Main Street America: Fordyce, Arkansas

Amid the big businesses that make up corporate America, it is nice to know that Main Street still exists. This series highlights small-town, Main Street businesses that have survived despite economic hardships.

A phenomenal mother-and-daughter duo began their photography business in 1999. Their full service studio is at 307 North Main Street, in Fordyce, Arkansas, and for the past 10 years they have photographed every session and wedding together.

Lori and Kathy are Certified Professional Photographers through Professional Photographers of America. This sets Brookshire Photography apart from other photographers because only 3 percent of all imaging professionals in the world are certified.

To obtain certification they had to each take a comprehensive test of photography and submit images to a panel of certified photographers to show their aptitude in photography. They each routinely submit works as proof of maintaining skills.

Lori said, "In the photography industry, certification is a mark of continued excellence. For our clientele, it acknowledges that we value our customers and what they expect out of us. We honestly want to give them our best."

In addition to their certification Lori is a Fellows of Photography from the Arkansas Professional Photographer's Association and Kathy is an Associate Fellows.

It is a family affair at Brookshire Photography. The business is run by Kathy Brookshire and Lori Brookshire Parrson but Steve Brookshire, Kathy's husband, is the plumber, electrician, and all-around-fix it guy. He can be credited for many of the renovations that have happened around the studio lately. Ashley Brookshire, Kathy's daughter, helped develop the business website. Caden, who is Lori's son, and Ty, who is Ashley's son, make regular appearances at the studio and in the studio's blog.

Family is the most important thing to the Brookshire Photography and that it is probably the reason that they have come to love and specialize in children's photography. Lori said, "Children grow up all too quickly, and we love providing families with images they can cherish." Kathy said, "It is a privilege being allowed to photograph these children at the important milestones in their life."

In addition to their children's photography they also offer senior, family, and wedding portraits. Lori said, "We LOVE weddings!" Most girls have dreamed about their wedding since they were little.

The Brookshire's work really hard to make sure that the bride's experience with their studio a good one. They offer a variety of custom designs and image options so that no two brides have an album alike.

Brookshire's Photography also offers its customers a wide range of digital design products such as composites and custom cards, invitations, and graduation announcements.

You can visit www.brookshirephotography.com to have a look at their online photo gallery and get more information about this amazing mother and daughter duo and the services that their studio offers.

Congratulations to Kathy and Lori on being a Main Street America Business for the past ten years. Keep following my contributor profile to learn more about business owners, just like the Brookshire's, across America.