Sloane’s Senior Session | Merrill, Wisconsin
Sloane ROCKED her session this summer! We had so much cruising up and down the Riverbend Trail in Merrill, Wisconsin. We saw so much wildlife on the trails and got feet away from petter a momma deer. If you are looking for water, wildflowers, trees, trails, and wildlife the Northwoods is the place to be!
Merrill, Family Photographer - A Vintage Christmas
A vintage Christmas family session
Becoming a parent has made the Christmas holiday a bit more special to me. The magic and excitement of children is beautiful to watch and experience again as a parent.
Christmas is a time when children's innocence and belief in magic reign supreme, reminding us of the beauty and pureness of the holiday season. It's a time to cherish their unfiltered joy, for it encapsulates the true spirit of Christmas—the joy, wonder, and boundless love that children unleash upon our hearts.
So, come along, dear friend, and immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas. Together, let us create lasting memories and cherish the warmth that this beautiful season imparts.
Marten’s Family
The Marten’s are an amazing family, and their session was so much fun. A year and a half ago I had the honor of photographing their son for his newborn session; the kids have grown SO MUCH since that time! We went out to the Riverbed Trail in Merrill, Wisconsin and jumped in puddles, explored the fields and picked wildflowers.
If you’d like to book as session for your own family, feel free to send me a message. I can’t wait to help plan a super fun session with you!
Krause Extended Family Session
The Krause / Boehm family is one I’ve been lucky enough to photograph since the very beginning of my photography journey. It was so much fun to get them altogether for one big extended family session!
During my sessions, but especially my family sessions, I love to incorporate a mix of posed photos as well as some candids. If you’ve ever tried having photos taken with littles, you’ll know it can often be tricky business. I like to incorporate fun games for the kids to play to keep them engaged and to help ease your stress level. The candids almost always turn out to be my favorites - they show true emotion and the personality of the family. So the next time you are having family pictures taken, just remember that those moments of chaos may just be your favorite photos from the day.
Flower Session
There’s some beautiful flowers that grow by the side of the road near my home. I love flowers, but if it’s not a rose or a tulip I’m sadly ignorant of the name - no matter how much I can appreciate it’s blooms. I recently learned that the flowers I love so much are called forget me nots. They are a beautiful shade of blue and bloom in riotous clumps.
For the two years I’ve been in my house I have wanted to do a session in these flowers. There’s no reason I haven’t, other than time gets away from me, I get busy, or a million other silly excuses. This year I vowed I would take advantage of the forget me nots (even if it’s just one session)! I called up my good friend and asked if her daughter (who has the most beautiful blue eyes) would be a little model for me. I told her - “I only need five minutes”.
. . . . . .
Here’s the results -
Fall Family Session
Fall in Northern Wisconsin is always such a gorgeous time of year. And I just love when clients invite me out to their properties to capture the beauty. This family lives out on a couple of acres of land just a bit North of Merrill, WI - and boy did it not disappoint! There were several wooded trails, a pretty little creek, and even some animals that the boys couldn’t wait to show me.
T and A couldn’t wait to show me all their favorite spots to explore. We had tons of fun seeing who could throw the biggest rock, and who could throw the rocks the farthest into the creek. Within minutes the boys dissolved into giggles!
And what family session wouldn’t be complete without a few wild runs under blankets manned by Mom and Dad?
Here’s a few more of my favorites from this session!
One fun fact about this family - young man A was actually my very first newborn session ever, back in 2019. I’ve since photographed their wonderful family pretty much every year since. I can’t describe the appreciation I have for them, and the faith that every year I will have grown more and more as a photographer.
Interested in scheduling your own session? I’d love to hear from you!
Oaklynn’s Newborn Session
Merrill, WI Newborn Photographer
Sweet baby Oaklynn was born just in time for Christmas! Her parent’s love for rustic, outdoorsy vibes paired perfectly with the approaching holiday.
But just because you have a holiday baby doesn’t mean those are the only types of pictures we can take. I love getting to know more about you and your family before your session to find out what colors, themes, props you would love to have as part of your session. Allan and Angela loved woodsy and florals in addition to some subtle Christmas photos. So that’s exactly what we did. And of course if you are obsessed with the holiday your baby is born near, we can definitely go all out!
