Quad City Senior Photography | Meet Moxie Model Caiya

Meet Moxie model Caiya. We met up with Caiya at a downtown location on a beautiful summer day. She had some amazing outfits – all with such variety, which led to her final gallery being incredible. Right off the bat, I remember I asked her to do a runway walk and she absolutely nailed it! Next, we went to her grandparents farm and it provided the perfect backdrop for her remaining looks. I remember at one point, I was laying down on this country road and asked Caiya to do a hair flip for me. On the count of three, she turned so perfectly, that in the behind the scenes video we were taking, you can hear me say “that looked just like a shampoo commercial!” We ended the night around her grandparent’s lake, where we captured this incredible reflection shot. We captured SO MANY BEAUTIFUL images that day and had a lot of fun!

Here is a little about what Caiya had to say about her session with Moxie: “My senior session with Moxie was great! I wanted a casual and natural look for my shoot. I like nature and a little cityscape and Karen and I planned great locations to achieve it. During the shoot, my biggest fear was one of the shots we took at the lake. I had to lay on my side on the very edge of the dock , with my hair resting just a couple of millimeters above the water. End result was a beautiful photo! My favorite part of the Moxie experience was working with Karen and Emma! Being at my grandparent’s farm to shoot was something I’ll always remember. One highlight of the farm shoot was being out at the lake, and Karen went to her car, grabbed her waders, and said, “I always keep them in my trunk in case there’s a good water opportunity!” I was a bit skeptical of having to lay on the dock, but I trusted Karen and the shot was great! Working with Moxie is a great experience! Karen and her team make the process so easy, fun, and memorable!”

One piece of advice that Caiya has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Trust the process!”

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

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Caiya! It was so much fun getting to know you over the past year!!

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. 

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Quad Cities Senior Pictures | Meet Moxie Model Jae

Meet Moxie girl Jae. This beauty has been so much fun to work with over the past year and always has the most positive attitude and is never without her smile! I have loved getting to know her (and her awesome mom, Lara) and know that whenever I have Jae on the other end of my camera, that we are going to be having a great time. The day of Jae’s session, she brought the most beautiful flower bouquet along to capture with this gorgeous white dress and those photos turned out absolutely stunning! I’m still low key fan girling over this orange toned floral jumpsuit that we captured – it was incredible! We were even able to meet her adorable pup for some photos! We ended the night with Jae wearing this jaw dropping green dress that had so much movement – it was a blast to experiment with having Jae twirl in it!

Here is a little about what Jae had to say about her session with Moxie:
“I had an amazing experience with my session! From the very beginning I felt so comfortable and I had fun the whole time. There was zero stress at all because Karen was so organized and made the whole process easy. I wanted my pictures to be whimsical and fun with lots of natural backdrops. I was worried going in to the session that I would have a hard time posing and wouldn’t look natural on camera. Once I got there, this fear was completely eased- Karen told me exactly what to do and made sure that every pose was perfect. I loved that I was able to bring whatever props and extras I needed to make my photos more personal to me. It was so fun that I was able to have my dog in a few pictures. Some of my favorite photos are the ones I never would have expected to like! There are a few from my original session of me laying down with my hands near my face that I am obsessed with, and I also love the ones where I have a long green dress that’s been tosses into the air. In the winter, I really liked the pictures where I put on the fur hat, even though I didn’t expect to like them very much. These are all so much fun because they’re totally unique to me. It was just so amazing. There was no sense of awkwardness or feeling of self-consciousness, it felt like I was just spending a fun afternoon taking pictures. I love Moxie Design because my session was super fun and my photos turned out amazing. Karen made the whole process stress-free and I really got to personalize my sessions to be exactly how I wanted!”

One piece of advice that Jae has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Take a chance on doing something unique! Whether it’s bringing your own props to make your photos more personal, or just listening to everything Karen suggests, trying a new idea will absolutely pay off in the final product.”

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “comfortable.” (Awe, I LOVE that answer, Jae!!)

Thank you for representing Moxie over the past year! I have absolutely loved getting to know you and your sweet mama!!

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. 

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Quad Cities Senior Photography | Meet Moxie Model Adrianna

Adrianna and I met last spring during our prom session at Within by CDI. I remember when she walked in, that she had the most beautiful blueish aqua dress and this incredible smile that lit up the entire room that we were working in. During Adrianna’s main session, I loved that we were able to include her adorable pup in some of the photos! We captured those photos at the park and then braved a waterfall to capture some unique images. At the end of her session, it was so windy that when we tried to throw poms for her dance photos, they kept flying out of frame. It was a really fun way to end the session on the PV football field!

Here is a little about what Adrianna had to say about her time with Moxie: “My session was so much fun. I felt at ease and was able to enjoy myself. I felt confident and enjoyed myself the entire time! The vibe I was going for in the shoot was something softer with lots of florals. I also wanted some city vibes for variety. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like the way I looked in my photos due to angles and other factors, but because of the confidence I had (and Karen’s experience) I loved every photo. My favorite part of the day was being able to get my hair and makeup done before my pictures. It helped me relax rather than stress about my time and focus on myself and feeling confident. The most memorable part of my session was being able to include my dog in my pictures. I have had my dog since I was five years old and being able to include him in my senior pictures was an experience I will never forget. Karen worked so hard to make sure I felt comfortable during my session. She was so encouraging and helped me picked the perfect locations for all my outfits. I felt stunning the entire time and working with her again for my smaller shoots was something I looked forward to, because I knew I would love the way they turned out. I love Moxie Design because Karen made me feel confident!

One piece of advice that Adrianna has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “I would tell them to make sure they feel confident in their outfit choices and to include anything you think you might want. It’s better to have extra pictures than to regret not getting pictures with certain items.”

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

I have loved having you as a part of the Moxie model squad, Adrianna! Cheers to your graduation!!

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. 

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Quad City Senior Pictures | Meet Moxie Model Emma

I met up with this gorgeous girl last spring at our prom photo session for our Moxie model team. Emma is SO STUNNING! Her blue eyes sparkle and her smile radiates pure joy!! When we got together in June for her full senior sesh, it was a perfect day. Her mom had brought along a gorgeous white butterfly bench that we were able to incorporate into her photos. We were able to use locations that really showcased Emma’s awesome outfits. At our first stop, we were so excited to be able to meet her super sweet pup, Dawson. When we went to our second spot, Emma didn’t hesitate when I asked if she wanted to get into a creek and trek a hundred yards down to a gorgeous secluded spot, which ended up being one of my favorite photos from her gallery.

Here is a little about what Emma had to say about her session with Moxie: “I love Moxie Design because Karen takes pictures to a whole different level of photography! Karen’s pictures are outside the box and working with her was amazing! Karen was fun and engaging so this made the session fly by! I felt very comfortable working with her and she helped me out of my comfort zone, was very nice and made me feel confident about myself. I did not have a fear or worry about the photos. I have not seen a picture yet that has not been amazing from Karen. I enjoyed the scenery of the different locations and trying different poses that I have never done before. I also liked the fact I got to incorporate by dog, Dawson, in the photos. Karen is fun to work with and she will make you feel confident about yourself. If you do not already have a senior photographer you should work with Karen.

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

I have LOVED having you as a part of the Class of 2024 Moxie model team, Emma! Congrats on your upcoming graduation!! xoxo

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. 

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MOXIE Model Prom Shoot | Class of 2024

Our Moxie model team is comprised of a group of amazing local high schoolers who we are able to work with from the spring of their junior year through the winter of their senior year. I LOVE our Moxie model team! Each year, we kick off our year of working together with a formal editorial prom session, where we partner with local QC businesses (Shout out to Haus of Heir who does INCREDIBLE makeup for this sesh, QC Celebrate who allows us to borrow beautiful dresses for the day and Moments Tuxedos who provides our guys with their suave tuxedos. Each year, we seek out a new location that we hadn’t done our group shoot at previously and last year we were super lucky to be able to shoot at both the Axis Hotel as well as Within by CDI. Both locations were UNBELIEVABLE and provided so many backdrops to ensure that no model’s photos look the same. To my Class of 2024 model team- I have loved working on every shoot with you over the past year! From the thrift store challenge, to winter minis and fall photos, all of the sessions went fully beyond any expectation that I had going into them and I cannot wait to see what your awesome futures hold! I will miss you!! xoxo

We are in full swing of finalizing details for our 2025 Model team, I cannot wait to introduce them to you… soon!

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. 

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Quad Cities Senior Photography | Meet Moxie Model Kennedy

Meet Kennedy. I can’t believe it has been almost a year that I’ve been working with this supermodel! We first met at our prom shoot and Kennedy looked like she had just stepped out of the pages of a magazine (you can check out our prom blog post later today)!! She has a beautiful smile and this incredible energy and is always up for any idea or thought that we would throw her way. We started off her main session along the river, where she skis, and it was the perfect setting. Kennedy got in the water, balanced on a log in the water – you name it, she did it!! Then we headed downtown and were able to capture some really cool urban shots. We ended the night with her parents and grandparents on the top of a parking garage. It was really special to have her family there while we were working with her dad’s jaw dropping Cuda. Every time we got to shoot with Kennedy was like we were working with a professional model – she was born to be in front of a camera!!

Here is a little about what Kennedy had to say about her session with Moxie: “My experience was incredible! There were so many new poses to try and places to shoot. I didn’t really go into the shoot with one style in mind. Karen made that work and we tried different styles and places to make sure that there were some photos and ideas that I would like! Going into the shoot, I was nervous that I just wouldn’t look good. Or that my smile would be off, or my eyes wouldn’t look right. Once I saw the photos I realized I had nothing to be worrying about. Plus, Karen always made sure to speak highly and confident about a pose to calm my nerve and ensure me that it would look great! My favorite part of my Moxie experience would have to be the energy. Karen made me feel beautiful and got me hyped after every shot. There was such a positive atmosphere and Karen as so sweet and is always down to try something for a certain shot or style that you want. The vibe was wonder and we were all there having a great time! We got to incorporate my dad’s 1970 fully restored AAR Cuda. Karen did a great job shooting myself with this car. My family was there and I knew it meant so much to my dad! We had so much fun shooting with the car and the ski! I love Moxie Design because we got to have so much fun and try new things to get different pictures that I got to fall in love with!”

One piece of advice that Kennedy has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Don’t be afraid to try something new or go out of your comfort zone for a shot!”

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

I have enjoyed working with you over the past year, Kennedy! I cannot wait to see you in the pages of magazines and on billboards!

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. 

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Pleasant Valley High School Senior Portraits | Meet Kate

We met up with Kate on a beautiful day last spring- the trees were in full bloom! We were able to get all of our shots at the same location because it was absolutely perfect with all of her outfits. Since she was graduating a few weeks from the time we did her session, we were able to capture some cap and gown shots as well, which I always love doing. At one point, we were shooting on a log overlooking a little pond and I thought I would get into the water to get the perfect angle with the sun behind her. Thank goodness for hip waders, because I began to sink in this quicksand type mud- I couldn’t move my legs! I did manage to get out and the shot came out amazing, but it was scary there for a minute! Here is a little about what Kate had to say about her session with Moxie:

“I love Moxie Design because Karen helped me present my most authentic self. I thought that my session was really fun! I liked that I had a lot of say in where I wanted to go, what I wanted to wear, poses, etc. It felt very personalized and tailored to me. My favorite photo is in my prom dress on the bench. I’m staring right into the camera, with my hand on my temple and with a smoldering expression. I love it because it makes me feel like a model!  I thought it was really kind of her to bring me my favorite candy and drink to keep spirits up during the shoot. I climbed on a log in the pond to get a picture of me sitting on it, legs dangling over the water. Karen even waded into the water just to get the shot!”

One piece of advice that Kate has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Be authentic. Your pictures will look best if they reflect who you are. For me, it was important to have my natural curls, and to have a variety of facial expressions in my photos. Communicate how you want to come across, and they will help you polish that look and make those features pop.”

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


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. 

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Pleasant Valley High School Senior Photograpy | Meet Braden

We met up with Braden last spring on an unseasonably cold and windy day. I remember when we were out at the lake location, I was trying to get a wide shot of Braden with his fishing gear (which he nailed, by the way) and it was so windy that he couldn’t hear me giving him instruction! We were using multiple off camera light sources and even with someone holding the stands that the flash units were on, they were blowing all over the place. I loved that Braden incorporated fishing and soccer into his session, and that he was open to putting on a suit for more formal shots – they turned out incredible!

Here is a little about what Braden had to say about his session with Moxie:
“My session with Moxie was very good. I was hoping to focus on some of my favorite hobbies with the professional shoot. The most memorable part of the day was that I had a big bruise under my eye and we had to put on makeup so you couldn’t tell it was there. My favorite part was seeing how the pictures turned out! I love Moxie Design because even though the weather was cold the pictures turned out great.”

One piece of advice that Braden has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Incorporate things that you enjoy doing.” (Great advice, Braden)!!

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

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Braden!! We loved working with you!!

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. 

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Quad Cities Senior Photography | Meet Mia

When my beautiful cousin flew in from California over spring break for her senior session, I was so excited to work with her!! We shared a lot of laughs and were blessed with some unreal (and very unseasonable) warm temperatures – Hooray! Mia is so gorgeous, super smart and one of the most kind and genuine souls out there. I loved the variety in her wardrobe looks, so we hit up a bunch of different spots to ensure that her final gallery was as amazing as she is. So excited that she is heading east to Iowa for college!! Mia, I cannot wait to see what incredible things are in your future!!

