I had the immense pleasure of being interviewed for Voyage KC Magazine back in June and the article went live on August 18, 2021.
Check out the original article here.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Davis.
Hi Brooke, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers? I first developed a love for photography upon discovering my parent’s Canon AE-1 when I was 14. I used it to photograph the birth of my baby sister. A few years later, my best friend was getting into modeling and we went to a nearby lake to do a photography session. It wasn’t until I was 21 while living in Texas that I met a fantastic photographer with her own studio that I dared imagine what I could one day achieve. Life soon got in the way and I went to college for a degree in English with the intention of being a teacher. My passion for photography renewed with the birth of our second child and we bought my first professional camera on a black Friday. I started practicing with my friends and their families until I gained enough confidence to start my own business. I have been doing photography for almost ten years now and am absolutely passionate about providing beautifully cultivated imagery for my clients.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road? It has been a road with many bumps, twists and dead ends. It is a constant learning process to having a small business, from finances to marketing to advancing my skills through continuing education. As a mother of 5 children, there is a constant pull to manage it all and be present. It takes a great deal of organization and routines to keep everything running (and not always smoothly).
Moving to a new state and having to start from nothing has been one of the biggest struggles, but I have been resolved to build a thriving business. One thing that I have loved about moving to KCMO is the community of creatives I have had the pleasure of connecting with through social media. I am fortunate to have the tremendous support of my husband – not just his encouragement but his hands-on attitude with particular aspects of my business and our home life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do? I specialize in family photography but I also work with other small business owners as a brand photographer, helping them elevate their brand through captivating imagery and content strategy.
I like to think that what sets me apart as a family photographer is that I approach every session on a very personal level, as I know just how important it is to document the very season of life currently being lived. I want the families I photograph to remember more than forced smiles standing in a field. I approach each session as a family experience and the little details that make them unique. From the freckles + lashes to the giggles + belly laughs. It’s important to me that I capture people as they truly are. I do this by asking my clients to tell me more about their interests and hobbies as a family. I’m not afraid to be goofy or make funny noises to get a genuine laugh out of children.
As a brand photographer, I help small business owners and entrepreneurs convey their stories in a more personable manner. Branding sessions are a tool to help them showcase their brand in an authentic and professional way. The more personality, the better! I work with each client to understand as much as I can about their business and brand so when we plan the session, we know exactly what needs to be communicated to their audience. What sets me apart as a brand photographer is that I offer a subscription and one on one coaching to those that need constant updating to their library of imagery and a plan on how to effectively use them.
How do you define success? Success in business and in life means different things to different people. I feel like success is defined or rather determined by how happy I am overall in my life. Success is enjoying the family and home I have created with my husband. Being a present mom for my children. And of course, being happy with who I am as an individual, making sure I take time to fill my own cup so I have something to pour from.
As a photographer, being able to walk away from each session knowing I brought all that I have to give creatively. Success is knowing I understood what each project required and I delivered what was expected if not more. At the end of the day though, I still need to be happy doing photography. The happiness is the success.
