Hidden Gems: Meet Brianna Parks

Hi Brianna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was always interested in photography when I was in high school, but when I went off to college, I didn’t really think twice about it. It wasn’t until I got to college when I basically had an identity crisis. I was freaked out at the idea of having a 9-5 job for the rest of my life, but I didn’t know what else I could do. I met my husband the day I was dropped off for college. We ended up getting married about a year later, and during this time, we were broke. I was 19, and my husband was 20. For our wedding, we got a ton of Target gift cards. We had around $500-$600 in Target gift cards and about $700 in the bank. I still had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted to major in. All I knew is that I didn’t want to have a “traditional” career.

A few months into our marriage and about a year into school, I came across my old photos, and something sparked in me. I have no idea what we were thinking, but I convinced my husband to let me get a camera. We spent all the money we had on our gift cards, and some within the bank, and bought a camera. The rest is basically history. I turned my hobby into a business, and I’ve never looked back. I still go to college and will be graduating in two semesters. I’m majoring in Sociology and will be doing an internship next semester as well. I’ve built my business from the ground up all by myself. I now specialize in elopements and absolutely LOVE what I do!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. It feels like every single day is a new struggle!

Here are a few things I struggled with along the way:
1. Figuring out the legalities of running a business.
2. Trying to balance being a wife, full-time college student, and business owner.
3. Building a unique website and marketing plan all by myself.
4. Having my first website be hacked and having to start all over.
5. Learning to set boundaries as a business owner.
6. Staying creatively inspired when your hobby becomes a business.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I started my business back in April/May of 2018 photographing big, traditional weddings. Today, I specialize and focus on elopements. I help my couples plan their special day by finding their ceremony location, vendors, activities, etc. I’m very involved in my couple’s day! I’m proud of being able to build a business without going into debt and doing so at such a young age with already so many responsibilities. With me, you don’t just get another photographer. I help inspire, empower, and encourage my couples to push traditional boundaries and create experiences they’ll remember forever. I offer elopement packages in California, the US, and worldwide!

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am a strong advocate for finding a mentor and investing in education. One of the biggest tips I have is to get involved and get to know other vendors in the area. Building relationships with those who also specialize in what you do is really important. Not only will they give you referrals, but you’ll also meet new friends, which is really important, especially with a career like mine where you work from home most of the time. For myself, I make it a goal to do at least one mentorship with a photographer I look up to every few months. I’ve been lucky enough to learn from Anni Graham, Marcella Laine, Julia Kathleen, Bridgette Wuest, etc.

Pricing:

• California elopement packages start at $2,500
• U.S. elopement packages start at $3,500
• Destination elopement packages start at $4,500

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@briannaparksphoto.com
• Website: https://briannaparksphoto.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/briannaparksphotography
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/briannaparksphotography