Arizona and Destination Wedding and Portrait Photographer - Brooke Photography - The Blog

Kevin + Aubrey + baby make 3

2012-01-30T14:43:00.000-08:00

I was so thrilled when Aubrey contacted me to tell me her and Kevin her having a baby. It was May 9, 2009 when I shot their wedding. When we scheduled their belly session, it was originally scheduled here in Prescott. The day came and we had 40+ mph winds and scattered showers (not optimal weather for a shoot...lol) We decided to meet 1/2 between Phoenix and Prescott at a very small town called Rock Springs. Don't get me wrong when I say small, but the only thing really there is a bar, cafe and store all in the same building (and would you believe they hold weddings there too?) I couldn't be more thrilled!

Got Engaged?

2012-01-21T10:00:00.001-08:00

Engagements sessions are on the brain! I love it! So many couples got engaged over Christmas and have started the adventure of wedding planning. One of the greatest ways to get to know your photographer before the big day is to have them do an Engagement Session with you. It is my favorite way to get to know the soon-to-be bride and groom and for them to get to know me, my personality, the way I shoot all before the wedding day! Check out some of the couples I got to know during their E-session!

Andrew + Shari's Wedding

2012-01-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

If there was ever a DIY wedding, this was it! Shari and friends and family worked on every little detail of the wedding for months. Gathering mismatched place settings from thrift stores, finding 100+ Mason jars for iced tea, creating hand-made signs for each table, fresh pies and cobbler for dessert and so much more! Andrew and Shari chose Granite Creek Vineyard for it's rustic, vintage charm and that surely comes out in their photos. Wonderful family, great friends, lots of laughter and yes dancing on a Sunday in an old barn in the middle of nowhere (a little "Foot Loosish")

Frank + Victoria's E-session

2012-01-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

When I first met Victoria and her mother over lunch, I felt like I was sitting at the table with my Aunt Pat. There is something wonderfully similar when Italian families get together and almost always there is food involved. Then I got the pleasure of meeting Fransesco (Frank) at the E-session and what a charmer (another trait of Italians). As we wandered around Tlaquepaque in Sedona taking photos I was imagining their wedding surrounded by my familia. What a fun day that will be. I am looking forward to sharing such a day with them! Please enjoy their photos and video at the end!

Time for a change!

2012-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

I have never been a big "New Year's Resolution" kinda gal. I have always had the philosophy that no time is like present. In order to make changes, you have to make the decision to do it. Well I have made a decision to make some pretty crucial changes in my life. Over the past year or two, I have found myself becoming more and more selfish, a bit lazy, and even short tempered (totally not who I am). If you know me at all you are probably thinking, "Are you serious? You are a kind, thoughtful, giving person who is always on the go!" You are right until you are looking in the windows at my personal life. I spend my time staring at my computer screen. I don't have a whole lot of conversations with my husband that don't lead to some sarcasm or disrespect. I don't shut things off enough to sit with my grandson and listen to him tell me about his pretend game he is playing all by himself.

That's why I am sharing this. I want everyone to know that no matter how much you feel like you are in a rut, or that you can't change things or maybe it's just too hard to change things...YOU CAN! It's just about making the decision to do so! I have decided to pray more. I have decided to spend more time with the family. I have decided to lose 25 pounds and get healthy. I have decided to make the extra effort to show my husband how much I love and appreciate him. I have decided to hold my tongue more. I have decided to get organized in my business.

This is going to a good year!

Baby Madeline

2012-01-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I did a belly session for Josh and Kathleen and they were so hilarious!

Then Madeline came, and such joy filled their home! What a wonderful baby! What a wonderful family! Of course I love that fact that I was shooting a baby for two Marines..Ooh Rah! I went into baby Madeline's room which Kathleen had decorated while Josh was out of town and the beautifully painted and decorated room was filled with butterflies. What a sweet theme!

Wedding Package Giveaway

2012-01-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce the WINNER of our Wedding Package Giveaway. 22 couples entered and rallied LIKEs on their photos for votes. After a crazy, exciting, stressful, most amazing 3 days, our winner will be booking Brooke Photography for their wedding day photography! Their package is valued at $3590.00 and consists of 8 hours of photographic coverage, 16x24 canvas, 2 hour Engagement Session, $200 product credit, DVD slide show, Online proofing/purchase gallery. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.

