We had the good fortune of connecting with Bri Combs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bri, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Two simple factors in my life have gotten me to where I am today. Those are my faith in Christ and staying true to myself. My relationship with Jesus has helped me through so much and brought me amazing opportunities. I stand firm that I would not be where I am today without my faith. It has carried me through the mountains down to the valleys more times than I can count. The Lord has provided me with so much, including the courage to step out and start my own photography business in high school. Running your own business through high school and college is extremely challenging but I am grateful that I had God beside me the entire time. With my faith comes me staying true to myself. This is one of the hardest things to do when working alongside other creatives. Not conforming to the ideals and standards of the modern world is hard. With lots of self-reflection and prayer, I believe I have been successful in being who I truly am all the time in my business. I push myself to never settle for less. Keeping my actions and thoughts in check during every step I take. Without my Lord Jesus Christ and being myself, I would not be where I am today. I stay forever humble and grateful for the woman I am today through these practices.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have loved creating art since I was a child. There was no surprise in my family when I ended up pursuing photography and graphic design professionally. I love to capture anything and everything. From fast moments on a basketball court to a love-filled engagement session. Capturing moments is what makes me happy. I feel that I set myself apart from other creators in how I care about my clients and the work I am creating for them. I want everything I do to be something they will love. I take great consideration of my clients’ opinions and what they desire from my business. I learned this through working under other creatives and seeing how I wanted to do things differently for my own endeavors. I would not be where I am today without the many people who have taken chances on me. Working under others has taught me to be grateful for everything that I receive and never take any opportunity for granted.

Learning through experiences is a large way to truly learn business. Going to school for photography and design has only taught me so much. Being in the industry gives me many more applicable lessons that go into my business rather than just the technical creation side of things. Combining both experience and school has given me the absolute best shot at being successful though. I would not change how I have learned to do what I do today. It is impractical for some, but for me, it has worked perfectly.

Nothing good ever comes easy and I have learned that in my years of school and work. There is great sacrifice when it comes to starting a business. Through hard work and dedication, I have learned what I love and want to do for the rest of my life. I just want the world to know that I love my job, my art, and my passion for creating. At the end of the day, all that matters is my happiness with what I am doing in life. I am happy to say I am on a God-made path just for me and my creative brain.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Cincinnati and the culture it has. Living here all my life I have several favorite spots throughout the Queen City! My top Cinci food stop is forever Skyline Chili. It isn’t everyone’s favorite but I say you have to at least try it once before knocking it. Quatman’s Cafe is another great option if you aren’t into chili! I also love smoothies and couldn’t recommend Better Blend enough. My top place to hang out in Cincinnati is our parks. Eden Park gives you one of the best overlooks of Cincinnati while also being home to Krohn Conservatory and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Walk around the downtown area, the Banks or OTR, to see amazing mural art and lots of local businesses. No matter where you go in Cincinnati though, you are bound to fall in love with the area like I have over my lifetime!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family, friends, and church. Since high school, everyone has supported my passion for creating art. Not every entrepreneur gets that support and it means so much that no one batted an eye when I decided to take the next steps and start my business. From encouraging text messages to hour-long phone calls, I have never felt that I was stepping in the wrong direction with my career path. I could not be where I am today without everyone standing behind me. The countless amounts of photos I have taken of those closest to me show how much they believe in my dream. I am forever grateful and blessed for those I am surrounded by.

Website: https://www.photo28.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__photo_28/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Photo-28/100070698555770/

Image Credits
Jonah Williamson

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutOhio is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.