Here is a little about what Mia had to say about her session with us: “My photo session experience was one that I would definitely love to do again. Karen did an amazing job at helping my inner confidence come out and making me feel comfortable and excited during the shoot! She made sure that my “good side” was always featured, and she was innovative in the poses she recommended! All of the locations that Karen planned out went perfectly with the outfits that I had chosen! Not to mention, the photos came out looking absolutely stunning and exactly how I envisioned them! I was going for an urban look, a softer flowy look, as well as a formal and elegant look.  My biggest fear was that I wouldn’t feel confident, and I wouldn’t be able to put on a genuine smile because of being anxious or uncomfortable.
However, Karen ensured that I was comfortable with the angles she shot at and she hyped me up throughout my shoot! She made me feel confident and cracked some awesome jokes that put the best smile on my face, capturing those in my photos! Karen was so creative with the backgrounds, and how I posed and interacted with the scene around me. She understood my styles and the vision perfectly, and crafted beautiful shots that I couldn’t have imagined! She would compliment me when she felt she’d taken the perfect shot, and I was so confident, motivated, and excited throughout the entire shoot! Karen made me feel beautiful throughout the entire session. She was encouraging, motivating, and amazing throughout the whole shoot. By the end, she felt like one of my biggest supporters! I enjoyed all of the laughs that we shared. I had fun every minute of the session, and I loved hearing her tell me that she got the perfect shot. I was on Cloud 9 the whole time! If I were to tell my best friend about my photos, I would tell them to book that ticket from California to Iowa. It will be worth every penny. The experience I had with Karen was one that every photographer should strive to have with their clients. I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for suggestions, and I would most definitely book another shoot with Moxie Design!””

One piece of advice that Mia has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Wear what makes you feel confident, beautiful, or handsome! Karen will make your vision come true. Channel your nervous energy into excitement, because this will be an unforgettable experience! Pose, smile, and have fun!!!”

When we asked Mia what her favorite photo was from her session, she replied: One favorite photo? There were so many perfect, stunning pictures that I couldn’t possibly pick one. Among my favorites, there is a shot with me in this tan hat, with a green dress on, and I had a “laughing” smile on. It captures my real smile, and I love looking back on that moment because it was a very fun little one. I also had amazing pictures come out when I had on a blazer on with a pink crop top underneath. Karen nailed the background at the Figge Museum, and there’s a picture where I lean over a glass handrail, and it’s from a side angle. It’s a perfect picture. Every picture brought something different, and there wasn’t a single photo from the shoot that I disliked.  Moxie Design provided a comfortable, fun, and unforgettable experience with stunning results!”

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, Mia!!

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. 

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Quad City Senior Photography | Meet the Davison Girls

Meet Korrine and Keira.  These beautiful twins and I met up last fall on a super cold, windy and rainy/ snowy day.  Having looked at the forecast a few days in advance, I was crossing my fingers that things would change for the best, but the weather on the day of the shoot was FREEZING and absolutely gross.  Because I had a suspicion that we may need to find some indoor spots, I did a little research and found some great locations – and in hindsight, I absolutely love their photos and am so glad that we were pushed out of our comfort zone into new locations.  Hearing that the girls’ parents got married at the Botanical Center made it a super special spot to kick off the session.  When we got to the gardens, we found out that they had a ton of Halloween decor that was set up and displayed everywhere.  We were very careful to shoot around still capture the most gorgeous photos.  We traveled to a couple of other indoor locations and even took a few minutes to get a handful of shots outside.  Both of these girls are so sweet and we had a blast capturing their senior photos. Here is a little about what the twins had to say about their session with us:

“Our photo session was amazing! Karen was so easy to work with and she captured the most perfect shots. We really didn’t know what we wanted at first, and Karen’s ideas and suggestions were exactly what we were going for. Our biggest fear about the photo shoot was the weather and feeling natural in front of the camera. Although it was snowing and extremely cold, Karen was still able to get some good outside shots and made it so easy! We were so nervous at first, Karen made us feel comfortable and she was so nice we felt completely at ease. Our favorite photo is the one where we are laying down facing opposite ways looking up at the camera because of the mirror image and the perfect and interesting angle. The most memorable part of our senior session? All of it! From getting our hair and makeup done at Haus of Heir to the multiple locations we shot at. We would say that it was one of our best experiences we ever had and Karen was so nice and welcoming. We definitely recommend!  We love Moxie Design because Karen was so welcoming and willing to provide new ideas and every photo felt special and creative.

One piece of advice that Keira and Korrine have for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Have fun and be confident.”  <– Great advice, ladies!!

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

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

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Orion High School Photography | Meet Emalee

Meet Emalee.
This Orion High School beauty and I met up last fall and she absolutely blew her session out of the water.  I remember when we arrived at our first location that the wind was super crazy. Luckily, we found some spots that were shaded from the breeze and some rain clouds that came overhead. When I found out that Emalee wanted some photos take some photos with her mom, I thought that this first location would be perfect and it was! To see how much love is between these two was so heart warming – I loved seeing how they were so close! I know that Emalee is a huge Taylor Swift fan, so I brought along some T Swift photos / album covers that we could reference and recreate – and we had a blast working on these!  We moved to our second location and encountered the most beautiful yellow flower fields – it looked like something out of a movie.  We ended the night downtown and Em brought the most breathtaking red dress along. As soon as I saw that dress in her wardrobe consultation, I knew the perfect location for it! We were able to capture some really beautiful sky images as well as some photos in these perfectly matched gold doorways.

Here is a little about what Emalee had to say about her session with Moxie:
“Karen is one of the nicest, most talented photographers, and I would 1000% recommend her to anyone looking for a senior photo shoot that exceeds all expectations. I absolutely loved my senior photo experience! I never felt uncomfortable around Karen. She made me feel so confident! She is an absolute artist with her camera. The overall look I was going for was boho for many of my shots but I also wore a formal red dress for an upscale look. I was a little nervous at first, but Karen made the entire experience easy and comfortable. My favorite part was how Karen incorporated my favorite book into the shoot. She also took several photos of my mom and I, and I will cherish those photos forever. My most memorable part of the session was Karen recognizing my love for Taylor Swift and how we incorporated some Taylor Swift poses into my shoot. I love Moxie Design because Karen is amazingly talented! She took my vision and created beautiful and unique photos!”

One piece of advice that Emalee has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “I would tell other seniors to not be shy about expressing themselves, and to just relax and have fun!”

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

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

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. 

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Orion High School Senior Pictures | Meet Kodilynn

Meet Kodilynn.
This Orion senior and I met up last fall on a crazy weather day.  We started at a local park where Kodilynn wanted to get some shots with her super cool car.  She had the most beautiful yellow beaded dress – so gorgeous! We continued around the park and captured another look before heading out to Orion.  We arrived to Kodilynn’s family farm and got to drive around the property by golf cart – so much fun! We took a short drive to a waterfall and let me tell you – it was chilly water. Usually I have my hip waders for getting into rivers and streams, but I didn’t know that this would be an accessible water location so both Kylie and I took our shoes and socks off in order to save some time to get the right lighting and angles for some pretty pictures.  From there, we headed back to Kodi’s parent’s property and we could have shot there for days without running out of new locations. There was a pond with a rowboat, a dock, endless fields, haybails – you name it!  Towards the end of the shoot, the wind rolled in and it started raining.  Ten years of shooting on location and this was the first one that literally took my breath away because the winds were whipping in between 45 & 60 miles per hour. It went from a beautiful day to instant winter!  Luckily, we only had a few minutes left when the storm arrived and Kodi pushed through to the very end!

Here is a little about what Kodilynn had to say about her session with Moxie: “My senior session was amazing. Working with Moxie, you feel like a princess and Karen along with her team are super sweet. My favorite part was how well you’re treated and how the day really does feel like its all about you. You really do get to feel like a professional model and its a lot of fun!  My favorite photo would have to be when I was in the rowboat on the pond. The picture itself is super cool and it was a fun experience learning how to row a boat real quick. The most memorable part would have to be standing in the cold water with the water fountain.  With Moxie, you feel like a princess getting your hair and makeup done and its a cool experience to be a model for the day!

If she could describe her overall senior session experience in one word, she would choose  “fun!”
Thanks for welcoming us to your beautiful farm, Kodilynn! We loved our time 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. 

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North Scott Senior Photos | Meet Avery

Meet Avery.
This absolutely stunning North Scott senior and I met up last fall for her senior photos on a really warm day.  It was so fun to kick off her session with her pup in a field of grass!  After that, we walked a fun route around the park where we ended up near the water.  I always bring my hip waders to get into water and prevent getting soaked while shooting. As I was getting in the river, I was making sure that there was a path for Avery that wouldn’t be too deep and I looked up and saw Avery and Kylie who were making these faces and screaming.  Apparently there was a snake that was swimming in the water and was wrapped around my leg and when it came out of the water it made a hissing face. We all ended up screaming, I climbed out of the water faster than you can imagine and it provided us with a really good laugh.  After seeing that, we didn’t meander back into the water again, we decided that taking photos next to it would be just fine.  Shortly after that, we saw a family who was fishing along the shore and while we were shooting a ways down the river, this sweet little girl picked a bouquet of wild flowers and brought it over to Avery where you could see her just looking at Avery in awe. She wanted to give the beautiful princess that I was taking pictures of a flower bouquet so that we could include it in the shoot. I think all of our hearts melted a little bit in that moment and it was such a sweet memory.