CONGRATULATIONS PETER & RUBY

Welcome our new intern, Tracy Hyslip!

2011-08-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to announce our newest addition to the team, Tracy Hyslip. Tracy is on an internship with Brooke Photography. Tracy grew up in the Prescott area and graduated Bradshaw Mountain High School. She is a wife and mother of the amazing Riley! I asked Tracy to come out and do a session with Sam, her husband and Riley...the most important people in her life. Your family is beautiful Tracy!

Here's a little bit about Tracy...

~ What are 5 things important to you? Sam, Riley and baby, My relationship with God and doing His will in our lives, Making my husband and son happy and giving them what they want and meeting their every need, and raising my son/kids the right way( Old fashioned, and how God wants us to raise him)

~ What is your favorite thing to shoot? Well right now it is Riley cause that is what I shoot most and I love being able to go back and look at how much he has grown and all the milestones he has accomplished....but other than that I would say any little kid is fun to shoot.

~What equipment do you use? Canon 7d and 5d a 28-135 IS lens and 50mm F1.4 Lens.

~ What are your goals as far as your business? To be able to give people beautiful pictures that they can look back on and remember things by, and hopefully pass down in their family.

~ One embarrassing thing that has happened to you while shooting: Um I don't know...a while ago I was shooting a friend of mine and I accidentally sent her a text that said " hey baby how’s it going" thinking it was Sam...And it took 2 or 3 text to realize I wasn’t texting Sam cause she told me it was her....She thought it was pretty funny..

~ What is your favorite music/genre/band/song: Well I don’t really have a favorite, most of the time we will listen to either the Christian station or to the country station....unless riley wants to watch Alice in Wonderland cause then i just mimic the movie because I have watched it so many time :)

Delores, Colorado Wedding ♥ Mark + Christine

2011-08-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

What an amazing trip to beautiful Colorado. to shoot Mark and Christine's wedding and morning after Trash The Dress session. Both Mark and Christine are from Prescott so I felt like I was hanging out with my besties! The ceremony and reception was at the town's community center which sat waterside to the Delores River. Even some of the guests were from Prescott and crazy fun!

Cancun, Mexico Wedding ♥ Chris + Alissa

2011-06-28T15:54:00.002-07:00

A wedding in Cancun, Mexico was definitely an amazing and very gorgeous way to get married. The evening before the ceremony was a Marshmellow Roast on the beach with Sand Jenga. Chris and the guys awoke to a deep sea fishing trip which of course I told Gus he had to go (that had disaster all over it if I had gone), while the ladies hung out at the pool. But to do a sunrise Trash the Dress session at 5:30 the next morning was icing on the cake! We had such a wonderful time with Chris and Alissa and their families. It was like we were hanging out with our best friends. I hope you enjoy a little piece of their adventure!

Bryan + Sarah's Video

2010-11-26T17:55:00.002-08:00

I am so thrilled to have put together this video for such an amazing couple, Bryan and Sarah Chamberlain. Please leave me a little "Blog Love" to let me know you were here and feel free to view their photos in their proofing gallery in the web site. God Bless!

Baby Jacob

2010-02-28T07:56:00.002-08:00

I was so thrilled to be able to do Jacob's baby session. In 2008 I had the pleasure of shooting Brad and Kelly's wedding. Then several months ago their belly session and finally baby Jacob. I think he was very excited to get his pictures taken, because for the three hours I was there, he was wide awake up until the time I was ready to leave. Enjoy their Black and White series of this little peanut!

Anibal + Maria

2010-02-14T17:22:00.002-08:00

What can I say other than "what a fiesta". I met Maria at the salon earlier in the morning to see her videoing herself, or should I say "Flipping" herself and everything around her. She got a new Flip camera and was narrating her own video.

Then off to her house for the finishing touches and THE DRESS! I was absolutely in love with the vibrant blues in her dressing area.
Then off to a lovely ceremony in Spanish equipped with a Mariachi band.

One last stop...the Reception and amazing party!

Gus + Katherine's E-Session

2010-01-04T17:18:00.002-08:00

Gus is my step son who is a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. He recently got engaged to Katherine. They met through the highschool group church camp a couple of years ago. I love how God brought them together through Gus' move to CA. What a blessing she is. While he was on leave for the holidays, he and Katherine came home for 2 weeks, the first time we got to meet her. Of course we got in a session while they were here!

