Oh Hi. It's Brooke. Can we be friends?
Me.
I am the lead behind MLP. I am a teacher by day and a photographer on my nights, weekends, and summers. I am also the mama of two amazing little girls, Molly & Emma, and 2 Alaskan Malamute pups, Bella & Blitz! My hubs, Ben, is my rock and the one who pushes me to go for my dreams! He is also my second shooter and organizer on wedding days. I grew up south of Chicago in a rural small country town. College brought me to Iowa, and this is home.
In my spare time, you'll find me snuggled with my girls (when they let me), reading (when I get a minute), being outdoorsy with hikes and kayaking, listening to music (EVERY GENRE), scrolling the net for new ideas for our house, and traveling when we can (Mostly to Disney). Ben, the husband and rational one, has to keep me in check. I am always coming up with new ideas and find myself starting many sentences with "Sooooo, I've been thinking". We always have a project of some sort going on.
I am going on my 12th year as a 5th-grade teacher in Davenport, Iowa. With a second grader in competitive dance and a toddler always on the move, we live a busy life! Photography is a great chance for me to slow down and capture the important moments!
My Side Hustle & Passion.
I have always loved meeting new people and capturing special memories for them. I love teaching and working with children, but I kept wanting to get more into my photography. In 2015, I jumped in. Bought a couple of new lenses and started putting myself out there! Boom, Magnolia Lane took off! While my style and passions have morphed over these past 10 years, I still love what I do! Sessions with me are pretty chill, and I want to capture YOU and your squad in the way that you want.
The Name.
I always get asked why Magnolia? Well, my husband and I have a long tradition with Magnolia Trees. I won't bore you with all of those schmoopy details, but he ended up proposing under a Magnolia Tree.
When I was trying to decide on my name, I kept coming back to something with Magnolia and MLP came to life!
If I sound like someone you want to work with, let's chat.
I'd love to capture some sweet moments with you and your loves!
