Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Rivera.
Hi Brandi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a wife and a mother to a very active 2 year old girl and I have another one on the way! I was raised in Orlando so I’ve lived in Orlando most of my life however I was not born here. I was actually born up north in Columbus, Ohio but my parents moved to Florida while I was really young. So I’m very much a Floridian.
My journey with photography began about seven years ago, back when I was a senior in high school and I took photography as an elective. My dad bought me my first camera ever; it was a red Nikon Coolpix point and shoot camera and I photographed solely landscapes and nature. Initially, photography started out as just a hobby of mine, something I did for fun.
After graduating high school, I attended a trade school called Southern Technical College. There I studied HVAC and electrical. But after about six months, I left school and suddenly realized that photography was my true passion. Fast-forward to 2017 and I finally got my hands on my first DSLR camera and graduated from point and shoot. A photographer was upgrading his camera and selling his old one and sold me his old camera for about $200. It was a Canon Rebel T2i. This was my first digital camera ever and I was super grateful to finally get my hands on a digital camera. Not wasting any time, I eagerly started photographing all my friends and family and took my camera almost everywhere. My love and passion for photography really took off!
Between 2017 and 2018, I really started building my portfolio, meeting new people, attending photography meet-ups, networking events, and workshops. I guess you could say I really started taking photography seriously at this time and I was actively pursuing it as more than just a hobby but trying to make it a business. Now I photograph anything from families, couples, maternity, portraits, fashion, headshots, events, food, and even products!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey has been far from smooth but the struggles I’ve faced have taught me to appreciate the resources I do have and not to sweat the small stuff. Some of the struggles I’ve faced were becoming pregnant unexpectedly at the start of my photography career and having to slow down was quite difficult for me as I wasn’t as active with photography as I would have liked to be during this time. Also, with the added expenses of a baby on the way, it also put a halt to buying and investing in new photography gear. However, with my daughter came a newfound joy!
I also had my first maternity shoot after becoming a mother and it meant so much more to me that way. I feel as though I was able to relate and appeal more to moms after becoming a mom myself. Having a child also taught me how to be more frugal and although I still shoot with a 10-year-old camera, it taught me to work harder at my craft, focus more on lighting and composition verses having the latest and greatest gear. I will always attest to the fact that it’s the photographer who makes the photo, not the camera. The camera is just a tool. You can have the most expensive camera in the world but if you don’t know how to use it, it’s useless.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a freelance portrait photographer; I specialize in portraiture so I photograph anything from families, couples, maternity, children, models, etc. I’m definitely known for my use of color and trying to incorporate vibrant colors in my editing style, as well as capturing the moment, and doing very creative, unconventional, photoshoots. I’m most proud of the positive impact I’m able to have on the people I photograph, capturing their true authentic personality, the connection of their family, or the love of a couple. Seeing people happy and having fun in front of the camera is my jam!
Also, I cherish all the awesome relationships I’ve formed with clients I’ve shot over the years; it’s a very rewarding experience when someone comes back to you for photos again based upon the good rapport you’ve built with them. I would have to say my way of taking someone’s vision and making it a reality is what sets me apart from others because not only are you getting a photoshoot but I really try to create a great overall experience as well.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory would probably have to be when my family would take me to Disney as a child and we would spend the whole day at Disney and watch the fireworks at night, which was my favorite part!
Contact Info:
- Email: 4.the.love.of.photog@gmail.com
- Website: https://4theloveofphotography365.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4_the_love_of_photography/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/4theloveofphoto/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCR3Zf5oSpm-I78e5wkbn67w
Image Credits
Reje Rush Jeff Dez’homme
@artbylightphotography (main photo)