Oaklynn brought a proud big sister and grandma to her session! We were able to capture some really sweet family memories that I hope they will treasure forever. And of course Santa just had to make a special appearance too!
Is Photoshop Magic? What Can You Edit?
Is Photoshop magic? Sadly no, it’s not. But it can do some pretty cool things that seem like magic sometimes! Even Photoshop has limitations though. It’s a common misconception that anything and everything can be “edited” out or fixed with this program. Here’s quick (not complete) run down of common things Photoshop can and cannot do!
1.) Distractions from the background. Most of the time additional people, signs, houses, or other distractions can be erased from the background. There are some exceptions, if the program can’t find enough data to replace the object/person that needs to be removed you might be stuck with it in your final picture. There are some tips and tricks photographers can use to “outsmart” Photoshop, but it’s not appropriate for every image. Photographers will do their best to choose locations and setups that are clear or easily editable.
2.) Skies. During sessions we don’t always get lucky and get beautiful skies with lots of color or big fluffy clouds. But that’s one thing that can usually be fudged in Photoshop. This can be done in one of a few ways. Sometimes the beautiful sky is “hidden” and we can bring it back and make it pop with a few setting changes. Other times, we need to take a sky from another image and overlay it over the image. Things to remember - not every sky works for every image. The lighting of the sky you’re overlaying the image with needs to work for that photo. For example, if you took a picture on a grey, cloudless day, adding a beautiful sunset to that photo will look out of place.
3.) Blemishes and other minor skin fixes - This is especially important for newborn photos! Most newborns are not blessed with smooth, clear skin. When you bring your newborn in for a session they have usually scratched their face, have milk crust on their face, they may have baby acne or other irritated skin. All of this is totally normal! But most parents don’t want to remember those types of details. Photoshop has the perfect tools for editing skin. And it’s not just for newborns either. Senior sessions can often require quite a bit of retouching. Some adults ask for skin smoothing to remove acne or soften wrinkles as well. These are all easy edits!
4.) Logos on clothing and other clothing fixes - Sometimes logos and images on clothing can be edited out. However, this is NOT something you should expect your photographer to do. It takes a significant amount of time to fix clothing in Photoshop (and can even be beyond the average photographer’s expertise). Wrinkles, patterns, and ill fitting clothing are outside the photographers control and will not be corrected by the photographer. Minor stains on children can be edited out, but only if they are small.
5.) Hair and makeup! Your photographer may make minor adjustments or corrections to hair. This would include things like small fly aways. But Photoshop cannot change your hair or makeup. Your photographer will not be able to edit out grey hairs, or add lash extensions for you during the editing process. During the session we will do everything we can to catch any hair, makeup or wardrobe issues but at the end of the day it is the client’s responsibility to come ready for their session.
What Should I Wear to My Newborn Session?
After having a baby the last thing you want to worry about is what to wear to your session. Photography by Brooke is here to help guide you through what to dress yourself and your family in.
What should I wear to my newborn session? Is a question almost every new mom asks me. And I totally understand why! After having a baby the absolute last thing you want to worry about is what to wear (or what your hubby should be wearing). Don’t worry - I got you!
Keep it simple (and COMFORTABLE)! Solid colors are better than patterns - it helps keep the focus on baby and the bond you share, which is what we are trying to capture. Avoid completely matching outfits. For instance, don’t put everyone in white shirts and black pants, it’s better to use complementing colors or even different shades of the same color.
Something you do not have to worry or stress about is what to dress your newborn in. I will take care of all that! I have wraps, rompers, outfits, literally everything they will need in the full rainbow of colors. I will match baby to you and your family.
You also don’t have to worry about what backgrounds I have for you. Again, I will match my backdrops to you and your family. Photography by
Brooke’s studio is fully stocked with a variety of backdrops in so so so many colors and styles. Let me worry about color coordinating!
If you are planning an outdoor newborn session I highly recommend choosing an outfit that has some movement. That can be a dress, a shawl, a long cardigan or a skirt (to name a few) - it really brings the photos to life! But if you don’t have any of those things that’s ok too! Just fall back to the simple is best motto.
The last thing I want you to do is stress about your session, especially what you should be wearing. If you find that is the case don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help! I am happy to guide you through styling your outfits.
What time should I schedule my family photo session?