Luke + Brenna Wedding

2009-12-31T19:08:00.002-08:00

I met Brenna as a bride's maid a couple of years ago at a wedding I shot. She was one of those girls you just couldn't forget. Then I met Luke. What a sweetheart. These two put together the most intimate and loving backyard wedding I have ever been a part of. Check it out!

Gilbert - Gholson Family portaits

2009-11-13T12:45:00.002-08:00

Oh, how I LOVE LOVE Christmas. When I do family photos for Christmas it really gets me in the mood for snow, christmas cookies, cozy fires and my whole family. These families were so much fun. A while back I did a baby session for Chris and Alyssa. Now they have brought both of their families together for this crazy fun afternoon. Thanks everyone!

Zac + Amber

2009-09-18T21:03:00.002-07:00

Zac and Amber were married at the Windmill House in Chino Valley, AZ. Zac is a Sailor in the Navy and Amber is a Nurse. Amber requested that I recreate the famous poster "Kissing the War Goodbye". I had a such an amazing time shooting that shot for them as well as their entire day. Thanks you two and Zac, thank you for serving our country!

My friend Ken came out and shot some video of this awesome couple. Thanks so much Ken. It's beautiful!

Sam + Shannon's Belly Session

2009-09-18T13:10:00.002-07:00

Sam and Shannon are having a girl! They are so excited and Shannon couldn't be any more adorable! Check it out!

Baily's Senior Session

2009-08-19T19:29:00.002-07:00

Baily's photo session was done in some really fun places. We started downtown and worked our way out Williamson Valley.

Rockin' session! Check these out!

Christian + Laura Wedding

2009-08-12T20:09:00.002-07:00

I guess it continues to amaze me, the beauty of a person. I'm not necessarily talking about the outer beauty, but that inner beauty that just seeps from the skin. Laura had such beauty. I saw it right away, but when she sang a song she wrote for Christian during their ceremony, it was very difficult to contain myself. Thank you so much Christian and Laura for blessing me that day. I am grateful to be a part of it all!

Kevin & Aubrey's Trash The Dress session

2009-08-02T21:45:00.002-07:00

I thought it was fun shooting Kevin and Aubrey's Engagement session last year down at ASU, then I got the privledge of shooting their amazing wedding this Spring. But when we set out for their Trash the Dress session at Watson Lake I was thrilled! We started at the dock and when we arrived there was this beautiful sail boat and a very kind sailor. SWEET!

Then we moved into the boulders. Things just started to heat up!

I was thinking this was a great time to cool down. I love that they were as excited as I was to have them in the lake. It was tippie-toe into the cool water before the plunge!

Happy 4th of July America!

2009-07-04T13:48:00.002-07:00

We spent our 4th of July morning enjoying the Prescott Frontier Days Parade. I am proud to be the mother of two boys who serve, one Army and one Marine as well as the wife of a wonderful retired Marine. Then to have my grandson watch the parade intently, waving the American flag...

Life is good!

Jeremy + Kathleen Wedding

2009-06-16T10:49:00.002-07:00

What an amazing, very cold June day at Snowbowl, AZ. I have to admit, this was the coldest wedding day I have ever shot in. Please keep in mind....JUNE....ARIZONA. Without the windchill, it was 40 degrees, but the people at the lift were talking low 30's with th windchill.

Good thing for a B&G that just didn't care. Oh yeah, and the sun didn't show it's beauty until sunset, and a beauty it was!

One thing I didn't say was, the Father of the Bride totally ROCKED the reception!

Kaely Dawn

2009-06-16T10:48:00.002-07:00

This is the new LOVE OF MY LIFE! My new granddaughter, Kaely Dawn was born June 2nd at YRMC. She truly is a little peanut!

Grandma & grandpa love you!

Kevin + Aubrey's Wedding

2009-05-30T12:20:00.002-07:00

Kevin and Aubrey had a gorgeous wedding at Windmill Farms in Chino Valley, AZ. I think Aubrey might be related to Martha Stewart, the creativity she put into the decorating was fabulous! I got the pleasure of doing their E-Session back in November and then their Trash the Dress session the day after...those pictures to come soon! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey!

