We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brooke Buck. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brooke below.
Brooke, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I love this question! I find myself feeling the most creative and fulfilled when I am able to mix my two passions: working with children and families and telling stories through photographs. Last year, I collaborated with the clinic I work for (Playabilities) and we hosted a family picture event for families that attend Playabilities. The main mission was to provide a comfortable experience for these families. As occupational therapists, my boss and dear friend, (Kelly Reardon, Co-Owner of Playabilities) and I recognized a lack of access to this unique combination of services – therapeutic family photos if you will! The feedback we received from the event was so positive, as most of these families opt out of professional family photos due to the anticipatory fear of a meltdown and the feelings that follow, keeping the child regulated throughout a session, etc. We had numerous therapists volunteer their time to support these children. It was incredibly rewarding to show families a playful and positive way to take child-led photos. Some of the parents told us they hadn’t taken family photos in years, so we were beyond excited to facilitate the memories and capture the photos!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I was born and raised on a farm in northwest KS and grew up with a camera in my hand. That hobby and creative drive blossomed into a huge part of my present life! My mom has always said I have such a zest for life. That zest is a huge reason why I love photography, because it is reflected through my work! I get giddy when I see the light hitting juuuust right, and when I can then show that through a photograph, other people get to enjoy it too. That has been the most rewarding part since launching my online print shop — the cherished feeling I experience when I walk into someone’s home and they have my work proudly displayed.
As for my approach to photography, I aim to capture raw human emotion and authentic memories in a lifestyle manner. I live for those in-between moments. Those moments are priceless and it takes intentionality from a photographer to capture them. I truly care about the people I work with, not just the beautiful scenes. I value who they are and try to make them feel like their best so I can truly document the season of life in the most beautiful and timeless way. I facilitate that by giving movement-based prompts and playful directions. The end result is more of a visual story, rather than just a photograph.
Many people have told me I would eventually need to pick between photography and occupational therapy, but I think the combination is what makes me unique. Working as a pediatric OT has helped the interpersonal portion of running a business and has made me better equipped to facilitate sessions. I love incorporating the kiddo’s interests, encouraging play, and offering movement as much as possible to fully capture the family and child in the most authentic way.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
In my opinion, photography represents more than capturing and delivering images. The client experience entails so much more than that. As photographers, we are hired to serve other people during their most precious memories and moments. I want people to rave about the way I treated them and how much fun they had during our time together.
I think that as a vendor, your reputation is built based on that overall client experience. It is as simple as the feeling the client had when they were working with you. That includes the preparation phases of answering emails in a timely manner, encouraging questions and collaboration, and the “extras” such as the client guides and smooth scheduling process. The process continues during the photoshoot, and of course the aftermath, including turnaround time, the end result, etc. I have a huge passion for the client experience and take pride in serving people on their most important days. I have discovered that this fosters a mutual respect and lifelong relationship! Because of that, I am so lucky and grateful to capture the same families and couples year after year.
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
The most rewarding aspect for me is the freedom and versatility. I can gift my services to those in need and to close family and friends. I can make an income and travel all over the world to then freeze what I experience in time. I capture love, milestones, events, and products, and collaborate with some of my favorite local businesses to ensure their brand is as visually pleasing as possible. I have a deep respect and love for the job and what it provides. :)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brookebuckphotography.com
- Instagram: @brookebuckphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063680582765