What time is the best time to schedule my family’s photo session? And why does my photographer always want to schedule so late during summer? What are some tips for scheduling a session? All great questions! Find out more here.
What time should I schedule my family photo session? What’s the best time to take pictures? Or why do we have to do our session so late? Are all questions I get asked when families are looking to schedule their sessions (especially in summer). I’m here to answer all these questions and MORE!
The short answer to what time is the best time for photos is about an hour to an hour and a half before sunset. This is called golden hour, and it makes for beautiful, dreamy photos like the one directly above.
But that’s so LATE! Is a complaint parents with young children commonly have. And that’s true, at the height of summer sessions often don’t start until after 7 pm. With littles that can be super tricky, and here’s some suggestions.
Let’s plan your session for earlier in the evening! We can choose locations that are shaded and still capture beautiful images. Note, we don’t get the sunset/golden hour images - they will still be beautiful but they will have a different tone and feel.
Wait until later in summer or early fall to book your session. As the days shorten golden hour comes earlier as well!
Wing it! Plan the session anyway - I will help keep the kids engaged and active during the session. Feed the kiddos supper a little later than normal and give them an extra snack or treat before the session to help keep energy levels up.
The season, time of day, weather and location will impact the images you receive during your session. For example - the wooded image on this page was taken during the morning in late Spring (with rain threatening the whole time), the field picture with the little kids was taken mid summer at golden hour, and the picture below was taken in the afternoon during fall. All these sessions were amazing, and yours will be too! Each of these families had a different vision in mind for their session, I’d love to hear what yours is! :)
How to pick outfits for your family photos
How to choose the perfect outfit for your next session. Tips and tricks on elevating your photoshoot. Photography by Brooke is a photographer based out of Merrill WI, that services the Wausau, Mosinee, Weston, Antigo, and surrounding areas.
How do I pick outfits for our family photos? What colors go best together? Should we all match? Should we wear clothes with words or images? These are all very common questions I’m asked before every photo session.
Picking outfits for you and your family is one of the more stressful aspects of preparing for your photo session.
I’m here today to offer some guidance, and hopefully help remove some of the stress for you.
I know you’re all just reading this to find out how to pair colors! That’s alright! And I have a super simple trick for you!
Head to (you can also just Google color palette ideas):
https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palettes/
This site offers tons of color palettes for you to view. You can search things like spring, autumn, rust, blue, etc to get inspo.
Once you’ve found a palette that you like (like the example below) you are ready to start shopping! These colors go together well and you can start basing your outfits off this color grouping.
Such a simple trick, but so effective!
Beyond colors, there’s a lot of other aspects to take into consideration! Being in Northern Wisconsin the temps can swing wildly from day to day. Should you plan for short sleeves or will you need a winter coat?
I suggest to families that have their sessions in the spring or fall months to plan on layers. Layers you can take off or put on as the session goes on. Photo sessions aren’t stand still events, you’ll be moving most of the time. So you might start out cold, but get toasty!
Cardigans or zip up sweaters are both great options! A blanket that’s big enough to wrap around you, fashion coats, or a shawl are good alternatives.
Here’s a few general rules to follow when getting ready for your shoot.
Matching family outfits can be fun (Christmas jammies!) - in the right setting. In general though, simple is better.
Avoid graphic t shirts, especially those with really bright colors. Solid colors photograph better, and fit in everywhere.
Steer clear of shirts with a lot of words. They are difficult to read in photos and often get cut off while you’re moving around. Think simple.
Refrain from choosing bright colors (anything in the neon family) and busy patterns.
Don’t forget about your shoes. You can have a killer outfit, but the effect can be completely ruined with shoes that don’t match. Guys tend to be the bigger offenders on this one. Ladies, I recommend doing a double check of your hubby before you leave.
If you’re really struggling on your outfit, it is perfectly ok to reach out to your photographer before the session and ask for advice. The last thing we want is for you to be uncomfortable at your session.
A couple of things to keep in mind -
Your photographer is not responsible for you hating your outfit. They are also not responsible for clothing that is wrinkled, creased, or covered in pet hair. Photoshop is amazing, but it’s not magic - it also takes a lot of time to edit (and not everything is fixable).
As always, if you have a question or need help, reach out! Photography by Brooke wants you to love your photos for years to come and is always happy to help!
