Getting to know me !

Time to get to know the face behind the camera, let me introduce myself!

My name is Gwenaelle or Gwen for short and here is my story! I grew up in St Malo, a touristic town of Brittany, France. I’ve always been an animal lover, and spent most of my life as been around dogs, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, cockatiels, hamsters and may be a mouse or two… I picked up a camera when I was young because I wanted to capture these beautiful animals and keep a legacy of their time with us. As a young girl, all I wanted to do was to be at the barn, with the horses. At school, I would be a A-student in science and my weakness was the English language. 

As I grew up, I was too scared to become a vet, so my route took me on the engineering education. Long story short, after 5 years in college I graduated and in 2011, I took on the challenge of traveling across the globe to the US, in Cedar Rapids Iowa, in a country where I barely spoke the language. I used the photography as a mean to communicate my experiences with my family back in France. 

Eventually, my English improved and beside my daily job, I volunteered my time tutor French speakers with English. I also spent time at Miracles in Motions, an equine assisted therapeutic centers for children and adults. A few years after that, I connected with Greenbriar Riding Academy and started to ride horses again. After a few years of lesson, I bought my dream horse, Glider in 2020.   

Where did photography become such a big part of my life; would you ask? Basically, my camera is by my side everywhere I go, this is my creative escape. I love the story telling style and as I improved my craft by taking photography classes, I found more and more opportunities to take pictures of others during Events, Equine Competitions, Friends birthday… I see the life through my lens. I capture all the special moments, so they are becoming eternal memories of our best moments. 

Today, I am specializing in pet photography and showing the connection between us and our favorite fur friend. I strive for keeping these memories visible to others. Memories are what makes us and our story. They should deserve a special place in our home! 

So now that you have learned a little bit more about myself, I want to get to know you! What matters to you and how can I help you capture your special memories. If you are around the Iowa corridor, reach out today, my camera is ready! 

Here are a few things that matter to me: 

• I always find the best in people. All people are beautiful and equal. 
• It is important for me to make all the people around me feel good. As an introvert, I may not be comfortable in large gathering, but I value deep connections. 
• I love to learn new things but the best part for me is when I can share what I know with others. 
• As an active listener, I want to understand your needs and vision to best serve you. I am here to realize your wishes. 
• I love the ocean and nature in general. take me where the wild life roam and I will feel part of an element I understand and where I feel I belong. 
• My favorite season may be spring and fall when the nature awake or gives us magical colors. Snow in winter is also one of my favorite time ! I also love the heat of summer but I hate the mosquitoes that come with it. That said, I think I like all seasons. 
• My favorite numbers are 2 and 0 
• I love dark coffee, pasta bread and cheese and Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts and peanut Mnms. 
• My favorite band is Pink Floyd. Perhaps an older classic band for my age but I grew up with Parents listening to them on repeat. My favorite album is Dark Side of the Moon.

a few of my favorite quotes : 

• Being positive doesn’t just make you better. It makes everyone around you better.
• You have to love what you do. If you don’t love it you’ll never work to be great at it.
• Don’t seek happiness. Decide to work with passion and purpose and happiness will find you.
• Never stop learning and growing. If you stay humble and hungry great things will continue to happen. 
• The best is still yet to come.