brooke collier photography

little one : sophia is 2

2011-03-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

sweet little sophia turned two this week. she gets cuter all the time, i swear it. and i get to watch her grow in grace and playfulness and character over the years because i'm her auntie. it was such a treat to have her and her mom and dad come spend a few nights with us in MI (they live in Pittsburgh). enjoy these yummy photos of the dear little one. happiest 2nd birthday, Sweetie.

vowed: michelle + steven

2010-11-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

i adored these two almost from the moment they walked in the door at the starbucks, where we met to talk about their wedding plans. they are bright, genuine, and full of life and loooooove. then, after shooting their engagement photos i was completely sold on them. so it was an honor and delight to spend their wedding day bearing witness to their unique and true-blue love.

they were wed at historic bowens mills, a place that transports you through time back to another era, where cars didn't exist, women spun their own fibers, and blacksmiths were in high demand. the day was unseasonably warm (in the high 70s on october?!). steven's sweet daughter annalise, along with the flower girls, contributed a certain magic to the day. and the fall themes of apple red, cider, and autumn leaves were just right.

this wedding also had several truly one-of-a-kind features to it. for instance, a unity TREE that michelle and steven watered, and later planted in the yard of their shared home. and a family unification ceremony, in which michelle got to commit herself to annalise (there were tears, you'd better believe!).

a million thanks to steven and michelle for letting me in on this day.

sisters: kristen + stephanie

2010-11-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

i didn't get to have a sister growing up. now i've got 5 amazing sisters-in-law, which is a gift to be sure. but i still get a little jealous of girls who grew up alongside a sister. alright, so kristen and stephanie actually didn't get along so well in their earlier years, but now they're the best of friends. they sort of rediscovered one another in their adulthood. looking at these photos, you can see their mutual enjoyment of one another. they could hardly stop laughing. so sweet.

and take note, btw: less-usual sorts of photo sessions are such a treat. you don't have to be photographed with your spouse or your kids... you can be photographed with your best bud(s), a sibling, or even a pet. be creative!

tribe: hoekstra-koole family

2010-11-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

this is not the first time i've been this family's photographer. the first time i did family portraits for john and heather, they only had one kiddo. then there were two. now, as you can see, there are four. (you may also notice that my photography has improved over the course of these years!).

sam, owen, gabe, and ben. there is so much boy energy in this little family. rather than fight it, we tried to work with it... hence the jumping and the funny faces. :) that's how i roll.

i know a smile will spread across your face as you look through these images. enjoy!

wanna see a bit more? click here.

graduate: lorraine

2010-11-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

some people call her "sweet lorraine" (you know the song?). and it's not hard to see why. she has the gentlest manner, and such joy in her face. lorraine isn't entirely sure yet what she wants to pursue after high school, but i love all of her options. if i were her, i'd have trouble choosing, too.

lorraine goes to school with katey, and the two of them are the best of friends, so they did their sessions together. that's why you'll see lots of similarities of scenery in her session and katey's.

here's lorraine...

graduate: katey

2010-11-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

katey is a young woman of integrity and intelligence combined with determination. and i can't wait to see where this one ends up. she's planning on law school, you know. and her heart is to use that degree to seek justice for those who lack it. gotta love that.

for her senior portrait session, we headed to her school for most of the shoot. she goes to this brilliant environmental science academy. as she and lorraine led me through the property on which they learn much of their curriculum, i started to get jealous. imagine how great it would be if all schools put their students in the wildness of the outdoors on a daily basis, and taught them how to cooperate with it?!

here's katey...

something different: a boudoir session!

2010-11-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

nicolette wanted to give her husband a birthday gift of boudoir or pin-up photography. which i think is one of the sexiest, boldest, most loving gifts a woman could give to her husband. but when nicolette asked me if i would be the photographer for this project, at first i turned her down. i wasn't sure i wanted to get into this particular genre of photography. but then i thought to myself, "it is good to challenge yourself." besides that, this is safe person to experiment on this with.

so we went back and forth a bit about style preferences. we decided on something subtly suggestive, elegant, and vintage. we knew we were NOT going for racy, porn-like, or vulgar. with these parameters in mind, we got to work. while our husbands were out for a beer, we took a little over and hour to create the images you see here (and lots more that you don't get to see -- they're for jason!).

i'm not trying to make this my new niche, but nicolette has been urging me to consider making myself available to other women who want a similar sort of gift to give their husbands. she said,

I really think if you enjoyed doing this you could easily create a niche for yourself you have an amazing eye. I think your couples shots are awesome, but dude your pin-up photos are beautiful. I mean your creativity shines through on these and I think people would LOVE for you to make them feel sensual. Few and far between women believe they are beautiful...

so, if you're reading this, and you think you'd like to do something like this, you can email me (brooke at brookecollierphoto dot com) and we'll can talk more about it. ;)

duet: jason + nicolette

2010-11-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

i've been shooting so much lately in natural, outdoor areas. which is a bit unexpected, coming from a girl who lives in a very gritty, urban area. so heading to chicago's wicker park to do this session was a welcome change of pace and scenery. nicolette and jason have been married for just over 3 years now, and i was there on that day, standing proudly in my emerald green anthropology dress, witnessing their coming together. never were there two more suited to one another. their senses of humor, their hobbies, their ideas of home and family... it all meshes so well. and when you're with them, you feel welcomed right into the carefree circle of friendship that they share between them. tim and i love to spend time with these two.

so i'm pleased to introduce you to jason and nicolette...

intended: michelle + steven

2010-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

steven and michelle's engagement sessions was honestly one of my favorites of the year. they were so creatively invested in the session, bringing along props and great ideas, and taking me with them to one of their most special places -- The Happy Place. on top of the beauty and creativity, the chemistry between these two is just outrageous. i mean, just look at how it oozes out of them. seriously.

i also related to michelle and steven on the basis of their whirlwind romance and short engagement. they were married just two weeks after i took these engagement photos, which was three months after they got engaged. its another case of "when you know, you know." and i enjoy that a lot.

wanna see some more? look here.

vowed: anneke + joel

2010-10-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

yup, i just posted their engagement photos not long ago. that's because they were taken one week before their wedding. better late than never, right?

anneke is my sister-in-law's sister. so i've known her for a while, from those times when my family and hers have both been together. and she's sweet and smart, and her husband is upright and gentle. their wedding reflected their utter lack of pretension, their convictions of faith, and their enjoyment of family. it was so easy to be with them, and to capture this day.

also fun was the fact that they were married in the same church that i attended when i was in high school, and the one where my brother got married to anneke's sister. it's a special place, even if it could use some interior design renovation. ;)

well, without further ado, the photos...

