We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Brooks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.
Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
After over 10 years of social services, I desperately needed a break. My whole identity was my job. So I found a boring job to be completely detached from work. After a few years, I was curious to return to social services in a different way, to find fulfillment in labor. Each idea felt like it was close, but didn’t feel right.
The few months leading up, I had experienced some massive shifts in my life. I needed a change in pace and knew immediately that I wanted to invest in photography. All of my loves came together in outdoor boudoir. My love for the outdoors, my passion for s*x positivity, my values of body liberation, my favorite way to express love and admiration through words and hype, and my craving for creativity and new community.
In August of 2023, I went to a pole dancing class for plus size folks, connected with new people, and started playing with my camera. Dedicated, I knew I had to be bad at something before I was good. I embraced being bad at posting on socials, marketing myself, and branding. It gave me permission to meet myself where I’m at, without expectations to be perfect. This allowed my creativity to flourish, my business to grow, and my sense of fulfillment to expand.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a fat photographer and I specialize in both outdoor boudoir and (queer and polyamorous-friendly) family portraits. This idea came from years of conversations, dreaming, trying out ideas, and failing. Ultimately, I mixed my love of the outdoors, my passion for s*x positivity, and my value of body liberation into creating art alongside folks. Folks typically come to me because they want to celebrate an event, a milestone, an anniversary. Or, they might be working on body acceptance, healing their relationship with their body.
Photography has been a hobby of mine since I was 12 years old (can you believe someone hired me at 12 for their wedding? Small town things). It wasn’t until I had a huge shift in my life that I was reignited to focus on my photography. I was stretched to find new community and build relationships with folks that I have only ever admired from afar.
I’m not only proud of my work as a photographer in my images, but I am proud of my collaboration with my clients, community partners, and nature. I am incredibly proud to be part of someone’s lifelong journey of healing their relationship with their body. It is an immense privilege to see people take up space, be celebrated, and share in creating lives-long heirlooms.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I firmly believe that we are part of nature. In the PNW, people go wild for Mount Tahoma on a clear day; that’s how I want my clients to feel when they look in the mirror.
Too often, moms and femmes are the ones behind the camera taking images that will be passed down for generations. These images are not only powerful storytelling, but they are heirlooms that are treasured. I am enraged that so many femmes and women are missing from these memories.
While I work with anyone of any gender identity or expression, I have a love for folks who are too often forgotten from the camera lens. When someone I photograph is giddy with excitement on how they look, similar to how so many of us feel when we admire Mount Tahoma, that feeling fuels my creativity. Those moments of admiration help counteract the years we have been told we aren’t enough, don’t look good enough, or shouldn’t take up space.
If you don’t think you look good enough to be in the photos? You look good enough to be remembered.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Before starting my business, I worked in social services for over 10 years. I wanted to bring my values of being relationship-focused, working towards social equity, and collaborating with folks over competing.
I’m proud that my business is only successful because of the relationships built. Not only do all of my referrals come from relationship-based marketing, I receive immense joy from it! Every month, I host a Fat Swim in Seattle, which serves to connect community. I love pouring into my community, whether it’s raising money, donating photography services, or partnering with organizations on events. We cannot do anything alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurabrooks.art
- Instagram: @laurabrooks.boudoir or @laurabrooks.families
- Other: TikTok: @laurabrooks.boudoir or @laurabrooks.families
