Nice To Meet You
Hi, I’m Mandi Mayernik.
I’m the photographer behind Candid Touch Photography & Design — and I believe senior portraits should be anything but ordinary.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media & Design from The Illinois Institute of Art, and creativity has been the thread running through my entire career. Before building my studio, I designed websites and software, museum exhibits, Department of Defense training programs, national marketing campaigns, and even motocross graphics.
That foundation in design didn’t just shape my career — it shaped how I see.
Every session I create is intentional. Styled. Designed. Built from the ground up with purpose.
Where Art Meets Story
After nearly 16 years in the photography industry, I’ve found what truly drives me — capturing milestones that matter.
While I photograph families and children, my heart beats strongest for graduating seniors. Senior year is powerful. Transformational. Emotional. It’s the bridge between childhood and everything that comes next.
No two seniors are alike — and their portraits shouldn’t be either.
My work is bold, fashion-forward, and deeply personal. I’m known for dramatic lighting, thoughtful styling, and creating an experience that helps seniors feel confident and seen.
Only 25 seniors are photographed each year so every experience can be fully customized and unforgettable.
Printed. Tangible. Lasting.
As a wife and mother of two girls, I understand how quickly the years pass.
In a world that lives on screens, I believe in printed portraits — albums on coffee tables, framed art on walls, heirlooms that are held, not just scrolled past.
My daughters will one day flip through their childhood albums the same way I flip through mine. That matters to me.
Photography isn’t meant to disappear into a cloud folder. It’s meant to be lived with.
Rooted in Community
I’m proud to serve families across Southwest Wisconsin, Dubuque Iowa, and Galena Illinois.
While my work has been nationally recognized — including being named one of the Top 25 Senior Photographers to Follow — my heart remains rooted right here in our community.
Many of the families I photograph become long-term clients and friends. I’ve watched seniors become graduates, graduates become spouses, and young families grow.
That relationship matters.
Photography should feel personal. Because it is.
The Artist Behind the Camera
If I had to describe my style in a few words:
Unexpected. Intentional. Dramatic. Whimsical. A little bold.
I love texture. Light. Mood. Fashion. Emotion.
I love when a senior steps in front of my camera a little unsure — and leaves standing taller.
This isn’t about trends.
It’s about creating art that feels like you.
And creating portraits your family will cherish long after the cap and gown are packed away.
Yours Truly,
Mandi Mayernik
Photographer | Designer | Creative Director