wishing it was spring...

As I was out in backyard this morning trying to pick up the mess of leaves that never seems to go away, I noticed how lonely my cute yellow bird feeder looked hanging on a bare tree.  It was my wishful thinking that made me keep the bird feeder hanging there most of the winter.  I kept hoping that it would be so mild this winter season that all the little birdies would have to stay put instead of going to their vacation homes in Florida.  No such luck (although, I shouldn't complain too much after talking to my in-laws last night in Nebraska where the high was only 18 degrees!!!!!!!  The high!!!!!).  The little guy and I bundled up and tried to get some pent up energy out in the backyard.  Well, that is what he was doing.  I was pretending to rake up leaves while snapping photos here and there.  Can't wait for spring and all the warm weather!  We have some great photo sessions with some of our favorite people already scheduled for March.  Time to warm up and get outside for family photos! :)

reba & kelly

Last night Jen and I got to see the Reba & Kelly concert at the Crown Center and we were so impressed! There is just something so inspiring about seeing two such talented women combine their talents and hit the road. The concert was great, and Jen and I were both so impressed with not only their voices, but also their story telling. With each song they sang, they brought about a new feeling and reaction within the crowd. They truly are two people who really LOVE what they do.

Jen & I agreed that if we wish for one talent that it would be to the ability to sing! Then we rocked out to the radio for the rest of the drive home and decided to stick to photography! 

we LOVE love

This blog entry is all about how much we love to photograph people who are in love! We cannot think of a better time or place to do this than at a wedding! That's why we have decided to make a very special offer to the first THREE couples who book with us for their weddings.

We realize that at your wedding, you want nothing but the best, and we are confident that we can deliver just that. So, the first three couples that book with us this year will receive $300 off our wedding package and a $150 gift certificate toward the purchase of prints at pictage.com!

Even better the FIRST couple to book with us will receive a $300 gift certificate toward the purchase of prints or products on pictage.com! 

That first couple will receive a total savings of $600! 

It's just our gift to you for putting your faith and trust in us on your special day.

Our regular wedding package is $1500.

This includes unlimited hours of coverage at your wedding by two lead photographers. The couple will receive 225 4x6 proof prints, professional processing & editing, and online proofing. Engagement and bridal sessions are also included with this fee (normally a $250 session fee).

Please contact us at jenniferbrooksphotography@hotmail.com or by phone at 919.498.9807 if you are interested!

family

My sister and her boyfriend...don't they look so in love! 


One of my favorite shots of the session
My Mom & Dad
I absolutely love this photo!

While I was in Atlanta over Christmas, I was able to have a few "sessions" w/my family.  They have been so supportive of the business and my passion for photography...I feel blessed!  And, it is great b/c I can get them to do whatever I want during the shoot. :)  Just wanted to share a few of my favorites...

pictures from atlanta

I love this shot!

My favorite image of the day!

One of the great things about co-owning a busines is getting to shoot sessions together.  Brooks and I always have a blast working together, but occasionally we do some solo work.  There are times when I go home to Hotlanta I get the opportunity to meet some great families and take some fun photos.  I had a blast working with Carolyn and her family over Christmas.  We met out at "The Mill", a great location where they actually shot quite a few scenes for "Sweet Home Alabama" w/ Reese Witherspoon (a great movie!).  They were such a fun family and every single one of them had an AWESOME smile!  It was a blast and I just had to share a few of my favorites.

Land's Florist & Gifts

Sunday I had the opportunity to do an ad shoot at Land's Florist & Gifts in Cary,NC. This lovely shop is filled with amazing arrangements, unique gifts, and items for the home. It was a joy to see the store in true spring fashion on such a cold & blustery day. The atmosphere at Land's is warm and inviting, as are the staff. I have had the privilege of working with Land's Florist at a few of their weddings & events, and I can only describe the work they produce as epic, and gorgeous...I literally have never seen anything like it!

 I truly enjoyed my visit to the shop and cannot wait to see the results in Cary Living Magazine next month!

