Meet Jaco

We went all the way to Phoenix, AZ to pick up our new puppy last weekend. My friend raises goldens in San Diego and agreed to meet us in Phoenix. What a trip! Three kids, a new puppy, and mom and dad trying to see every cactus in Arizona...made for an interesting drive home! But we love Jaco and are so happy to have him home on the farm. He seems to love it here, despite the 12 degrees that greeted him when we got home. He's got some built-in warmth though, so he doesn't seem to mind! He and Molly were fast friends and they have done great together. I think Jaco is teaching Molly how to be calm. He is the epitome of a Golden Retriever. The kids adore him...he fits right in here in Kansas!

I brought Jaco into the studio this morning hoping to get some better pics than I've gotten so far. Turns out...although he's good with "down" and "sit"...he's not so good with the "stay" yet. But he did pretty good...no complaints here. I can't even get a shot of Molly in studio!

Sneak Peek {Family Photographer} Brooke Jantz Photography

I had the pleasure of working with my former pastor's wife and daughters yesterday. They moved to our church when I was in high school and he ended up doing our wedding. Their family holds a special place in my heart! I got to do the younger daughter's senior pics last spring and was excited to be able to shoot their family. Yesterday was supposed to be the whole family but their son couldn't make it in the end so we just did a Mother-Daughter session. It turned out to be one of the most fun sessions I've done! It helps that Mom and Daughters have such a wonderful, loving relationship. And they were fun! Thanks ladies...hope you enjoy your sneak peek (and hope you can see it from California Mom!).

Sneak Peek! {Newborn Photographer} Brooke Jantz Photography

I was so ready to get back into the swing of things around here! This morning I had two sessions, one of which was this beautiful girl! I have several new and exciting announcements and specials coming up so keep an eye on the blog this week...plus, I'll have another sneak peek of my other session from this morning and some new puppy pics! If you've been missing your dose of updates to the blog...the wait is over!!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!

What a year...

I have truly been blessed this past year in my new venture. I have reconnected with old friends, met many new ones, and shared current friends' joys...all through the blessing of photography. I am honored to have captured so many memories for so many families...I am striving to continue improving and growing as a photographer and as a person to be able to grow this business to its potential. I am excited to see what the new year brings...but first, a recap of the last year. Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with your precious memories...

Here is a video of most of my time behind the camera this year...(if I missed you I apologize...I tried to get everyone.)

Sneak Peek...One last session before Christmas

This is officially my last session before taking a "vacation" for a couple of weeks to get through the Christmas season and enjoy the time with my family! I was excited to shoot this beautiful family, though, and was happy the snow didn't get in the way of our plans today. These boys are beyond adorable...but sitting in front of the camera isn't their favorite thing to do! We got some smiles out of them anyway and had fun trying to find new ways to get their attention. Here are just a few quick ones I pulled off early to give Mom this sneak peek...more to come in the gallery!

I'll have announcements up later this week concerning the closing of the studio and when I'll reopen. I'm taking appointments now for January...check the blog soon for a special I'll be doing in January!

Sneak Peek...My neice and nephew!

Well, we were supposed to do this on Wednesday but my nephew threw up just before they were supposed to come over. So...we nixed it. We tried this morning but now my neice wasn't feeling too hot though we didn't really realize it til pictures were almost over. She was kind of in that mood where you couldn't tell if she was just being ornery or really didn't feel well. Turns out she didn't feel well. Hopefully it will be short-lived like it was for her brother. Poor momma can't take much more! These two just told us last weekend they are going to have a new baby brother or sister in their house next May. Let me tell you...no one is more excited than I am as it guarantees me a baby to point my camera toward! :) Here are just two quick ones from this morning...even though J was kinda pouty, it made an adorable picture!

A sweet little slideshow...

Check out the slideshow of Mr. A here

Litte "A", his birth mom, and his parents have been a big inspiration to me. I feel like I'm surrounded by adoption stories...from my sister-in-law being adopted 2.5 decades ago to my cousin's adoption of her sweet little girl just a few weeks after my youngest was born. I also have a couple of friends in the process of adopting from across the world. But on the heels of Mr. A's adoption, I have found myself wanting to give to these families.

In honor of choosing adoption, I will provide any adopting family one free family session any time in the first year after the adoption is final. It will include a DVD of a slideshow similar to A's slideshow and a discount on prints. I will be limited to one or two sessions for this per month. If you are interested or know someone who might be, email me at info@brookejantzphotography.com.

