Wonderful experience, exceptional value! These are 4 words that only describe the cusp of my…read moreexperience with Briliana Photography. I'm currently pregnant with our first child and wanted to capture timeless maternity photos of myself and my partner. I honestly wasn't sure where to begin. Most of my friends and family have had children long ago and used Sears or JCPenney. Not that the latter is a bad thing, but it wasn't the style I envisioned. So I took my search to Instagram. With one hashtag, Brilianna was among a few businesses the came up. I made a quick and easy inquiry and the rest was history. From the very first call, Irina was so easy to work with. She asked me what I had in mind then gave me a full rundown of her services. Moreover, she was honest with her capabilities. We had an out of box idea that we wanted to try as an announcement. She was honest that she'd try but her expertise was more timeless than comedic. We ended up not doing it and not because of Irina, but because we no longer felt it was necessary. After that first call, I felt confident booking with her and canceled all other business inquiries. I booked the 'Classic Session' which included a fully guided session, professional makeup and styling, and up to 4 looks. As part of the looks, you have the option of using their beautiful gowns and wraps for your photos. For me, this took a large load off of me. Imagine having to buy 4 different dresses for a maternity shoot and on top of that, figure out sizing, transport, etc. It would've been a hassle (just an FYI - you can bring your own, but her selection is soooo beautiful and high quality, there is no need to!). More than the gowns, I think this was just a great value for everything provided. Most of the photographers I had found during my search, did not include nearly as much as I received. After paying my deposit, Irina remained communicative and I received an easy guide that helped my partner and I fully prepare for our session.
Fast forward to the day of our session, it felt like such a relaxing day. The studio is spacious, clean, and modern. I got straight to hair and makeup with Kristen. She was a gem - very kind, welcoming, attentive, and helpful from start to finish. I loved her work as well. Kristen did a soft glam look with beautiful blending. In addition, she added soft waves to my hair that held up nicely throughout the shoot and the rest of the day. Later in the morning, Irina came in and worked her magic. I showed her the looks I wanted and she gave her expertise on what would work best. Kristen acted as a stylist and helped keep me flawless throughout the shoot, while Irina guided me. I was nervous taking photos in my pregnant body. But Irina did a great job guiding me and encouraging me to relax. Her being a mom as well, it was nice to have her reassurance and tips. We went thru each look, including a few with my partner. At some points, I even began to cry because the experience of this moment with my partner was really heart warming. It felt very full circle. No doubt, Irina captured everything I wanted for my maternity photos - love, timelessness, and happiness. As promised, she returned the unedited proofs to us within a week and we made our final selections. I'm now waiting for the finished result but I am very pleased with the proofs. My package included 10 photos and it was truly hard to choose. That's how great her shots were! I've included some candid shots in this review which my partner took during the session. This is just to show how awesome the team worked to prep me and position me throughout the session.
Overall, I'm extremely pleased with my experience at Brilianna Photography. Irina has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Not only was she communicative, but her work speaks for itself. I cannot wait to work with her again once my bundle of joy arrives. If you are looking for a seamless, stress-free experience, don't hesitate to book with Brilianna! Highly recommended!
