Meet the Ivory House Team

At Ivory House, we believe every person is important, unique, and capable of making a difference. While we are creating images and memories that last a lifetime, we are also leaders, organizers, movers and shakers in our community. Ivory House is a place for people to gather and meet new people who impact Des Moines in positive and innovative ways.

When someone joins the Ivory House team, they also sign on to our mission. Together, the women of Ivory House have signed on to the mission of empowering the people of Des Moines to show up, be seen and be Unapologetically Extra. It is our mission to be of service to you along your unique journey, so reach out! We can’t wait to collaborate with you.

Whitney Warne: Photographer + Owner of Ivory House Photography

I live out my core values in everything I do, including showing passion for my community, engaging with people, and demonstrating how every individual is valuable, beautiful and deserving of stellar photographs of themselves. I strive to be a resource for my community, creating opportunities for people to get involved in big and small ways.

Originally from Des Moines, I attended the University of Iowa for a dual degree in journalism and photography. I then moved to Rochester, NY, where I got my MFA in Photography. Living and working in Rochester after graduation was when I really fell in love with portrait photography. Moving back to Des Moines to start my business was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Established in 2016, Ivory House has grown into a positive force for good in our community. I can’t imagine doing business and living life anywhere else.

Megan Willman: Primary Photographer + Production Ninja

Megan came to me my very first summer in business. She possessed the ability to appear magically out of thin air every time I found myself in a photographic pinch. When I realized I was in desperate need of a production assistant, Megan was the first person I turned to.

Megan worked on her photography degree from DMACC while she was simultaneously working 20/30 hours as my editor. This woman knows how to get things done.

Since then, Megan has emerged as her own creative force. She is in charge of image quality control as our production manager and she is primary photographer under Ivory House, specializing in newborns, families and seniors. If you are looking for a patient, polished, sweet as pie photographer, Megan is your woman.

Amanda Arnold: Operations Manager + Gatekeeper

Amanda joined our team in 2019 and has quickly become integral and necessary for Ivory House Photography’s efficiency. Amanda is passionate about lists, spreadsheets and staying on task, making her the perfect asset to our creative team.

You will meet Amanda when you go to schedule time on the Ivory House calendar. She will be the person sending all the emails confirming your shoots and making sure we are keeping to our fast turn around times.

Behind the scenes, Amanda is constantly working to improve our processes, client experience and communication consistency. Her dedication to our clients is unmatched, making Ivory House the go to studio for busy working professionals who want great photos and an efficient, easy process.

Kaylin L: Marketing Manager + Writing Wiz

Kaylin joined the team four years ago and has been streamlining and expanding our marketing systems, managing our social media accounts, building long-term marketing plans, supporting our active campaigns, and creating gorgeous blog content.

Kaylin is a New York native currently living in California. We hosted this bi-coastal gal for a week in DSM, and she loved having her makeup done by Ivy Boyd, eating at Mulberry Tavern and the famous Delgado taco, sweating it out daily with Whitney at Power Life, and snuggling with Mr. Winston.

On top of her marketing skills, Kaylin also has a history of acting and modeling, which we put to good use in our first photoshoot. As you can see, capturing her is an absolute dream, and we really got to PLAY. Let’s give Kaylin a warm welcome! She’s already an incredible addition to our team.