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.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Missy + Gerod = Married!

Date:  May 28, 2010
Ceremony - Des Moines Botanical Center
Reception - Holiday Inn, Mercy Campus


This was an absolutely FUN couple!  ...and they are kind and patient and understanding... (I will explain more about that in a minute)


The wedding was at the Des Moines Botanical Center.  Now, I have shot MANY portrait sessions at the Botanical Center, but this was my first wedding there... and WOW was it beautiful!  Missy kept her colors simple and complimentary to the explosion of color in the Botanical Center.  Their wedding was simple, beautiful and elegant.  


We took the couple to the Papajohn Sculpture Park for their after wedding photos - which was a blast!  Missy ran through a sprinkler, the wedding party jumped in the air on a grassy hill, they climbed all over the alphabet person (I really should know the proper name for that sculpture) and honestly did just about anything we asked!!


The reception was located at the Holiday Inn - Mercy Campus in downtown Des Moines.  Now, if you haven't been to the top floor of this place - which was were the reception was, I might add - you NEED to go.  It has the most BeAuTiFuL view of the Des Moines skyline!


Not only was this a first for shooting a wedding at the Botanical Center, but also the first time a had an assistant with me.  She ROCKED by the way.  :)  


NOW... Remember that I said that they are kind and patient and understanding?  Yeah - there's a story.  *sigh*  Okay so I debated on whether to even mention this but - sheesh!  I am a girl of full disclosure and ya know what else?  I'm human.  :)  SO... this is what happened...  I had the rings for some awesome "ring shots"... and put them on this super-cool branch at the Botanical Center... and then... * TINK! *  ...the rings fell off the branch.  Now, I caught Missy's ring, but Gerod's... was no where to be found. (!!!!!!) Lindsey (my assistant - thank God she was there!) and I looked, and looked, and looked, and looked... and we couldn't find it.  CRAP!  Lindsey went and got a couple of Botanical Center employees ... I went to go tell the bride.  * ug *  She was so sweet and understanding and kind and patient... so was Gerod and their family.  I felt like  - I'm sure you can imagine.  But you know what!!!!??  An hour and a half later - they FOUND IT!  Wanna know where??  INSIDE A PLANT!  I'm not kidding.  *Phew!*  And in plenty of time for the ceremony!


That little mis-hap made for a little chuckle during the ceremony - and I am happy for that. Thank you Missy, Gerod, family and friends for being the good and kind people you are.  And thanks to the Botanical staff who found Gerod's ring!!


Needless to say... it was a beautiful wedding.  See....  :)




Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Wedding:  May 28, 2010

Thursday, June 10, 2010

BABB!!!

YEAH!  It's official!  I was selected as a member of BAMF Art Blog Bunch!  


In order to be a member you have to be asked.  WOW.  They asked me!!  YEAH!  


To be a BABB member, you must be:
-interesting (of course!)
-artistic
-the person is genuinely modest yet
-great at self-promotion
-bold and
-FUNNY and maybe most important of all
-regularly reads and comments on my blog because it is
-truly a bunch of blog friends


I am so honored!  SO... from the bottom of my heart and all the BABB gang (especially Becky and Gary)  THANK YOU!!


Now... go check out BABB!  





Wednesday, June 9, 2010

I *heart* film

Recently, I have been playing with film.  I love, love, love film.  I love the darkroom.  I love the smell of the chemicals and the dim, red light.  I have not been able to get in the darkroom but I have been playing with my Bronica ETRS and having it developed by a local company.  

Film makes me slow down and think. 
Film makes me compose the shot with a more careful eye.
Film makes me contemplate what I am trying to say in an image.

I *heart* film.


tire

too cold

grace

Mary

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Hutchinson Family Session!

Date:  May 23, 2010

Bobbi found me via the PPI website and I couldn't be more happy that she did!  Bobbi's family is absolutely beautiful.  We spent an hour of the afternoon inside and out of the Des Moines Botanical Center on a sunny Sunday morning.  

The kids were great!  So sweet and good.  The best part of the session was when the little girl walked into the little greenhouse and found a little tea party ready and waiting for her and her brother to sit and have tea!  I don't think I saw this little girl's face light up as much as that moment.  :)

Thank you, Hutchinson family, for spending part of your Sunday morning with me!


Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010

Portrait Session: May 22, 2010