Brooke Turner Photography

So, now that it is official - I wanted to let y’all know that I’m going full time with my photography! As most of you know, I currently work full time as a financial analyst, and I’ve been quite busy trying to manage my growing business while still working 40 hrs a week.  God had blessed my business more and more every day it seems, and it was really getting to be a bit much to handle.  So after a whole lot of thought, prayer, and looking at our finances, I’ve made the decision to begin the exciting journey of working for myself full time.   

It was such a tough decision to make for me, because I do truly love my job and the people there, and as weird as it sounds - I love corporate finance (yes, I’m a dork).  But more that that, I love photography, and the people I meet along the way.  Plus, I’ve always wanted to ‘be my own boss’ and I have definitely got the entrepreneur thing in my blood (ask my parents - they can tell some FUNNY stories about businesses I started when I was a kid).  Anyway- there will be a few months of transition, where I’ll be training and finishing some projects at work, but as of next Friday I will no longer be working there full time.  Yippee!!

And what fun is a post with no pictures?  So here’s one from Katherine and Joe’s wedding this past Saturday in Knoxville, that I shot with my friend Amy.  See how excited they are? That’s how I’m feeling right now!!

Sunday I met Kristy and Nathan downtown to shoot their engagement pictures. I’m photographing their wedding in November, so this was a good chance for us to get to know each other a little bit better.  They are such a fun-loving and sweet couple.  There are a lot of pics here because I was just having trouble narrowing down my favorites!

We started off down by the Gervais St. Bridge. 

They wanted to get some shots on the rocks - and I was all for it!

We then headed to the area around Villa Tronco.  This is where Nathan proposed.  (I hope I have the story right!) It is so neat when couples want to take engagement pictures in places that have special meaning.

Then on to the Vista - you can see Liberty Taproom in the background….one of their first date spots.

I’m SO excited about your wedding in November, Kristy and Nathan.  Luckily, it wil be a bit cooler by then! 

Hmmmm, what to blog about first?

-Kristi and Nathan’s awesome engagement session in practically 100 degree heat (at least it felt like it!), where we got adventurous and went rock hopping in the river

-Katherine and Joe’s very Southern wedding in Knoxville I shot with Amy, complete with a big white tent on the side lawn of the parent’s home

-Upcoming changes in my life

-Aweome new additions to the Brooke Turner arsenal of Canon equipment

So…for all you readers out there - leave me a comment to let me know what you want to read about! (I’m stealing this idea from another photographer).  All you self confessed blog stalkers - let me know you’re out there !

And I’ll leave you with this cartoon courtesy JM Borgman and the Cincinatti Inquirer (again, found on another photographer’s blog).  I thought it was funny on Friday afternoon when my mom called me and said "I saw on your blog that you’re going to Knoxville this weekend".   She always tells me that she knows whats going on in my life from my blog.  HA!  That’s why this cartoon cracked me up…

I’ve fallen off the blogging wagon!  My lack of blog posts isn’t because fun stuff isn’t happening…but quite the opposite!  Between shooting weddings, bridal portraits, a ton of travels, and meeting with potential 2008 clients, my life is just about as blessed as it can be!

Plus, the last couple of weeks I’ve been busy sorting out some upcoming changes in my life…good ones, don’t worry I must be a bit mysterious for a little while longer, but all I can say is God is Good!

I’m goin to Knoxville, TN Saturday to shoot a wedding with my fabulous friend Amy Martin!  Then, I can’t wait for Kristi and Nathan’s engagement session on Sunday-they are such a fun and cute couple. I’ll do some catching up when I return 

Thank you for your patience if I’m a bit slack on the blogging front lately!

I’ve been getting quite a few inquiries for the winter/spring 2008 wedding season, so I figured I’d go ahead and post my booked dates.   I know when I was vendor shopping for my wedding, I liked to see the vendor availability on their website. It saved me a phone call if they were already booked! 