Erika's Belly Shots

2009-05-18T20:26:00.002-07:00

So here is my daughter Erika, carrying my grandaughter, Kaely Dawn. Our sweet peanut is due in two weeks. Her big brother, Brayden (which I'm sure you've seen a gazillion times already) loves to talk to her and give her "kisses" and "rasberries". Check back for baby pics when she arrives!

Jessica's Senior photos

2009-05-08T14:07:00.002-07:00

I met Jessica down at Watson Lake at the boat ramp. We took a stroll down the trail staoppping at several locations on the way to my favorite red bridge! Take a look!

Marine Gus Patrick IV

2009-04-24T13:58:00.002-07:00

Gus Jr. has always wanted to be a Marine. He used to wear his dad's old cammies. Gus Jr. did bootcamp at MCRD San Diego. It was an amazing couple of days, I think none of us will forget, especially Gus Jr.

Ashley's final home track meet!

2009-04-23T20:04:00.002-07:00

Ashley had her final home track meet this week. She passed up her old Personal Record "PR" of 10' 8" with a whopping 11' 2". Finished her first season well and excited to do it again next year, maybe taking on the Triple Jump.

Laren's Senior Photos

2009-04-20T20:18:00.002-07:00

What can I say...Laren was a trooper. I had her climbing on trees, walking through weeds and branches (serious rubbish),

and leaving her with a bloody ankle. Adventurous must be her middle name!

Brayden's Easter Egg Hunt!

2009-04-12T20:07:00.002-07:00

Well Brayden is barely two years old and is just beginning to have fun at the little things such as an Easter egg hunt in the front yard.

Oh yeah, he also thought it was just like a ball and threw one in the neighbor's yard.

Max + Baillie's Prom

2009-04-10T12:32:00.002-07:00

The night of Prescott High School's prom seems to always begin with a gathering of teens at Sharlotte Hall Museum to show off the cool digs.

Max and Baillie were so sweet to do some shots before dinner at Gurley Street Grill then off to Prom at Hassayampa Golf Club.

Kendal's Trash the Dress

2009-03-25T18:04:00.002-07:00

I am so excited about this session. First of all, I absolutely LOVE Trash the Dress sessions. Kendal and I have been trying to plan a session for about six months, debating on different location possibilities. Finally, we decided on Sedona at Tlaquepaque and we couldn't be more pleased!

Check it out!

Chuy + Valerie

2009-03-16T20:20:00.002-07:00

What can I say...I'm in love! I had so much fun with Chuy and Valerie this past weekend in Tucson. I can easily say, neither of them were camera shy! They had a beautiful Catholic ceremony at St. Elizabeths Ann Seton and then we moved over to the Tucson Omni National Golf Resort for formals and the reception. The venue was beautiful and so were the bride and groom. Check it out! (Can't wait to trash your dress Val!)

Ron + Tina

2009-03-08T09:41:00.002-07:00

Ron and Tina had a sweet intimate wedding at Tlaquepaque in Sedona, Arizona. They read their vows alone down at Oak Creek and then we did some lovely shots in the beautiful courtyards of Tlaquepaque.

Scott + Audrey's E-Session!

2009-02-28T15:05:00.002-08:00

Love the downtown area for shoot locations! Scott and Audrey chose a variety of places to play at: Firehouse Plaza, the alley behind the Palace and of course the McCormick Street Art District! Thanks guys for a fun afternoon! God bless your marriage!

Josh + Lizzie Trash the Dress Session!

2009-02-22T17:22:00.002-08:00

I absolutely LOVE "Trash the Dress" sessions! Josh and Lizzie's session has to be one of my faves. Granite Dells is an amazing location

with great variety, from the boulders, to Watson Lake, and of course the old Highway 89A!

Weddings at The Windmill House in Chino Valley, AZ

2009-02-18T14:48:00.002-08:00

I have had the pleasure of shooting weddings during all four seasons at the amazing Windmill House in Chino Valley, AZ. Tony Cordovana and Brian Ingram are fabulous and create an elegant wedding a bride will never forget. Enjoy some photos and the video below.

Check out the website to The Windmill House at http://www.jcranchaz.com/homepage.html

Thanks guys! I look forward to seeing you soon!

Weddings at The Windmill House in Chino Valley, AZ

2009-02-18T14:29:00.002-08:00

Check out the video for more amazing shots at The Windmill House.

