Inspired: Dana Suggs

I met Dana on Facebook thru ...well, I don't really know how we were connected.  She was a photograher in Tulsa.  She knew a friend of mine, somehow she knew my sister in law, and she took beautiful pictures.

A few months later, I heard about this fantastic workshop in Tulsa...so I stalked them and found out they were giving away free seats to a workshop.  I knew Dana wanted to go..so without ever having talked to her before, i found her phone number, told her quickly who i was and how to get a free seat...and prayed she would get one before they ended the contest.

She did.

We met.  We laughed. We learned. We became friends.

Fast forward a few months, I was headed back home and told her I would be in town and would love to catch up.  She had a twin newborn session scheduled and offered, so kindly, to let me tag along.

She is amazig like that.

We laughed. We worked hard. We learned. We became even better friends.

We don't talk too often, but we really don't need to.  We are there for each other in our artistic/nonbusiness melt downs... There for each other to vent.  Happy to brag to each other about our accomplishments. Proud of each other at all times.

This year, Dana was given a new project.  She and her family felt led to be foster parents.  They have been blessed with 3 children.  Read this blog post to hear the amazing story about how their sweet family grew so suddently. From Chaos to Grace: God's sense of humor

I am so very proud of her.  She is such a remarkable woman and these 3 little children are so incredibly blessed to have her loving them every day and every moment.

Dana posted a few weeks ago she was going on vacation...uh jealous!!!  They were going to Florida to the beach - oh how I love the beach.  I was so excited for her.  They had some obstacles to overcome with the foster children, but they got the details worked out. 

She posted pictures. She facebooked. I got to live vicariously through her facebook and her status updates.  Then one day I was checking my Facebook, and something was wrong. Something had happened to the baby. 

Prayers were said all around the world.

I finally got through the blog post that she wrote taking us through each moment and each heartbreaking minute. Here is my disclaimer: it is heartbreaking.  However, the end result is good and positive.  Just brace yourself.

 From Chaos to Grace: To appreciate life...

Dana continues to face the struggles and joys of fostering.  I cannot imagine the turmoil she faces every day.  I cannot imagine how good it feels in her heart with each and every positive step forward.

Dana, you are amazing and I just know that wonderful things are in store for you and your family....of 8.

Much Love

Brooke



Inspired: FickleZeal

I haven't done a post about what inspires me in a really long time.  Today, I was reminded of a photographer that always manages to touch my heart. 

FickleZeal is a husband and wife photography team.  They have such a passion for children with Down Syndrome.  They shoot much more than that...however, it is these sessions that always push me to work harder at what I do.

I truly belive that as photographers it is our responsibility...and maybe that isn't the right word...but it is our job to capture our clients in all of their glory.  Kids are especially difficult sometimes.  They may be hungry by the time they get to the session, or tired, or just in a cranky mood for the day.  They might be shy, or nervous, or unable to communicate with me. 

However, at the end of each session, I love it when the kids have warmed up and we have been able to spend some time together and really have fun.  When I talk to a parent as they are viewing their session and they are so surprised that I was able to get the personalities of their children, after they were just positive that the session had been a disaster...that is what makes me love my job.

FickleZeal does amazing work.  I would completely recommend them for any type of session.  I know I know...I am a photographer, why in the world would I recommend another company?? 

Because I believe in them.  I admire them and they never fail to inspire me.

Take a little bit and go check out their work.  It's beautiful.  Thank you Jenna & Andre for making our industry a better place

http://www.ficklezeal.com/blog/

Much Love

Brooke

MaddiePie Creations

Fall = Family Pictures

It's that time of year.  School is back in session.  Football is going strong.  The Holidays are right around the corner. 

This is probably one of my favorite times of year.  The weather is amazing and mom's have started thinking about getting their families ready for their family pictures.  Dad's...of course they dread it, but still...how can you not love looking at the images seeing how beautiful your family is??

From about October thru the first week of December photographers are running around shooting sessions left and right.  AND I LOVE IT!  I love the busy season.  I love to see so many families taking the time to splurge on family pictures.  I love knowing that they cherish and understand that each of them will only be like this for a moment.  Kids will only be toothless for a little while.  Brothers and sisters will only love on each other for a VERY short while.  It's an amazing time for me to capture your family as you are in this perfect ... or not so perfect....moment in time.

I wanted to show you a couple of new products I will be offering this year.  In addition to Custom Christmas cards...I also have some new fun things to offer.


Mini Accordian Albums
(great for grandparents and extended family)
Available in a wallet and a square 3x3 size
Custom cover

Organic Bloom Frames

curvy, spunky, and elegant frames

Several designs to choose from and custom colors to compliment your portrait as well as your home.

