A Little About Me || The Girl Behind the Camera

The heart behind Sarah Rolling Photography, the little things I love, and the moments that mean the most.

If you’re new here, hi! I’m Sarah. 🤍

I thought it was about time I shared a little more about the girl behind the camera, because while photography is my business, it’s also so much more than that. It’s my dream, my passion, and one of the biggest parts of who I am.

Outside of photography, you’ll usually find me shopping for something I absolutely don’t need, rearranging something in my home, spending time with my family, or romanticizing all the little things that make life feel special. I love fashion, home decor, a good coffee, and anything that feels cozy, beautiful, and intentional.

But more than anything, I love the people in my life. I’m one of four sisters, with the most loving mom and dad, one sweet niece, and three nephews who make life so much more fun. Being an aunt is one of my favorite things in the world, and some of my happiest moments are the simple ones spent with my family.

This past year, I also fell in love with the sweetest, most loving man. The kind of person who feels like such a gift, who makes the ordinary days feel special, and who reminds you just how beautiful it is to have someone in your corner. It's been a year full of so much love, growth, and gratitude — even in the seasons that haven't been easy.

And that brings me to something a little more personal.

This year has also been one of the hardest on my health. Living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis has brought challenges I never expected, and it's taught me a lot about slowing down, giving myself grace, and appreciating the good days in a completely different way. Some seasons look a little different than we imagined, and I'm learning that it's okay to hold gratitude and struggle at the same time.

If anything, it's made me even more aware of how precious the little moments really are. The dinners with family, the belly laughs, the quiet evenings, the people who show up for you, and the days when you feel like yourself again. Those are the things I never want to take for granted.

And honestly, I think that's a big part of why I love photography so much.

The Little Girl Who Always Had a Camera

Photography has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I was always the little girl taking pictures of everything, and that never really changed. I carried that love with me through high school and college, always finding a reason to document the people, places, and memories around me.

I grew up in a small town and graduated with about 25 kids in my class. It's funny to look back at that little girl and realize how much life was waiting for her.

College brought some of the best memories of my life. I was a dual-sport athlete, playing both basketball and softball, and those years taught me so much about teamwork, discipline, friendship, and showing up even when things get hard. Looking back, I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.

Seven years ago, I made the move to Des Moines. SEVEN YEARS. How is that even possible?!

Moving here was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone, opened doors I never could have imagined, and gave me the opportunity to turn the little dream I had as a girl into the life I get to live today.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and tell that little girl that the thing she loved doing so much would one day become her full-time career. I think she'd be pretty proud.

More Than Just Pretty Pictures

Today, I have the absolute privilege of running Sarah Rolling Photography and co-owning a photography studio with some of my very favorite photographer friends. Getting to build something alongside people who understand this crazy, beautiful industry is such a gift.

From wedding days to branding sessions, families, seniors, and all the little milestones in between, I get to meet so many incredible people and be invited into some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.

And that is my WHY.

It's never just about taking a pretty picture. It's about the nervous excitement before a wedding ceremony, the way a mom looks at her babies, the laughter between best friends, the happy tears, the in-between moments nobody planned, and the little details that might seem ordinary today but mean everything years from now.

It's about meeting clients who eventually become friends. It's about getting to celebrate alongside people, hear their stories, and preserve pieces of their lives that they can come back to long after the moment has passed.

I want my photographs to feel like something. I want you to look at an image years from now and remember exactly how that season of life felt. The people who were there, the way you laughed, the way someone held your hand, and all the little things you might not even realize you'll miss one day.

Because life moves quickly. Seasons change. Kids grow up. Families evolve. And the moments that feel so ordinary today often become the ones we wish we could relive.

Getting to preserve those memories for other people is something I will never take lightly.

A Little Reminder to Slow Down

If there's one thing life has been teaching me lately, it's that you don't have to have everything figured out to appreciate where you are.

You can be chasing big dreams while learning to slow down. You can be incredibly grateful for your life and still have hard days. You can be proud of how far you've come while still figuring out what's next.

I'm learning to make more room for the things that matter most: my health, my family, the love I've found, the friendships that fill my cup, and the work that makes me feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I'm still the girl who loves getting dressed up, finding something new for my home, and taking pictures of absolutely everything. I'm still dreaming, growing, and figuring it all out as I go.

But more than ever, I'm learning that the most beautiful parts of life aren't always the big, picture-perfect moments. Sometimes they're the quiet ones happening right in front of us.

And those are the moments I want to keep remembering, too.

Thank you for being here, for supporting my little business, for trusting me with your memories, and for allowing me to do something I've dreamed about since I was a little girl. Whether you've been here from the beginning or just found your way to my corner of the internet, I'm so happy you're here.

I truly love what I do, and I don't take for granted that I get to do it.

Here's to capturing the big days, the little moments, the messy middle, and everything in between. 🤍

With so much love,

Sarah