classic beauty right here.

anneke is quick to laugh.
just before first sight. i LOVE these moments...
oh, sweet sisterhood...
this is a gorgeous crew of women, is it not?
and these handsome guys. all so very j. crew.
the same chemistry in their engagement photos showed up on their wedding day, too.

and a sweet kiss to the forehead.

this is four generation of women in anneke's family.
anneke's mom helps straighten her dad's tie before the ceremony. i love these little "side moments"
two violinists played the processional and recessional.

a little pre-marital advice from a friend.
and some scripture and prayer with her girls.

toasts from her sisters.
and from joel's best man.

this is such a cool thing. anneke's grandparents "won" in the dance for who is married the longest (60 years!). so they got a gift.
you can tell these two have fun together.
grandma dancing with her grand daughters.
'twas a great dance party.
to see more, visit their wedding album.

vowed: miya + ryan

2010-10-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

ryan and miya. young and in love. these two are self-professed country kids. they make their home out in the country, and most of their formal photos were taken at a civil-war era farm across the street from their house. they chose Post Family Farms for their reception site -- a fun and character-filled farm -- where they were married outdoors with back-lit forest as a backdrop (i adore outdoor weddings, btw).

their guests enjoyed zip lines, the farm animals, and lots of space to wander and enjoy. the details in this wedding were also amazing, and perfectly suited to the theme. the home-made jam with custom-made, too-cute labels, the wildflower bouquets in old milk jugs, and the cupcake wedding cake... everything showed the personalized attention of friends and family.

i enjoyed this little excursion into the country life. and i wish these two all the triumphs and joys of a long love.

i adore this shot of miya -- a soft, candid moment.
this little kid was such a ham.
the guys are in old milking stalls for this shot.
ryan is crazy for john deere. so of course we had to have a group shot in front of his tractor.

i am here to tell you that this jam was darn good. yup, i took some home.
one of the cutest and most cheerful cakes i saw this wedding season...
i am a fan of wildflower bouquets, or flowers from farm markets. you know they're in season locally. and they give such a natural feel to things. also, brides, they're much easier on the budget! (i used farm market flowers in my own wedding).
this barn at Post Family Farms was truly great.
miya and her mom have a moment before she walks down the aisle.
there were chickens, horses, goats, sheep... such fun. if i hadn't been "on duty" i would have been enjoying petting the animals, too.

seriously, trees are the best cathedral, don't you think? also, i love miya's face in this one.

one of my favorite shots from the day, for reasons entirely personal. it's quirky and a bit off-subject, but i like it.
and away they rode into the sunset... in a greenhouse wagon. :)
to see more, you can check out their wedding album.

a november special

2010-10-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

MINI-SESSIONS

perfect for getting a christmas-card photo,
or just a great session in a simpler, more cost-effective way!

includes:

45 minutes of shooting,

20 proofs to choose from,

and a $50 print credit

cost: $125

to schedule your mini-session, email me (brooke@brookecollierphoto.com)

intended: anneke + joel

2010-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

anneke and joel are a BLAST to photograph. they're gorgeous, playful, affectionate, easy going and in love. what more could you ask for. it's so nice to photograph a couple who just knows what to do, who so naturally interacts... as these two do.

and on top of all of their photogenic qualities, they are good quality people. so kind, faithful Christians, and super fun. we did this engagement session only 5 days before their wedding day, and it set the scene for what would follow on that wedding day: a thoughtful, genuine commitment, seasoned with laughter.

thanks so much to the two of you for inviting me in on this super special time in your lives. and may God give you many, many good years together, always as in love as you are in these photos.
and if this wasn't enough for you, you can see some more here.

graduate : laura

2010-08-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

ah, laura. i cannot believe that this is the "little" sister of my since-2nd-grade best buddy. i remember when she was born, for pete's sake. and now here she is, a sweet and lovely young woman, about to graduate from high school. i was thrilled that she looked me up when it came time for her senior portraits.

laura and i, along with another of her sisters, spent some time walking around Michigan State University's horticultural gardens and then headed to a nature center on the other side of town to wrap up.

wanna see some more? click here.

tribe: justin + marguerite + claire

2010-07-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

this is not a formal or official session. it's just some of my family, at their cottage and walking on the beach of lake michigan. having recently landed back in Grand Rapids, and with my husband across the country, i've been camping out with my brother, sister-in-law and baby niece. i'm living at their house with them, and on this particular weekend, i joined them at marguerite's family cottage for a night. got to sleep on the sleeping porch (heavenly), walk on the beach, eat grilled dinners, make my niece laugh, and stay up late talking.

so i took some shots of them during one walk on the beach, and also during claire's kitchen sink bath time (she LOVES it). and i really love these images and decided to work with them a bit. i processed them in an even more strongly vintage-y way than i normally would because this is just for fun; it's play. what do you think of their vintage look?

there are some more here, too.

duet: lon + linda

2010-07-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

my sweet mom- and dad-in-law asked me if i would take some photos of them on the occasion of their 35th wedding anniversary. of course i said yes! first of all, all of us kids haven't much in the way of recent photographs of them and tim and i would, for selfish reasons, like to have one to hang in our house in Michigan. and also, 35 years is worth celebrating, is it not?! it always encourages my heart to see couples who've made it for decades in love and commitment, with no sign of slowing.

linda-mom and lon-dad have been so accepting of me as the most recent addition to the collier clan. even though they only got to meet me a handful of times (or maybe only twice?) before i was engaged to their son, they did not protest about us moving too fast, and instead celebrated us right from the beginning. and they made the drive to Michigan for our wedding, through the middle of the night, to be with us on our special day. i'm so grateful to them for also offering a welcoming and homey place to come this year when i was so far away from my own home... i could always go to theirs.

so, here's to you two! i love you both and hope that you like these pictures, too!

to see a bit more, visit here.

duet : jordan + patricia

2010-07-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

this past year, a big part of my development as a photographer has happened alongside patricia espedal of rejoy photography. we're both been in madison this year, both relatively newly-wed to our fantastic husbands, and both finally taking the plunge into building our photography businesses. and, as God would have it, we're both being brought out of madison and into different cities -- her to colorado springs, and i to grand rapids.

but before our respective departures, we decided on a session swap. both of us are approaching our anniversaries (her, her second and i, my first), and this seemed as good an excuse as any.

so we headed out to pheasant branch conservancy with a van-load full of camera gear and props, and for three hours photographed one another with our husbands. in addition to lugging around globes, baskets, metal stars, and camera bags, they even acted as our mosquito-swatters in the thick woods, so that our shooting wouldn't be interrupted by having to do the task ourselves. yes, they are patient, admirable men!
so, to you patricia: may your path be wide and filled with light. may you find many beautiful people and places on which to turn your lens. may your marriage deepen in humor and unity as each year passes. i thank you for your friendship, your sharing of knowledge, and your willingness to learn alongside me this year. here's to continuing collaboration, encouragement, and friendship!

wanna see more? go here.

graduate: kayla

2010-07-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

the word that kept coming to mind while i was working on kayla's photos was VIBRANT. kayla is a vibrant beauty with a personality to match. she's got the ginormous heart that has taken her on several missions trips to various developing countries, plays a mean game of lacrosse, and has great taste in tunes, which we listened to as we drove around from place to place ("all you need is love..."). it was so nice to hang out with her!

she's gorgeous, right?! i mean, c'mon!

get 50% off a portrait session!!!

