We recently had the chance to connect with Brianna Benitez and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Brianna , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now would be waking up around 5am, get a workout in at the gym. Then come back home, get ready for work and leave. I work full-time as of right now. After work I usually go home, get some chores done, meal prep for the next day, eat dinner and get ready for bed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Brianna Benitez of Benitez Photography, and I’m proud to be a local photographer right here in North Jersey!
I see the beauty in every corner of our Bergen County community, and my camera is my favorite tool for capturing it. I specialize in shooting families and couples—helping you freeze those joyful, candid moments—but I also enjoy taking a little bit of everything, especially the stunning nature that surrounds us.
My ultimate goal is simple: to expand Benitez Photography, but more importantly, to ensure every client leaves a session happy and excited about their photos. I’ve been truly honored to have my work recognized beyond North Jersey, including features and interviews with publications like Bold Journey, VoyageRaleigh, and CanvasRebel. It’s a privilege to bring that recognized standard of work and passion back to my local clients right here in Bergen County.
A Little More About Me
When I’m not behind the lens, I put my caring and detailed eye to work as a full-time medical assistant, and my experience with children is a real asset when I’m shooting family sessions! For fun, you can often find me on the court playing a game of tennis or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere at local car shows.
I look forward to connecting with more of you and helping you tell your story, one beautiful photo at a time!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most profoundly shaped how I see both myself and the world is my growing relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship completely redefined the concept of control in my life. Previously, I would naturally try to force my own timing or plans, especially when facing situations I couldn’t control. This frequently led to frustration when my plans didn’t work out the way I wanted. The change came when I learned to put God first—seeking Him through the Word and prayer. I realized a fundamental truth: it’s never my timing nor my plans, it’s His timing and His plans. This realization lifted a huge burden. Instead of seeing myself as the sole director of my life, I now see myself as an active participant in a larger, divine purpose, which has brought me deep security and peace.
This faith is my source of strength as I encounter my challenges and sufferings, whether during the ups or the downs of life. As I keep growing with Him, I’m becoming stronger and wiser, both mentally and spiritually.
My relationship with Jesus Christ has fundamentally changed how I view the entire world. Instead of measuring life or morality by what the world wants us to be like—by cultural trends or expectations—I now base my worldview on how God wants us to be like.
This means prioritizing love and obedience in my daily interactions and choices. My perspective is defined by the absolute truth found in scripture, which provides an unchanging compass for life. I hold onto the words of Jesus in John 14:6: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.’
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
The biggest thing my early struggles in photography taught me—the kind of lesson success could never deliver—was all about letting go of impossible perfection and realizing I needed to chill out!
Before my perspective changed, my camera was basically a source of anxiety. I’d overthink everything, spending hours trying to make one photo “perfect.” Seriously, I was the queen of the re-edit! I would be so hard on myself, dragging my creative energy down with thoughts like, “Ugh, my edits look trashy,” or “That angle was weak.”
Even when people told me my photos looked great (and they often did!), I was never satisfied. The biggest truth that suffering revealed was that all the external praise in the world is useless if you don’t approve of yourself first.
That inner turmoil finally forced me to step back and look at the bigger picture. I learned that yes, I can be my own toughest critic, but that intense pressure was coming from feeling like I was “behind.” The world makes us feel like we need instant success, and that’s just exhausting!
The truly profound lesson, which links right back to my faith, is that things take time! It’s a huge relief to remember: it’s not our timing, it’s God’s timing. This perspective helps me put down the need for flawless results right now. Instead, I keep reminding myself to keep practicing, accepting that struggles are part of the plan because everything happens for a reason.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely, yes! There’s no big difference between the person you see with a camera and the person I am every day. The passion and energy I bring to my photography are fueled by the joy in my private life.
The public version of me—the photographer who loves capturing families—is entirely connected to the real me who loves:
Spending quality time with my family and my pets.
Fellowshipping at church and strengthening my faith.
Adventures with my boyfriend and simply being outside.
Working with kids (which ties into my job as a medical assistant).
I’m grateful that the things I enjoy most—like connecting with people and bringing joy—are reflected in my work. The photography is simply one part of a full life, not a mask I put on.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, the story I hope people tell about me is focused on two things: my love for photography and, more importantly, my love and passion for Jesus Christ. While I hope the joy and memories I captured through my photography are remembered, my greatest legacy would be connected to my faith. I want people to know that I truly believed that Jesus is the Son of God and lived by the truth of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, I hope that my passion for Christ showed up in the way I treated people—with kindness, grace, and compassion—so that my life spoke louder than any words.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: _benitezphotography_
- Facebook: benitezphotography
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
benitezphotography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
