Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Forsee.
Brooke, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up and attended school in the small town of Hamilton, Montana. After taking a few classes in photography, something clicked…literally. I was instantly drawn to the art. I soon realized, memories may fade but the photograph will not. I was immediately attracted to the idea of capturing a moment in time, as a tangible keepsake treasure for generations to share. After high school, I applied and attended to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. After graduating with a BA in Commercial Photography, my first job was in NYC in the fashion industry. I lived and worked in NY for 3 years before moving to South Carolina to be closer to family. I started my own business (Brooke Christl Photography) photographing weddings in 2006, and today, own a studio where I love to capture a diverse array of subjects from newborn babies, maternity, family portraits, professional lifestyle portraits as well as our Santa experiences during the holidays. I still reside in Myrtle Beach, SC with my husband, two step-sons and a couple of doodles. It’s hard to believe I’ve been in business 20 years now… it’s been an incredible ride and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a business owner, the struggle is always real. How the economy is performing plays a huge role and competition is fierce. Your work better be “on point” to ensure it stands out from the crowd. There is also cost of studio, gear, equipment, licensing and insurance which is a big part of the budget. There are always learning curves with tech and software courses to stay relevant. Transitioning from film, when I first started, to digital was also a huge leap in the industry.
In a nutshell, education never stops and competition and new trends keep me on my toes to push myself harder and expand my knowledge.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Demands for different types of photo shoots will always be different depending on several factors. Some years I see an uptick in weddings and some years see a baby boom. Beach Portraits have always been a staple since we live in a vacation destination. In recent years, I have become most known for our Santa portraits. We photograph Santa on the beach in late Summer before the kids go back to school. These are light-hearted and fun, since the weather is warm and the kids (with Santa) are showing off their best and trendiest beach attire. In November, Caledonia (Golf Club) Santa is the most picturesque, and most requested, with live oak moss trees lined on a beautiful driveway. Then, we have The Santa Experience in the studio. This session is truly special where Santa and the kiddos spend 30-45 mins together, tell stories, share Christmas wish lists and eat cookies together. There is something so special about seeing the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child. I love being able to help share that experience. I have been told many times that we’ve helped the parents “buy another year” of Christmas (believing), which makes me feel proud of what we do.
How do you define success?
I feel like success is loving what you do while getting paid to do it. I’m so fortunate to be able to work with so many wonderful people and families, doing what I love. I start every session with one goal in mind. I want each photograph to capture the moment and evoke emotion that will last a lifetime. That makes me truly happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brookechristl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookechristlphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrookeChristlPhotography/
Image Credits
First image: Sommer Ortiz Photography
The rest are my images
