Wednesday
Aug182010
Giveaway!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 07:30AM 
GIVEAWAY ENDS FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 AT 5PM EST!!!Folks, I really can't tell you how excited we are to offer this giveaway. We've teamed up with Brooke Fitts of Brookelyn Photography to offer one lucky reader a photo session shot by Brooke and styled by us. It can be an engagement session, a love session, a session with your family, your pet, your favorite place in New York, a session with your friends, or just to capture who you are at this moment in your life. To enter, just hop on over to Brooke's website and have a look-see at her photos (you might want to set aside some quality time with a cup of coffee to do this since her photos are insanely beautiful and inspiring!), then come on back over here and leave a comment on this post telling us which of Brooke's photos is your favorite and why. We'll pick a winner next Friday!
Fine print: We're sorry, but because of our busy schedules, the winner must be able to shoot in New York City between the 4th and the 9th of October. If you win, you'll also have to provide your own lodging and all of that if you're coming in from out of town (though we'll be happy to have you over for dinner!).
tagged miscellany
miscellany 
Reader Comments (40)
What a freaking kick-ass giveaway! I am partial to many of the gorgeous photos, but my favorite may be of the woman lounging in bed with a book over her face - it looks like she's paused for a nap in the midst of the best. Sunday. Ever.
The little boy with his dad in the leaves is my favorite. The people with the balloons are a close second - they're really cute.
I hope I win - my husband and I have no pics of us since I'm always behind the camera!
-Amber, theAmberShow (theambershow at gmail dot com)
She's an amazing photographer. And I am not too keen on most of our wedding pictures-- I would love to have some of these amazing photos featuring me and my Boo!
Before my wedding I saw a photo in a storyboard of bridemaids, in all different dresses, and all different bouquets standing in a V. I traced it back, through a lot of hard work, to Brooke's website, which became an inspiration for my wedding. I am so grateful to you guys for the lucky person that wins this contest, I feel like her pictures are priceless.
The pictures of Brookes travels are so rich. I love the one of the three young boys from her trip to Ethiopia. Despite their age, their love and friendship is evident in the way the embrace one another. It makes me happy :o)
Today is one of those amazing days where the internet has made me joyous…
I made my daily homage to Joanna Goddard's blog "A Cup of Jo", admired her post "Birthday Picnic + Family Photos" and followed the links to learn more about this lovely photo shoot. The first link took me to Brook's page, where I admired dozens of gorgeous shoot sessions.
Eventually, I came across Aakif & Gayle's engagement photos. I was THRILLED, Gayle is wearing a blouse I designed! I often see my clothing in editorials and on ladies walking around NYC, occasionally even on billboards, busses and television. But Gayle chose this African violet blouse for her engagement photos! I'm warmed to the core knowing I helped make her feel lovely that day. It's such an honor to be a (teeny-tiny) contributor to the happiness she was experiencing. She and Aakif will look back at these photo treasures throughout their lives. I don’t think there is a better feeling than knowing I was apart of it.
You're team must feel the same way (magnified times about a trillion)! You get to be apart of so many wonderful moments; times captured on film. What a lovely, special job. This contest is such a sweet idea- you are literally giving away happiness!
I too found your blog through Joanna. After looking at Elisabeth's birthday picnic for her husband, I'm convinced we're neighbors- that section of the park looks familiar... I've been wanting to have some family photos made with my 7-month-old daughter, and this would be perfect. Brooke's photography is amazing!
I can't resist. My favorite picture is the one of the guy, at night, under the street lights, with the canoe tied to the roof of his yellow car. I love that he's not dressed for canoeing and that his canoe matches his car. And I love the way the light glows because of the long exposure. All of the pictures are lovely. It was tough to pick a favorite.
I discovered Brookelyn Photography and your blog around the same time, a couple weeks ago, I guess. Anyway, the first post I saw was the shoot from the seersucker wedding, which I just adored. I recently spent 6 months creating an image library for a way way wayyyyyy over-the-top event designer.. I mean, we're talking Middle Eastern royalty weddings and famous people's birthdays and a bris that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In those photos, I saw a wealth of inventive design, but I didn't see the love, didn't see the honesty. Seeing that DIY weddding through Brooke's eyes, with the ribbons and the letterpress invite and donut holes, you could sense all the emotion and the excitement of the day. It was refreshing and beautiful, and I instantly fell so hard for Brooke's photography.
oooh this is tough one.. I love all the photos.. especially the portraits of the women or child in india.They are so simple yet blessed with so much colour around them to keep them happy and each shot shows that inner glow.
I hope to win this one as we haven't had picture together since our little one was born :)
I think Meg said it best: What a freaking kick-ass giveaway!
Picking a favorite, though, is an almost impossible task. My favorite right now is the one with the couple at the treehouse. I love the way she captured those giant beautiful trees. I also really like the portrait of the girl in the turquoise coat and brown boots. It's simple but not simplistic.
Of course, I just saw some pictures on the Wedding Collective tumblr of Ian and Hannah's wedding where I seriously loved every single picture posted (especially the way she highlighted their color scheme - gorgeous!).
I don't think I've ever entered a blog giveaway before, but this one is too amazing to pass up. Whoever wins is one lucky duck!
I lerrrrrrrrrrrrve the diptych under the People section of the couple kissing and holding pink balloons on the left, and then framed within the viewfinder of the camera on the right. That type of creative framing is what makes me swoon.
Wow, thank you so much for offering this generous gift! Brooke, you know I admire your work so much. Whatever moment you are capturing, love fills the frame. You have the incredible ability to combine the personal and the universal in every photograph, which creates an image that is both wholly original and timeless--to me, that ability is what separates the artist from the technically abled.