2008 Wedding Dates:

1/5/08 - Lindsay & Jay,  Columbia (Virginia Wingard UMC/Palmetto Club)

1/26/08 - Jessica & Matt, Columbia (Virginia Wingard UMC/Saluda Schoals)

4/5/08 - Brittany & ,Charleston (First Baptist/Hibernian)

4/12/08 - Jennifer & Jason, Charleston (Citadal Summerall Chapel/SC Aquarium)

5/3/08 - Sarah & Will, Charleston (Lowndes Grove Plantation)

Please forgive me for the lack of blog updates! :) 

This past weekend was the first weekend since early April that I didn’t have a wedding to shoot! These past couple of months have been crazy with weddings each weekend, but believe me, I’m not complaining!  I count each wedding I book and each family I work with a blessing! 

So, what did I do on my free Saturday?  The better part of the day was catching up on some editing and then I went to my friend Anne’s bridal shower.  Anne and Bradley are getting married July 21, and I’m so excited for them.  Then, Sunday I took Anne’s bridal portraits at the State House.  She is such a gorgeous bride - but you’re going to have to wait till July 22 to see any pics!

Saturday, I’ll be shooting Kathy’s wedding, and Sunday on I’m going "home" to my alma mater, Clemson.  Oh…I can’t wait.. (my parents would not be happy about me calling Clemson home though! I guess I did only spend 4 years there).  But something about those Blue Ridge mountains makes me feel so alive! (all you Clemson Alumni will know exactly what I mean!)   I’m going to Clemson to shoot Sandy’s bridal portraits.  I’m so excited to trek all over campus and see the familiar sites of Tillman, Sikes, Manning, and the library (where I spent WAY too much time!).  I’m also excited because on the way up there, we’re going to leave a bit early and catch the 4:15pm worship service at NewSpring Church in Anderson.  I visited Newspring a few times when I was at Clemson when it was a LOT smaller. It has really grown and Perry Noble has become one of my favorite preachers.  I listen to podcasts of his sermons every week… Plus the praise and worship is just amazing. 

Everyone have a good week, and be looking for some pics from Kathy’s wedding this Saturday

Ceremony - Buncombe Street United Methodist

Reception - Thornblade Country Club

Saturday’s wedding was especially fun for me - all weddings that I shoot are special, but this one in particular because it was one of my Zeta sorority sisters that trusted me to shoot her wedding.  Basically it was one big Zeta reunion.  SO much fun!! I saw so many girls that I haven’t seen since I graduated from Clemson in 2002.

Stacy is such a beautiful person, inside and out.  I remember back in the college days, I helped teach a bible study on the sorority hall and Stacy would come to it…she’s the type of person that can brighten a room with her cheerful personality.  Although it was a bit drizzly on the big day, neither Paul nor Stacy let it dampen their spirits.  I just met Paul a few months ago, but they are such a perfect match. 

Buncombe Street UMC is pretty strict with their photography rules - no pictures during the ceremony. So if you wonder whey there aren’t any in the slideshow - that’s why :)  Now on to the sneak peek pictures!  (The link to the slideshow is at the bottom of this post)

Stacy putting on her veil

Paul - the handsome groom

Before the ceremony started - after the videographer had already put the mic on Paul - he got Paul to say a little something to Stacy - she could hear it through his headphones.  It was so cute because a couple seconds after this shot, Stacy got a little teary eyed and said "He wasn’t supposed to be sweet and make me cry!"

Coming out of the ceremony

I love this shot with the bridesmaids - aren’t they all so pretty! Many of these ladies were two pledge classes behind me.

First Dance

All the ZTA’s (minus me, and plus one future ZTA) after singing the traditional song that is sung at every wedding

Lambda Chi brothers having some fun

Here I was getting creative by cutting off the flash and playing off of the videolight ..I thought the lens flare was pretty neat

And finally - the happy couple leaving under a shower of rose petals

Stacy and Paul - y’all have fun in Alaska!! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your day.

And a little note to the rest of the Zeta girls - It was so good to catch up with you and see you after several years.  I’m so sorry I didn’t have more time to chat with each one of you, but I’m so proud of you all!  Y’all are all such sweet and beautiful ladies- you’ve done so well since college.  Mrs. Heath would be proud :)  I hope our paths cross again soon. ZLAM!

CLICK HERE FOR THE SLIDESHOW