Make sure you "click" with your photographer.  I would say almost all of the people I work with are a little nervous at first.  We categorize this as camera shy.  And unless you are Giselle or Tyra, you are most likely in this category (myself hugely included).  This is why it's SO important to have a photographer who you can mesh with and can help to bring out the true you. Someone who can make you laugh and is patient in understanding that it may take you awhile to warm up. 

You really are paying for the personality of the photographer as well as the production of their work to some degree.  It's hard to be yourself if you don't feel 100% comfortable around the person holding a camera a few feet from your face! 

I remember, Miss Holly (pictured below) was a little nervous at first, but once we cut up and I told her how gorgeous she is and how she can work it (true statements), she began to let loose:

Or let's look at this shot... this sweet girl was just not so sure about the camera at first.  I remember she was more interested in the grass.  But as photographers, it's our job to grab their attention!  So I was saying "doop doop doop!"  and bouncing in a happy voice... (along with her aunt haha) and before you know it she was happy and giving her momma kisses. This also prove you can't have an ego and be a successful children's photographer!

So whether you are looking for some beautiful senior shots, someone to take pictures of your crazy kiddos, or getting married - pick someone who makes you feel at home.  Find someone who wants to bring out the beauty of you being YOU.

Alright, I am looking for my senior reps!  There are a few requirements that I want to get out of the way first, then we can do get to the fun part (the goodies you receive if you are my rep!)

-must live in the DFW area

-a personality that isn't camera shy

-willingness to "rep" - pass out your cards and spread word about Rachel Brooke Photography to your friends at school

-either a Junior Classmen or a current Senior - so class of 2011 or 2012 only

Now the fun part.... what you get back from me for being a rep in the area....

-$75 print credit for each person you refer, and they get a $50 print credit! :)

-a free 1-hour session with online gallery access featuring your retouched photos ($175 value)

-6-10 mini digital files loaded onto facebook to use as your profile picture

-digital online slideshow and hosted for 6 months!

This is an awesome opportunity and I always have SO much fun with my senior reps.  We will find some great locations, spunky props, and get to workin' it.  Email me at rachelbrooke@gmail.com with a quick shot of you and just a few lines about why you would want to be a rep!

There's an episode where Ben apologizes for leaving Felicity high and dry at the movie showing of an old film, and to make up for it, he goes and buys her a vintage reel to play the movie.  When he asks her what she thinks it is, she guesses the correct answer, but then he says "no, a time machine."  His way of righting the wrongs by recreating the same experience. 

This sweet gesture got me to thinking about time machines....and time....and how we can't always go back and right wrongs but we can change the patterns.  God gives us new mercies each day and we get to hold them dear and wipe the slate clean. 

Time is precious.  Time is fleeting.  I was 16 and confused yesterday, I'm 24 today.  It goes and goes and there is no stopping it.  So treasure what you have in this very moment.

**Some shots from a recent shoot in Austin, Tx with this lovely senior.  For more photos, check out my Facebook Rachel Brooke Photography Page!

Sara has a beautiful voice- check out her music HERE! :)

It's also a great way to stay in touch with my recent work.  I still like to blog, but its easier and faster to just upload them to my facebook page.

...And stay tuned on here too- lots of great sessions to come! 

I am so thankful that I'm the one behind the lens...that I get to witness the interactions of families and see what lengths they go to for each other. 

The bond of a family can be fringed at times, but it can never be broken.  Nothing can change the fact that you came from each other.  The connection a family shares is just sweet, blissfully sweet.

**Click HERE to see the slideshow!

I check facebook, twitter, email, etc multiple times throughout each day and feel a need to go see what's up on the interweb.  The absence of this obsessive behavior has only shed light on just how gross it really is.  What happened to my reading?  Spending time in thought?  Instead those hours (yes, hours) have now been dedicated to filling my brain with even more useless knowledge about what other people are doing and ultimately leaving me feeling like my life is less adverturous and cool.  My first reaction was I told Matthew "I don't want my iPhone back.  It's become like a second husband."  And he says that rather that going all-or-nothing (as I tend to do) I needed to learn how to monitor where I'm putting my time. 

I'm a little glad that this has happened.  It's opened my eyes a bit.  When I go over to my family's house, if we're all lounging and sleepy we sit on our iPhones and browse.  Our generation is so tightly bound to technology, but I want my kids to be raised with good conversations over coffee, confessions and lots of laughter.  I want to start practicing control now so I can preserve these sacred gifts.

*I just realized that I sound like Frank on You've Got Mail with all his extremism and use of the typewriter as a rebuttal to the technology movement.  ("You are a lone reed.  Standing tall, waving boldly, in the corrupt sands of commerce.") I hope you all catch my drift and don't view me as a Frank!

I've got a couple of announcements::

1) I have decided to enter into our current millenium, quit being a dinosaur, and offer Digital Collections!  I'm really excited about this.  The collections feature products as well as the digital copyrights to the file.  You can email rachelbrooke@gmail.com if you are interested!

2) I started a devotional blog with my dad called Rest at the Well.  We've been running it for a couple of months now and it keeps me busy, challenged, and studying.  I'd love to have you come visit and bookmark or subscribe if you enjoy it.  (Click the link above in the title of the blog to be directed to the site).

After chatting with my friend (the beautiful girl in the photos below) Jenny yesterday, I have a whole new respect for army wives.  They know LONG distance.  They know anticipation, anxiety-filled days and nights, and the hope that one day they will be back into the arms of the one they love.  Her husband called during our mini shoot and her face lit up and you could tell that moments are treasured.  (There is none of the "tuning out" that I'm so guilty of!)  It will be almost a year before her husband will come back home to the states, and in the meantime she waits with an eager heart. 

Thank you military men for serving.  Thank you military wives for serving in a whole new way...

You prove to us that LOVE knows no distance.