan work with me during the summer months as one of my assistants on photo shoots.  She’s already killing it and I can’t wait to see what magic we will cook up together this summer!
Okay, now on to what Megan had to say about her session with us:

“The look that I was going for during my senior photo shoot was about fashion and style. I wanted the photos to capture my fun personality with various on-location backgrounds while wearing some of my favorite outfits.  My photographer, Karen Bishop, was so fun, professional, inspirational, and amazing to work with during my senior photo session experience! She guided me with every suggested pose, hairstyle, outfits & accessories, and location to bring out the best results. I have recommended her work to my friends and just love sharing my experience with others.  Since I wanted outdoor photos and had made my photo session for early November, I was worried about the weather. The day was a bit cold but I was determined to wear my chosen outfits and rock my photos with confidence. Karen guided me through the entire process with such grace and humor that it helped me get through the chilly photo shoot.  My favorite part of my Moxie Senior Experience was being made to feel extremely comfortable in front of the camera. Karen took the time and used her knowledge to help guide me during the photos to get just the right shot! She has a great sense of humor and really made me feel at ease the whole time.  Since I wanted a fashion style photo shoot, Karen helped choose my locations to be a more downtown/urban feel for the final images. She has such a good eye for seeing the “perfect spot” in something that I would have probably walked right by and not noticed.  he most memorable moment of my session happened when Karen and I were walking down an alley, looked to our right, and saw a beautiful wall of fall colored leaves trailing up it. She immediately had her assistant remove the garbage cans and other trash near that wall to clear out a path for me to stand in for some photos. These turned out to be the most amazing and favorite shots of the session!   The senior experience with Moxie is an opportunity that every senior should consider for their senior photos . Karen’s keen photography skills and ability to have fun during the photo session always leads to beautiful and engaging results in the final photo production. Every pose is done with perfection and she captures her subjects personality with ease.”

What is her advice for seniors that are getting ready to do their senior photo shoot?  “My best advice for seniors getting their photos taken is to relax and believe in the process. Trust in Karen and her unique photography skills to capture unbelievable photos of you. You won’t believe how good she makes you look with each click of the camera!”

If she could describe her senior experience in one word, she would choose “Phenomenal”

Thanks for the kind words, Meg!  Now, onto the beautiful images we captured during her session-

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 Emeleigh.  This future University of Iowa Nursing major is such an all american beauty and has a killer smile.  We met up for her session downtown Davenport to capture a downtown vibe, then headed to a park to incorporate some greenery into her images.  We finished off at PV’s football field so that we could capture some photos that focused on both cheer and the University of Iowa.

Here is a little about what this gorgeous girl had to say about her session with Moxie:  “My overall senior session experience was fantastic and personalized.  I felt comfortable, beautiful and confident.  My biggest fear was that I would not look good.  Karen put me at ease by showing me examples of poses and I was able to relax and have fun. I am beyond happy with my photos.  My most memorable moment was having Karen be extra patient while taking pictures of me and my dog Sage.  Karen made the shoot fun, I had a great time!  I love my pictures and would definitely recommend Moxie Design!  I love Moxie because Karen made me feel special.”

One piece of advice that Emeleigh has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Relax, have fun and enjoy your session!”

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

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

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

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 Lily.  This Geneseo senior is a natural beauty and came alive in front of my camera during her session.  We started at Vanderveer Park and captured some stunning images and then headed across the river to the District and then finished her shoot at the Deere Wiman property.  We had the perfect bit of sun peeking through the trees at the end of the night, making for some gorgeous golden hour shots.

Here is a little about what this beauty had to say about her session with Moxie:

“For my shoot I was looking for a natural shoot that captured my personality.  Karen made my senior experience go so smoothly. I went into it very nervous, but Karen broke me out of my shell before I could even blink – I couldn’t have asked for a better session.  I was very nervous that I would be camera shy and all of my bad angles would magically come out at once, but that was the least of my worries once Karen turned on that camera, she made me feel like a bad angle didn’t exist.  My first location was at Vanderveer park. I wanted to use the depth of all of the beautiful sidewalks and scenery there in order to create the most amazing pictures. We then went to Rock island by the river because I wanted to capture the centennial bridge in the background while wearing an Illinois home shirt so I could always have a piece of home with me. Lastly we went to Butterworth Center. All of the scenery there and the beautiful sunset made for an amazing shoot.  If I were to tell my best friend about Moxie Design I would tell them that they should definitely do it. Although the prices may be higher than other competitors, Karen makes every penny worth it and I wouldn’t of had it any other way . I love Moxie Design because they bring out the beauty in everything.”

One piece of advice that Lily has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Have as much it with her as possible. You don’t get many opportunities like this and you have to utilize the ones that you have. Senior year is supposed to be about having a blast and Moxie design is definitely a way to have one.”

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, Lily!!

