Give us your origin story, how did you get into photography? 

I didn’t grow up planning to be a wedding photographer. I was on a very clear path toward writing and public relations—and I was good at it. I loved messaging, strategy, and understanding how stories shape perception. I worked in PR for five years and fully expected that to be my career.

But photography kept finding me.

Back in high school, I had picked up a camera in yearbook class. It turned out I had an eye for it. It wasn’t some grand childhood dream. I felt more like a pull from the universe. Every opportunity felt strangely serendipitous. At times, I even resisted it. I stayed in my corporate job, but my free time quickly became full with weddings and couples' sessions on the side.

Being a wedding photographer feels less like a job and more like alignment. Like I finally stepped into what I was meant to be doing all along.

Eventually, my life reached a turning point. On February 19th, eight years ago, I quit my corporate job and left a relationship (on the same day). I decided to pursue wedding photography full-time. Two weeks later, I photographed a wedding in Tulum that went on to win a Junebug Weddings Reader's Choice Award for “Best Wedding of the Year." My career took off from there.

Looking back, it all feels kismet. This wasn’t something I aggressively chased. It’s something that kept circling back to me until I was ready to answer the call. Being a wedding photographer feels less like a job and more like alignment. Like I finally stepped into what I was meant to be doing all along.

Every wedding has its own heartbeat. My favorite part is discovering where it lives.

What made you drawn to wedding photography, specifically? 

A curiosity about love, family dynamics, travel, and culture. Weddings gather everyone who has shaped you into a single room. There’s something incredibly profound about being invited into that. I am who I am today because of the lives I’ve witnessed up close.

What’s your favorite part of the wedding weekend to shoot? 

Every wedding has its own heartbeat. My favorite part is discovering where it lives.

Wedding photographers spend the whole day on their feet - what’s your go-to pair of shoes for shooting a wedding? 

I just retired my Reformation Bethany Ballet Flats (in leopard) after a very long and honorable run.

Now I’m in a transitional phase… constantly asking myself if I can make a black sneaker look chic at a black-tie event. The jury is still out.

(Might we suggest this lace pair from Jimmy Choo?)

What are some unexpected must-haves in your shoot day kit?

Breath strips (always). Extra deodorant. Perfume. 

What should brides think about/ask when they’re shopping around for a photographer for their events? 

Slow down.

Your photographer will be present in some of your most intimate, emotionally-charged moments. They will be in the room while you’re getting dressed. They will witness your family dynamics. They will guide you when the timeline shifts or nerves set in.

Ask yourself: Do I feel calm around this person? Do I feel seen? Do I trust their perspective?

It’s also important to look beyond the surface of an image. A beautiful dress, spectacular venue, or abundant florals can make almost any photograph feel impressive at first glance. The real question is whether the photograph itself is strong. Is the composition thoughtful? Does the image carry emotional weight even without embellishments?

Try to imagine the photograph stripped of its surroundings. Would it still hold you?

Choosing a photographer isn’t just about aesthetic preference. It’s about alignment and shared vision. 

What is the biggest misconception about wedding photography? 

That it’s simply about showing up and documenting what unfolds.

At its highest level, wedding photography is orchestration. It requires technical mastery, emotional intelligence, timing, spatial awareness, leadership, and the ability to create calm inside a high-pressure environment. You’re not just observing. You’re guiding, anticipating, shaping light, protecting moments, and making hundreds of micro-decisions per hour.

Another misconception is that the value lies in the number of images delivered. The true value is in knowing which moments matter.

As an artist, where do you find inspiration? 

I’m inspired by poetry, cinema, interior design, and fashion—disciplines that have a longstanding relationship with how to evoke a feeling. 

I pay attention to how a room feels at different times of day. How fabric moves. I study museum exhibitions, old master paintings, and photographs from decades past. Work that has endured.

I’m also inspired by human behavior. Weddings are layered with vulnerability and anticipation, and when you’re attuned to that, there is endless depth to draw from.

You just opened a showroom in Houston - can you speak a little more about what you were hoping to accomplish with the space? 

I wanted to create a space where photography could exist in its intended form—physically.

So much of our industry lives on screens. I’ve always believed photographs deserve more than that.

The atelier was created as a living gallery and print house. A place where couples can see their work framed, matted, and installed. Where they can hold paper samples in their hands. And where conversations about legacy feel tangible.

It’s also about community. Houston has an extraordinary and somewhat untapped creative energy. I wanted to build a space that invites collaboration through curated gatherings and thoughtful partnerships in a “European chic-meets-Texas” kind of way. 

Ultimately, I wasn’t trying to open a “studio” for more shooting days. I was building a home for my work.

What are some wedding photography trends you’re ready to say goodbye to? 

I don’t love trends in general. When photography becomes trend-driven, the work can start to feel derivative rather than intentional. It’s easy for certain aesthetics to flood the online space. When that happens, it can become difficult for couples to distinguish between what is visually loud and what is actually well-crafted.

My hope is that couples and creative teams lean more into the art of photography (light, composition, timing, emotional depth)—rather than chasing whatever is momentarily popular. The photographers who are most compelling to me are the ones who refine a perspective that is uniquely their own.

What trends are you seeing on the upswing? 

If I’m being candid, I’m not seeing a singular aesthetic trend rise so much as I’m seeing acceleration in general.

The pace of visual consumption has increased. With that, we’re seeing faster cycles of imitation. One look gains traction and quickly becomes everywhere. 

What I am noticing, though, is that there are many photographers doubling down on craft. That’s a direction I respect.

The industry doesn’t need more sameness; it needs more perspective.

You can find Brooke and her work on her site + Instagram.

A little behind the scenes moment with Brooke... // Madison Stringfellow