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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers to your awesome future, Reese!!

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

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

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

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

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

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

xoxo,

Karen

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

Meet Sam. This Pleasant Valley senior and soon to be University of Iowa freshman and I met up early last fall for his senior pictures. I love when my senior guys choose to dress up for some of their photos as those images always turn out to look sophisticated and timeless. Sam chose to wear a suit for his first look, which was a perfect fit with our modern downtown location. After we wrapped up there, we headed to a park setting where we captured some pretty awesome shots of Sam with his guitar and one of these guitar pics was published nationally by not one, but THREE high school senior publications! When we finished up at the park, we headed to PV’s track and football field to capture shots of Sam in his sporting element. I had an idea that Sam was nice enough to entertain that would showcase both of his sports passions in one image. Huge shout out to Sam for rolling with the punches on this photo as it was also published nationally!

Here is a little about what Sam had to say about his session with Moxie: “My session was a very enjoyable experience. I was a little worried it was going to be a little boring but I was pleasantly surprised. Karen kept it moving with some great poses and direction. I wanted a formal look in my suit and also a fun rock and roll vibe with my guitar. I also had my sports uniforms. I was worried it was going to be boring like I said before but it was really entertaining. The outcome was some great pictures that I am really happy about. My first location was downtown and since I was in a suit it was a perfect fit. It was urban with some great backgrounds. My second location was Devils Glen park. I used this for my guitar pictures. It was very earthy for my casual rock star look. My third location was the Pleasant Valley High School where I was able to capture the stadium and track in my sports pictures. Karen surprising me with my favorite candy and soda was a definite plus but my favorite part was seeing the final product. My most memorable moment was probably the colorful sky backgrounds that we had at the end of the evening for some of my sports pictures. My experience with Moxie was way easier than I thought it would be and Karen was a great person to work with and my pictures are awesome.”

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, Sam!!

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 Ali.
I have known for a few years that I wanted to get this gorgeous girl on the other side of my camera so when she applied to be a Moxie model, I was ecstatic. I love everything about her – she is such a sweet and genuine person and has the most gorgeous smile!! The day of Ali’s session was super hot and sunny. We knew that we would be shooting in Geneseo, and we had gotten permission to shoot at a special spot at sundown for some gorgeous sunset pictures incorporating Ali’s super cool bike, so I knew it would be a great shoot before we even got started.

Here is a little about what Ali had to say about her session with Moxie:
“My overall senior session was amazing! I had attended my sister’s senior session so I kind of knew what to expect, however it exceeded my expectations! I loved how my photos turned out. This experience was something I will never forget. I wanted something bright and colorful. I love flowers and nature so I wanted to incorporate that somehow. Karen did an amazing job! My biggest fear about this photo shoot was that I wasn’t going to like how I looked in the photos. I had never really gotten my picture taken before and thought I would be uncomfortable. I was completely wrong! Karen made me feel so comfortable in my skin in the photos I was taking. I have loved every single photo Karen has captured of me. She is the best! My favorite part of my Moxie experience was having the opportunity to be creative and different in my pictures. Karen encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I am so glad I did because those were the pictures that were my favorites. I wanted to have a lot of nature shots so the locations I chose were based around that idea. I chose a flower field that my mom and I had found in my home town and the pictures turned out gorgeous. Another place I chose was downtown Geneseo, which is where I live. The last place I chose was the Hennepin Canal. This location was based around me wanting to use my bike for some shots. The photos were so fun and different. I was happy with all the locations I chose. My most memorable moment in my session was the last hour when we were in the flower field. The sun was setting and the sky was the prettiest color. This was the most memorable for me because it was exactly what I had visioned for my senior pictures. The Moxie Design senior experience is extremely unique and unlike anything you will ever do. I highly recommend it to anyone who is wanting to make some fun memories and have some beautiful pictures. I love Moxie Design because Karen is the best!!”

One piece of advice that Ali has for other seniors getting their photos taken? “The best advice I have is to just enjoy the experience. Getting your picture taken can be uncomfortable for some people, however Karen makes it so much fun! Be open to different ideas and outfits because the pictures turn out amazing!”

Thank you for representing Moxie for the last year, Ali!! We love you!

xoxo,

Karen

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

Meet Alanio. This handsome Moline High School senior and I met up early last fall for his photo session. I had worked with Alanio’s brother, Adrien, a couple of years ago, so I knew that we would already have a blast with his parents, but I had no idea how much Sam and I would enjoy our time during this shoot. Alanio was up for literally anything – if I had a crazy idea, he would do it without question. When I asked him to run on the track a dozen times for a creative photo that I had in mind (in the 100 degree temperatures mind you) he didn’t hesitate. We typically end our shoots with sporting photos, but due to the schedule for Browning Field, we reversed and started with Alanio’s track shots and I am so glad that we did – they turned out amazing!! Alanio brought his fashion A game to the shoot and we laughed for the entire three + hours that we spent shooting that September afternoon.

Here is a little about what Alanio had to say about his session with Moxie:
“My experience was amazing. I loved Karen! She has an amazing personality and so much energy and she had some creative ideas for my photos. Your senior pictures are something you only do one time and you want to be sure they are captured at their very best. I would highly recommend Moxie! The look I was going for was casual but also cool and relaxed. I also wanted some track & field athletic shots. I thought it would be fun to incorporate my car into some photos. It was so hot the day of my shoot and my outfit selections were all long sleeved w/ pants. I was afraid I would be hot and sweaty in my photos! You would never know by looking at the pictures how hot and humid it actually was. We chose to shoot at Browning Field for my track photos. I wanted pictures of me in my element doing the thing that I love. We went to the Kone building because the whole vibe is modern with all of the glass and metal. It’s a good backdrop for a classy modern feel. For my car shots we went to the top of a parking garage. Those shots are some of my favorites as well. We also took photos in the actual Kone parking garage which turned out to be really cool. There were so many spots in the parking garage that you would never think of posing next to (railings, stairs, doors, a bike rack!). Karen just has an eye and knows what’s going to look good, and they turned out amazing. We ended my photoshoot and the very top of the parking garage with my car photos. The sun was just starting to set and the sky looked amazing! I had to get one last photo…a selfie with Karen and Sam. I would say that my session was very enjoyable. I love Moxie Design because Karen has such a great talent and an amazing eye! She also creates such a fun atmosphere.”

One piece of advice that Alanio has for other seniors getting their photos taken? ” Choose your outfit selections early on, don’t wait until the last minute! Have fun, relax and be yourself.”

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

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

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.