2010-07-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

are you recently engaged? celebrating an anniversary with your spouse? got adorable kids and no recent photographs? having a baby? wish you had some wonderful photos of your entire family together? if you said yes to any of these things, or know someone who would say yes to one of these things, you should keep reading.

announcing, a simple contest that could result in you winning a portrait session for 50% off the usual price (that means, it'll cost $125, and include a $75 print credit).

details:

for grand rapids or lansing area (michigan)
for couple/engagement, family, or baby portraits
for any time in august or september

how to enter:

go to my facebook page and leave a comment on my wall listing 3 reasons that you love the person(s) you hope to be photographed with in the event that you win.
everyone who leaves a comment will have his/her name written on a piece of paper and then we'll draw a name out of a hat to randomly select a winner on july 21st.

DO IT! (and tell your friends to do it, too!)

state of the union address

2010-07-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

it's time to stop and reflect a moment on what's transpired and what comes next for "brooke collier photo", because there's been so much motion in the growing of this little fledgling business of mine, and for those of you who read or care, i'd like to share some of it.

what's transpired for brooke collier photo?

is a year full of rapid growth and learning. most of it happened because i started networking. i took on assisting gigs with kevin and kelsey, talked shop for hours with patricia, passed on some of my knowledge to kelly, read a multitude of photography blogs, and practiced by taking daily photos.

i feel so pleased that my work is becoming more truly "brooke-ish." i think that i'm starting to get my own look/style in photographs. i feel more confident in my technical skills than ever before.

and, especially, i feel so grateful for the photography community both locally in madison and across the US. there's such a spirit of collaboration and support, which is such a nice change of pace from the cut-throat competition that exists is so many other industries.

and, of course, it also feels great to have finally taken the plunge into having a photography business that is actively TRYING to grow and expand, rather than passively waiting for a few friends to notice that i take pretty pictures and hire me to shoot something here and there. marketing and networking are challenging for me, but it feels brave and exciting to go ahead and go for it!

what's coming next for brooke collier photo?

we're moving to Grand Rapids, MI, tim and i. we're moving back to re-join this funky and delicious little prayer community on the west side; a place where i have known jesus most potently and tasted the impact of the kingdom of heaven. we're so excited to take up residence there, and to undertake some of the work of that community. and, i am looking forward to resuming the work of photo-documenting the life of the neighborhood and ministry, as well as doing something like help portrait there.

i'm looking forward to booking MI weddings for 2011. brides, if you are out there, look me up and we'll sit down and talk over a delicious beverage and begin to imagine our collaboration for creating a set of lovely images of your wedding. or, if you now brides-to-be, let them know that i exist and point them here.

one thing i hope to do this year is pay it forward by freely sharing some of the little that i know with someone else in the industry who knows a tad less than i do. no need to be competitive or hoard trade secrets, right? share! i have been given so very much this past year by photographers who are a few steps ahead of me, and i want to pass it on.

i've discovered this year that i really love doing senior portraits. i'd like to do more of them, and am hoping to find a couple of great seniors in Grand Rapids who will be ambassadors for my senior portrait services in their high schools by first allowing me to photograph them, and then spreading the joy.

"i crave photography," wrote one photographer on her blog (i wish i could remember where i read that). i resonate with that. making images is something that i crave, something that gives me so much energy and happiness. and i want to have this thing in my life for a very long time. the thought of being able to grow it so that it is more and more my only job is... well, it almost seems too good to be true.

thanks for reading, for being along on this journey with me. i hope to see some of you in front of my lens this year.

(leave a comment and say "hey")

born : eli @ 8 months

2010-07-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

my littlest nephew, eli, was born in november. i took some shots of him when he was 1 month old, that for some reason i never blogged here. and now, he is nearly 8 months old and WAAAY overdue for a little photo session.

eli is sunshine. he is the most easy going baby i have ever known, i think. he did reach his limit, however, when i tried to lay him on his back in prickly grass and clover. so we went back to the blanket. i just adore all his many facial expressions in these shots.

and ooooooh, those eye lashes!

tribe : colliers of the daniel branch

2010-07-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

my husband has 4 really great brothers and one amazing sister. seriously, i married into the greatest set of brothers- and sisters-in-law i could have asked for! daniel is the one who looks the most like tim (as those of you who know tim will readily see in the photos that follow). and daniel has a wife named jess, who is lovely. and, they have the cutest boys. okay, i understand that these boys of theirs are my nephews and that i might therefore be a bit biased, but still...

anyway, tim and i met them out at their campground this past weekend. it was the boys' first camping trip and everyone was in a happy place. we seized the moment and did a last-minute mini-session of their family, since they didn't really have any of them all together since eli joined the tribe in november. what follows is a few of the resulting shots. i am relieved that as many of them turned out as well as they did given that we were getting eaten alive by killer mosquitoes the entire time and it was already bedtime for the kiddos.

and, one of just daniel and jess, who are still mushy in-love...

graduate : abbey

2010-07-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

oh, abbey: wearer of vintage aprons, baker of pies, driver of volvo wagon (my dream car), player of an upright base bigger than she is! what a treat it was to photograph this one! we went around town looking for interesting places to showcase the unique style that defines abbey, and i think we came up with a delightful assortment of images. i'm actually so excited to share these with you today! so, without further ado...

seriously, don't you love this girl?

vowed : joel + amanda

2010-06-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

another chance (perhaps the last, due to my move) to shoot with primavera studios. this time i worked with kevin, which had never happened before. we had a great time at joel and amanda's wedding at the masonic center in downtown madison. these two are so adorable together, and so very clearly fond of each other after six years of dating. i especially loved listening to the toasts delivered at their reception, which reaffirmed my sense that these are really good people, whom lots of people respect.

they had the cutest ring bearer and flower girl.

