Charles was born in Akron, Ohio where his father had a photography studio of his own. "Charlie" started photography at an early age and stayed with his passion throughout his life. A graduate of Port Clinton High School in Ohio, he furthered his education with a BA in History from Ohio State University in 1968.

Following a tour of duty in the United States Air Force, Mr. Brooks completed his MBA degree from Wright State University. This propelled him to a 30-year career with Procter & Gamble Company, ultimately as a Global Demand Manager.

Charles enjoyed his global travels and was determined to share his experiences and visions through photography. He founded BROOKS Photography in 1999. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers. Today, Mr. Brooks' photography includes not only landscape, but also western lifestyle and portraiture.

Mr. Brooks' two books, Journey Across CHINA, and A Guide to Cincinnati's Historic Firehouses, leveraged his travel experiences, his education in history, and of course, his skill as a photographer.