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 Kennady.  I was so excited to work with this gorgeous Alleman girl and absolutely fell in love with her adorable pup Paisley during her session!!  We had such a fun afternoon and let me tell you, her wardrobe looks were SO on point.  Couple that with her beautiful hair and room brightening smile and her session images turned out absolutely GORGEOUS.

Here is a little about what Kennady had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My senior experience with Moxie Design was exciting and fun and the day and places for the session were amazing. This session could have never been better.  My big fear was not knowing how act during a photo being taken… The outcome with advice of Karen was easy and made each shot beautiful….I was absolutely excited!  My favorite part of my senior session was how comfortable it was and getting to share it with my family and friend along with Paisley my dog.  Karen was amazing, she not only took breath taking photos but was able to give advice on every detail of the shoot with awesome places to create some of the best pictures very taken that will be etched into memory for the rest of my life.  I love Moxie Design because the pictures were as beautiful as the experience.”

One piece of advice that Kennady has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Check out Moxie Design – it was by word of mouth that lead me here and it was best decision I choose for my senior photos!”

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

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

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 Collin.  This future St Ambrose baseball player was so much fun to work with!  We had a perfect afternoon to shoot and Collin brought his A game to the photo shoot.  We had so many props to work with, so many different locations and both of his parents (and his sweet pup) came along which made the session more like a party than a senior session.   Collin – I am so excited to see what your future holds!I have to give a huge shout out to his mom, Tracie for introducing me to the fold-able and completely life changing wagon that really made my shoots through the end of the season (and all shoots moving forward) so much easier.

Here is a little about what Collin’s mom Tracie had to say about their experience with Moxie:  “We were looking for an athletic, serious and confident look for Collin’s senior photo shoot.  I was a little worried about a long photo shoot! From my experience of having a son is boys do not like to get their picture taken like girls. From the 1st minute the session started I could tell he relaxed and within no time he was having a lot of fun! Karen really knew how to capture his serious side and made sure that she also captured his great smile! The photos turned out fantastic what a great experience! Such great memories!  Our favorite part was all of the opportunities to find different looks with his shoot and to capture different moods.  The most memorable moment of Collin’s session was how Karen just took over and made my son so confident – and he truly looked like he was enjoying every minute.  If I were to tell my best friend about our experience I would say that it was worth every penny.  I love Moxie Design because of Karen!”

One piece of advice that Tracie has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Prepare your outfits – and bring lots of props even if you don’t use them.”

If she could describe Collin’s overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “fantastic”

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Collin !!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 the absolutely beautiful Grace.  I knew that I was going to love this Rockridge girl after about thirty seconds of having met her.  The day of her senior session was absolutely FREEZING.  Like sleeting and freezing rain for the first two hours of her shoot.
When we met out at Loud Thunder, I got out of the car wearing long johns under my jeans and sporting my heated jacket, complete with hat, gloves and scarf.  Grace was wearing an adorable spring dress and I felt awful the second that she got out of her car because the weather was so terrible.  I led with a “It’s so nice to meet you, if you want to reschedule your session, I am–”  She cut me off and said “Are you okay with me going barefoot?”  Uh… YES!  I knew at that moment that she was ready to work it and let me tell you, she surpassed any expectation that I could have had for the day and absolutely blew me away.  She has the looks of a fashion model, super amazing sports skills and is genuinely one of the greatest and sweetest girls I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Since her shoot, she has modeled for me a few times and every time I am blown away by how she can work every angle, every light – she is just a natural born model.  I am so glad that I got to be a part of her senior year, but more than that, I’m so proud to call her a friend.  Can’t wait until our next shoot, my love!!

Here is a little about what Grace had to say about her experience with Moxie:
“My overall senior photo session experiences was absolutely AMAZING! Karen is unbelievably talented in what she does. She made my senior pictures perfect, they turned out better than I could have ever imagined. My pictures were more than I could have ever asked for. I was terrified of not getting the pictures that I wanted. Also, not looking the way I wanted myself to look. However, my pictures turned out picture perfect, literally. Not only did I look amazing, but Karen also made me feel hands down great about myself.  My favorite part of my Moxie Senior Experience was the whole thing. The fact that I felt so confident in myself the entire time was so AMAZING. Karen was the a big factor in making me feel that way. I picked Loud Thunder because it was woodsy and outdoorsy, but I didn’t pick the specific locations until I was with Karen. We kind of went by the seat of our pants, and she picked out what would be cute scenery for my pictures. I also picked my family farm as a location and I let Karen pick where to take the pictures for the best results.  The most memorable would have been when Karen asked me if I wanted to do my session that day because it was freezing and raining. I told her that of course I did and then asked her if I had to wear shoes. After that, she told me no and that she loved me!  You have to go to Moxie Design for your senior pictures! I felt like a super model purely because of the person who was taking my pictures. Get a spot now before they are all filled!  I love Moxie Design because it’s run by Karen, and I love her!”

One piece of advice that Grace has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“be yourself and have fun. Karen will do the rest.”