As I am busy planning my own wedding (which I hope you will be able to photograph!), I expected to select a wedding or engagement photo as my favorite, and I must say that your images from Nigeria are stunning and overflowing with joy. I love the one of the bride and groom in profile, gently touching heads in a gesture of connection and intimacy--so lovely and quiet in what I'm sure was an exciting whirlwind of a day. Perhaps they don't even remember that moment, but you captured it perfectly, and I'm sure they will treasure it forever.
However, my absolute favorite was one of mother and baby, which surprised and delighted me as I found myself deeply moved by it. They are both smiling--Mama, sweetly into the camera; baby, eyes closed, absorbed in its own internal world, but safe in Mama's arms. I think it perfectly portrayed the essence of both motherhood and childhood, and the love that binds the two. For the first time in my life I am beginning to think of myself as a potential mother-to-be, and this picture stirred something deep and sweet within me. Thank you for that.
It has been a tough summer for my sweetie and myself, but we are moving back East to start fresh and begin our lives together. We will be relocating to Brooklyn in October and a session with you would be an amazing way to open our New York chapter. Thank you for your consideration and for sharing your gift with so many lucky folks.
Wow, what an amazing offer! I'm a big fan of the photograh with the two people behind the pink balloons. It's somehow so whimsical but hip--the perfect image for the style and sensabilities for a lot of people in design today. It also reminds me of the French film, Le Ballon rouge. And if it's a French film, it can only be beautiful, right? :)
I am not very good in describing my feelings, expecially in not my native language, but the picture of a hugging bride and her father from Anthony and Candace wedding just gives me goosebumps and smile on my face. The way Brooke captured them doesn't really need many words. You can feel the bride's endless good energy and their pure joy straight from the picture. And the father still holding his beer, it looks like the bride just coudn't resist and had to jump on him and give him a hug. Documenting of one very happy and beutiful moment.
I hope to have a picture like that one day myself.
Good luck everyone!
I don't care if it's already been mentioned, I love the picture of the woman laying in bed with a book over her head. It's simple, but I just think it captures so perfectly a feeling that we've all experienced--who hasn't wanted to literally hide behind a book and make the world go away for a little while?
She's a genius! Her photos of Brazil have inspired and motivated me into planning a journey there. I'm fascinated by her family photos - they truly capture the essence of the family dynamic.
I love Brooke's pictures. I worked with her recently on Temi & Jide's wedding and she was pretty much calm the whole time. I'm a wedding planner, and I'm insanely in love with true unforced love (if that makes any sense...hehe) so i expected my choice to be one of the wedding pics, but i got to abby+sole's maternity shoot, and i felt this peace instantly. the mom-to-be has this peaceful confidence, and calmness that is enhanced by her surroundings. i love that she's rocking a bikini and looking great @ it as well! it's just such an endearing set of photos that demonstrates the different dimensions of women in general...she has a soft appearance, but still looks strong etc..love it! great job brooke! rotola
Ok - I just went to look at the photos because you posted it not because I wanted to actually win a photo shoot but after looking at the photos I do want to win! I don't really know how to pick a favorite. I really love the photo with the couple holding hands taken from beneath with the trees above. I also loved the photo of the smiling baby in the foreground and the kissing couple in the background. Something about that photo makes me think about just how oblivious children are to their parents' relationship.
i am inspired by brooke's photography. i'm usually the one behind the camera so i'm always looking for great ideas from talented photographers. i am in love with the photograph of the ethiopian boy and the t-shirt that says "treasured". my husband and i are going to adopt one day and i love that image that captures the truth that every child should be treasured. i also love the couple on the shore with their cold-weather fishing gear on. it's so beautiful and unique!
Please don't pick my comments, as I will not be able to get to NYC, but I had to give praise to Brooke's work! She photographed our wedding and it was a heavenly experience. She was confident, quick, creative, and for a bride the complete peace of mind was worth every penny! I LOVE the photo of her Grandfather. I immediately laugh and smile. I just love it.
Hmmm!! They are all amazing but the Brazil photos are giving me serious wanderlust...I love the guy with the canoe & car, the balloon couple and the couple in their waders digging in the sand...LOVE!
The kiss under the Manhattan Bridge! I love the girl tipped back on her heels- so playful! It doesn't hurt that I LOVE Brooklyn and that my husband and I got married in that park 2 years ago October. Would love a walk down memory lane...especially since I get back from a year abroad to (re)start our lives together in September! GORGEOUS photos!
First off, what a great contest! Brooke is quite a talented photographer. It's really hard to pick just one favorite. I've been a big admirer of her photography for a while and I have to say I find the greatest joy in her photos of people, particularly newborns and small children. It's really difficult to capture personality in kids-- and Brooke does such an amazing job with finding the true essence of happiness in each little face. It makes my heart melt!
I am particularly fond of the pair of photos with a young couple and their young baby boy... especially the one of the mother and child laying in the grass. It's just so genuine-- which is what I love most about Brooke's photos. She always manages to capture the subjects honestly.
Thanks for sharing so much love with the world, Brooke!
What an incredible giveaway.. I stumbled upon Brooke's photo blog recently and haven't stopped staring at it since! My husband and I never had engagement photos, so a love session would be so sweet.
It's very difficult to pick a favorite since there is such a variety to look through, but I think I will have to go with James and Rebecca's wedding. Her dress is to die for and the shot from behind of her walking down the aisle is incredible. Such a gorgeous memory to have of her wedding day!
Thanks for sharing this giveaway with us and for creating such beautiful images.