Here is a little about what Avery had to say about Avery session with Moxie:
“My senior pictures were everything I had hoped for! Karen was friendly and professional and made me feel comfortable and personalized my session to who I am as an individual.  She made me feel carefree during the shoot, and I had fun! Karen’s calm manner helped me to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I can be shy and don’t always love photos of myself. Karen made sure that I felt comfortable and took the time to get to know me and make sure I felt calm, and relaxed during the session. My favorite part of my senior pictures was being able to do all of the different scenery and having the experience of having someone do my hair and makeup at the salon. They did an amazing job!! My favorite photo was when I was by the water. It was peaceful, until the snake showed up 🙂  My favorite experience was when a little girl in the park saw me taking my pictures all dressed up and thought I was a princess. She made me a bouquet of flowers and was very sweet. We took pictures with them and the little girl was thrilled. Karen will make her feel comfortable and beautiful and she will make sure your pictures are everything you wanted and you will love them! I love Moxie Design because my pictures turned out better than I could have expected and I felt carefree and had a great time!”

One piece of advice that Avery has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Have a great time and trust Karen with your session! Trust that Karen knows what she is doing, and your pictures will be beautiful.”

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

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

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Bettendorf Senior Portraits | Meet Avery.

Meet Avery.
This beauty and I have had the opportunity to work together multiple times over the past year as she is not only a Moxie model representing the Class of 2023 but she is also the winner of the Thrift Store Challenge (stay tuned for that blog post – coming soon)!  We met up with Avery for her full senior session over the summer and it was a really warm day, but nothing that a few blotting cloths couldn’t fix!  We started out at BHS getting some soccer photos and then traveled an amazing route. Avery’s awesome mom Carrie had arranged for us to shoot inside and around the property at the Outing Club – which was epic! Their garden area is so beautiful and we captured some stunning shots on their wrap around porch.  We finished the night downtown and ended on the top of a parking garage where we had the most beautiful sunset!  Avery was open to every idea that I had (even adding a pop of color to her lips for her last few shots – which was truly amazing).  Right now we are in the midst of planning our Class of 2024 model prom session, which kicks off the new season and I am super excited for that, but also a bit nostalgic as I know I will be missing my ’23 model crew.  Avery, you are truly a wonderful and beautiful person inside and out and I am so glad that I got to know you through our shoots together!

Here is a little about what Avery had to say about her session with Moxie:  “Working with Karen is truly a breath taking and once in a lifetime opportunity.  My session was unforgettable. It was truly amazing and she could not have helped me better throughout the day! I had so much fun and was felt so comfortable the entire time.  Overall, I was going for more city and sunset roof top look. Going into the shoot, I honestly didn’t really have a fear. I was so excited for weeks in advance and I didn’t really worry about anything:) Karen made me feel so special during my entire shoot and truly made my day about me and worked so well with me! The most memorable part would have to be changing outfits in the middle of the street in the outfit changing tent!  Karen always made sure I was comfortable and was enjoying myself!  Moxie has not only brought me wonderful photos but I also got to participate in a commercial which would not have happened without Moxie and Karen!  I love Moxie Design because of the wonderful experience and shots I got!!”

One piece of advice that Avery has for other seniors getting their photos taken?  “One piece of advice would be to not over think or be uptight about anything. Relax and have fun it’s your day!!!!!!”

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

I have absolutely loved our time together working on shoots, Avery! 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. 

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Bettendorf Senior Pictures | Meet Nathan

Meet Nathan.

I have known my buddy Nathan for quite a few years as we met during his sister’s time as a Moxie model, so I was super excited when I got his application to join the model team and it was an immediate YES! Nathan is an absolute joy to be around and I love the energy he brought each and every time we worked together. You may remember him from the prom shoot last spring where he had on the most amazing pink vest, tie (and socks)!  Nathan is never without his huge smile and was always up for any idea that I suggested.  His amazing mom Christa had secured an amazing indoor location for his session where we were able to play around with lighting and fog machines – it was a true rock star experience! We were able to capture some fishing photos and also some pictures with his adorable dog, Mocha! I also got to work with Mocha during the fall and winter sessions that Nathan was a part of and what an adorable pup!!

Here is a little about what my buddy Nathan had to say about his session: “I love Moxie Design because with Karen you are family. My session was so exciting! I wanted something fun so I loved showing off my musical instruments and showing off the different activities I love. Its hard for me to look at the camera so I was afraid of my pictures looking weird but my photos are so amazing. I get asked all the time who did them. The most memorable part was definitely being on stage with the fog and lights was super fun – those rockstar photos are my favorites too! It was seriously the best time- Do it!”

One piece of advice that Nathan has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Be open to all ideas. Bring things you love.”

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, Nathan!!  I have loved working with you and Mocha!!

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. 