What is a model call? And why do you do them?
What’s a model call? Why would you do one? What do I get out of it? All this and more! Merrill WI Newborn Photographer, Merrill WI Photographer, Wausau WI Newborn Photographer, Wausau WI Photographer, Mosinee WI Newborn Photographer, Mosinee WI Photographer, Weston WI Newborn Photographer, Weston WI Photographer, Antigo WI Newborn Photographer, Medford WI Newborn Photographer, Northern WI Newborn Photographer, North Central WI Newborn Photographer
Many of you may not be familiar with what a model call is, or why photographers do them - I’m here to give you more insights!
So what’s a model call anyway?
A model call is a free or reduced session that a photographer hosts to practice new techniques, styles, or for a specific project. Model calls are great for photographers because they provide a low/no pressure situation for the tog to practice or create a specific vision.
Why don’t you just practice on your friends?
We do! Sadly our friends aren’t always available, might not be interested in the particular vision we’re trying to create, or be the right fit for the session we need them for.
If it’s a model call, how much say do I get in the session?
That’s the catch - a model call is usually for the photographer to create something for themselves, or to practice on something they don’t normally do. In exchange for the free session you are giving up control. Meaning the photographer picks the props, colors, location, etc. But you still get gorgeous images to keep.
Will you take anyone?
No. The requirements vary by session type and what the photographer is hoping to achieve through their model call. For newborn model calls the photographer might be looking for a boy or girl specifically, have age restrictions as well as physical requirements (such as a baby with hair). These will be communicated to potential candidates when they reach out.
What are you going to do with the images?
The images could be used for a variety of purposes. Portfolio building, website images, marketing, contest entries, social media, etc.
Do I have to sign a model release?
Yes. The photographs are not helpful to the photographer if they can’t post them. While you might not be a great fit for a model call, you definitely can schedule a regular session! We completely understand if you don’t want your images shared on the web and will respect your decision.
Well that all sounds cool - I might be interested…how do they work exactly?
That is a great question! I’m so glad you asked! Send us a message! You can email us at photographybybrookewi@gmail.com or send a message on Insta or Facebook. Additional details on the session will be provided at that time.
We look forward to working with you!
Newborn Model Call Feb 2022
Photography by Brooke is looking for a model call baby for the end of February / beginning of March! Photography by Brooke is located in North Central Wisconsin, in Merrill. Photography by Brooke is a photographer that specializes in newborn, maternity and family photography.
We are looking for a newborn model call for the end of February 2022! Interested? Read on to learn how you can find out more information.
Who are we looking for?
Newborn boy or girl between the ages of 5-21 days at the end of February/ beginning of March
When is the session to be?
The session will be on a weekday between Wed Feb 23 and Wed March 2 2022
Where will the session be?
At Photography by Brooke’s in home studio in Merrill Wisconsin (address will be provided to those that are selected)
What do I get?
You will get a free session (baby only) which lasts 2-3 hours
3 free digitals for your time
Option to purchase additional images, prints or products!
What do I have to do?
Send us an email or DM on Facebook or Insta with your contact information.
Complete a short survey
Send us a picture of your baby without a hat
Outdoor Newborn Sessions
Outdoor newborn sessions are so much fun! Wisconsin is a great place to capture some beautiful images.
Here in Merrill Wisconsin we are truly blessed with some gorgeous weather - I’m often asked if I can do outdoor newborn sessions. The answer is YES! And here’s some things you should know -
1.) Outdoor newborn sessions can be done between April and October (as weather allows).
2.) Sessions will not be conducted outdoors when the weather is over 80 degrees as it is too hot for the baby, recovering mom and photographer.
3.) Sessions will not be conducted outdoors when the weather is less than 60 degrees, as baby’s comfort and safety is the top priority. Babies like to be warm and cozy, when they are uncomfortable sessions do not go well.
4.) Colors and props will be limited and typically selected by the photographer (with client input of course!).
5.) Summer session locations will be at the discretion of the photographer - usually these sessions need to be somewhere that has a lot of shade. This is both for lighting purposes and for the comfort of everyone at the shoot.
Want to schedule your own session?
Contact me here!
Molly’s 6th Birthday Session
Photography by Brooke is located in Merrill Wisconsin and is a full service photographer servicing the Merrill, Wausau, Mosinee, and greater North Central Wisconsin area.
