Photoblog: Sharon Woods

I was supposed to do a photoshoot again with the designer Triple L Clothing company this past friday. I woke up early to head to Sharon Woods which was to be the location of the shoot only to get there and find out that the models the designer booked stood us up. This was the second time in a row now this has happened. So, very disappointed, the designer drove all the way back up to Columbus without any photos. It was a real bummer Friday : (

This does happen, to all of us in this industry. I usually try to go out of my way to learn about the people I work with before I book them and build relationships so things like this don't happen. I feel like that's really important when networking, building contacts, and just being professional... to be friendly. And I feel when you are friendly to others, you get that in return.

So, instead of feeling completely defeated myself, I decided to walk around the park and take a morning stroll through the wooded trails that were colored with fall leaves. The sky was absolutely clear blue and it wasn't too chilly either. It had been raining the past few days before so the creeks and waterfalls were FULL of water. Gorgeous. So, I set up my tripod in the middle of a wooded area and started taking pictures of the only person I had with me... myself. Sometimes, I feel like I do this too much (especially since I started my 365 proejct!!)




In other news, I feel the desire to take my work to a whole new level. With a whole new ambition. I read a quote recently that struck home to me:

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they have a second."

And I completley agree. All of us face challenges in no matter what we are doing because it's a part of life. The sooner you accept it the easier life will be for you. All of us fail with things and you can let it be a regret/mistake if you don't let yourself learn anything from it. And then, if you do learn something, it should never be a regret in the back of your mind because it will keep you from doing it in the future. Everything we experience, good and bad, is what makes you who you are today. And if there is ever anything you don't like, change it. I've always believed it to be that simple.




If I haven't mentioned it yet, the reskinned/new version of my site is completely finished! I have to say it showcases my work in a much better way. Hopefully it's a lot easier for you all to look through my portfolio!

www.brooketownsendphotography.com

I have a wedding on 11-11 that is going to be taking place at Newport Aquarium! I'm so STOKED! Friday night I visited the place to get some test shots and let's just say it's probably going to be the most unique event I'll ever photograph let alone ever go to! They're getting married in the small theatre room that represents a pirate ship with a full on view of the shark/sea turtle tank in the background.... =O! Cannot WAIT!!!

Also have shots to finish editing from my last wedding on Oct. 15! And next month is birthday month! And two people are turning 21.... this will probably be the one month in my life I will be a drunkard.

-Brooke

"Honesty Photo Series"

I'm one of those people that has always wanted to tell stories, big & small. It fuels life for me. The communication between one's self and the world is absolutely amazing. And I want to try and photograph these moments and people's different lifestyles.

Basically, I'm wanting to do $50 portrait sessions for anyone that is wanting to create images that tell a story. Your story. Your friend's story. The story of your life what you think it will be like in 10 years time. What you dream to be. What you are. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Where you life is now, and then. All of you is what I want to capture. The idea is to walk away from each of these shoots with a single image... or to stitch multiple ones together to form comics that will literally tell your story.

And see, with this idea there is literally no boundaries. We can focus around your fashion style. Your choices of hair, makeup, your favorite shoes, the old suitcases from your grandma's house, your pets, your favorite lamps and lanterns, the things you collect, the guitar that you play on in your spare time (or all the time!).... absolutely anything. We can plan your shoot through an email sent to me (brooketownsend109@gmail.com) and we can schedule for this shoot anytime you'd like!

I want you to be able to walk away from these shoots and feel as though you learned something deeper about yourself. Or learned to embrace a new part about yourself you couldn't get past before. Or to smile at the beauty you naturally carry with you, even if you don't know it's there. Life is too short to live without expressing yourself to the fullest. So.... how do you want to tell your story?

Pass this onto your friends, your family, your co-workers... anyone that may be interested! You don't need to be a model, a photographer, or anything! If you have ever wanted to get professional pictures done at any time in your life, now is the time!

brooketownsend109@gmail.com

-Brooke

First of the Year

Man, a week flies by these days and it feels like a day. But when I sit and reflect all that has happened in a single week, it feels like months. I need to get my head on straight!