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Quad City Senior Photography | Meet Sophie

Meet Sophie.
We met up with this stunning senior late last summer on a pretty perfect day. Sophie is so sweet and has the best smile! When I saw her outfits during her wardrobe consult before her session, I was super excited. She had three beautiful dresses and then these floral pants that I was obsessing over, and another look that had a white shirt with the most amazing sleeves!  We met up at a park for the majority of Sophie’s session and were able to get a variety of looks there.  One of my favorites has to be of Sophie in her blue dress with her adorable boots on. She is laying in the grass and has just the most beautiful smile in that shot! We ended the night at Pleasant Valley High School where we were able to get some photos on the football field!

Here is a little about what Sophie had to say about her session with us:  “It was amazing! I was going for floral, simple, summery vibes. I definitely recommend Moxie Design because I was so comfortable with Karen and she hyped me up throughout the entire shoot to make me feel so confident. My biggest fear was that I would look awkward in my photos but Karen made me feel so confident and comfortable that it was so easy to naturally pose. My favorite part was experimenting with different angles and poses and seeing how they would come out with the different sceneries we were in.  I love all of my photos but my favorite is the one in my green dress leaning against the white fence because the lighting is gorgeous and it looks so natural.  The most memorable part of my session was going into the greenery in one of my dresses to get the perfect forest vibe shot. I love Moxie Design because Karen makes it the best experience ever by hyping everyone up to be confident and natural during the shoot.”

One piece of advice that Sophie has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Don’t be scared!! Karen is the best person to have taking your photos, she makes you feel right at home no matter where you are.”

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

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year through your photos, Sophie!!
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. 

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Pleasant Valley High School Senior Pictures | Meet Jack

Meet Jack.
This PV senior and I met up on a day late last summer and we had an amazing shoot! I was looking forward to working with Jack as I have known his awesome mom since I was a teenager and I knew that we would have so much fun!  Everyone knows that I love when my seniors incorporate parts of their lives into their session so when I heard that Jack was going to bring along his fishing rod and truck, I was pumped. But then I found out that we were going to be doing baseball pictures AND he was dressing up for one look – I mean, does it get any better than that?  We shared so many laughs during Jack’s session and captured some amazing images.  We started out at Augustana College, which served as the perfect backdrop for Jack’s formal look. We also took advantage of their beautiful grounds and got some pictures by the slough and on the bridge.  From there, we headed downtown for some photos with Jack’s truck, which turned out perfectly.  We ended the night at Pleasant Valley’s baseball field and I knew that Jack wanted a photo at bat, so we set the lighting to be perfect and started shooting. Before we knew it, it was dark out and the shoot was finished. We had so much fun that the session went by in the blink of an eye.

Here is a little about what Jack had to say about his session with Moxie: “I’m not one to enjoy my picture being taken but Karen made it fun. Before I knew it I was relaxed and enjoying the process, which isn’t my usual. The snack and special drink was a great surprise as well. I had no previous expectations, however shooting in my baseball uniform with smoke was really sick. My biggest fear was not being happy with the way I looked in the photos. I still am not a fan of the camera but I was very happy with the way my images turned out. Thanks Karen! My favorite part of the snacks. Also using my truck and capturing shot with my fishing pole. Two of my favorite things.  My best friend, Addi was there at the shoot and I think she is going to have you do her senior photos. That says a lot! I love Moxie Design because Karen is so creative and makes the senior pictures unique.”

One piece of advice that Jack has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “relax.” <– simple but amazing advice, my friend!

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

Thank you for letting us be a part of your senior year, Jack!!  Kylie and I had a blast with you during your session!
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. 

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Geneseo Senior Pictures | Meet Emma

Meet Emma.
We met up with this beauty late summer of last year on a gorgeous afternoon.  I was so excited because we had accidentally discovered this beautiful lavender field a few days prior to her session, so I knew that we should use that as one of our locations to capture some flower images!  Emma is absolutely a blast to be around. We talked fashion, art and shared so many laughs throughout the afternoon. I loved that she had her own super cool sense of style with accessories and I was super jazzed that she put on a bold lip color for the last look of the night!

Here is a little about what Emma had to say about her session with Moxie: “It was amazing! Karen was so nice, and the whole time I felt super comfortable even though I was a little nervous at first to be in front of a camera. I loved the lavender field that Karen took us to. I got to take my shoes off! I’ve seen photos of instagram models in a field of flowers, bare footed and looking beautiful and natural, and I got to experience that too! I wanted to capture something that felt like ‘me’! I wanted to look good, and feel comfortable in my clothing. The poses that Karen chose were fun to execute, and I felt like they really helped make my personality shine through. My biggest fear was, to be honest, having photos taken of myself. I really hate photo shoots, and I was expecting to hate this one. Karen kept things very casual and fun though, and I ended up liking almost all of my photos! One of my favorites would have to be one from the lavender field. It made me feel beautiful and impressive, like the main character of a dramatic film or a muse in a music video.  The most memorable part of the session was getting changed in the parking lot. Karen had a pop-up changing room that was as impressive as it was startling to be introduced to!  It was super fun, and the results were gorgeous! It was fun, exciting, and completely worth it. I love Moxie Design because Karen went at my pace and made sure I had fun.”