It’s Molly’s 6th birthday! What better way to celebrate than with a session? Molly is a very girly young lady. She loves everything that has to do with sparkles, makeup, unicorns, dresses - she loves it all! So I just knew I had to get Molly some over the top, beautiful, princess-esque dresses to celebrate. We had three distinct looks.
First up was this gorgeous pink number. It’s really everything a little girl could ever wish for. It has a lacy overskirt embroidered with flowers and leaves. The back is corseted so it’s very adjustable. This dress turned out to be a little too big for Molly, but we clipped it for the photo session.
The second dress is a lacy blue butterfly babydoll type style. Molly’s favorite color is blue, so we had to incorporate it! We finished our 6th birthday session with a boho style for some variety. Happy birthday Molly! We hope your 6th birthday was an absolute blast and 2022 is your best year yet!
All of these dresses are available in Photography by Brooke’s client closet. Children’s clothing in the client closet ranges from newborn outfits up to sizes 7/8 with new items being added throughout the year.
Photography by Brooke is a photographer specializing in newborn, maternity and family photography servicing the Merrill, Wausau, Mosinee and North Central Wisconsin areas.
Tips for Making a Photoshoot with Children Go Smoothly
Sessions with children are some much fun! But they’re often very stressful for parents, and can be overwhelming for kids too. Here are a few tips that can help your session go smoothly!
Children are so much fun to photograph. One of the best things about photoshoots with children is they are always a wild card. You never know what you’re going to get, but you always know the photoshoot will be exciting and full of beautiful expressions.
I know photoshoots with children can be very stressful - especially on Mom. As a mother myself, I understand how much pressure we put on ourselves to make everything perfect. It can be difficult to smile and relax when your kids are running around or crying.
Despite our best efforts, photoshoots can often be overwhelming for our littles too. Sometimes that expresses itself as shyness or crying, other times it can be an overabundance of energy. Both are natural and ok.
Take a deep breath. I promise both reactions are completely normal. At your session I will do everything possible to make it a fun, relaxed experience for everyone.
How can you help your child be prepared for their session?
1.) Make sure your child has napped before the session. Try not to book a session during or in the middle of nap time, that is when your child will be at their crankiest.
2.) Feed your child before their session. Hungry children are grumpy children.
3.) Bring a snack. Fruit snacks, crackers, blueberries are all good options.
4.) Bring a favorite toy or comfort item. It can be scary meeting a stranger who is going to be taking your picture a toy can help distract your child and give us something to talk about.
What will I do to help make your session go smoothly?
1.) Fun props (where appropriate) chairs/benches/blankets/baskets
2.) We will be active! Moving around to different areas, running in the grass, climbing, just overall moving and grooving.
3.) The session will go at your family’s pace. We can slow down and relax or take a break when and where needed. Or if you have a very active child we will keep moving.
4.) Jokes, funny faces, fun prompts to get the whole family laughing - it’s totally fine to laugh at me and my antics!
Maternity Self Portrait
Photography by Brooke did a maternity self portrait! North Central Wi Photographer, North Central WI Maternity Photographer, Merrill WI Maternity Photographer, Wausau Wi Maternity Photographer, Weston Wi Maternity Photographer, Antigo Wi Maternity Photographer
I am not a person who loves to take selfies, or post a lot of pictures of myself. In general, I’d much rather be the person behind the camera than in front of it. The downside of this, is that I don’t have a lot of pictures of myself and my kids together. And virtually no pictures of any of my four pregnancies. I decided that when I was pregnant with my son, things would be a little different.
For me, I am never more self conscious than when I’m pregnant. I have never felt like I had the cute, perfect baby bump. When I was pregnant with my first two daughters, I couldn’t afford maternity pictures. And then when I was pregnant with babies number three, and again with number four I was too nervous to do them with another photographer. Thus the brilliant idea was formed - I would take maternity self portraits! I am a photographer after all! How hard can it be?
Really hard.
At the time, my husband and I had just sold our first home and had several houses we were trying to buy fall through on us. We were in a cramped, old, dark, not very attractive apartment (as you can clearly see in the before). There was no room for my studio, or really very much of anything. Definitely no room for my studio setup. In short, things had not gone according to plan. I’m telling you this to set the stage of what I had to work with.
