Monday, January 31, 2011

Inspired

I have said it before in a previous post that I am truly inspired by those in my life.  One of the amazing people who inspires me almost daily...I have never met.  I have never looked her in the eye, hugged her, or talked to her on the phone.  Bianca Juarez started a blog not long ago and I became a loyal blog reader from the beginning.  I realized that we were the same age and yet she has already accomplished so many more things than I can even dream of. 

She has an incredible way of writing that truly speaks to my heart and she encourages me to a better person, all from hundreds of miles away.

The video below makes me feel like I am watching my best friend...I love her for that. 


In The Name of Love from Bianca Juarez on Vimeo.

She is not a celebrity, she is not rich, she IS beautiful...and she is my friend.  She encourages and inspires me through her words.

Who inspires you?


Much Love
Brooke

Friday, January 28, 2011

Just a little bit of me

I spend a crazy amount of time online every day.  I work, I read, I play, I learn, I love, I discover, I am inspired by so many things.  I love to read about the lives of others that share the same interests as I do.  I love to hear about the exciting things that are happening in the lives of those I love.

I love to blog...I just don't do it enough.  I find that by the time I have read about everyone else, I have run out of time to write for myself.  I had a personal blog, seperate from this one, but I think I will take it down and focus solely on this blog.  I want my clients and future clients to know me, inside and out.  I want them to share in my passion and the exciting things that are happening in my life.  I want to build long lasting friendships with those in my life, physically and in the internet world.

Let's enjoy this journey together...share with me what inspires you.  Today, I will tell you that the love and unending support from my beautiful clients is what inspires me.

Oh and of course because we all love pictures - here is a recent picture of ME!  My beautiful daughter took this...she is the Maddie in the MaddiePie Creations.












Much Love!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

2011 and a list of goals

In the middle of all of my blog stalking...i ran across an idea for how to make a list of goals.  Essentially, you create a list of 101 tiny goals you want to accomplish and you have to do it within 1001 days.  I'm always thinking of things I want to do.  Things I want to accomplish personally and professionally.  Things I want to accomplish with my kids.  Things I want to do with my husband.  Places I want to go.  Things I can do to better myself as a person.  So...this will help hold me accountable.  If you created a list...what would be on your list of things you wanted to accomplish?

Oh...and these are in no particular order..and I don't have 101 of them, not yet anyway

1.  Shoot a wedding located outside of Texas

2.  Go on a cruise

3.  Go to California

4.  Attend a workshop with Jasmine Star

5.  Attend a workshop with The Boudoir Divas

6.  Have my own studio

7.  Pay off all of my debt except the house and cars

8.  Find a church that moves me...really moves me

9.  Run a 5k....like really running the whole time, no walking :) 

10. Participate in something that gives back to others

11. Book 8 weddings in one consecutive year

12. Read the Bible in one year

13. Write love notes to my husband once a week for 2 months straight

14. Finish my college degree

15. Stay caught up on my filing at work for 3 months straight

16. Accept that it's ok to not always be a part of the group

17. Pray with my kids every day

18. Purchase a D700

19. Visit New York City

20. Get laser hair removal

21. Lose 20 pounds and keep it off for a year

22. Encourage someone every day

23. Take a family portrait 12 times in one year (1 per month)

24. Book 6 newborn sessions in a year

25. Create and have printed all new marketing materials

26. Build a better relationship with my mom

27. Encourage my sister to be the best person she can be and be comfortable with who she is

28. Work only part-time at my day job - i'd like to be home by 3 everyday to be with my kids

29. Send out birthday cards...before the actual birthdays occur

30.  Go to Maine

31. Get all of our pictures hung up in the house

32. Attend a photography convention

33. Take a family vacation once a year

34. Take a romantic vacation once a year

35. Read a new book every month

36. Go to SeaWorld

37. Replace our fence in our backyard

38. Redo our backyard so I will want to spend time out there

39. Be more comfortable in front of the camera

40. Ride a horse on some kind of trail ride

41. Take my kids to see a hot air balloon festival

42. Go to Jamaica

43. Make a list of my fears and acknowledge each one and make a plan to overcome them

44. Write more handwritten thank you notes

45. Blog at least 3 times per week

46. Create quarterly promotions

47. Start a photo project to display at the house

48. Make a to-do list every night...and complete at least 90% of it the next day

49. Organize my email inbox at least once a month

50. Go grocery shopping every Saturday

51.  Iron every Sunday night

52. Streamline all marketing documents and ensure consistency



I will reflect back to this post in the next 1001 days and possibly add more to it.  For now however, I am slightly overwhelmed. 

So...what's on your list?



Much Love
Brooke

Monday, January 17, 2011

Sadie's Having a Baby!!

Check out this beautiful woman! 


 
 
I met Sadie through a wonderful friend.  I posted a few months ago that I needed a woman that was pregnant so I could add to my portfolio.  I couldn't have been any more lucky!  Sadie is not only an absolutely beautiful girl - she is super sweet. 



This image by far...is my favorite.  I love how cute she looks!

 She is a cute one....but boy oh boy can she look fierce!



Sadie, I cannot wait to meet your little one!  You are beautiful and I appreciate the opportunity to take part in this chapter of your life.

Much Love

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Valentine Mini Sessions {KIDS}

Seriously!  What could be better than having your own personalized mini valentine cards? 

Great ideas for Valetine gifts for the family as well!!

All sessions must be booked no later than January 22nd


Much Love!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

52 Week Project - Week 1 {New}

My amazing friend Dana Suggs has started a 52 week photo project.  If you follow my blog, you will remember that I tried a 365 project last year.  THAT was WAY too much pressure.  I love taking pictures and if I could do nothing but that...it would be great.  So sadly, that project slipped to the wayside very quickly. 

Dana's 52 week project seems a lot more realistic.  The rules are below...You don't have to be a photographer to participate....you just have to want to improve your photoraphy and have the want to be more creative. 

This week - the theme was new.  So let me introduce you to Henry.  He is our new dog we got over the holidays.  He is 1 year old and such a sweet boy. 






Rules

1. Each photo must have been taken during that week. No grabbing a photo from last year! And it MUST follow the theme in some way.

2. If you must use Facebook instead of a blog, your facebook must be open to comments from everyone, and must be viewable to public so that everyone can view the photo.

3. Please remember to only add the PERMALINK to Linky Tools.


4. BE CREATIVE, but keep it clean. No naughty stuff, please.

5. Don’t quit! Stay committed! You’ll learn a LOT about yourself, your creativity, and also your technique!



This week’s theme is NEW! New anything: new shoes, new purse, new baby, new body, new year…..ANYTHING! Be creative and take the photo during THIS week! No cheating now!



Go check out Dana's blog and join in the fun for 2011


Much Love
Brooke