We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brianna France. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brianna below.
Hi Brianna, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is something that I still struggle with sometimes. I think one thing that helps me is knowing that there is space for everyone. Even though there are many other great photographers in the area, that doesn’t mean that I’m not great too. Another thing to remember is that no business is exactly alike. There are thousands of portrait photographers, but each one of us has our own way of shooting, editing, pricing, etc. The key to overcoming imposter syndrome is reminding yourself that people chose you for a reason. They saw your work and they liked it. Your work might not be for everybody, but the people that it’s for will always find you. That goes for any business, not just photography. Be confident in whatever you are pursuing and know that there is space for you too.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a portrait and lifestyle photographer. I mainly take pictures for birthdays and graduations, but I also take some for personal and commercial use. The most exciting thing about being a portrait photographer and working with people is getting to watch them open up throughout the sessions. Usually at the beginning, they might be a little reserved or unsure of how they are doing, especially if they aren’t used to getting their photos taken. Once they warm up to it, they start to add their personalities and their smiles become more genuine. Those always end up being my favorite ones and I love being able to share that with my clients.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the three things that were the most impactful were photo retouching, networking and studying. When I first started doing photography, I didn’t know how to edit in Photoshop and I mainly did surface level editing (adjustments, crops, etc.) on a free editing website. In college, I taught myself how to use Photoshop and how to do more detailed retouches (frequency separation, dodge and burn, etc.). This skill has elevated the final look of my pictures and I use it all of the time now.
Networking is a skill that is useful in any field of work that you do. I used to dread whenever someone gave networking as advice because I wasn’t a fan of small talk. However, networking really is something that is necessary. I’ve met with a few different photographers, and other local artists, who gave me advice on what it takes to run a business successfully. I’m also a member of a group specifically for black women photographers (called Black Women Photographers), and they also provide advice, resources, and answers to any questions that I may have. Overall, networking has been a huge benefit for me and I recommend it for everyone.
I think that studying is another thing that should be done continuously throughout the journey. I don’t mean that you have to read through books all of the time like in school. I believe that studying can be done through various resources. For example, before a shoot I make mood boards on Pinterest to get pose and prop ideas. I also watch YouTube videos on posing, lighting, editing, etc. I’m constantly learning new things and researching new equipment. There is always something new to learn, so studying often will help you improve in the long run.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is anyone who wants to document special moments and remember the milestones in their lives. If they are starting a family and want to take maternity photos, I can do it. If they already have a family and need to take updated family pictures, they can come to me. If they are moving on to the next level in their relationship and want to take engagement photos, I got them covered. It doesn’t matter if the clients are families or individual people. If they have something important coming up that they want to look back on, I will help make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: prettysicpics.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: instagram.com/prettysic_pics
