{An Iowa Farm Senior Session}

From the moment Malea stepped into the studio and handed me the sweetest bouquet of fresh-cut flowers she had grown and arranged herself, I knew this session was going to be about so much more than senior pictures. It was going to be about who she is. And honestly, that’s what I always strive for in every senior session.

When we started planning her session, one thing was clear: we wanted it to feel like the farm girl she truly is. We spent the evening surrounded by the places and the animals that have shaped so much of her life, including one very special guest…her show pig, Gloria, who she’ll be showing at the Kossuth County Fair in just a couple of weeks.

I love when seniors choose to include the things that have become part of their story because years from now, these won’t just be senior pictures. They’ll be reminders of early mornings in the barn, county fair memories, and a season of life they’ll never get back.

As we wandered through the farm, it became obvious that caring for animals isn’t simply a hobby for Malea. It’s part of who she is. She’s the current president of the Algona FFA chapter, serves as the district FFA reporter, has held numerous leadership roles through FFA, 4-H, and even served as part of the 2024 Kossuth County Fair Royalty. Leadership seems to follow her wherever she goes. But what impressed me even more is how she leads. Quietly, kindly, and with a servant’s heart. Outside of school, Malea works as a CNA at Good Samaritan, where she gets to care for others in a completely different way. Whether she’s caring for residents, tending to animals, or growing flowers, there’s a common thread running through all of it.

One of my favorite details from the session was incorporating another one of her passions…flowers. Not flowers she bought, but flowers she grew herself. Malea recently started her own fresh-cut flower business, and the bouquet she created for her session was absolutely beautiful. Watching her proudly carry something she had planted, nurtured, and designed made the images feel so much more personal. It’s one thing to have a creative hobby. It’s another level to have the courage to turn it into a business! And somehow, that doesn’t surprise me one bit! She’s the kind of young woman who isn’t afraid to work hard, step into leadership, or try something outside of her comfort zone.

Whether she’s baking, golfing, cheering at football games, playing basketball, organizing absolutely everything (a girl after my own heart!), or spending time with family and friends, she approaches life with purpose. Next year, she’ll be heading to Iowa State University to study Animal Science on the pre-veterinary track. And I can’t imagine a better fit! The world could always use more people like Malea who has a heart for caring.

Malea, thank you for inviting me into your world for an evening! Thank you for sharing Gloria, your flowers, your story, and the places that mean so much to you. Also, THANK YOU for being a part of TEAM 27! You are incredibly kind, hardworking, and full of ambition and determination. I’ve loved photographing you this year and I’m excited to spend even more time with you! I have a feeling this is only the beginning of an amazing future, and I can’t wait to see all that you accomplish! The best is still ahead!

Check out Malea’s Blooms on Instagram @maleasblooms

Check out Malea in TEAM 27’s spring mini session!