Brianna Parks

My name is Brianna Parks.

I’m an elopement photographer based in Northern California. I specialize in adventurous elopements in the Northern California area and in Olympic National Park.

I started photography back in 2018 after getting married. At the time, I was in college and was looking for a creative outlet. Photography fell into my lap.

I started with a Canon Rebel T6i and a cheap Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens, the nifty fifty.

I like to call myself a wedding photographer and landscape photographer mashed into one, as most of my work consists of wide shots where the couple is infused with the landscape.

Before I transitioned to elopements, I photographed big weddings for two years. At the time, my gear list was much longer and had way more bells and whistles than it does now.

Now, I try to keep things light and minimal, as most of my elopements require hiking.

Canon EOS R6 – this is my go-to camera. I have two of these, and they practically never leave my harness. I was against getting mirrorless for a long time, but when my Canon 5D Mark IV started missing focus, I figured it was time for an upgrade.

What a night and day difference it has been! I adore this camera. The autofocus is insane, and the customization options for the buttons have made my life so much easier.

Switching was a bit of an adjustment at first, but I’m so glad I finally did.

Canon 5D Mark IV – I had this camera for three to four years before switching to mirrorless. I currently have two of these. While I don’t bring them with me for my elopements anymore, I love playing with them when I’m doing personal shoots or want to get creative without worrying about ruining my R6.

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L – this is my go-to lens. It rarely leaves my camera. Because I’m known for my wide landscape shots, my 24mm is a staple in my collection. I don’t use this lens for details, but this is one of the best lenses out there for landscape shots!

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L – this is my other go-to lens that I usually have on my other camera body. The 35mm and 24mm are the lenses I use most often, so it was important for me to invest good money to use good lenses. I use this lens for practically everything else: ceremonies, details, portraits, you name it.

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens – this is my least-used lens. I rarely touch this one, but I know it’s a fan favorite. I personally would rather use a 35mm and then crop it in later. I do sometimes pull this one out for detail shots, but other than that, it tends to stay in my bag.

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens – 85mm is one of my favorite lenses for ceremonies. I love getting those close-up emotional shots without being right in the couple’s face. I also love this for close-up portrait shots as well. The compression is beautiful, and I enjoy the sharpness of Sigma lenses.

I don’t use any lights or triggers since all my work is reliant on natural light in the outdoors.

Gregory Zulu 35L – I adore this bag. As I mentioned before, most of my elopements require hiking, so it was extremely important to invest in a good hiking bag that won’t put weight on my shoulders but disperse it to my hips. I use this as a carry-on in the airport and love how comfortable it feels.

F-Stop ICU Medium Cube is where I store all my camera gear and put it in my backpack. I had been looking for something like this for a long time and finally found it.

I used to have a backpack dedicated to camera storage, but it didn’t distribute the weight well and left my shoulders and back sore after a long day. When I switched to a hiking backpack, I needed to find a solution that allowed me to store my gear in my bag safely.

This cube does just that! It’s been about three years, and it’s still going strong.

SpiderPro Dual Camera System Holster – now, if I had to recommend one product on this list, it would be my Spider Holster. This holster is INCREDIBLE!

I was against purchasing it for a long time because I wanted to look cool wearing a shoulder harness. However, the lower back and shoulder pain from it was getting unbearable.

I finally swallowed my pride and purchased the holster, and I will never be going back. This product is amazing for hiking elopements, as it puts all the weight on my hips. I’m no longer sore and love the capabilities of this product.

The 2020 27-inch iMac is another one of my favorite things. The screen is huge, so I can see all the little details I need to about a photo. I can’t believe I used to edit on a MacBook before this!

PhotoMechanic – this is my culling software. It’s super speedy and gets the job done.

ImagenAI – this software has completely changed the way I edit. It’s easily cut down my editing workflow in half. It also offers culling, but I don’t use it for that; it is strictly for editing.

Lightroom and Photoshop – of course, it’s a staple! I don’t use Photoshop as often as Lightroom, but this is my favorite part of the photography process.

I like carrying extra camera batteries, SD cards, sunscreen, water, socks, hand warmers, and a granola bar.

I adore my Patagonia winter jacket and my Columbia Newton Ridge hiking boots.

Photography is all about creating art through the perspective of your lens. It can be intimidating starting out, but in the end, it’s all about having fun and creating work that you’re proud of.

Website | Instagram

Highly Recommended

8 Tools for Photographers

Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.

Includes limited-time discounts.

Learn more here