I was bound and determined to make it work! I pulled my backdrop stand out of storage, found a roll of my seamless paper and set to work. In my head, it would be simple and I could knock out these maternity pictures in an hour or so. Learn from my mistakes, don’t try it yourself. I spent the better part of the afternoon fighting with my setup, tripod, and shutter trigger trying to get something usable. When I called it a day and uploaded the images to my editing program, I realized I had some hard work ahead.
I had the best of intentions to edit the images right away, I did not. It actually took me about nine months (oops!). To edit just ONE maternity image! Life has this funny way of ruining the best of intentions sometimes. Between kids, school, my day job, my photography, moving, having a baby. . . . . . . I just never got around to it.
Guys, moral of the story. Hire someone to help you get beautiful maternity pictures you’ll want to treasure forever. You will be stressed enough trying to prepare for your new baby, navigating the changes in your body, along with all the other stressors and obligations life brings. Let me help take one of those burdens off of your shoulders.
Fussy Babies
Getting your picture taken is hard work!
As a newborn photographer - I have a lot of practice working with fussy babies.
You’ve just had a baby, your newborn session is all booked. You have spent the last several months fantasizing about what your baby’s newborn pictures will look like. You may even have a Pinterest board half a mile long with amazing images that you admire. You cannot wait to bring your vision to life!
The day of your session finally arrives. It’s so exciting! You get to the studio and hand the photographer your gorgeous baby. And your baby starts crying….and keeps crying…and crying…and crying.
At this point you be starting to freak out a little, this isn’t what you envisioned at all. You followed your newborn session prep guide! How can your photographer possibly get anything usable when your baby is being fussy!?!
I’m here to tell you it’s ok! And completely normal! I have many tricks to help with a fussy baby (these are just a few):
Wrapping
Feeding
Pacifier
Baby shusher
Rocking
Most babies are going to cry at least once during their session. This is totally normal and expected. It’s shocking for baby to be in a new place, to be undressed, and to be moved around multiple times. Getting your picture taken is hard work, you’d probably be fussy too! Your baby will most likely want to eat during their session, and may also need one (or more) diaper changes.
Most babies will settle after a short time, but some babies take longer. And on very rare occasions, will be too unhappy to safely pose.
Not to worry! While it’s rare that we are unable to get baby happy and sleepy, it does happen. In those situations, we simply reschedule for another day.
A couple of things that can contribute to a baby being fussier than usual at their shoot are:
Cluster feeding
Reflux or Gas
Illness
If your baby is experiencing these, it’s helpful to let your photographer know so we can discuss together and decide if we should move the session.
Your baby is the boss of their session. Their comfort and safety are Photography by Brooke’s absolute top priority.
What should I bring to my newborn session?
Let’s keep it simple! I’ll give you a simple list of everything you need (or don’t need!) to bring to your newborn session. Photography by Brooke is a newborn, maternity and family photographer servicing the Wausau, Merrill, Mosinee and surrounding areas of North Central Wisconsin.
One of the first questions I’m always asked by parents is, “What should I bring to my newborn session?” At Photography by Brooke I understand how stressful packing up your brand new baby and bringing them to the studio can be. Being a new parent, even if this isn’t your first baby, is hard! Your body is recovering, you’re getting to know a brand new human, no one is sleeping, it’s a lot. And I get it. That’s why I want to make your session as low stress and easy on you as possible.
What you should bring to your newborn session:
Diapers (2-3 should do)
Wipes
Formula or pumped breast milk
Pacifier
One special item to incorporate into your session (optional)
That’s it! I will provide the rest for you! While it doesn’t seem like a long list of items, when you’re running late it’s easy to forget one, or all of them. My studio has you covered. I always keep some extra newborn diapers, wipes and pacifiers on hand for my clients.
Additional items I provide at my studio for your session:
Newborn outfits
Wraps
Props (beds, buckets, chairs, etc.)
Backdrops
Misc decor
Snack basket
Water
Toys for siblings to play with during the session
I want your session to go as smoothly and as stress free for my families as possible. If there’s something I can do to help you be more comfortable, just ask!
Photography by Brooke serving the Wausau, Merrill, Mosinee, and surrounding areas.