[a13fe-writing-effect loop=”1″]My name is Carla|I Love Webdesign|Photography|Graphic Design|See my bio below[/a13fe-writing-effect]
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I craft beautiful and unique digital experiences. Etiam sed nibh quis nunc sodales volutpat. Donec quis magna tincidunt, dignissim enim pulvinar, tempus elit.
FEW WORDS ABOUT ME
Dark blue and well worn. Carla Brooks is sentimental about her Crocs (despite the urging of many friends to upgrade her footwear over the years). Brooks has worn those shoes to 9 countries and 15 states as she traveled — with her trusty Canon in hand. She became a photographer by accident — really. While in college, studying pre–law, Brooks took a job at a Walmart portrait studio. It wasn’t glamorous, but she loved the simplicity of helping people make memories. Later, Brooks worked at Olan Mill’s Portrait Studio and it was clear; law was out, photography was in.
She was influenced early on by a college professor who told her, “you will never understand art if you have never seen art.”
Brooks says that moment opened her eyes to all that was possible. It was, perhaps, a leap of faith moving away from a career as an attorney and taking a more creative journey, but Brooks is motivated to have a life well lived.
In 2009 when she bought those Crocs, Brooks’ journey was about to begin. She was 23 at the time and already had a photography studio of her own when she ended up taking a civilian contractor job in Kuwait to help pay off a business loan. Brooks packed up her two small children and moved overseas. While there, she was asked to photograph a USO event for Toby Keith. She was taking pictures from the front of the stage when suddenly, she stopped and turned to see the crowd —- 15,000 American Soldiers holding their hats in the air and singing. She describes this as a riveting moment; the one moment as a photographer that will never leave her.
Brooks has continued to find success, not just as a photographer but as a multimedia specialist. She thrives on all things creative. A mother of two, Brooks is showing her daughters, Leslie, age 17 and Aislyn, age 13 that you can follow your dreams and find success. Most importantly, Brooks has managed to create a career that is flexible so she can spend time with her daughters and do what they love to do most; travel the world and see the art.
Q. What kinds of gear do you use?
Carla Brooks: I am a canon girl at heart, my current camera is a Canon 5D Mark iii. I purchased this camera
Q. Which is your favorite lens? Why?
Carla Brooks: I actually use a 24-105mm for most of my work. I have found over the years that it best captures what I am visualizing in my head. It is closest to my eye as a photographer.
Q. When you go in one of your travels, what all do you take with you? Why?
Carla Brooks: I bring my entire gear bag. Two cameras, several lens’s batteries, Speedlight’s, I bring it all, you never know what you will encounter on a shoot and its lousy to be there without the proper gear to get the shot!
Q. How do you prepare yourself for a shoot before starting on the journey?
Carla Brooks: I have never been afraid to be creative. I usually think about the shoot before hand and I get an idea of what I am trying to accomplish. Honestly, there are no original ideas in the world of creativity, we replicate images almost daily, our best work comes from the ideas that we have seen in front of us, and we take that and twist it to make it Fit our photography style. And who out there doesn’t love Pinterest!
- How do you post process your shots?
Carla Brooks: These days, I am considered “old Skool” in my editing process. I still post process the old way. I shoot everything in camera Raw and do most of my processing in Camera Raw to Photoshop. It’s at times a lengthy process and I know most photographers out there use light room. I stick to camera raw.
I like having control over every aspect of my images.
- RAW or jpg and why?
Carla Brooks: As a professional, you should always shoot Raw. Having a raw file allows you the opportunity to change your images and sometimes you can save them. It’s the equivalent of having a film negative. You can’t lose at all by shooting Raw Files.
- Where should a newbie start, according to you, if he/she is interested in pursuing landscapes?
Carla Brooks: My first advice is to learn how to use your camera; it’s your hand in this situation. You have to control every aspect of the shot. You can’t let technology think for you. Learn how to operated your camera; learn about exposure, depth of field. In landscapes, this is the secret, its light, the angle and the exposure that make magic. Use Photoshop for enhancing your image, but don’t rely on Photoshop to become a good p
- How do you educate yourself to take better shots?
Carla Brooks: I always go back to the basics. In photography, you never have it all figured out. It’s a learning process and you really have to be dedicated to mastering the art. You have to be accepting that you can never truly be a master in this field. I love youtube. I am a fan of PHLEARN. You can learn so much from others. Never stop looking for ideas, inspiration and you can never stop making connections in this field.
Q. What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started photography?
Carla Brooks: I wish that I would have known the perseverance that it takes to be successful; I learned early that you couldn’t be sensitive in this industry. It’s important for me to know that not everyone will like the work that I put out there. Photography isn’t about being “famous” Its about making an impact with your art and using that as your driving force. You cant make everyone happy all of the time, you cant forget that!
- What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start his or her own business?
Carla Brooks: As a photographer especially a new photographer starting out, its important to build your self on a foundation. Don’t be afraid to work with someone that has more experience in the field. You cant go wrong assisting, you will learn more and you will be more successful. How you treat your clients will
PROFESSIONALS SKILLS
photography
98%
Graphic Design
82%
Front End Web Design
79%
WORK EXPERIENCE
2017 – Fashion Photographer – Vogue
2016 – Journalist – Egde Inc.
2015 – Illustrator – Yahoo Inc.
Ready to start a project?