Custom Proof Box

You had an amazing session, you have purchased your wall portraits, your albums and all the other fabulous items...Now you need the beautiful proof box to hold all of your 4x6 images from your session. Handcrafted Custom Proof Boxes for stylish storage of proofs and prints.

Albums

The album from your session is a priceless product.  Our albums are made with unique materials, hot contemporary colors, and beautiful styling. 

So tell me...what are you waiting for??  Get busy and call me to book your family session!  There is no better Christmas gift that pictures of your family.


Much Love
Brooke

MaddiePie Creations
817-564-3068
maddiepiecreations@yahoo.com

Inspiration Through Art {Emma}

Inspiration Through Art is a group that I am affiliated with.  Here is the quick rundown on this group:

Inspiration Through Art was founded in January 2008 by Felicia Reinhard, made up of professional photographers, artists, children, and other volunteers nationwide that provide free programs and services to our nations heroes. Through the power of photography and the gift of art we are giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

I have been blessed with two amazing families over the last couple of years and was recently contacted by two more.  There are so many great photographers that are a part of this group - that I am truly amazed when families choose me.  I have one scheduled for a little later in the year...when it cools off - since it feels like we all might melt like a box of crayons left in the back seat of a car.

However, I have been working with Emma's mommy over the last couple of weeks to get their session scheduled as soon as possible.  The email that I received truly broke my heart.  It is so sad to me that these sweet little children struggle with so much.  They truly are little hero's for being brave and strong and still keeping a smile on their face in the midst of such enormous battles.

Emma's mommy wrote:

"Our Emma was diagnosed with A chromoshomal disorder, Trachesostomy, malformation of the brain, multicystic diaplastic kidney and several other issues. She was born on 5-14-11 and she was in the NICU for 9 weeks. She has only been home 3 weeks and will go back to the hospital for another month on 9-9-11 for open heart surgery."

I seriously wanted to rush straight over and just hug this family and love on them. 

A few days later, i received another email telling me that little Emma had been Care-flighted to the hospital because her little heart rate was too fast and they couldn't get it to come down. She was starting to show signs of congestive heart failure.  It was early in the morning when I received this email and I was driving to Dallas for a big day filled full of 6 photo shoots.  They were going to schedule heart surgery in about 6 weeks and she wanted to get the session done prior to that surgery. 

I immediately called Emma's mom and talked to her for a few minutes and told her that I was sending lots of good thoughts and prayers her way.  Again, I would have given anything to rush to the hospital and envelope them in love and prayers.  They were waiting for the cardio dr to come back and talk with them about how to move forward.

I received an update this past Saturday letting me know that Emma was going to have her heart surgery this Tuesday (tomorrow).  I am so sad that we will not get to meet before her pictures.  However, I am so thankful that she is in the best place possible to receive the care that she needs.  I am so very excited to meet this brave little girl and the family that has held hands together and prayed over her.

It is families like Emma's that remind me why I love photography.  With something so simple, I can give them capture this moment in time for them. I am so blessed because of the families that I am lucky enough to meet through Inspiration Through Art.

Until I have the amazing honor to meet Emma face to face and hug her sweet little self...please stop for a moment today and tomorrow and say a prayer with me that God will watch over this beautiful little girl and bring her thru her surgery stronger and ready to conquer the next battle she must face. 

Much Love to you Emma and your Family

Brooke

Inspired - Rhema Marvanne and Dawn Shields

Facebook is an amazing gift...even through all the craziness!

I came across a post this morning linking to a story about a personal project a photographer worked on.  An 8 year old girl in Dallas, TX has taken the world by storm and is channeling her emotions from a tragedy into her gift of singing.



One little girl, one big voice, and a photographer who was able to pull it all together into one project and honor this voice and the struggles she has already endured at only 8 year old.



As a photographer, I want to make a difference. I want to touch someone's life and cause an emotion. I am insired by those that are able to make a difference.

Photographer: Dawn Shields

Much Love!

Inspired - Arden Prucha

I am a member of a fabulous online photography community called I Heart Faces.  They host workshops a couple of times a year.  I haven't been fortunate enough to attend one, but just as soon as I pay for my new camera - it's on the list!

At the last workshop they held, a dear friend of mine was RAVING about this photog she met, Arden Prucha.  I have been blog stalking her...as we all like to do :), and have fallen in love with her and her photography.  She is here in Fort Worth and we are actually working on a little meet and greet here in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait!

She is a beautiful person and she is so very giving with her knowledge.  In an industry that likes to keep it's secrets close, she very willingly shares what she can with the community of photographers.

