When Brandee Brantly takes a photograph, she's not just looking to capture a smile. She's also looking to capture a story. Though she's been a self-described "photo enthusiast" for more than 20 years, Brantly's interest in the art form spiked as soon as she had children. She wanted to document every moment of their young lives, and to bathe those moments in the nostalgic glow that's unique to a candid photograph.

Today, Brantly points her lens at plenty of people besides her own children. She travels around Carrollton and the greater Dallas area, seeking out subjects with their own stories to tell. She prefers on-location shoots for their narrative and artistic potential; rather than pose people against stark studio backgrounds, she can snap them sitting in their favorite public park or on top of their sworn enemy's Mercedes.