the girls got ready in a great suite that was probably last decorated in the 70s, but i mean that in a GOOD way.

a final spritz of hair spray to keep those curls in place

here is amanda shortly before heading down the aisle. she was so relaxed and gracious... all day!

a very cool setting for a ceremony, it felt like they were on a stage ('cos they were).

i'll be honest, i may have over-shot in this room where the gals got ready. it was so stinkin' cool! kevin and i were wishing we could have a studio space that was an exact replica. i mean, look at that sofa! and the wall-paper. seriously. joel and amanda are adorable as well, of course.

what followed was one of the best dance parties ever. an all ages (elderly to toddler) affair, first to a fantastic dj, then to a reggae band, and inclusive of a traditional jewish wedding dance (not pictured).
for more action, visit their album here.

vowed: kelli + chris

2010-06-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

once again, i had the joy of assisting kelsey visel of primavera studios on this wedding. i love working with kelsey for a zillion reasons, many of which have to do with how much i enjoy her friendship, but also because she's a gifted photographer who generously shares her insight and experience with me. also, she's amazing at posing people for photographs in ways that are elegant and natural, which is certainly helpful (as you can see in the photos that follow).

kelli and chris are a sweet duo, with two distinctly different personalities that meet one another in affection and respect. these two are so easy to be with. their ceremony was at st. andrew's chruch in leroy, wisconsin, a lovely old catholic church. reception was at a country club in beaver dam. we couldn't have asked for a lovelier day - sunny with a cool breeze. and surprises such as the use of a vintage convertible jaguar and the flight of a friend's plane over the golf course, added some unique touches to this affair.

i was so pleased with so many of the images from their day that i had trouble choosing which ones to blog. if you'd like to see more, you can visit their album here.

solo: kiersty fish

2010-06-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

i sure will miss this girl. kiersty, whom we affectionately dubbed "kiersty FISH" after receiving a prayer picture of her in which she was a fish, is a woman of the utmost quality. she radiates peace and contentment, is in possession of the gentlest spirit, and speaks words of wisdom. i got acquainted with this remarkable soul through my husband (before he was such), and she became one of my first friends in madison.

she's off in indonesia now, spending time with her family and haunting the places there where she spent her childhood (she's a missionary kid). and when she returns to madison, we'll have already re-located ourselves to grand rapids, mi. this means we had to say our good-byes earlier this month.
until we meet again, dear one...

my life: a picnic

2010-06-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

we live in an apartment building made of concrete and brick. it's three stories high, built in the 40s out of left-over materials for building air-force bases during the war. or so the story goes. in front of this L-shaped building is a sweet little courtyard, edged by fence and shrubs, and in that courtyard we like to picnic with friends.

here's to eating outdoors.

ps: anyone want to do a picnic photo shoot with their family or significant other? that'd be fun, no?

my life: film images of lately

2010-06-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

used the old olympus for a few rounds to catch these shots...

eating out on the picnic table these warm summer evenings.

visiting my dear friend jenn and baby viv in grand rapids.

gazing at my husband's hot profile (i love his profile).

enjoying the scent of my friend danny's tobacco pipe.

buying ranunculous at the farmer's market on the capital square.

laughing at my neighbors, carlos and jacobo as they play in the yard and then bicycle away.

sharing picnics in the yard with our friends (this one is jake).

stopping to take a closer look at the little things.

tribe: zeh family

2010-06-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

david has two adorable sons, nathan and jacob, who looooove their soon-to-be step-mommy, affectionately dubbed "jamaymie." here's a celebration of this family-in-the making. i love how evident their mutual affection is.

intended: jayme + david

2010-06-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

here's jayme with her sweet fiance, david. i hadn't seen jayme in over a decade (!)... since we worked together at Spring Hill Camp in Michigan when we were mere youths. and so this is one example of facebook's redemptive qualities: that jayme and i reconnected after such a long silence. and, shortly after reconnecting, her boyfriend proposed to her in a chicago museum, with his two little boys and all of her family present to celebrate with them. then they decided to ask me to do their engagement and family portraits.

jayme's parents live in Colon, MI (magic capital of the world) on a pretty piece of land by a swelling river. and this was the scene for our shoot. enjoy!

archives: film images, part 2

2010-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

here's a few more film images for you. i know you were breathless with anticipation. ;)

and, a brief rant about film: do you see the difference in the feel of film? the tones and the mood are distinctly different than digital. especially in the black and whites. and i love it.

in fact, i've been giving this some thought and i would consider it now officially decided: i shall bring along a 35mm SLR to every wedding and portrait session i do, and shoot 1-3 rolls of film at each. i think that's something to get excited about!

this is a cat in the sun, in the grass:

trying on sunglasses at urban outfitters in 2005:

a somewhat goofy shot of my pals matt and elizabeth:

a great old agricultural/factory sort of building in my hometown of grand ledge, mi:

a sailing adventure on my uncle chuck's little boat on lake michigan, summer of 2002:

archives: film images, part 1

2010-05-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

long before i had a digital camera, when i was 16 years old, my parents gave me their old Pentax ME Super... a 35mm film camera. complete with an extra zoom/macro lens. and i quickly learned to love it.

later, in college, when i took a b&w darkroom class, my uncle mark passed on my grandmother's old Olympus OM-1. he told me it was the camera she learned to shoot on herself. it was fully manual, loaded with a 55 mm lens. so, with two wonderful 35 mm cameras to my name, and a few spare lenses, i ventured out to photograph a few weddings.

and, in between those almost accidental wedding gigs, i photographed the people and places in my own life. today, because i was inspired by patricia's recent post, i went rummaging through old photos and dug up some oldies to share here.

here are a few from a trip i took to st. louis during grad school:

a shot of the communion table at the church i attended all through grad school:

the hands of two brothers:

a tea party bridal shower my employer at the time had for her soon to be sister-in-law:

and a spring break road trip with my mom and aunt to several cities in virginia an the carolinas:

more to come soon... (maybe i can dig out and scan in some of the ones from even further back)...

my style, your style

2010-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

a photographer has to have a style. in other words, when you see a photo that i've taken, it should look like a photo taken by brooke. it should be recognizable as something that i would create.

like how you always recognize an ansel adams photograph. or a jose villa.

it takes a while to get to the heart of your style as a photographer. because you want to experiment, try new things, or do the things that you think your clients expect.

but, in the end, it pays to be yourself.

as in most of life.

so i've been camping out on this theme and asking myself, at the suggestion of my photography mentors, questions such as:

what inspires me to pick up my camera?
what music/hobbies/art forms am i drawn to?
what settings are beautiful to me?
what colors do i gravitate toward?
what words describe me and my photography?