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

Shout out to my hair and makeup friends at Haus of Heir boutique salon in Davenport – we love you (and Grace’s makeup did not budge through the two hours of freezing rain!!

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  Sam.
This Bettendorf swimming star was a blast to work with and took one of my favorite photographs representing the Class of 2018 (see our website home page slider).   We accidentally ended up under the I-74 bridge during her shoot, which also turned up some pretty memorable images.  Here is a little about what Sam had to say about her session with Moxie:

“My photo session wasn’t like anything I was expecting, it was way better! Karen went to the extreme to make sure my session was the best I could experience. She made sure that I was comfortable and having a good time. All the ideas she had were unique and creative and I loved every one! I was worried that I wouldn’t know what poses to do and what was right or wrong. But as soon as we started the shoot, Karen was quick to give me some poses to do, and it was so easy! I am grateful that she had go to poses because otherwise I would have felt uncomfortable.  I have so many favorite parts of my senior session, but one of them was when I got to have my makeup and hair done by Haus of Heir. I love how that is a part of the senior experience. I felt confident that this shoot would turn out great, and it did! It’s awesome that Karen has a connection with them, because they do an amazing job.  I really wanted to be in a park setting because I love being outdoors and I love flowers. Karen knew exactly where to go and what I needed to make sure I got what I was looking for.  Karen coming up with craziest, yet amazing ideas for my pictures is definitely one of the best things about my shoot. She also made it easy and personal so I could feel comfortable. She did such an amazing job from providing my favorite snack, to producing the best photos. This is something I will never forget and I thank Karen so much for it all – I felt like a model for the day!  I love Moxie Design because they will do anything to make sure your experience is the best it can be.”

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

I can’t finish this blog post without a shout the to my hair and makeup team at Haus of Heir boutique salon in Davenport – we love you!!

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

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 Lauren.
This Alleman senior and future Biomedical Science major was going for a summer vibe for her  pictures and I’d say she knocked it out of the park.  She showed up looking like she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine and each one of her looks was on point.  When her session was over, I spotted some awesome lights in the distance and she was bold enough to stand with me in the middle of the street in between cars coming and going to capture some breathtaking images.

Here is a little about what Lauren had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My overall senior photo session experience was amazing! Karen is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.  I’m a very shy person and usually don’t like having my photo taken so I was worried that I was going to be uncomfortable taking the pictures. After starting the shoot I felt the absolute opposite. Karen really made me feel comfortable and she made it so much fun it didn’t feel like it was just a senior photo shoot.   My favorite part of my Moxie Senior Experience was how comfortable and beautiful Karen made me feel especially after seeing my pictures. Based on the outfits I had chosen, I wanted locations that matched them. My first outfits were floral and bright colors so my first location was a park. Matching the theme of my clothing with the nature of the park. My last outfits were going out type looks so I chose Downtown Davenport as my last location. Karen knew so many great places downtown.  The most memorable part of my session was how much fun I had, the laughs, and how Karen makes such a genuine attempt to really get to really get to know you and make things personal!    If I were to tell my best friend about my experience with Moxie Design I would tell them how much fun it is and how Karen really makes the shoot all about you and what you want your pictures to be like. I would also tell them I would recommend Moxie to anyone! I love Moxie Design because of how beautiful and happy they made me feel about myself.”

One piece of advice that Lauren has for other seniors getting their photos taken?
“Do not worry at all about being uncomfortable getting your photo taken ! Have fun and make the most out of it.”

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, Lauren!!

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 Seth.  This Muscatine senior is planning a career in psychology, however, I’m pretty sure that he could  pursue modeling and have a successful career.  I had a blast working with Seth on his soccer shots and let me tell you, he has some serious skills.

Here is a little about what Seth had to say about his session with Moxie:
“I was going for the serious and sophisticated look, with a hint of a goofy and fun side in some of the other photos. I feel like that really reflects how I live my life.  At first, when I showed up I was feeling apprehensive, but with Karen’s inviting personality it made it easy to relax and feel natural. Also, I wasn’t very fond of the idea of getting my photos taken. But, it was a really enjoyable experience and I would honestly do it again.  My favorite part of my senior session was that it didn’t even really feel like a photo shoot.  It was so laid back and chill that it made it easy to go from place to place and from clothing change to clothing change. Everything had a melodic flow to it.  The most memorable moment is when we were doing the first shoot when my dog wasn’t quite cooperating at first. We tried to get her to sit, but she was more worried about the smells in the air. So, laughing about my dog with Karen was an enjoyable and funny ice breaker.  Karen was wonderful.  She has the most outgoing and loving personality.  It made the session really easy going and fun.  Also, her work is phenomenal.  I love Moxie Design because Karen puts you at ease.  She is an awesome photographer!”

One piece of advice that Seth has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “Don’t be nervous at all. It honestly is a great senior experience and everyone should enjoy every second of it. Especially since the pictures are of you, so just relax and enjoy yourself.”

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

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

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.