Feature Friday | Ivory + Bliss x The Pretty Golden

Ivory + Bliss is a lifestyle & wedding photography business based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with experience shooting over 300 weddings. The Pretty Golden is a creative outlet turned dreamy wedding planning & decor company that marries good design and a good experience. Last year we had the joy of working with Lindsay, the owner + photographer of Ivory + Bliss and The Pretty Golden, for her thirty three inspired birthday shoot and WOW her eye for design and details is next level. Lindsay shines with creativity, a passion for weddings and truly finds the pretty in everything. Her instagram accounts and websites are beyond gorgeous and are a look into how insanely talented Lindsay is (check them out you will not regret it)!

Let’s Get Down To Business

NAME AND OCCUPATION

Lindsay Goedken, Owner + Photographer of Ivory+Bliss, The Pretty Golden, Creative

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS

Ivory + Bliss is a women led photographer team focusing on weddings + lifestyle photography! The Pretty Golden offers custom decor + signage rentals, event planning + day of coordinating.

HOW DID Ivory + bliss COME TO LIFE & WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE IT’S CREATION?

I actually went to school for Social Work at the University of Iowa, and I had just graduated when I bought my first camera. I was planning on going back to school to get my masters and in the meantime I took a few sessions for some friends and family, It completely snowballed from there and by the end of the year I remember my husband Nate telling me “I don’t think you need to go back to school, I think you already have a full time job with photography!” It was the biggest leap of faith and scary since I had my life completely planned out otherwise, but 11 years later, here we are! It’s been the best blessing and I am so grateful that I love what I do!

What is your favorite thing about running a photography businesS?

My absolute favorite thing about being a photographer is the relationships we get to form, hands down. It’s such an honor to be trusted with these incredible moments for people and being able to witness people in pure joy. Knowing that we completely got them throughout the experience is such a treat, as cliche as it sounds!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WANTING TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

I think a lot of people think that they have to have everything completely figured out and will have guaranteed success before they hit the ground running, and I think that that can be really daunting and overwhelming. The biggest thing that helped me was investing and gaining support from people who knew more about running a business than me, like my accountant, tax person, business mentor etc, so that I could just focus on my passion and desire of growing the business, being creative and doing what I love! Since I had that awesome foundation built, It just all grew from there!

Tell Us More

IF YOU HAD TO EAT ONE FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Chicken nuggets + french fries, 1000%

ON YOUR DAYS OFF, FAVORITE THING TO DO?

Your classic Netflix + Snuggling in bed of course! With a touch of online shopping 😉

WHAT IS YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE?

Big fan of anything Cold Brew + Cold Foam

GO-TO OUTFIT?

I’d love to say a power suit, but most days you can find me in my comfiest self proclaimed “fart pants” as I like to call them, lol the coziest sweater and fuzzy socks.