Arden, I am excited to meet you in a few weeks and hope to insire others as you have inspired me!


Much Love!
Brooke

MaddiePie Creations

Inspired

If you have been following along...over the few weeks I have been posting once a week things that inspire me. Today is a special one, because I truly believe that we can all be inspired as well as learn something from these special little people.

I have the honor to be a spotlighted on the Inspiration Through Art blog today as one of the March photographers. I am a part of this organization that is doing wonderful things for families that have children that suffer from disabilities or illness.

Last year I had the amazing opportunity to spend time with this fabulous little boy, Jackson and his family.

Still today, this is one of my favorite images I have every taken. I love the spirit you can see within him.

So let me ask you to help me be inspired and to insire others to help out. Do you know of a child who suffers from a serious illness or life altering disability? Help us share their stories and inspire people all over the world! Check out Inspiration Through Art.

My goal for 2011 - is to help 6 families through this organization. These little Hero's inspire me every time I read a new story.

Much Love
Brooke

Inspired - Jasmine Star

This time of year is really tough for a lot of photographers.  It is the calm before the storm.  It is a time when we panic because we are not as busy as we would like to be and even though the calendars are filling up in the coming months ... at this moment it looks bleak.

I take January and February to work on things that I know I will not have time for in the coming months.  I work on my branding, education, take workshops, learn as much as I can to become a better photographer.  I never want to stand still.  I never want to think that I know everything.

When I evaluate things that I want to learn over the coming year, I almost always come back to wanting to learn from Jasmine Star.  She is self taught and has such a personality and flare for the things in her life.  She continually inspires others...and as she puts it this incredible video, she is Telling Her Own Story.

Jasmine Star - Love your story from Anton Lorimer on Vimeo.

Tonight I have an online workshop with Crave Photography, next week I'm attending a seminar by the incredible Jerry Ghionis.  So look for a lot of exciting things coming up as I continue to be inspired and continue to grow.

Much Love

Inspired

Can you feel the love in the air?  Can you feel how happiness is all around?  No...well move around a little.  It's there!  I promise!  Sometimes, we just need to change our surroundings a little to remember how loved and how blessed we truly are.

It is so very easy to fall into a pit of worry and sadness and start feeling overwhelmed.  For me...I get very overwhelmed by the business of photography.  It is incredibly hard to see so many others who are so very successful and know that in reality...I have only a fraction of the business they have.  It's overwhelming some days to wonder if it is truly going to "happen" for me.  Will I be able to take this business and grow it and become what the world considers successful?

Sometimes, you have to change your surroundings and your ways of thinking.  For me, I have to step back and realize that while I am not as busy as I would like to be I have grown my business each year.  I have made relationships that have grown me as a photographer as well as a person.  I know that one day, I will look back and be completely blown away by what I have accomplished.

So...can you feel the love?  Can you feel the truly amazing things that are in your life and pushing you to be a better person? 

A couple of years ago I came across a woman who truly inspired me to use photography in a way that wasn't about "me".  Sometimes when we are so focused on how can I grow my business or how can I make more money...we forget that we have the power and ability to truly affect someone else's life.

Kristen Weaver started a project called Images For A Cure two years ago.  I was one of the original photographers that participated.  It was shortly after I decided that I wanted MaddiePie Creations to be my own little business.  This year I was not able to participate due to some personal medical issues - however, it has been amazing to watch the things that she has accomplished since starting this project.  Kristen inspires me to remember that I have the ability to truly change someone's life with a simple thing like a picture. 

I have the ability to capture a moment in time that might otherwise be forgotten.


So take a few moments today and think about how truly loved you are.  I know one thing...if you are reading this...you are loved by me!


Much Love
Brooke

http://www.maddiepiecreations.com/

Inspired

I look to many things to get inspired.  A pretty picture, a song, a commercial, a magazine article...the list goes on and on.  In today's world, we have an unlimited amount of resources at our fingertips that have the ability to inspire and educate us. 

One of my favorite places to go is The Maternal Lens  This website is a group of ladies that have come together and been blessed to offer a wide array of information and inspiration to photographers everywhere.  Today I spent over an hour just looking at images on their blog and reading blog posts from other photographers.

What a great way to run your business...sharing your passion with others.  The ladies of The Maternal Lens inspire me and constantly give me ideas that spark ideas in my photography and in my life.

So...Thank you!  Thank you for sharing your passion, your thoughts, and your friendships with us.

Oh, and here's a couple of quick images from the Boudoir Day we did a few weeks ago.  The ladies that attended were beyond beautiful and I am proud to say that I am friends with them as well!

Much Love!
Brooke

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