Meet Briana Diamond of DiamondPhotography in Malibu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Diamond.

Briana, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
An emerging young photographer, Briana Diamond graduated from Brooks Institute in 2014 with a degree in Visual Journalism. She works in multiple commercial fields, with a versatility ranging from still photography to videography, social media directing to video production and catalog photo shoots. She has worked for companies such as Rolling Stone Magazine, O’Neill, Rusty, Lost, Metal Mulisha, RTIC, REI, Patagonia, LinkedIn, CA State Parks, and Procore Technology. Diamond has been published in Visit California magazine, The Inertia, AAA West ways magazine, Visit Ventura magazine, and was the first female surf photographer to be published in. Deep Surf Magazine.

Growing up in Southern California, Diamond began surfing at the age of seven and exploring photography for the first time by always having a camera in her hand and capturing as many memorable moments as possible. At the age of eight, she found her career path; as she recalls: “I remember the day, when I was eight years old, I was at the grocery with my mom and saw my first Surfer magazine. I couldn’t believe that my love and passion for surfing and photography could be mixed into one career! I was blown away and I immediately started taking photos from the beach of surfers.”

Pursuing her twin passions now with single-minded purpose, Briana chose independent studies in high school. Then at the age of sixteen, she was mentored by a photographer named Karina Duffy with National Geographic. I will never forget her saying to me, “You have such a creative, unique eye for only being 16 years old/ never let anybody discourage you from fulfilling your dream.”

At Brooks Institute, Diamond finally zeroed in on her major artistic focus. She studied underwater photography with top nature photographer, Ralph Clevenger, and discovered her true calling. “We learned all about photographing and even editing images underwater.” She also added, “I was in heaven .. This is where I belong, in the water.” To see more of her work visit BrianaDiamond.com

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“It has not always been a smooth ride,” says Diamond. I struggled in high school because I knew my real passion was photography, and to be quite honest, nothing else really interested me.” I also remember the principal of my school saying to me, “I would never make it into a four year college.” Boy, was she wrong! I instead used her comment to fuel my fire instead of getting disillusioned.”

After graduating high school, I applied to Brooks Institute of Photography and Film and was immediately accepted. It was there that I received a degree in Visual Journalism and the true beginning of my photography career.

At the time, there have been many barriers to a female in the surf industry, and females were not necessarily accepted into the impact zone on a big wave day. Even to this day, I see guys doing a double take seeing a female photographer in the water with them. I am out to prove to the world that I could surf and become a nature photographer, and I am determined to blaze the trail for other females as well.

Please tell us about your work.
Diamond photography is made to inspire people by the beauty of nature. There is a lot of ugly/negativity in the world. Hence, the thought that I can help influence people to appreciate and be with nature is very gratifying and that is what I feel is my purpose in the world with my nature photography. Being a photographer for 20 + years, I have grown into setting my work aside from others by having a style. I like to create certain points of view that not many see with their naked eye. For example, underwater photographing, capturing bugs eye point of views and nightscape photography. Not too many folks can see the milky way or the ocean, so I like to bring them back to their “happy” place.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Graduating Brooks Institute.

Image Credit:
Briana Diamond

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