One piece of advice that Emma has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Chill out. It’s not as big a deal as it feels like. It takes some time, but it’ll be fun and rewarding!”

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

It was so much fun spending the afternoon with you and your mom, Emma!  Thanks for letting us capture your senior pictures!
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. 

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Moline High School Senior Pictures | Meet Emma

Meet Emma.
Sometimes when you meet someone, it’s just like you’ve known them forever – something clicks and you just feel at ease immediately.  That is what it was like when Matt and I met up with Emma and her amazing mom Julie during her senior session last September. We started out in the Village, where from the very first shot, I knew that we were going to have a wonderful session.  Emma comes alive in front of the camera and it was more like shooting a fashion spread for a magazine than a senior session.   We got to our second downtown shooting area during rush hour and there were so. many. cars.  I have never heard so many honks, hoots and hollars than when we were shooting next to that busy street – all four of us couldn’t stop laughing at the chaos that Emma’s senior session was causing with these commuters!  Next we headed to a park where we found a structure that was wrapped in the most beautiful flowers, but it was in smack dab in the middle of a path of direct sun.  Matt climbed up on a bench and somehow managed to get the uneven sun spots off of Emma’s face, resulting in one of my favorite images of all time.  We then meandered back to a creek and the little pond area we were trying to access was surrounded in poison ivy. I created a little trail for Emma with my reflector so that she could safely gain access to this super cool tree trunk that had fallen, which made a perfect area for a few images.  We ended the night at Wharton Field House where we were able to use both the indoor basketball court and outdoor football field for cheer photos – a first for me!  I was pumped that we were able to capture both sporting seasons and I love the Friday night lights vibe that the football photos have!  I have to send a huge shout out to Emma for being featured numerous times nationally with the few teasers that we have shared from her session! ROCKSTAR all the way!

Here is a little about what Emma had to say about her session with us: “My experience was AMAZING!! Karen is absolutely the best to work with and I recommend her to everyone! Karen made me feel so at ease and comfortable with the whole process and also made it enjoyable with lots of laughs. For my shoot, I just wanted to have different looks that represented my personality and let me be myself.  My “biggest fear” was that I was going to look awkward while posing and my pictures would end up showing that. However, Karen helped with every pose and helped me to feel as natural as possible. My favorite part of my experience was getting to feel like an actual model from both Haus of Heir along with Karen hyping me up the entire time! I wish I could pick a favorite, but there are just too many to choose from that I adore! The most memorable part of my session was getting honks and cheers from people driving by during the shoot or trying to avoid poison ivy while climbing into the creek. I love Moxie because of Karen!”

When I asked Emma what she would tell her best friend about Moxie if they asked, she said “Go do it. Now!”  (this made me crack up- Love you, Emma)!

One piece of advice that Emma has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Relax. You’ve got this! Karen helps you with every single thing and makes you feel so comfortable from the moment you meet her! Your shoot will be so amazing!”

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

So happy to have met you through your senior pictures, Em!  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. 

 

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Orion High School Photography | Meet Blayden

Meet Blayden.  Sam and I met up with this handsome Orion high school senior last fall on an unseasonably warm day and had so much fun during his session! We started out at a beautiful property with amazing structures that we were able to shoot in and around. We had fun walking around the farm and even got a few photos along the country road.  Next we headed to the baseball field, before heading to the high school, where we got some shots with Blayden’s car.  We ended the night at the Charger field and I could immediately tell that Blayden was in his element.  We experimented with smoke bombs, took some shots on the bleachers and finished up on the field. One of Blayden’s football photos was even featured nationally and then went on to be published in a magazine!  I remember that even though it was warm during the afternoon, when the sun went down, we all got pretty chilly – I couldn’t feel my fingers on the walk back to the car! All in all, it was a wonderful day with Blayden and his awesome mom Christine!

Here is a little about what Blayden had to say about his session with Moxie: “Moxie all the WAY!  My session was awesome! I loved every minute of it –  Karen was super nice and brought excellent ideas to make the experience fantastic -plus she brought snacks!  I wanted to go for a natural look focusing on my love for football!  I was worried about my hair but it turned out great!  Also, the session was in November so weather was a concern. My favorite part had to be all of Karen’s ideas plus making my senior session an experience I will remember forever!  The most memorable part of my session would have to be being on Charger field in the month of November and it was warm. I love Moxie Design because of Karen’s personality and ideas for photos.”

One piece of advice that Blayden has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “Think through ahead of time what you want your most focus to be set on! Mine was football hands down.”

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

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

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. 

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