Since my last post, the major highlight of my week was the zipline canopy tour I did in Red River Gorge, KY. It was about a 3 and a half hour drive to get there, very close to a place I've gone to since I was a baby called Natural Bridge. For any geology lover, the rock formations you can see all throughout the area are to DIE for (which I'm sure I've mentioned in previous posts in the past). I decided not to bring my camera along with me because I wanted to experience it to the max since it was my first time ever. Next time, I'm filming it on the way down! There were 5 total lines to zip across with this particular tour, one of which you actually duel raced with someone across a line that literally took over a minute to cross the entire distance. Check this out:

Photo borrowed from their [facebook page]. Zipping across that was literally one of the best experiences in my entire life. The weather was absolutely stunning. No humidity. No rain. Not a single cloud in the sky. AND, the sun was setting across this beautiful valley amongst the foothills of the Appalachians. If I were to dream of such a moment in the past, I wouldn't believe it would ever be possible to experience in real life. It was truly magical.

In other news, I've been working on updating my website to make it more presentable of my portfolio. My current design is nice, but it doesn't allow me to show many photographs. And I have had some people tell me they have trouble viewing through the slideshows at times. SO. Until my sister gets her master plan down for a creative layout, I'm beefing my standard one up to the max where I will soon have a FULL portfolio of literally all my best stuff. Old. New. All of it.

This Saturday I'm doing a wedding! Can't wait to use my renewed energy and love for photography toward the greater good :)

Cheers to life.

Brooke

PS: Blog post title taken from this song

Flux and Flow

Ok. So I visited my grandparents over the weekend down in Louisville for a photoshoot for the family and then the following day consisted of a fall family birthday party since almost my entire family has birthdays in the fall....! It's hard to explain how this weekend felt to me but it was nothing but pure happiness. It felt like the way [this song by Colbie Caillat] makes you feel.

ME: "Dad! Take my camera and take pics!"
DAD: "What why?"
ME: "Dad... I'm a fall birthday.. haha. And we are doing cakes!"
DAD: "Oh, RIGHT!"
SISTER: "Do you know how to use that thing?"
DAD: *death glare* "This is me you are talking to!"


SNAP CLICK SNAP CLICK CLICK



ME: *takes camera back...*



I fell in love with photography all over again this weekend. Like, the way I felt about it back in my mid teens. Just running around capturing happiness in every corner I saw. And this weekend there was a lot of it brewing in my family and it was absolutely lovely to see everyone just loving life and being themselves.







Now Anna is my grandma Mimi's first great grandchild : ) She is in love with the little bug.
And my grandpa Bawbaw brought over his mom, and she even in her older age is still the bubbliest person I know. First thing she said when she saw all her great grandkids (me, my sister, and my cousin Mandy) "Wow! Look at how beautiful you all are! It runs in the family strong ;D"




Now, I'm a huge fan of interior design and architecture. My grandparents just got done building their dream home in a beautiful neighborhood that feels like the streets of some European village. And then you look and see these brand new million dollar homes and you have to do a double take to realize that this isn't some cute European town. The age is always the first giveaway. What gives it the feel though is inside this neighborhood, there is a "downtown village" that has a few small local shops, restaurants, and the like. SO CUTE. Here are some of my favorite pieces from their newest home.




AND WAIT JUST WAIT.......










they are making.....................................





A STAR WARS ROOM!!!!1

I told my Bawbaw that this room is for me. Not for the little kids. He thought it was funny... but I was serious..! I gave him a bunch of ideas to fill the room with. I'm STOKED to see how it turns out!

Before I go, I wanted to say how much I'm supporting LIGHT's new album called Siberia. It's very different than her last album called The Listening and I was very nervous of it at first but I'm in love with her new songs and sounds! Here is one of my favorites in which I dedicated the title of this post to called Flux n Flow. Listen up!