Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Nolan.
Briana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Instagram + the iPhone initially sparked my interest in taking photos (so millennial I know). It opened my eyes to filters and editing and seeing other people’s posts inspired me to take more photos. I communicated that to my parents and they encouraged my creativity by getting me a Canon Rebel for Christmas 6 years ago.
My first shoot was taking my sister’s engagement photos. She wanted to save some money, so I said yes, having NO IDEA what I was doing. It’s family, so you don’t have to know exactly what you’re doing right?? I posted some of the photos on Facebook and a fellow wedding photographer friend saw them and asked me to start second shooting for her and took me under her wing.
I’m naturally a question queen, so I used that to my benefit and asked as many questions as I could. I was a sponge and just wanted to soak up as much information as I could about the photography world. I was also already an assistant wedding coordinator at the time, so that really helped me know the flow of the day and what to be aware of.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think every good business hits bumps in the road and that’s what builds character and a strong foundation. For me, my biggest struggle was believing in myself and figuring out the type of work I wanted to produce that was unique and my own. I’m a perfectionist at heart and am very hard on myself, so in the beginning, I had a lot of doubt and fear going into it.
Encouragement from others helped me get over that insecurity and positive feedback really helped me to believe in myself and gave me the confidence I needed to continue taking photos.
My advice to others would be to surround yourself with people who speak truth into your life and encourage you to be the best you can be, whether that’s mentors, family or friends. I can’t tell you how much that has helped me in all aspects of my life.
Please tell us about Briana Mary.
My job is telling people’s stories through still images. I specialize in love stories aka wedding photography, but I also do brand work and other lifestyle work.
I try to let my photos speak for themselves, but a few words I would use to describe my style are: raw, real, untraditional and edgy.
I try to set myself apart by treating clients like humans rather than business clients. I am my weird goofy self and I try to encourage people I work with to be themselves because I know how uncomfortable and awkward it can be being in front of a camera.
I have three golden rules in my company:
1. Always be kind to others.
2. Communicate well.
3. Always have fun.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My advice to a young woman starting their career is to lead with kindness and confidence in everything you do. Don’t give up and remember to always give yourself and others grace when things don’t always go as planned. Have fun with it and know YOU CAN DO IT!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brianamary.com
- Email: brianamaryphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: bn_______
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