Griffin & Aston

Griffin had his first official play date today.  He's been asking to have his friend Aston come over for weeks.  Kate and I scheduled one a couple of weeks ago -- then when the day came we both kind of forgot -- and wouldn't you know, Griffin remembered!  He gave me a big, sad face and said, "mom...what about my playdate with Aston?"  I called Kate immediately and we rescheduled.  :)

The boys were so cute together.  And, Griffin couldn't have been more proud/giddy when Kate dropped Aston off.  I see many more playdates in their future. 





(I'm not sure Aston realized how much love was coming his way...and Griffin was not holding back on his feelings!)

Brooke Brown Photography

At the beginning of October I casually opened a photography business. It all started with a rehearsal dinner I agreed to shoot for my friend Kelly -- a power hour instructor at the Y/my swim stroke coach. Then, another friend asked if I'd take Christmas card pictures for her/her friends (13 families over 5 afternoons). Since the mini-sessions I've received additional referrals for more sessions -- including several regular (60-90 min) family shoots and another rehearsal dinner this Friday night (turns out one of the girls/moms from one of my mini-shoots coordinates all events for Sonoma Restaurant Uptown as well as Founders Hall and referred me to one of her customers).

Its been fun! I'm s-l-o-w-l-y working on a website. Until its up and running, here's a photo from each of my October sessions. No rhyme or reason which photo I picked from each session - just wanted to be sure that I didn't use someone's Christmas card picture so I picked a bunch of single child shots and just a few family shots. :)

Adelaide

I'm way behind in posting cute, cute pics of my sweet, brand-spanking new niece Adelaide. The boys are I traveled to VA when she was born to hang out for a few days. They were rock stars on the trip, in the hotel, at their new cousin's pad. They are so excited for a new cousin. Adelaide stole our hearts while we were there. She is perfect. She is beautiful. She is family. We love her. So much.

they were all in awe of her.

griffin climbed up on the counter so he could watch adelaide's bath.




Lindsey, Jason, and I went outside for some pictures. Nacho has been a great big bro.











Can't wait to go back and visit next week!

The Mayor

The last time I posted, I mentioned that I'd been asked to photograph an event for an organization -- and that event would include the mayor. I was beyond ecstatic about it -- mostly just that I was thought of/asked.  The organization I worked with is called Leave a Legacy and their mission is to promote awareness about the that impact that can be made by leaving a charitable legacy.  I'm probably not remembering these statistics exactly, but approximately 85% of individuals donate to organizations while they are living -- but only 7% donate upon their death/in their wills. 

Mayor Foxx proclaimed October 17-23rd "Leave a Legacy Week", so the organization was given the opportunity to meet with the Mayor and they wanted a photographer there to document it. 


While we waited in the lobby of the mayor's office in the Government Building I met different members of the organization as well as political heavy-hitters/supporters within the community. I asked my contact what she had in mind and she said that she was unsure of what the meeting would be like and unsure of how long it would last (10 minutes? 30 minutes?) but that she just wanted a group shot at the end. Next I asked the Mayor's assistant where the meeting would be so that I could check the lighting -- he confirmed that the meeting would be in the mayor's office (lots of light there!). When we finally went back to the mayor's office, Mayor Foxx greeted us all with a warm smile and a friendly handshake -- and the mayor's assistant leaned toward me and quietly said, "take all the time you need to get set-up/figure out your lighting"). I responded that I thought I'd be fine, since the photo would be "at the end". He gave me a smile, that led me to believe that he knew more than I did. Sure enough, we walked into the room and the mayor looked at me and said, "where do you want me?" I thought I was photographing an event -- when it turns out the photograph WAS the event. We had him "fake sign" the proclamation at his desk (I literally clicked my camera twice...it was that posed) and then he took a few pictures with some heavy-hitters while holding the proclamation. Again, I think I clicked 3 times. That was it. Short and sweet.