Sneak Peek...The B Family!

First of all...I need to say a big thank you to the K family for use of their barn in these family shots. I've wanted to shoot there for some time but just haven't had the right opportunity. I'm so happy we got this family out there! They have 2 really beautiful old barns and I very much enjoyed getting to use them! THANKS!!!

And I was super excited to shoot this family because they were up for about anything and we had beautiful weather! We did the barn, some field shots just before sunset and studio. We tried to get some of the two little ones at the end but they were pooped from their long day...we did get a few shots, though, in spite of sweet little A looking at me like I was crazy when I told her to say, "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!" Even at 18 months she has been swayed to the other side...but man is she cute! Thanks guys!!

Sneak Peek...Miss A

I'm supposed to be getting all my food prepped for tomorrow...or you know, dusting my house...but this is way more fun! Miss A came all the way from Minnesota to see me this morning. Her cousin was the star of the blog last week so she thought she'd take her turn this week. Miss A was very sweet and seemed to love being my model! I told her mom I'd quickly put up a sneak peek today because I may not have a chance to get their gallery ready in the week I usually take due to the holiday and my vow to spend quality time with the family this week! So...here she is...what a doll!!

Sneak Peek...MY kids!

I took these a couple of weeks ago but have not had time to do anything with them. I think we'll be using one of these for our Christmas card this year...although, that can always change! :) Here are my kids...so excited to be in front of the camera AGAIN!

Meet Little A...Sneak Peek

I had the great pleasure today of photographing our new little buddy, Mr. A. His mom and dad are very good friends of ours so he is very special to us. C and A found out three months ago that A's birth mom had chosen them to be his parents. How cool is it to get to pick your own parents! His birth mother made a very wise decision, and I believe God is already blessing all them in a very real way. A is going to grow up in a loving, God-fearing home knowing that his life is celebrated by so many people. I am so honored to get to be part of his life and see him grow up. And, of course, I could not wait to get him in front of my camera. He was a tiny little peanut and just wanted to keep his eyes open for the first hour or two. After that, we got the house nice and toasty and he crashed...just the way I like them! Enjoy your sneak peek...and congratulations again, C and A! Love you guys!

Sneak Peek...The S Family!

You may recognize the sweet little girl in these pictures from the Hallween Contest...she was the ladybug winner! She brought her mom and dad in yesterday for a try at some family Christmas pictures...and brought Gigi along to bring out those adorable smiles!





Three generations...so sweet!

Senior Sneak Peek

Yesterday we braved the chilly weather to finish K's senior pictures. She toughed out the cold, and we ended up with some amazing shots. We trekked around Copeland-Montezuma looking for great light and unique locations. Our favorite was a field of CRP right before sunset. K has been so much fun to work with as one of my senior reps. I'm still in disbelief she's a senior (can't imagine how her mom is feeling!) but am proud to know her and call her a friend. Enjoy this quick peek...I'll have a slideshow up within the next week.

On the other side of the camera...

I shared last week a few pics from my side of a photo swap with a fellow photographer. We met on KU's campus to do photos for each other. Originally we were going to do each other's families, but we decided to not take the kids that weekend beacause we knew it would be busy. So, we just did pictures of Travis and I to celebrate our 10th anniversary! It was so much fun and we are thrilled with what we have seen so far...take a look! http://joy-theblog.blogspot.com/

And, here's one more of Sarah and her family...thanks again Sarah. It was a blast meeting you and doing the photos! I hope we can do it again!

God Bless America

Today our grade school put on a small concert for our local veterans. The program honored the best among us, those who, at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America " for an amount of "up to and including my life." The colors were presented, the National Anthem sung, the Pledge of Allegiance recited. I even got choked up as I looked around our humble gymnasium and saw everyone's hands over their hearts and the brave souls we call our veterans with a proud look on their faces. I don't think it was pride in what they'd done either...it was more pride in seeing these young children learning to love America as they do; pride in seeing the community come together to honor those still serving; pride in a flag they'd fight to defend even today, no matter what age has done to cripple them. THANK YOU just doesn't seem like enough...and it isn't. Today was a demonstration of the greatest thing we can do for these veterans: teaching our kids what it means to respect and honor our flag, our country.