I have only met Brooke once but she is so sweet and welcoming I feel like I have known her forever. She took our Christmas pictures this year…and OH MY GOSH! did she do an amazing job! She was so patient and kind with our kids. You can see genuine smiles and laughter in our pictures. Yes, there was bribery, there always is. But for the most part, that was all Brooke! She made them feel comfortable and in return, they listened and she got great shots. When I got my pictures back I was in shock and I think you will be too.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Kingwood?
While I was born in Scottsdale, AZ, I moved to Kingwood before starting kindergarten, so I truly consider Kingwood home! My husband, two daughters, two dogs & I moved back to Kingwood in 2016, and it’s great to be back!
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Two strong-willed, big-hearted little ladies: Olivia, 5 years old, & Hannah, 3 years old
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am not great in the kitchen… but I make really good chicken enchiladas thanks to a recipe handed down from my grandma & my mom! Also, I can make some darn good chocolate chip pancakes. And 7-layer dip. But that’s about it.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
I recently started learning to watercolor & it is so relaxing for me! It’s fun to push myself to be creative in a medium outside of photography, and I love that it is something I can do with my girls too. I also love to read – though it’s mostly audiobooks through the free OverDrive App + my library card these days!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
We have dance parties in the kitchen with the girls when they need an attitude reset, or if it’s been too rainy to get outside & play. I’m definitely not a dancer, so I sure hope our neighbors can’t see into our windows!
I also sneak into our master closet & sit on the floor with the lights off when I need a minute or two break – all the clothes make it pretty sound-proof to my girls’ screaming! (Safety note: I only do this if my husband is around to continue keeping an eye on them!)
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
You know the perfectly imperfect family who loves each other fiercely & laughs all the time? How about the small business owner making their dream a reality through faith & hard work? I photograph those amazing people through my business, b.marie.photography. There’s nothing better for me than to get memories for families to look back on years later, to let mamas see how their kiddos look at them with all the heart eyes, and to come alongside other creative entrepreneurs to cheer them on & get personal, on-brand images to connect with their ideal client & move their dream forward.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
I started to fall in love with photography as a kid here in Kingwood, especially in Yearbook at Kingwood High School. Getting to come back to this community & photograph families building their legacies here just like my family did? It’s been a blessing. The support of the incredible local families I’ve worked with since moving back is making it possible for me to do what I love, serve others & build a life for my family.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering,
working, etc)?
Find a support system! I am so blessed that we live just a mile away from my parents who are so so so supportive & helpful with taking care of the girls when I need to work & my husband can’t be with them. I also have amazing friends who offer to watch the girls so I can do mini sessions or host beginner photography workshops. It truly takes a village!!
A helpful tool I use is Lara Casey’s Powersheets. I love how they help me get really intentional about my goals & my time, & then help me translate that into monthly, weekly & daily tasks to actually make things happen.
And then simply just trying to give yourself grace. You can do so many things, and you can do them well, but there will be days that it seems nothing gets done for your business, or days that you crushed your to-do list but didn’t spend enough time with your kids. Give yourself grace! It’s so important to show my girls that they are priority for me, but I also want them to see their mama putting in hard work to chase a dream so that they are ready to work hard for what they want as they grow up.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Don’t stress about figuring it all out now. Put in the work & set goals, but be open to the detours God will send you on – that’s where the best stuff will be. And learn how to speak kindly to yourself!
What is your proudest mommy moment?
A recent one was my daughter Olivia’s reaction when she realized that Santa Claus was at my mother-in-law’s house. After a quick moment of awe, she said “I’ll be right back! I have to get my sister!!!!” They fight a lot (as most siblings do, I think), but moments like that make me so excited for their lifelong friendship!
What is your favorite thing to do in the HKA area?
We love to go get breakfast tacos from Kingwood Meat Market and donuts from Westco or Pat’s Donuts & Kolaches after mass on Sundays!
We also enjoy spending time at local parks, going to Back Pew on Saturdays if the weather is nice, and my husband and I enjoy the occasional date night in Kings Harbor (where we took our engagement photos!).
Don’t forget to Follow Brooke
Website: www.bmariephoto.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bmariephoto
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmariephoto