Hi there.

My photo
Jill Brown has over 15 years of experience in the field of photography. She has studied photography at Missouri State University and Maryville University, St. Louis. She spent time working on her personal fine art work for many years and in 2003 started her first wedding and portrait photography business in St. Louis, MO. Jill moved to Des Moines, IA in 2005 and has continued her wedding and portrait business along with her fine art photography. Jill currently has work displayed in and around the Des Moines area as well as work in personal collections around the world. Jill uses both medium format film cameras and digital formats to create her images. This is how the artist describes her work: “My work is a reflection of everyday life and places. I chose the medium of photography as a tool to capture the essence of the person or place. I create images to depict the subject as they are remembered in the mind. Not posed or unnatural, but as a window into the intimate world of the subject.” Jill Brown is a member of Professional Photographers of America.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Avett Brothers RoCk!

GREAT weekend. GREAT. AWESOME. (Did I say I had a good weekend? heehee)

THESE crazy people...

The fun people who went to the Avett Brothers
( John, Tami, Dave and Me)

Went to a really fun concert last Saturday night at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Avett Brothers. They were great, great great!

Avett Brothers Concert

Avett Brothers Concert

Avett Brothers Concert

My only wish... they would have played LONGER!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Family Trip

We took the kids on a 3+ hour road trip to Carthage, Illinois. It was a beautiful trip down. We passed through historical Keokuk, Iowa and crossed over the bridge into Illinois. Some of my husband's family drove up from St. Louis to meet us.

It began thunderstorming just as we finished putting up the camper. We spent most of the evening sheltered from the rain. By the night, it cleared and the sky was full of beautiful stars. We star-gazed and then helped the kids with sparklers.

Saturday was HOT. That is really the only word to describe Saturday. H-O-T. We had fun anyway. We took the kids fishing in the morning, swimming in the afternoon and then as the sun went down we took them fishing again. They caught a couple of bluegill, a couple of catfish and some bullfrogs.

The evening was filled with good food, s'mores and campfire pies.

We packed up Sunday morning in a steady summer shower and drove back to Iowa soaking wet.

It was a great trip. Really it was.

Clear day...

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Camping Rocks!

We took the family camping with some friends of ours this weekend for some much needed relaxation and family time. We had a blast! The kids ran around, played at the park, swam .. awesome. The adults ... well we sat by the fire, the guys had a ping-pong tournament, cooked-out and drank a few beers.

All and all we had a very wonderful time! Can't wait to do it again!

Gracie after the pool

I love this.

Friday, June 12, 2009

From the Archives...

So, I was going through some files from long ago and came across a few wedding images I forgot about. I thought I would share them with you!

(Can you tell I favor Black & White images?)

From the Archives

From the Archives

From the Archives

From the Archives

From the Archives

From the Archives

From the Archives

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Rachee & Brian's Wedding Day...

Ceremony: Camp Dodge Chapel
Reception: Sheraton of West Des Moines

Rachee & Brian were married on such a lovely day. It had rained a bit the days before so all of the foliage looked refreshed and happy. This wedding was more than just a marriage between two people ... it was the beginning of a new family. Rachee has two adorable kiddos who were to be a part of every moment of the wedding day.

Each of the Rachee's children stood at the alter, each of the children received a ring, each of the children took part in the sand-ceremony, each of the road in the limo, was announced at the reception, ate at the head table and had a special dance. Every moment was to show this was a birth of a new family. At the end of the day, they were no longer just Rachee's children ... but the Lombard Family.

I felt so blessed to be a part of this day. Thank you Rachee, Brian and the kiddos for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful day.


Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Wedding:  May 6, 2009

Friday, June 5, 2009

In Action

Sometimes while shooting a wedding, the bride or grooms friends and family take photos of me... And sometimes the bride and groom give a copy of the photo to me. I love it! I never really know what it looks like to watch me do what I do.

Here is a photo taken by the bride's uncle at the most recent wedding I shot. As the bride described it to me... it's more a photo of my camera than me. Ha!


ME: The Wedding Photographer

Photo by: Rebecca's Uncle
Edited by: Jill Brown

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Having some fun with Chuck and Lisa's kids!

This was the fastest portrait shoot I think I've ever done. From start to finish - 45 minutes at max! Wow!

We took the kids out to the Rose Garden behind the Des Moines Art Center. The roses were not in bloom yet, but it was green. The kids had fun climbing on the limestone egg structures and playing under the trees.
Adorable kiddos, don't you think? Poor little sis took a tumble the day before the portrait shoot and ended up with a scratch on her cheek. I still think that she was precious.



Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Portrait No.2 : 05.30.09

Jackie, Jorja and Jilly...

Jackie... Jorja... Jilly... Aren't those names just fun to say? I'm a bit partial to the last one. (I wonder why!)

These three ladies were great to photograph. Inside, outside... it didn't matter. Jilly was always smiling ~ well, except when we woke her from her nap. But who can blame her! I would be a bit "less than happy" if you woke me from a nap!

Jorja. Miss Jorja. Oh this little girl was a full-on two, almost three with the attitude to boot! She was an absolute doll. To get her to smile or look at the camera, well... that had to be done on HER time. But when she did - oh boy watch out!

Jackie is a wonderful mother. She loves those girls to no end and it shows. Miss Jilly adores her mama, always watching and observing. Miss Jorja, well she puts on a good front. She acts like she wants nothing to do with anyone, but I will tell you that she knows where to go when she needs something ~ her mama.

We had a BEAUTIFUL day for a portrait shoots. Sun was shining. Flowers blooming. Dogs barking. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Period.

Portrait: 05.30.09

Portrait: 05.30.09

Portrait: 05.30.09

Portrait: 05.30.09

Portrait: 05.30.09