here are three words:

authentic - found/observe beauty; not posed or manipulated; natural
simple - uncluttered composition, no-frills objects/clothes/places, slow-paced life
essence - small parts of the whole that tell you about the heart of it

those fit.

here are some images (created using imgspark.com):

these fit, too.

and, i would like especially to photograph people who resonate with those words and images. the more in sync we are in our style and sense of beauty, the better the final images will be, i suspect. synchronicity.

intended: lacy + tim

2010-05-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

here's another lovely couple, kind enough to pose for us at the Spring Fever workshop put on by Primavera Studios in april. before we went to the park to start shooting, i asked lacy how long they had been engaged. she told me that it had been a very long time... but that the night before, in a very special evening, they had renewed their engagement and were on the happy beginnings of a fresh beginning. and, being a sucker for a story including redemption and second chances, i loved hearing this. it also gave me a great picture of their love, which is greatly helpful when photographing a couple in love.

so, here are a few to feast your eyes on.

if you want to see a few more, go here.

vowed: kimberly + tom

2010-05-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

assisting for primavera studios (otherwise known as kevin and kelsey visel) is one of my favorite ways to work. because they're good company, and talented, and they challenge me to grow. here are a few shots from the very first wedding i shot with them last june.

meet kimberly and tom, who have been in love for a very long time.

you can see kelsey's post about this wedding here.
and more of my own work from this day here.

vowed: brad + emily

2010-05-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

last summer, i shot several weddings as an assistant to madison-area photographers. but, given that the summer was a busy one, and one in which i was newly-wed and in a new city, i never actually processed or posted any of my shots from those weddings. i'm doing so now.

to get us started, here are some shots from brad and emily's wedding on september 12, 2009. i was shooting with raymond siler, which was really such a treat. i had a great time working alongside him on this beautiful september day. and as for emily and brad: really kind, generous, and insanely gifted individuals.
btw, you can see ray's blog post about this wedding here.
and more of my own shots from their day here.

website launch

2010-04-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

it's here. the official wesbite:

www.brookecollierphoto.com

please go take a look.
if you love what you see, contact me.
or refer me to your friends.

ps: be sure to check out the "specials & faq" section, where you'll find some great deals for may and june.

bride: corinna

2010-04-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

since she hasn't gotten married yet, and her dress is a surprise in so many ways, i am not at liberty to show you much yet. but, there is this one shot -- beautifully blurry -- that will give a small glimpse of my lovely friend without giving too much away.

here is corinna, against a madison sky-line, wearing an american-bought dress... months before her wedding day in germany next winter...

solo: larissa

2010-04-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

solo: maria

2010-04-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

solo: corinna

2010-04-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

intended: mike + sarah

2010-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

as part of the "Spring Fever Workshop" I'm participating in this week with Primavera Studios, we had the honor of shooting the engagement photos of two different real-life, truly-engaged couples.

here is mike and sarah, between whom the chemistry is sweet and strong.

for a few more, you can take a look here.

workshop: model brides

2010-04-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

for more practice shooting during our workshop, anna and cheyenne, both models, volunteered to get dressed up as brides and do a bridal session with us. they were fantastic sports, as we tromped around downtown to the overture center and the capital. here's a few.

workshop: kevin + kelsey of primavera studios

2010-04-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

how lucky am i?! this weekend i am attending the Spring Fever workshop put on by Kevin and Kelsey Visel of Primavera Studios. Kevin and Kelsey have become friends of ours here in Madison, and I also have the honor of being one of their assistants.

i thought i'd throw up some of these photos from our workshop shoot session this afternoon. Kevin and Kelsey themselves served as the models, and our backgrounds were all found within a short walk of the studio. not too shabby!
for more of this couple (whom are equally wonderful in front of the camera as they are behind it), you can see the album here.

born: claire elise (again)

2010-04-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

so, perhaps this isn't even fair, but when you have adorable nieces and nephews, they tend to be put in front of your lenses a lot. maybe they're over-represented on this blog and in other places, but at the risk of being redundant, here's another batch of claire bear, at 5 months of age.
want some more? here's claire's 5 mos. album.

celebrate: sophia

2010-03-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

we all know that a 1st birthday party is for the parents far more than the child. but i like about them is that it's a beautiful reminder of the village/community that comes around a family when they are raising a child.

this was so potently evident at sophia's birthday party. her parents are such wonderful individuals, and they've grown this sweet little community around themselves in pittsburgh. i wanted to post a few shots from this special gathering.

more of sophia's birthday fun can be viewed here.

little one: sophia

2010-03-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

our little niece sophia turned one this weekend. tim and i took a plane ride out to pittsburgh to celebrate with her. would you look at those cheeks?! at those crystal eyes?! she's gorgeous, right? and the sweetest disposition, too. sophia is a delight.

for more, you can see sophia's 1 year-old album.

intended: corinna + johannes

2010-02-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

corinna is my fiesty, wise, and charming german friend. i've loved the process of getting to know her while she's been in Madison this year. when her boyfriend johannes came to visit for a couple of weeks this month, i had a feeling it would end with engagement. and so it did. he proposed at the airport, just before flying back to Germany, where they will be reunited in a few months.

so, technically, these photos were taken before they were engaged, but they are functioning as engagement photos anyway. enjoy the funky style and catching chemistry of these two...

to see more, visit corinna & johannes's engagement album.

life: a year of [newly-wedded] mornings

2010-02-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

aside from portrait and wedding work, i'm keeping a daily photo blog.

so that i can remember to see what is lovely in my every day, amongst my normal surroundings, illuminated by each morning's new light. so that i can cultivate an artistic practice.

and if you would like to follow along with these little gems, you can go here and sign up for email updates or follow it via RSS feed.

festive: kiersty's 20th

2010-01-29T15:14:00.000-08:00

kiersty turned 20 this week. she suspects it'll be one of the best years of her life. and, knowing her as i do, i see that she has good reason for such hope. so, she went all out for her birthday celebration, putting together a masquerade ball.

she even sewed her own dress! check this out....

happy birthday, kiersty!

for more, check out kiersty's birthday ball album.

born: claire elise

2009-11-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

i realize that i may be a bit biased because this is, afterall, my first [blood] niece... but isn't she a gorgeous baby? seriously. she was instantly cute, and never looked like an alien at all.

these photos were taken when claire was three weeks old, in her home in Grand Rapids.

love those tiny baby legs and feet and butt:

at this particular moment, she may not have loved her brooke auntie very much:

here she is with her parents, my brother and sister-in-law, whom you may well recognize from the shoots i've done of them in the past (2009 and 2007).

