Daily Inspiration: Meet Brianna Gomez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Gomez.

Hi Brianna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started photography in high school. Not necessarily because I wanted to, but because I had to. I enrolled into high school about a month late. Therefore all the electives were pretty much taken. However, the last class available was photography. So I tell people that I got into photography by destiny. As cheesy as that sounds. Truly, I wouldn’t have thought to have taken photography because in high school, I thought “why in the world would anyone take a photography class?” Of course, I was uncultured and didn’t understand art back then. Four years later, and a lot of graduation sessions later, I got into wedding photography because a friend thought my photos were “nice” (I had never photographed a wedding at this point- only seniors).

After photographing this friend’s wedding for free, I realized that there is so much beauty and realness in wedding photography. Being the one person to encapsulate a single moment in time for eternity, a moment that generations will look upon and witness the catalysts for their own existence – Isn’t that gnarly? To be that one person on the sidelines that no one will remember but YOU know that your presence and your hands are so important in the creation of their captured memories. This feeling set off a fire in my soul and it was THAT rainy wedding in March of 2018 that made me realize, intimate weddings and elopement photography is exactly what I needed to do. Is was the only thing I could do. From then till now, I guess, I’ve been witnessing people just… Love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If any artist tells you, their career has been a smooth road – their lying. Art is one of those things, that yes, even though it so full-filling and so beautiful, behind the scenes, it can be so toxic. Suffering from imposter syndrome, family questioning you, which leads to you questioning your self, new trends, being self-taught, establishing a business all by yourself and so many other things that convince you to think, “Should I just get that 9-5 job because its guaranteed income?” But that’s the thing you need to prevail and overcome those thoughts to be successful in a very competitive market. Being a business owner and a social media icon, people tend to forget we have bad days and sometimes life just doesn’t go our way.

There was one particular day in 2019 that made me question EVERYTHING. I totaled my brand new car, I had my laptop with me and my hard drives corrupted on me, losing so many photos, my family had just moved states a week prior. I wasn’t on good terms in my relationship. I was a reck. I felt lonely because no one understood my sadness. I didn’t eat, I closed everyone out, I was questioning my worth, I wondered if I was actually good enough, I wanted to give up on everything. Fast forward to exactly one year later, I have 20 bookings next year already in 2021. And had a completely booked out 2020. I’m healthy. I got another car. A better car. I’ve met so many beautiful souls along the way. One year ago, I was having the worst day/week/month of my life. Today I’m having the best. It’s always easier said than done. Trust me, I know this. Whatever it is we may be going through just remember that with every day, we get further away from those bad moments. So take each day as it is and don’t give up. Because if I had given up, I wouldn’t be writing this. I wouldn’t have found myself. I wouldn’t have been able to capture so many beautiful moments. There’s so many “I wouldn’t” that looking back, I can’t believe I considered an “I would” give up. There is nothing more beautiful than when you prove yourself just how strong you are.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an intimate wedding and elopement photographer, I’m just so obsessed with taking photos that really embody a moment, or embodies that couple, or embodies a feeling. I am trying to push traditional norms when it comes to bridal photography. I’m tired of pretty posed photos; I want to feel something when I look at photography. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I’ve come to understand this. However, I will someone’s cup of tea and those are the people I’m living for. I’m here for you; I’m here to understand you and tell your story, in whatever possible way that may be. I really focus my photography around human connection and honesty so I think what I am most known for, what I am most proud of, and what set’s me apart is all the same thing and simply put, it’s me putting the focus back on human connection and real-people love.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I used to be so particular about the colors I used in my photos. Everything had to be warm neutral colors, like most classic wedding photographers. I would remove the blues, the green, and the purples from all my photos. So my Instagram “feed” was consistent with current trends. But then 2020 happened. Everything and everyone changed. I gone went to California and I had four different couples lined up to take photos of. They all canceled. So I went to the beach anyways and I saw the sweetest thing. Friends building little beach tents out of sticks, couples running into the crashing waves, people playing the ukulele on the shore. And it was this day where I realized life isn’t neutral colors. Like is blue and green and purple and warm all at the same time. So I’m getting rid of that annoying “warm colors only” aesthetic to produce something more genuine and real and something more 2020. Because even in these gloomy days, there’s still warmth to them. I’ve discovered warmth isn’t a color but rather a feeling.

Pricing:

• Arizona Intimate Weddings & Elopements starting at $3,000
• Destination Intimate Weddings & Elopements starting at $8,000 (includes travel fees)

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@briannagomez.com
• Website: www.briannagomez.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brimarie
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/briannagomezphotography