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Kayse Wieneke

she/her
Owner / Lead Photographer / Hype Girl

Hey! I am the owner and main photographer at Rose Quartz Photography.

I got started with photography as a profession in 2012, doing contract work for a company that taught me all about how NOT to run a business. I took what I learned and focused on client connection and care, and I’ve been able to build a fantastic client base of people I truly love to spend time with.

I was the friend who carried my camera with me everywhere (before smart phones!) and took photos of my friends hanging out and made us all an end of the year slideshow every year. I started photographing and "modeling" with a friend in high school. The result was some really ridiculous, amateur hilarity that was taken very seriously at the time, inspired by America's Next Top Model.

When I was in college for Communication Art & Design, I carried my big, heavy, first DSLR camera in my purse and walked around town photographing graffiti and dead trees, just for the love of being creative. After college, I started photographing friends engagement photos and my nieces as they grew, and soon I was moving on up to weddings, seniors, and families that weren't my own. I've now lost track of how many weddings I've photographed, and how many laughs, hugs, and moments I've witnessed.

My favorite sessions to photograph are couples that absolutely adore each other, senior graduates who love to showcase their passions, and women who need a little reminder of the badassery everyone else sees in them.

​Favorite hobby: Eating chips and guacamole while kayaking
Favorite animal: Cats
Fave post session treat: Decaf latte with oatmilk and vanilla
Favorite color: Black
Most binge watched show: Friends
Most often listening to: True crime podcasts, unless it's dark out
Dream travel location: Iceland
Hero: Living: Rosemary Gladstar, Not Living: Frida Kahlo
Dream session: Engagements that include champagne, flowy boho dresses, felt hats, and salt flats
Goals for 2024: Take more days off!

Kia Ahrens

she/her
Second Shooter / Pro at Wedding Detail Shots

If you've worked with us before, chances are, you've met Kia!

Kayse took her on as an “intern” in 2016, and lo and behold, she’s stuck with Rose Quartz Photography ever since. Although she has an adoration for photographing romantic couples (I mean, this gal loves Nicholas Sparks-esque romance!), she has also found a special niche with photographing details - wedding flat lays, candids, and those itty bitty newborn features. She never fails to document every special moment, no matter how big or small, when she's behind the camera.

Aside from photography, Kia is also into the biological sciences. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Biology in the spring of 2022, and is currently pursing a Master's degree in Microbiology and Cell Science. This led her to her current position as the Molecular Production Lead at Microbiologics.

Favorite hobby: Traveling!
Favorite animal: Elephants
Fave post session treat: Berries
Favorite color: Blush pink
Most binge watched show: Grey's Anatomy
Most often listening to: Current country music
Dream Travel Location: A full Europe tour (especially Italy and France!)
Hero: Rosalind Franklin
Dream Session: An extravagant mountaintop proposal at sunset
Goals for 2024: Prioritize self-care and a healthy work-school-life balance

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Why Rose Quartz?

Rose Quartz is a mineral that is said to tap into the feelings of the heart, and represents love and care. Whether it's a wedding, family photos, or senior photos, everything we photograph revolves around love, joy, and growth.

Sessions that are on our wishlist:

 
  • Boudoir session with champagne and confetti

  • 100th birthday shoot, complete with balloons and cake - checked it off the list in 2022, 10/10 would do it again!

  • Engagement style shoot for a couple that's been married 50 years

Kind words.

 

Christina & Grant

 

We cannot rave enough about Rose Quartz! We were fortunate to have a family member recommend Kayse to us when we were looking for our engagement and wedding photographer - and we have been measuring every other photographer we've used since then against our first experience with Kayse! She was 100% up for our adventurous engagement session and made our wedding day photography feel effortless. When we had our first child a couple years later we had moved away from the area. We tried a few other photographers throughout the newborn and milestone stages but could not find someone as easy to work with that gave us a gallery as amazing as Kayse does. When it came time for our little one's first birthday, we were throwing the party back home near our families - and used it as a perfect opporunity to finally return to our favorte photographer! You could say that we drove over 500 miles to get photos done by Kayse ;) And when our usually smiley & happy little one-year-old cried during almost the entire session I was panicking and trying everything to get our child to cooperate. Kayse, on the other hand, stayed calm and was so patient with him. I was still afraid there would be very little for her to work with but she once again delivered a truly magical gallery. We have never once been disappointed with our decision to work with Kayse and know we will be returning to her again and again in the future!

 

Kari

 

Kayse has way of making everyone feel comfortable and have fun with the photo shoot. This creates raw, natural, and real moments that capture so amazingly to create the most cherished photographs and memories. As a mom of two small kids, stressing over getting the perfect posed photographs is so real but yet an unrealistic expectation. Kayse has so much patience in these situations and reassures that capturing the kids' true personalities and letting them do what makes them happy in the shoots truly creates the best outcomes! I am always in complete awe when receiving my photos back and so eager to share her work with everyone. Thank you, Kayse, for capturing these special moments in time for me to look back on forever!

 

Lisa

 

Kayse is amazing! I have been lucky enough to have her photograph both of my children since they were born. She is awesome in so many ways. One quality that sticks out for me is her flexibility. She allowed me to pick nontraditional ages for my kids' first year photo package - 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year. She has adjusted times and dates based on health concerns and if weather/logistical issues pop up. She is up for taking photos anywhere; we've gone to parks, had a photoshoot at our house, we often use her studio, and the list goes on! She also captures whatever is happening at the time. It might be a 3 month session for my son, but if my daughter steals the spotlight, Kayse goes with the flow and photographs her too. I also love that she is up for whatever I throw at her. I have given her a few theme ideas, and she ran with them and made them look even better than I envisioned. She always reaches out about outfit choices, so she can make sure things will look great. I highly recommend using Kayse (Rose Quartz Photography) for your photography needs.

I also want to mention Kia. She is Kayse's second photographer, and she is such an awesome addition. My kids are drawn to her and are so smiley when she is around.