to see more shots of the lovely claire, as well as her family members, visit her baby album.

graduate: selina

2009-09-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

selina, who will graduate from Sun Prairie High School (Madison, WI) this spring, is a flutist of the highest talent. she is hopeful, and for very good reason, of attending college on scholarships for her playing.

we headed out to the UW Arboretum for this shoot, where selina made herself quite at-home amongst the tall grasses and under trees, even laying down in a patch of green ground-cover for some shots. my absolute favorite moment of this shoot, however, was when she sat down cross-legged in the center of a circular clearing, and played her flout a while, while i shot away. confession: i shot longer than i really needed to because i was so engrossed in her music.

all the best to you, selina, as you move out into this world to move the hearts of many with your incredible gift.

to see more of selina's photos, visit her senior portrait album.

graduate: amanda

2009-09-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

amanda is a natural beauty. look at those lovely locks of hair, and her gorgeous blue eyes. not to mention her great fashion sense.

these photos are actually amanda's very tardy senior portraits, taken after she already graduated, but this was not too late for fun to be had.

to see more of amanda's photos, visit her senior portrait album.

life: kids + frog

2009-09-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

took these shots this weekend and couldn't resist showing them to you. a rare moment when wild animal meets small child. how beautiful the wonder and delight on the faces of little madelyn and israel as they interacted with that little frog.for a few more, visit the kids + frog album.

vowed: missy + jeff

2009-09-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

my [new, by marriage] aunt missy got married to the love of her life down in southern illinois. tim and i made the drive down for the occasion. while missy had a local photographer hired, i still took advantage of my first-row seat to take some shots during her ceremony.

life: me + t

2009-08-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

friends, the wedding photographer has gone and had a wedding.

i married my best friend in the yard of the stockbridge boiler room, under a clear sky, and surrounded by gorgeous colors and well-loved faces. you can read more about our wedding day by visiting our personal blog, and particularly this post.

i must be very clear that the photographs you see here are the work not of myself (obviously), but of the talented jonathan stoner, who while relatively new to the scene, is worth every cent you could pay him. if you are in the Grand Rapids (MI) area, look him up!

and, to see more, visit here.

vowed: justin & kely

2009-08-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

kely and justin (who goes by jud, which is only the most fantastic nickname) were married exactly one week before i was! so, one week before my own wedding, i made the drive back home to michigan to photograph their special day.

and i have to say that being present for that occasion was a good warm-up for my own wedding day. this is because the genuine love, mutual affection, and GLOW of their love was infectious. it had the effect of reminding me afresh of that by which i want my own marriage to be characterized.

to a couple who are truly the best of friends, and who waited a long while for the fulfillment of their commitment to take place... i wish you both the most deeply happy and enduring partnership.

if you'd like to see more, please visit kely & justin's wedding album.

assisting: primavera studios

2009-04-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

i moved to Madison, WI a couple of weeks ago. (i did this for love). the day after i arrived at my new home, i had an interview with kevin and kelsey visel of primavera studios. this has turned out to be a very fortunate occurrence, indeed.

kevin and kelsey are salt of the earth folks, really easy to be around, and running a great photography business with integrity and talent. and they've hired me on as an assistant for their 2009 wedding season.

this means that this summer most of my shooting will be done for them. so, i invite you to visit their website to keep track of their incredible work.

from time to time i may post some images in this space that i've taken for primavera studios, and when that's the case, i will always indicate it as such.

duet: justin + marguerite 2

2009-03-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

marguerite requested a default birthday present: an annual photo shoot. so she shall have it because she is my sister-in-law. and besides all that, she and justin are great fun to photograph because they (a) look like j. crew models and (b) have a great chemistry between them.
so here's the 2009 batch...

for more, visit their justin + marguerite 2009 album.

born: zora

2009-03-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

you may remember heather and david from their expectant session a while back. well, the little one is here -- has, in fact, been here for a few months now. and what a darling one she is! she is characterized by joy. the little girl is very quick to laugh and giggle, and she's been smiling since almost day one. heather confesses that she very specifically prayed over zora while she was still in the womb that she would be joyful. i guess that prayer was heard. congrats, you guys!
for more, visit the hammond's family photo album.

about: narrative photography

2009-03-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

the future of my photography will be centered around the idea of what i'm calling narrative photography. this gets me excited. i hope it touches something in YOU, too. pass it on.

what is narrative photography?

it's photo documentary style, and then some. narrative photography is also a story-telling experience. it’s relational. the goal of narrative photography is not just to have a fun time shooting and to get some nice-looking pictures, but to freeze-frame the essence of the folks i photograph, and to reflectively celebrate with them who they are, their lives, and their relationships.

why narrative photography?

like many photographers, i got my start by doing weddings and portraits for old friends with small budgets who were willing to take a risk on an amateur. later, as i started to expand my business and do more shoots with people i didn’t know personally, i noticed that often the images seemed less personal and lacked some sort of emotional substance that the photographs of my friends had contained in abundance. i believe the difference is in relationship, and the knowledge of the story and personality of the people I photograph. i developed this idea of narrative photography because i noticed that all my best work was done with people i already had a relationship with.

what you can expect to experience:

we’ll sit down together once or twice prior to your photo shoot. i’ll have some questions for you that will help me to get a sense of who you are, but mostly we’ll just hang out and get comfortable with one another. i want to hear your story, get a feel for your personal or family culture, see some pictures of your life up to this point, and hear about what symbols, people, and traditions are meaningful to you.

this means that on the day of the shoot, having me around photographing your intimate or candid moments feels natural because we’ll have a relationship and a mutual understanding of one another. we’ll take a slow pace, letting things unfold naturally, capturing whatever organic and particular beauty unfolds. because i am able to "feel" your uniqueness, i’ll be creating images of you, your family, your wedding day, etc. that have meaning and story interwoven. it shows in the final product, with images that are deeply personal, never sterile or cookie-cutter.