I took only two different poses (desk and in front of his credenza) and I was able to pick apart why almost every picture wasn't perfect (ah, gotta love that eldest-child perfectionism kicking in!). But, my contact said they loved them and they were just what they had in mind, so I guess, who am I to judge so harshly? :) (e.g. one of the pictures on their site -- it bugs me how one of the woman's faces is not crisp -- that kind of thing)

All in all, a cool experience - and a great organization to learn about (wasn't familiar with them at all before). As a bonus, I've been needing a new celeb to love, since the Pioneer Woman snubbed me & my buds on her blog....now I got the mayor. Its a win-win. haha

Work Weekend

I had such a fun "work weekend" and now officially have five "family" clients.  Crazy, huh?  I'm also excited that by next weekend my family clients will double.  WOW!  All five this weekend were "mini-sessions" and the goal of most was just to get a good family Christmas card picture. Lots of traditional group shots and then some other candid kid shots too. Twenty-five minutes FLIES by and I didn't want to miss any potential cute candids so I j.u.s.t k.e.p.t s.n.a.p.p.i.n.g. I'll be paying the price this week while I go through and edit them. :) The last family each day got additional "bonus" time. Its just so fun that once I get started I don't want to stop. :)

Had this cute family today.  At the end of the posed stuff I busted out the fake mustaches and glasses. It was hilarious. At one point the mom had the mustached on her stomach (she's preggo with her 3rd boy).  Feeling lucky that all of the families this weekend were so much fun to hang out with!


I learned a TON this weekend.  Some highlights:
- be prepared for anything at your location.  on saturday there was a wedding there (had to move to the back side of the museum for the last shoot).  on sunday there were other photographers/families everywhere.  we had to side-step around each other (i quickly realized i don't know what photographer etiquette is in these cases). 
- be prepared for kids that cry, kids that whine, kids that have really runny noses (need to carry tissues in my camera bag!), kids that fall and get bloody, kids that rummage through my bag (fine with me...the kids were thrilled to find my tictacs -- note to self: keep them on hand all the time).
- be prepared with a step stool if you are 5' 2'' and your clients are 6 feet tall.  woops.  learned this one in hindsight.   thank goodness for the seated shots.  :)
- be prepared with props.  they are a huge help (fun factor, mix up the standard stuff, etc..)
- be prepared to act like a kid, run around and play a bunch (anticipated this to be true and it really was.  really love this part of it. had two families tell me their last photographer didn't do this at all.)
- the best light really is the last hour of the day.  its amazing, dreamy light.  all other light just drives you to the shade. 

WOW Weekend Wrap-up:
Tonight I got a call from an acquaintance (mother of Noah's new bf at preschool) who asked if I'd be up for taking a picture for a friend of hers on Monday afternoon.  I said 'sure'.  Turns out its for a non-profit organization called "Leave A Legacy" and my job is to take photos of the mayor signing a proclamation naming this week "Leave A Legacy Week."  I mean, seriously, I'm going to be in a small room with the mayor tomorrow because of my basically amateur photography?!  I can't tell you how many times I've said to Mike, "I just feel like the Lord is opening all of these doors....this is all happening so quickly....it just feels like its His timing, preparing me to make an impact, to provide a service offering....something."  Who knows how the future will unfold...I just know my heart is open (and I'm excited to meet the mayor!  :).

Boys at the Mint Museum

I took the boys to the Mint Museum last night for a little playtime and to check out the lighting.  I have six family mini-photo sessions there this weekend -- my big official launch of 'brooke brown photography' -- and I wanted to check out the area one last time before the they start.  I've done other sessions for trade and just to practice (here is one) but these are the first family sessions that people are actually paying me.  Wowza. 

My friend Allison let me borrow a cute antique chair.


I brought a quilt and some pom poms and asked the boys to "throw them in the air on 1-2-3!"  Guess its a developed skill to also get all the kids within sight on the frame?  :)  I'll keep working on that one.


I also brought chairs with me.  Miles got them out of the back, set them up, and then they all got in.  This isn't exactly what I had in mind.  HA!



There are some bricks steps there.  I thought, "let's try over there...."  Again, not what I had in mind.   Although, I will admit, their styling may be some of the problem  :)



Miles kept giving me fake smiles.


And when I asked them to "please sit down on the brick and just don't smoosh each other" it turned into this.  Really?!?!


Again, "can you just sit/stand nicely next to each other?" turned into this:




There were other shots that I love, except for the funny expressions or complete head turns - like these:



(for the record, i love sunflare pictures.  they hold so much emotion in them for me.  mike, on the other hand, thinks that many of them should go straight to the trash -- so I don't blame you if you hate these too :). 

But, after all the flops, these melt my heart and make all worth it. 



Wish me luck this weekend!   Hoping (needing!) to get more than just "the one" shot that makes the mother's heart do flip flops.  If you are the praying kind, I'll take some -- for peace and a calm feeling during the shoots....for an excellent memory (not my forte) to remember everyone's names....for a quick mind, as I only have 25 minutes to spend with each family so I need to make each shot really work....and for a joyful spirit throughout it all --- I really want all of these sessions to be FUN.