Hey there! I am Sally Kleiss Timmer, associate photographer at Wild Soul Weddings, and I want to share a little more with you all about who I am!
I grew up on a farm in Fredericksburg, Iowa, a small town 45 minutes north of Cedar Falls. I come from a big family with 5 siblings. When we all get together, it’s loud, crazy, and obnoxious, and I love every minute of it.
My love of photography started when I was in elementary school. I used to take my mom’s camera and go through rolls of films. I’d make my brothers pose for me and I loved shooting sunsets and farm cats. I was involved in 4-H and submitted photos every year and I was so excited when mine would be chosen to go to the Iowa State Fair!
Which leads me to another love of mine, the Iowa State Fair. Growing up, my siblings and I would show dairy cattle in the summer and showing at the State Fair was always our favorite. Though I don’t show cattle anymore, I still love to go back for at least one day every year and get my fried cheese curds and a pickle dawg (and like 100 other foods).
Growing up we did lots of family vacations which instilled a love of traveling for me. In college I was able to travel to England and Scotland and it turned me into a total anglophile. I’ve also been to Ireland, France, Italy, Mexico, St. Maarten and St. Croix. The next place I am dying to see is Amsterdam!
I attended the University of Northern Iowa and got a bachelor’s degree in Communication. My first job after graduating was as an event coordinator. I spent most of my weekends working weddings and that’s where my love of them began! I eventually got another job in the non-profit sector and am currently still working there full time. I feel so lucky that I get to work two jobs that I absolutely love!
I married my husband, Ben, in 2013. He is my rock and my better half. He has more patience than any other human I know and always knows how to make me laugh. We started our family in June 2016 with the arrival of our daughter, who has brought so much love to our lives and we are so excited to be welcoming a baby boy to our family in February! We also have two pups, Macon and Ozzie.
It was when I was pregnant with my daughter that my husband and I decided to really get our finances in order. We took the Financial Peace University class and have never looked back. We are passionate about living debt free and it has really made our marriage so much stronger as we make (and crush) financial goals together. My advice to all couples is to get your finances in order and make sure you are both on the same page!
Besides photography, I am also passionate about historical architecture and preservation. I live in my dream house, a Queen Anne Victorian, which my husband and I are restoring. My favorite weddings are when brides choose historic spaces for their ceremonies and receptions. The words stained glass, original wood work, and grand staircases make my heart sing!
I also love reading, especially historical fiction. And in my downtime, I enjoy watching historical tv dramas and movies. Peaky Blinders and The Crown are two of my absolute favorite shows! I am also addicted to true crime podcasts. I love ones that spend a whole season investigating one case. Up and Vanished Season 1 has been my favorite so far!
I think that encompasses me in a nutshell. I would love to meet you and learn a little bit more about who you are!
xoxo,
Sally