(ask to see my updated 2009 package & price list)

buddies: chelsea + jana

2009-01-18T14:59:00.000-08:00

these two are really good buds. took a few photos of them hanging out in chelsea's bed one sunny winter afternoon recently. they were just pretty enough for me to want to share them with you here.

vowed: jeremy + kristin

2009-01-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

i had the privilege today of photographing the wedding of my old friend (since 10th grade) kristin and her beau, jeremy. what a playful couple! these two are a study in opposites in many way, but their respect and enjoyment of one another shines through. their day turned out to be one of the most pristine and sunny winter sights. the entire wedding party was good sports, willing to tromp out into the snow in innapporpriate amounts of clothing to get some good shots. truly a delightful celebration day.

for more, visit the Denyes-Foco Wedding Album.

tribe: the bowles

2008-12-14T10:21:00.001-08:00

robyn and samuel, with their children josiah (3) and isabella (3.5 mo) are home on furlough from their 24-7 prayer mission life in sevilla, spain. it's been great to see them again and to reconnect about everything from photography to the life in 24-7 Prayer communities. for this family photo shoot, we headed down to the Avenue for the Arts where our artist friends Cameron and Rachael Van Dyke have their studio and home. A special thanks to them for letting us use their space and Cam's custom furniture.

for more, visit the bowles family portrait album.

play: snow day (chelsea + daniel)

2008-11-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

the first snow of the year that stuck. and it was great packing snow, not to mention lovely and soft as it fell. so we got out there and played in it a while. i love these shots of my housemates/community members chelsea and daniel, who are so playful together all the time anyway. get out there and play in the snow! it'll young you.

tribe: the hoekstra-kooles (3)

2008-11-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

it's that time of year again! the time of year when folks start thinking about pictures for their holiday mailings. so wasn't it nice of the weather patterns to play winter a bit on Sunday when i headed out with john, heather, sam, and owen to do their holiday session?! the flurries added a perfectly magical feel to these images. and when you already have such great photographic subjects to work with, the overall effect is downright romantic.

for more, visit the hoekstra-koole family 2008 album

about: inspired

2008-10-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

hours and hours a week, i'd guess: this is how much time i've been spending perusing the web portfolios of other, more seasoned professional photographers.

my head space lately has become so filled with these expressive images that i've been seeing in photographs. i don't know how to explain what this is like, unless you've experienced it. the world is photographs and every person in it framed by color and lines, with light falling across their faces.

the images of an authentic photographer are telling you more than what you see, they are taking you the edges of some truth. they are pulling deep-seated emotions from the recesses of your heart by their play on light and composition. these images are celebrating the human form and the intersection of human bodies sharing space, which tells the story of relationship with only color and image; you get to guess at the sounds, scent, temperature, atmosphere, taste.

when i look at these portfolios, i just think: i want to be good at this.

this is an art form i want to excel at. i want to make such soulful images.

i want to soak up the technical knowledge of accomplished photographers but, more than that, i want to develop a soul that intuits an image and vision that sees sacredness in the ordinary and frames it in a way that invites others inside of it. because the soul and the eye are perhaps even more important than the technicalities. and i want to find my own flavor, my distinctive style so you will know you're looking at the art of one specific woman (no dime-a-dozen pictures).

you may not know this: whenever i do a photography job, i pray over my eyes, my spirit, and my camera. i ask God to anoint my gifting and to use it to make something beautiful for the people i'm photographing. this is what i'm gonna keep on doing. and i'm going to trust that, run into wild and abandoned creativity with confidence that he's answering me.

my latest favorites, who embody all of this: these images (by The Image is Found), Jesh de Rox and Jose Villa

about: behind the camera

2008-10-19T16:44:00.001-07:00

sometimes with my own cameras (digital and film)
sometimes with the cameras of friends (i do not shoot with a canon)
sometimes self-portraits
sometimes being caught in action by others

vowed: ken + isabelle

2008-10-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

isabelle is a designer by trade, which might explain why every detail of her special day was designed and hand-made by her, including her dress! ken tends bar at one of grand rapids' nicer bistros, which may explain why the beverage menu was in such exceptional taste. add to this a jazz/soul band (hey marco!) playing live, a location that is altogether nostalgic (the felt mansion) in a season that tends towards sentimentality, and you have a magical event, golden and brisk.

isabelle and i had a non-traditional arrangement for her wedding photography. she wanted to do all the post-processing and printing herself (she has a minor in photography), and she suggested we barter services in lieu of payment. i went ahead and processed about 80 of my favorite images anyway, for my portfolio, but the rest she'll be doing herself. and isabelle is designing a logo for my business, as well as a services brochure. hooray!

fore more, visit the edger-bolick wedding album

expectant: baby hammond

2008-10-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

heather and david are expecting their first child to be born in the nurturing safety of their home in about a little over a week. today i spent a couple hours with them documenting these final days of waiting in expectant wonder at the family about to be born between them.

this job was especially fun for me because these two are super creative and dramatic people and making these pictures was very much a cooperative effort. david brought home a black backdrop and lighting kit that he has access to (things i don't normally work with), giving us an opportunity to playfully experiment a bit. and with very good results, i must say.

brooke sellers photography

tribe: the vansykles

2008-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

the quality of the images of this family is crisp, clean, and light-filled. which is exactly what the family is like. susan, jamy, and their two children have built a family together that is filled with meaningful relationship, affection, and rituals. we had so much fun playing together at millenium park that i was surprised to discover that so much time had elapsed. they kept thanking me for taking "extra time" with them, but i hardly even realized that i was doing so!

for more, check out the vansykle family album

brooke sellers photography

passport: pittsburgh, pa

2008-08-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

my cousin danielle recently graduated from the university of pittsburgh, so some of us drove out there for the weekend to celebrate with her and take in a little slice of her world. i don't know if i ever would have gone to pittsburgh had it not been for the invitation and urging of family, but i found that it really agreed with me. it's a stubbornly optimistic city, intent on bouncing back and maintaining its funk as it does so. danielle and her posse are a great bunch, too: boho, artsy, bike-riding vegetarians. all with great senses of humor.

for more, take a look at the pittsburgh (dani's graduation) album

vowed: godwin + jeni

2008-07-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

what happens when you wed a southern bell to a sri lankan gentleman? well, you get a colorful, vivacious, and very unique twist on a wedding. while remaining classic and traditional, this couple also built in elements that celebrated their heritages.

many of the guests at the wedding were clad in vibrant sarees (and jeni changed into one partway through the reception), while the reception featured artful ballroom dancing (jeni is a dancer). the favors were both georgia peach game and sri lankan fruit cake. but most notable was the atmosphere of enjoyment that seemed to spread across the entire, vast party of friends and family present.

for more, visit the franklin-sathianathan wedding album

brooke sellers photography

passport: san francisco + berkeley

2008-07-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

i came to out to the bay area for jane and lars' wedding, but also got a chance to site see a bit while i was there. here's a bit of what i encountered.

for more, visit my san francisco - berkeley 2008 album

vowed: lars + jane

2008-07-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

jane is one of my dearest friends, a sister of the heart. so when she moved out to the bay area, i missed her terribly. the occasion of her marriage was my excuse to finally get on a plane and head down there to be present for what was such an important time for her, and to read scripture in the wedding.

