Conversations with Gillian Rea

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Rea.

Hi Gillian, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
2014 – I was a junior in high school, living in my hometown of Fresno, CA, when I picked up a camera and applied/accepted into a photojournalism team that competed nationally! We got to travel to both coasts- New York and LA. My photojournalism teachers became life long mentors (Greg Stobbe and Kory James). I give them credit for where I am today! Truly saw something in me and poured so much investment of time and skill into me.

2016 – moved to Phoenix for school at GCU (BA in Advertising and Public Relations with an Emphasis in Graphic Design and minor in Communication). By the end of freshman year, I had become 1 of 4 photographers for GCU (now GCE Marketing), capturing everything from all sports games, student events, and marketing materials for billboards and campus materials (GCBC promo, GCU magazine, etc).

2018 – I worked for GCE my entire college career, while also working as Marketing Branding Director of ASGCU. In 2018, a friend from high school reached out and asked if I ever did weddings… I hadn’t even BEEN to a wedding as an adult. Nevertheless, they flew me back home and I shot my first wedding with the most gracious couple. I always say I “fell into the wedding industry on accident”.

2020 – Spring Graduation + Covid-19 forced me to move back home, where I worked as a medical courier (driver) and leaned into my love of street photography and photojournalism. I also worked as a remote Publishing Coordinator, editing books, designing covers, and managing social media. I always thought I’d work in Advertising (something practical and realistic, although not my dream).

2021 – Moved back to PHX, and continued to post my work (primarily street photography and weddings that spoke to me). I began working for Kitchen Sink Studios/Creative as an Account/Branding Coordinator, and always continued photography on the side.

October of 2023 – I left Kitchen Sink to work for a remote design studio, but was let go shortly after (they were a start up, and had to let go of 90% of the staff just 3 months after I was hired). I immediately rushed to the internet to start job searching again something safe and reliable. 1 stressful weekend went by before I decided this was my chance to go full time photography…. I haven’t looked back since! I immediately started reaching out to my network of photographers. I give Jonathon Allison credit for a ton of my recent growth. He has helped share so much industry know-how, and opened up so many more doors in the luxury wedding space.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It never is, is it!

My parents have always been very practical, and I definitely think there’s wisdom in that. That said, as long as God continues to open these creative doors, I’ll keep walking through them!

Covid was a huge let down — I thought I would move straight into a full time photographer position at GCU after I graduated. While I do freelance for them now, I thought all was lost at the time. It was one of the biggest disappointments I’d felt.

There are so many days/weeks/months that I feel imposter syndrome. I’ve been doing this for nearly 10 years, and I still always get nervous before every project. It’s incredibly discouraging to feel like you’re putting your heart and sole into a shoot, and it not come out the way you wanted. I never felt like my voice mattered, like anyone cared to hear what I thought, much less my creative work — there’s always someone “better” “more interesting” “more creative.

These doubts can be crippling! Fear of running out of creativity, fear of becoming stagnant, not to mention fear of running out of money to survive, are all mindsets I have to actively argue in my mind on a regular basis. They are so toxic to the creative process; even if I don’t always believe in myself, I know I have to almost ‘trick’ myself into believing I can do it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a full time (primarily) Wedding Photojournalist, I specialize in a variety of eclectic editing styles. Clients come to me for a mix of styles (from ‘classic and clean’, ‘vintage’, ‘dark and moody’, and more). We create a shared language for those styles so that our definition of these styles matches!

They come to me for a custom wedding experience — Each couple and story is unique, and their photos should reflect that! My background in advertising helps me service their priorities (instead of pushing one aesthetic/style onto them).

My clients want a photographer that shoots digital and film, that KNOWS their gear inside and out, and can shoot in any environment. I specialize in mixing both editorial and documentary shooting techniques throughout my sessions/weddings.

They want someone they not only get along with, but come to love! As an enneagram 9 wing 1, I always try to blend like a chameleon with the couple’s vibe, from the party animals to low-key elopements. My work is so relational, and my clients trust me because we really know each other before we even start shooting.

Any big plans?
Aiming for more destination weddings in the USA and beyond — I have plans for both Mexico and Italy weddings in 2025. I also plan to offer more analog film options (medium format in addition to the current 35mm).

My 2-3 year goals are to launch an education/mentoring branch to my business, as well as start the process of promoting my preset packs (not out yet).

Pricing:

• Custom per project

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gillianrea.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillian.rea/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GillianReaPhoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianrea/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gill.rea.photo

Image Credits
Gillian Rea