My name is Brooke Preece and I am a portrait photographer here is San Diego. My passion is to take the everyday woman and give her an unforgettable celebrity-styled, magazine photo shoot experience. Every photo session comes with a style consultation, professional hair and makeup and a fully guided photo shoot. I love showing women how to light up in front of the camera and help them gain more confidence through the power of portrait photography.
About Brooke Preece
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am a Mom to 7-year-old twin girls, Faith and Sofia. They just started the 2nd grade and I am just so in love with my girls. Watching children grow is the greatest gift from God. I have been happily married to my husband for 12 years. The one thing I love most about him is that we always laugh together! Whether at each other or over a joke, we always laugh around the dinner table with our children.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have been a photographer for over 12 years. I started photographing weddings, babies, and little girls in fairy wings but when I found my mentor Sue Bryce, and saw how she photographed women. That’s when I really fell in love with portrait photography. My favorite shoots are when just one woman sits in front of my camera. I love working with women on expression, showing them how to slow it down and go from a baby smile to a full laugh. Watching them gain confidence bit by bit as they let down their guard and start to really let the sparkle from within come forward through their eyes. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Don’t overlook self-care! As women, we pour so much of ourselves out into our families, careers, friends, and community before we even think to fill ourselves up. I talk to so many women who are in their 50s and 60s where that’s their main motive in booking their photo shoot is to schedule some much-needed “you time.” It’s important to take care of ourselves, to celebrate who you are and what life chapter you’re in!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
My ultimate dream is to own a property where I can have a home studio on-site. This year, I started putting my campaigns into magazines. I love the idea of how these magazines will achieve my work and be the record keeper of all my beautiful clients. In 5 to 10 years from now, that will be an impressive body of work to show.
Brooke Preece & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I love Blue Water Sea Food in Ocean Beach! They have the best tacos and the freshest seafood! I love raw oysters and they have the biggest oysters every time.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My husband and I are a rare breed of San Diego natives. I was born and raised in Vista in North County. I’ve lived in Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, College Area, and now in Rancho Bernardo. I love being back in North County! Every street I drive holds a memory from my youth.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My pastors, Jurgen and Leanne Matthesius from Awaken Church. I am so grateful to these amazing Aussies who left everything they knew 18 years ago to fly out to San Diego and start a church. Awaken Church has impacted my family in such a huge way!
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
That absolutely has to be Green Oaks Ranch in Vista! In the 90s, it was a huge horse ranch on a 250-acre property. I started taking horseback riding lessons there when I was eight and spent every summer at the ranch.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The thing I love most about San Diego is our beaches! I grew up always in the water at the beach, and when I watch my kids play in the sand, my heart is full.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
This one is easy, Sue Bryce, my photography mentor for sure! I owe this woman everything. If she didn’t start her amazing online education platform theportraitsystem.com I would not be the photographer I am today. I would love to meet her in person, and of course, we would have dirty martinis and oysters at The C Level lounge.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I am a forever 13-year-old girl at heart, and if you haven’t seen “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Amazon. You need to stop everything you are doing right now and go and watch this series!
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
In my 20’s, when attending The Art Institute during the day, I was a cocktail waitress at night. I used to work at this crazy bar called Nicky Rottens in the Gas Lamp. Every Friday and Saturday night at 11:00 on the dot, we cocktail waitresses used to dance on the bar top and pour shots into people’s mouths! You don’t have to threaten me with a good time 😉
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A portrait experience at Brooke Preece Portrait, of course!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Awaken Church
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
I am currently on the advisory committee for Rock N Glow, a brand new non-profit that connects like-minded women with a focus on creating a lasting legacy -and- a positive impact on the lives of our teenage girls.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
99% of success is just showing up! Do not give up; always keep going!
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Rancho Bernardo
What I love about my Neighborhood:
I love walking the trails at Lake Hodges.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Enjoying a perfect beach day at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach. No marine layer, only blue skies. Then heading home for a swim and BBQ.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A place where I can instantly take off my underwire bra and throw it on the bottom landing without any judgment. Playing on the grass with my kids and puppy. Cooking something yummy for dinner.
