Meet Regina Briggs of Photography by Regina Marie in Antelope Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Briggs.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Regina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
If you had asked me fifteen years ago what I thought I was going to make a career as, I would have told you a math teacher (I was always a bit of a math nerd growing up). I knew I wanted a job helping people in some capacity, little did I know it would be in a creative field.

I always had an interest in photography, from before I got my first camera as a kid – a Kodak Advantix. I thought the panoramic prints were pretty awesome. Of course, that was before digital cameras. In college, I had a chance to live in and travel other parts of the world and became even more fascinated with documenting the beautiful places I was seeing. My husband was the one who helped give me a little push to become serious about my passion by gifting me my first DSLR. A very close friend of mine was also beginning her journey as a photographer around the same time. We did a lot of shooting together, and it was encouraging to have someone to grow and learn with.

My spark for wedding photography really ignited during the search for my own wedding photographer. I immediately fell in love with capturing the details and emotions of the day. Now I specialize in both wedding and portrait photography. It’s amazing to document the journey for my clients from engagement and wedding to capturing the start of their family.

Has it been a smooth road?
In the beginning, I was intimidated by the photography industry. It was fairly male dominated, and in my area, there were a lot of veteran photographers who had been around for years. It was hard to find people willing to talk to you about their experience in running a successful photography business or give advice and tips along the way. Of course, that has changed drastically over the years. There’s a wonderful sense of community over competition between most photographers now (and not to mention there are a ton of girl bosses out there today!).

Another challenge I faced once my business picked up, was managing all aspects of it myself, between commuting two hours each way to a full-time job daily and becoming a mom. Finally, after a heart to heart with my husband, I made the decision to take the plunge into full time and left my 9 to 6 job. I wanted to put all of my focus into being the best mother and running my photography business. I knew I would have a better chance at success with a bit more flexibility in my schedule. It hasn’t been easy (we now have a second child), but my passion remains strong and I’m fortunate to have a lot of people in my corner. Even now, I come back from a photo shoot or a wedding in such high spirits, and I know I’m doing exactly what I was meant to.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Photography by Regina Marie story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a full-time wedding and portrait photographer based in northern Los Angeles County, but available for travel pretty much anywhere (really!). I capture life, all the beautiful moments from maternity to newborns, families, and of course engagements and weddings. My style includes a lifestyle/photojournalistic feel with a mix of classic portraiture. I aim to provide photos that are timeless and bring you right back to the moments they were captured.

I am most proud of the fact that I have kept my business running for over seven years almost solely off of referrals and word of mouth. I have some really wonderful clients…some of whom have been with me since the very beginning. I think much of that has to do with the relationships that I form with them. It’s much more than a business transaction to me. I truly care about each client, and each occasion that I’m capturing for them. I love meeting so many amazing people, getting to know them, and being trusted to photograph some of their most cherished memories. I do not take that lightly. I want to deliver a product that they will love and treasure for years to come, and it’s a product I want to be proud of as well.

What are your plans for the future?
My hope for this year is to collaborate with other wedding professionals on some fun projects. I’d like to push my boundaries a bit more and experiment (get the creative juices flowing) with more personal projects. I think those are the times you really grow as an artist. That is one thing I never want to stop doing, is growing and learning.

I’ve done some out of state sessions this year and would love to continue to branch out to other destinations. My husband and I had a destination wedding in Italy, so the travel bug is always there, and destination weddings have always been something I’ve wanted to specialize in.

I’m also excited to get out and meet more wedding couples as I participate in some upcoming bridal shows.

Finally, I’m anxious to launch a newly designed website in the coming months.

Contact Info:

• Address: Palmdale, CA
• Website: www.photographybyreginamarie.com
• Phone: (661) 236-3320
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/photographybyreginamarie
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybyreginamarie
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/photography-by-regina-marie-palmdale

Image Credit:
Meesh Photography (Personal Photo)