Close-up portraits of diverse individuals from various ethnic backgrounds and ages, arranged side-by-side, Ames, Iowa.

Sketches Studio is a creative studio based in Ames, Iowa, specializing in intentional portraiture, 35mm film, and visual direction.

Let's Talk & Create Today
A woman with curly hair looking down into a reflective, ornate, golden mirror placed on the ground, with a blue sky and tree branches in the background at McFarland Park.
The word 'Portaits' written in large black font across the image.

Intentional portraits created in studio and on location.

A woman in a dark, elegant dress holding a bouquet of flowers stands near a window in a dim, dilapidated room with peeling paint and cracked walls in downtown Ames, Iowa.
Large black text on a white background reads '35mm Film'.

Analog portraiture developed and scanned in-house.

A male basketball player in uniform with the number 20 holding two flaming basketballs with arms outstretched in a gymnasium with Ames, Iowa High School logo in the background.
Text that reads 'Selected Work' in large black letters on a white background.

A collection of portraiture, editorial, and commissioned work.

What We Do

A split image showing a negative filter of a woman on the left and a clear portrait on the right. The woman has long brown hair, a tiara, and blue feather accessories. Downtown Ames, Iowa.

Portraits
Portraits for people, creatives, graduates, professionals, and anyone with a story to tell.

35mm Film
Portraits photographed on 35mm film, with development and scanning handled in-house.

Creative Direction
Graphic design, visual direction, and photography for individuals, organizations, and brands.

Explore Services

Why Sketches Studio

Five people walking in a line outdoors during sunset, with trees and clear sky in the background in Ames, Iowa.

Photography With Intention

Every session begins with an idea. From lighting and composition to styling and final image selection, Sketches Studio approaches portraiture with the same intentionality as design. The result is photography that feels considered, personal, and distinctly yours.

Guidance throughout the session so you never have to wonder what to do in front of the camera.

Direction

Digital and 35mm film photography created with a design-driven approach.

Craft

Every image is considered, from lighting and composition to final editing.

Intentionality

The Experience

A young boy with brown hair, wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans, smiling and lying on grass with his head slightly tilted upward and hands behind him, in an outdoor setting with blurred greenery in the background. Ada Hayden Park in Ames, Iowa.

01 | Inquire

Tell me what you're looking to create.

We'll plan the session around your vision and bring it to life.

02 | Create

Your finished photographs are professionally edited and delivered through a private online gallery.

03 | Receive

Portrait Sessions

  • 45-minute session

  • 5 finished images

  • Private online gallery

Starting at $500

View Portrait Pricing

Based in Ames.
Available Throughout Iowa.

Sketches Studio is a creative portrait studio based in Ames, Iowa, serving clients throughout Central Iowa and beyond.

Let’s Create Together

Have an idea, a story, or simply want a portrait that feels like you?

Let's Talk