because jane and lars were married out in Berkeley, far from both of their families, their wedding was a veritable weekend experience! guests trickled in from all over the US and the world, convening to celebrate the couple as well as do some site-seeing and visiting with one another.

daley hake was the official photographer for their wedding (he does amazing work), while i took it upon myself to more casually document the weekend. below are a few shots from both the wedding and some other sites of the weekend.

for more, visit jane and lars' wedding album

brooke sellers photography

born: koffi + keyona + keyante

2008-06-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

koffi and keyona are young and in love, both with each other and their new baby boy. one afternoon, when the sky looked like it would dump rain at any moment, i headed over to their apartment to take some natural photos of their little family. aren't these three just beautiful?

for more, visit koffi & keyona's album

brooke sellers photography

children: max + lily + bea + ezra

2008-06-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

i get to spend a lot of time with these four because i live in community with their family. each of them is so precious, possessing such unique character and charm. they enrich my life. thanks for being my spontaneous models, kids!

for more, take a look at the fun with my kid friends album

brooke sellers photography

child: anna's first birthday

2008-06-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

anna really enjoyed her birthday cupcakes (homemade and home-decorated by her talented mother) and ice cream. i'm not sure what it is with this girl and food all over her face. just realized that i have a small collection going of anna really getting into her food (below: anna with squash, anna with chocolate). happy 1st birthday, sweet girl!

child: luke

2008-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

luke is one of my favorite little guys. he's my nephew-in-spirit. just thought you might like to see a few of my favorite shots of him from the last few months.

business: dr. stacey, animal chiropractor

2008-04-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

dr. stacey fischer is not only a successful, holistic chiropractor for human beings, she is also one for animals: cats, dogs, and horses mostly. she asked me to come out and take some shots of her at work on her own animals. i have to say, it was pretty amazing to see how the animals complied with and responded to the treatments they received.

showered: jane

2008-03-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

jane's getting married to a guy that i think couldn't be more perfect for her! so the ladies got together for a saturday brunch that included mimosas and sarah faye's perfect baked goods. jane was treated to loads of classy lingerie (and a few naughties, too), and we all wrote her recipes for a good marriage, which will hopefully somehow come in handy, if only for a few good laughs.

for more, take a look at jane's personal shower album

senior: tyler

2008-02-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

well, tyler is not technically a senior, he's past that. but he never really had the senior photos taken and so we were making up for lost time. completely on the fly, by the way. this was not planned, simply an opportunity seized upon.

senior: noah

2007-12-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

noah has a sense of humor both physical and verbal that is absolutely hilarious to be around. so following him around frederick meijer gardens with a camera in hand was just as enjoyable as you might suppose.for more, visit noah's senior portrait album

tribe: the hoekstra-kooles (2)

2007-11-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

john and heather and their [now] two adorable sons, sam and owen, gave me the privilege again this year to photograph their family. they end up using their favorite shot for their christmas mailing, which i just love. their christmas mailings are always cute, just like they are.

for more, visit the hoekstra-koole family album 2
brooke sellers photography

the beauty project

2007-11-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

The Beauty Project is a day long photography project that that celebrates the beauty and femininity of The King’s daughters. It is based on the premise that we are each of us unspeakably beautiful, but have also been deeply wounded in our beauty. Our hope and prayer was that this special day would move us from a shame-based understanding of our femininity to a place of delight and enjoyment. We expected that God’s Spirit will be present in this venture, working to renew our understanding of how He sees us and beginning to heal and restore us in this essential part of ourselves. The camera was simply a medium for capturing the beautiful essence that lies within each woman of God.

13 very special and beautiful women participated, about half of which I had the honor of photographing. It is their images that you see here.

senior: emily

2007-10-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

emily wasn't so sure about this senior portrait thing. but you should wouldn't guess it to look at these photos! she's radiant and such a natural beauty. i guess she eventually warmed up to the photo shoot just fine. we shot these photos around her family's country home and nearby parks.

for more, visit emily's senior portrait album

duet: justin + marguerite

2007-09-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

this is my brother and sister-in-law, who i suckered into being practice models for me one recent afternoon. we spent most of our time around downtown grand rapids, before heading to riverside park for a few more natural shots. we all had a blast, and now marguerite has requested that her default birthday present every year be another photo shoot. no problem! you got it!

for more, look through justin & marguerite's "just because" album

brooke sellers photography

free in the field

2007-09-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

sarah and i pulled over on the side of a less-urban road outside grand rapids today and ran around in the late-day sunshine, twirling, leaping, and dancing in the expanse of field. a celebration of the freedom we're learning to walk in these days.

tribe: the hollemans

2007-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

shannon is one of those great moms whose spunk and intelligence i have admired for as long as i'm known her. her parenting is so thoughtful and grace-filled. running around riverside park with her and her family today was a real treat. there was plenty of giggling and little bit of naughtiness, but the final product is some really special images.

for more, peruse the hollemans family album

brooke sellers photography

senior: cecily

2007-08-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

cecily was the second in her family to stand in front of my camera. her sister cate was first, with her marriage to ross earlier this summer. cecily is one of those teenagers who carries herself with a confidence and poise that belies her age. she's graceful and natural as a model, which made her easy to work with. we enjoyed our photo shoot at MSU's gardens.

for more, visit cecily's senior portrait album

vowed: jason + nicolette

2007-07-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

because jason and nicolette are close friends of mine, in this wedding i was a bridesmaids, not a photographer. but that didn't stop me from carrying my camera along anyway and taking some candids before and after the ceremony. this meant a lot of photos of the Getting Ready process, which is one of my favorite parts for all its feminine ritual.

i'll remember their wedding for the strong presence of art, interesting music, and amazing flowers, not to mention the fact that the ceremony took place on the beach.

for more, visit nicolette and jason's album on flickr.

vowed: jesse + pellagia

2007-07-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

jesse and pellagia's story is a really special one, not to mention a long one, that spans continents and cultures, severe challenges and triumphant persistence. jesse and pellagia actually were first married in zimbabwe a few months ago and i was blessed to be in attendance at that traditional shona ceremony as well. their american wedding, hosted by their adopted american parents, took place at calvin college's chapel, where they both attended, and the reception was a tent affair in the countryside.

for more, visit the muliba-geston album on flickr.

vowed: ross + cate

2007-06-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

from the moment i met cate and ross, i was struck by how kind they are, and how tender with one another. they're the kind of couple that seems utterly at home with one another, thereby putting everyone else at ease in their presence.

for more, visit the corbett-baker wedding album

passport: zambia

2007-01-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from the zambia portion of the wedding trip to africa with jesse and pellagia. see passport: zimbabwe for more.