Snowy day

2009-02-09T18:31:00.002-08:00

Today, it snowed enough that Brayden could go out and enjoy his first snowball fight with grandpa....GUESS WHO WON?

Skull Valley, AZ

2009-02-04T04:23:00.002-08:00

As a kid growing up in Prescott, AZ, my folks packed us kids up in the Jeep Wagoneer (with panel siding no doubt) and took us for drives. Skull Valley would be one of my most vivid memories. Remembering back as far as 6 years old, these row of trees always seemed to stand out. Now, I especially love them in the winter looking almost lifeless!

Baby Micheala

2009-01-29T03:48:00.002-08:00

I just love a black and white treatment on a photo, especially on baby detail shots.

This is sweet baby Micheala.

A Day at the Park

2009-01-26T03:55:00.002-08:00

I had to take my grandson, Brayden, to the park to play with the "new glass". I finally got the 24-70 f/2.8 L Series lens after drooling over it for months. No weddings to shoot in January, so the grandbaby was one of the targets.

Love him!....Love the lens!

Prescott Bridal Expo 2009

2009-01-19T18:44:00.002-08:00

What a day! We had so much fun at the Expo this year. My husband built a awesome booth for me. We had a 16'x8' booth and I told him a few moths ago I had this thought,....well he made it happen. He built a frame and mounted this faux brick panel to it for my gallery. We had a sitting area with leather and tapestry ottomans and an Animoto video playing, 2 round granite top tables with albums and drawing goodies in the gallery area. A couple gallery wraps on easels, and nice shelved lamp, and an endcap to display a few ring shots. Anyway, wanted to share and tell everyone that my husband ROCKS! (photos taken with a Powershot) There had to be about 200 brides there ready to plan their Big Day!

Check this out! From start to finish.

The big HUSH!

2009-01-15T19:49:00.002-08:00

Sunday is the big Prescott Bridal Expo at the Prescott Resort from 10:00 - 3:00. We are one of the sponsors giving away a wedding package valued at $1200.00 in the Grand Prize. My husband Gus, has been working so hard at building a booth for me. I snuck in and took a few shots. SHHHH! This is all I can share until the BIG DAY! Hope to see you there!

Nick + Cora

2009-01-10T11:10:00.002-08:00

Nick and Cora were married in Scottsdale, AZ. I had the pleasure of shooting with super sweet Amy Schubert from Teegan Photography http://www.teeganphotography.com/ She was a lot of fun and so were the bride and groom!

Weddings!

2009-01-09T06:01:00.002-08:00

Enjoy a breif sampling of some awesome weddings and Trash the Dress sessions created with the very cool Animoto video! These videos are customized and offered in EVERY wedding package. You can see them at http://www.capturethisbybrooke.com/

Tony + Shannon

2009-01-05T15:07:00.002-08:00

Tony and Shannon were married right after Christmas when Tony was home from Iraq. Here are a few shots from this very sweet and quick wedding!

A New Face in Blogging!

2009-01-04T13:22:00.002-08:00

Time to be a true blogger! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to blog WAY MORE than I do now,...you know,...every 3 or so months....YIKES! So I will share a few photos from Christmas and Brayden with his first experience with Santa other than when he was an infant. The cool thing about this Santa, is that he told about the birth of Jesus....brought me to tears!

Enjoy and PLEASE check back soon!

Nathen & Amanda

2008-10-26T19:46:00.002-07:00

One of the last of the season. These guys were so much fun. Nathen and Amanda were married on the rooftop of the Hassayampa Inn in downtown Prescott. You can see the rest in their gallery in the website http://www.capturethisbybrooke.com/ or visit their “Featured Wedding”.

2008-03-07T06:45:00.002-08:00

Trash the Dress! is in Prescott

Why not? You know you want to. Trash it! Get it filthy! Get it wet! Roll around in the mud! Drench it in the lake! Completely trash it!

You have already said ”I do!” Now what? You’ll never need the dress again. And no, your daughter won’t wear it in 20-30 years. So you have two choices: 1) Bury it in the back of your closet in a plastic bag, or 2) Have a fun time trashing the dress, and get some great cool pictures while you do it! How bad will your dress be trashed??? That's all up to you! What are you waiting for?