Meet Brooke Buck

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brooke Buck. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brooke below.

Hi Brooke, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My mom. She is hands down the most resilient person I know. She’s currently fighting ovarian cancer for the second time and somehow takes everything in stride, always with grace. Growing up on a farm, things weren’t always easy for my parents. My mom worked long hours to provide for our family while my dad was working hard to grow and invest in the future of the farm. It still amazes me how they juggled it all. I don’t ever remember them complaining or even looking tired. Despite the long days, they always showed up, cheering us on at games, encouraging our hobbies, and maintaining close friendships. These days, I’m the one begging them to slow down, ha!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a lifestyle portrait and brand photographer based in Kansas City, always happy to travel wherever the story takes me. My passion is making people feel something through my imagery, whether that’s capturing a family’s personality in their annual photos, preserving the candid moments of a wedding day, or helping a brand connect with their ideal client. I pour my whole self into every shoot and still pinch myself that I get to do this full-time.

The most exciting update right now is our new backyard studio shed! Since buying our home three years ago, my husband and I have renovated every room. While I’ve loved hosting sessions inside the house, I’m thrilled to soon offer an inspiring, creative space for brand and portrait sessions. The design is finalized, and renovations are set to begin later this summer! I’ll be hosting a shed launch party with fun headshots, so stay tuned on my socials for that!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been authenticity, work ethic, and staying grounded in my values. I believe the most powerful thing you can do for your business is to figure out what makes you different and lead with that. Most markets are pretty saturated, so when you can clearly define and lean into what sets you apart, your ideal clients and referrals tend to flow more naturally. Work ethic is a given, but for me, it’s also about the client experience: prompt communication, meeting deadlines, and making sure people feel genuinely cared for. And finally, staying true to your personal values is essential. It’s not just about naming your values, but actually living them out through every decision, interaction, and deliverable.

My advice to anyone early in their journey is to be introspective and consistent, and let your values shine through in the way you treat others and show up in your work.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I’ve been so fortunate to have a strong village of loved ones and mentors. My husband, Wade, has been especially instrumental, not only as my life partner but now as my business partner too. Anytime I run into a challenge, he’s my go-to for thoughtful, level-headed problem-solving. Anyone who knows Wade knows his patience and calm presence. He doesn’t blink when I ask him to fluff a bride’s dress, and half the time he notices the little details before I do on wedding days! I feel more confident and more me with him by my side, whether we’re shooting a wedding, traveling for a destination session, or brainstorming the next big thing.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your