Sweet newborns
Kiddos
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Family
Posted on February 24, 2011
What, it’s already Thursday again? Wow, these weeks are flying by fast. Which is a good thing for me. I have a child that is ready for summer time so they no longer have to go to school (I can hear it in my head…man, I’m so ready for summer, I’m tired of school, I just want it to be done, so I can relax), then I have my other kid, Molly who is ready for school to be done, so she can play with her friends. Wait…did you guys catch that little joke. I said I have a child who is ready for school to be done, then I also have my other kid Molly. Did you get it? HA HA. That was my attempt at humor. 
However, it’s so true around this house though. Molly and Brett are both ready for school to be done. Brett has been going to school for forever, and will be done with his Bachelors Degree in Finance in May!! Wahoo! He also has a degree in Accounting, but I personally think he likes Finance more. Why do you ask? Well, b/c Accounting around here means, you get to be my personal accountant and take care of my taxes. He hates tax time. He hates dealing with my taxes, and likes to remind me that they’re a pain in HIS butt. Yea, how do you think I like them Brett? He’s great though. He complains, but does them anyways. He did however ask me how much I was going to pay him next year…I politely told him I will get him a pass to go with me to a convention next year. Lol.
So…..onto the really fun part of Thursday. The feature. While talking to a friend today, she asked who I was featuring. I said: “I’m not telling you”. I like to keep them secret until Thursday. I feel it helps the excitement. I do have another fabulous photographer today. She does amazing work, and there is one image in particular that I love. It just speaks to me. All of these photographers that I have featured so far, are rock stars, and the inspiration they give is amazing. Their work fascinates me, and their personalities are WONDERFUL. So, let’s meet this rock star!
Meet….
Brooke Beasley Engstrom – Brooke Beasley Photography
Bay Area / Central Valley California Photographer
www.brookebeasleyphotography.com
Where are you from? Where do you currently live?
I was born in Illinois and now I live in the middle of the East Bay and Central Valley CA
What does photography mean to you? What attracted you to photography?
Photography means freedom for me. I am able to freely express my creative side and share it! I have always been around photography, growing up my uncle was featured in National Geographic and I have always played around with it. I love giving something to others that they can enjoy for years to come.
Describe the area of photography you specialize in? Why did you choose this area?
I don’t really specialize in any one thing. I am still working on deciding that. I really love seniors and kids, but I love seeing people in love at weddings….see I can’t decide 
(This is my favorite image that I was talking about. You can tell this couple is in love, and the colors are gorgeous. Nice, calm, and beautiful. )
How long have you been a photographer?
Professionally? I am starting my 3rd year.
Are you self taught or have you attended formal schooling? What workshops/seminars have you found useful to you?
I am self taught and also friend taught haha. I love researching everything and I believe you can find almost anything through practice and research. I have never been to a “workshop” just a class here and there.
Morning or night owl?
NIGHT OWL!!!
If you could describe your style of photography in 4 words, what would they be?
Clean, Fun, Real and Pure
Who is your family? Include some pictures of them since we all know that our family is always in our photographs.
I have two boys Brenton and Barrett or Brent and Bear and an amazing hubby, Travis
What is a project that you would like to do this year with your photography?
Actually FINISH my 52 week project!
How do you balance work, and your family?
I am still working on that! I’ll let ya know when I get it all figured out!
We all want to know…what’s in YOUR bag? What lens could you not live without?
I shoot with a 5D MarkII. I usually shoot with a 24-70 but my true love in a 50 1.2.
If you could photograph any person in the world, who would it be? Why?
Annie L…….mostly because I could hopefully absorb some of her talent and wisdom through our shoot, lol.
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
Probably a hairstylist or designer of some sort.
What are 4 words your husband would use to describe you?
Creative,fun, loyal, and maybe a little crazy. Haha
What helps keep you motivated with photography?
Trying new things and making myself shoot even when I don’t feel like it.
Tell us about some of your long term goals (with photography or personal life)?
I want to be able to find more what my favorite things are to shoot and really cater my business around that. I also want to be able to set myself apart from photography when I am not working and focus more on family. Learning to balance is really gonna come in handy!
What blogs do you love to stalk (doesn’t have to be photography related if you don’t want)?
Well, I always read The Maternal Lens…I always enter to win their awesome contests, but I lose. 
I look at too many photography blogs for sure, which can make you go crazy on self doubt! I also love reading about my awesome friends and keeping up with their blogs.
When you’re not shooting, what are you doing?
Being a mom, editing, cleaning…it’s all very glamorous, lol.
Where is one place you would love to travel to?
Bora Bora. I am a sunshine kinda girl so anywhere warm is my style!
What is one thing that you want to do in your life?
I have so many things I want to do, I guess a big one would be to have more kids.
What is a quote that means a lot to you?
I have the worst memory when it comes to remembering quotes. There is one that I like and I can’t even remember how it goes but something along the lines of
“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
If you could pick one photographer in the world to do a session for you, and your family, who would it be and why?
Oh really? Ahhhh I have so many fabulous friends that I swap with and I love all their images. I might say Barb from Jinky Art because I want to see how she catches all that magical light. For the most part I just want someone to be able to capture who “we” are and I really love any photos someone can get of my boys together because I never can!
If you could photograph one area of photography for a day, what would it be, why? (Something other than what you photograph, i.e. architecture, food, boudoir, birth, etc.)
I really would love to be on some over the top Vanity Fair photo shoot someday. Even if I’m just a fly on the wall.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in photography, what would it be?
To really know yourself. This is tough industry and you need to know your art and stand by it. This is something I struggle with but I have also gotten stronger because of it.
What magazine could you not live without?
To be honest, I don’t really read a ton of magazines but I do look at Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle for posing inspiration, but if I see a US Weekly or People I have to read it haha.
Please include some of your favorite images….
Once again, this week featured another fabulous photographer. In this industry, I have the opportunity to meet tons of fascinating people. When I say that, I’m talking about everyone I come in contact with…clients, other photographers, vendors, etc. I meet tons of people online, and always hope to one day meet them in person. Brooke is no exception. She is a fabulous gal. She totally cracks me up with the things she says, and is a huge inspiration to me. So she is now another photographer that has been added to my list of hopeful meet-ups. Brooke, thanks so much for being featured this week. It was a ton of fun, and I loved seeing your images. Thanks again, and keep rockin’!
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