Saturday began with a lovely dusting of snow, and i took the opportunity to visit family in Raleigh. We brought along Lola, and she enjoyed every minute of visiting with her grandparents. Here are some shots of Lola (all grown up now) in the snow for the first time ever, and then relaxing on the couch with her Grandma after a snowy walk. Maybe it's just me, but there is nothing like the love of a golden retriever!

playing in the snow...

Caden playing

Snow in NC!!  Well, I guess that is not too unusual if you live near the mountains, but here in the "sandhills", I think it is a little more rare.  We've lived here almost 4 years and this was the first snowfall we have seen.  It has mostly melted already, but boy did we have a blast playing in it yesterday afternoon!  Caden didn't know what to think, but he got out there and rolled his favorite fire truck around in the white stuff.  Pacey didn't act his almost 8 years...you could have sworn he was a puppy again by the way he was running around!  I got the good ol' point and shoot out to take some shots. :)  I haven't used that in awhile...    

All about brooks...

Lola is her younger years : )

Laughing with my mom & aunt Penny!

My handsome husband Gabriel. 

Ok, so now it's my turn to tell you all about me...I grew up in the Seattle area, studied Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Seattle, taught dance for a while, coached a high school dance team, and hung out with some amazing people! I met my husband Gabriel in Seattle while he was stationed at Fort Lewis. A few years later we found our selves blissfully married and moving to North Carolina!

Once we arrived in North Carolina, I had the great fortune of finding another amazing friend in a neighbor; Jennifer Wilson. We found that we had so many interests in common that we became fast friends, and before we knew it we were starting a business together! Starting a business has been one of the most exciting times of my life, and I look forward to each day with passion, excitement and creativity.

things i love:

My husband, taking pictures, laughing hard, music, family, graphic design, Starbucks, my mac, sleeping in, summer nights, dancing, North Carolina sunsets, my golden retriever Lola, fashion, dying my hair (right now it's red!), chunky jewelry, shearling boots, giving gifts, the Washington skyline, shopping, the beach, conversations with children, phone calls from loved ones, tight hugs, a great book, kickboxing, and a great meal.

things i don't love:

Red onions, traffic, loud commercials, when someone doesn't smile back, wet shoes, doing dishes, missing people I love, "spring ahead," and pessimism.

about jennifer

How exciting...we have a blog!  This is my first foray into the "blogosphere" (unless you count lurking!) and I'm so excited about it.  Brooks did such an awesome job letting you guys know about our business, but I thought you all might want to know a little bit about us as individuals.  As a photographer, who I am personally has as much to do with who I am professionally.  So let's see...I'm a military brat who has been to some pretty fabulous places.  My passion for photography really started in high school when I took a class and I have been hooked ever since.  If I wasn't a photographer, I'd be an interior designer.  Can you tell I love being surrounded by art and design???  Making images and design are my 2 great passions, but my 2 great loves are my husband and my son (I can hear the collective "awww" right now).  Don't know what I'd do without them and they make my life complete! 

Things I LOVE: hanging out w/those who are dearest to me, margaritas (preferably enjoying while I'm hanging out those dear people), Paris at night, when my son gives me a hug, when my husband calls me "buddy", my puppies, making someone smile, clothes, clothes, and more clothes, shoes, shoes, and more shoes, COFFEE, my camera, vincent van gogh, reading, and "date night" w/my awesome husband...

Things I HATE: bad drivers, rudeness, being late, when my 2 year old throws a tantrum :), cold weather, fakeness, goulash, meatloaf, leaving fabulous friends behind when I move, forgetting someone's birthday, not living closer to my amazing family, forgetting to turn the sprinkler off, folding laundry...

I've included just a few of my favorite pics of my family...hope you enjoy!  Up next is Brooks!  Stay tuned for some sneak peeks of upcoming shoots...

Hi there! 

We are Brooks Kleven & Jennifer Wilson of jennifer/brooks photography, and this is our blog! We are a new photography studio working in the Fayetteville and Raleigh area (soon to be expanding beyond the borders of NC!), and we LOVE what we do. We are passionate about our  images, and the people in them.

We were inspired to begin a blog after a fantastic PUG meeting in Raleigh. We learned so much from Mary & Justin, and met some really great people! Now we're ready to share our lives with the world of bloggers...this should be fun! 

Stayed tuned for more adventures of jennifer/brooks!