Brian Rickey Photographer Reviews
Reviews
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
10 Reviews
100% recommend it
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![Ashley]()
Ashley M. Sent on 04/04/2024Unique & Authentic Photography!
We had such an incredible experience with Brian at our engagement shoot! I have worked with him professionally as we have both taken part in other weddings and events, and I am so glad we met! His unique style of photography really stands out and provides an authentic alternative to some of those once in a lifetime moments you want captured.
Prior to our shoot, Brian thoughtfully shared advice and helped provide guidance as we prepared. From helping us select outfits/accessories to taking the time and going through my inspiration board, this took detail oriented to the next level and really helped bring our vision to life!
Our engagement shoot took place where we had our first date, and Brian was very flexible with his time and availability. He captured our day with a wide variety of cameras and continuously found new backgrounds/spaces to give us MANY different photos. He made us both feel very comfortable on camera, as the majority of the time we were just us. My fiancé and I got to be playful and personal with one another, while Brian occasionally made suggestions to make the most of our experience. This provided natural candid looking photos that were overall so flattering and simply breathtaking.
We absolutely love the photos that were returned to us and we highly recommend Brian Rickey Photography!! Thank you very much for being such a pleasure to work with and helping us bring our story to life. We will definitely be booking future sessions as we reach more milestones in our lives. Brian, you are awesome!! -
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Bri C. Sent on 08/08/2019How sad it would be to have a wedding and not have Brian capture it
I’ve been putting off writing a review for Brian Rickey for about 8 months now, not because I don’t love what he did for our engagement/wedding (holy crap, I do – we’ll get to that), but because the idea of putting his talent into words is so intimidating. Let me just start by saying I truly hate wedding photography; when I told this to Brian at our first meeting at Starbucks, he smiled.
My husband and I are kind of unorthodox – we celebrated our wedding years late after experiencing and working through so much of life together already. I wanted that captured authentically in our photos. I don’t like posing, I don’t like stiff smiles, and I don’t like wedding parties lined up symmetrically and treated as aesthetic props instead of captured as beloved friends of the couple. I spent weeks looking through hundreds of portfolios in the St. Louis area and I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Enter Brian.
Just look through his site and see for yourself – every single couple/family/senior is captured uniquely, and I have no doubt in exactly they manner they were hoping for. He makes his clients laugh during shoots, and he encourages them to make each other laugh, so no stiff smiles to be found. For the more romantic shots, he sends the couple away to go interact for a minute and captures them in their moment. He’s so calm and peaceful to work with, it’s easy to be your most emotional, goofy, lovey-dovey, fun self in front of the camera. For instance, I showed up to my engagement shoot in thigh-high boots and a minidress to run around Chicago making out with my fiancé in the street for five hours in 8-degree weather. I was a little nervous the photographer might find my outfit or our overall look a little odd for the occasion, but nope – he totally understood the feel we were going for and captured the natural chemistry we’ve always had between us with genuine enthusiasm.
The real smiles and love in Brian’s work are only half of it though. The scenery he includes, the light play, the black and white work he does, it’s world-class – and he adds these flairs to almost every shot, even candids. Most photographers I’ve found either just document the occasion, or they pose people in front of deliberate backgrounds in hopes of creating something artistic. Brian doesn’t do that – he documents real life and people as they are and exposes the natural art and beauty that already exists there. He just sees things differently and it shows through his work.
I went into both the engagement session and the wedding day with a few vague ideas of the kinds of things I would like to incorporate in the photos, but I told Brian he was in charge because the last thing I am is an artist. He made sure to include everything on my short list, no matter how silly or trivial, but he did so with a level of genius and creativity I couldn’t have imagined. He’s not just a professional, he is extremely generous with his talents and treats his clients as though he’s known them for years.
In short, Brian was the best wedding vendor decision we made, and we’ll definitely be back for family portraits, our kids’ senior photos, maternity shoots – whatever the need, I just don’t see hiring anyone else.Brian Rickey Photographer's reply:
I am trying to find the words. I really feel like I should be thanking you and Michael. It means everything to me that you guys trusted me to capture a day that you had planned on for a long time. A very important day. This worked because you trusted me, and I can't thank you enough for that. I think all 3 of us knew from that first meeting at Starbucks that we were a match! That trip to Chicago was just amazing. We didn't just take pictures, we explored, froze a bit, drank beers and ate great food! Not to mention we did the Billygoat Tavern! I really don't see what I do as a business transaction. I loved hanging out with you guys and being there to help preserve those great memories. You and Michael are genuine. You are both kind and caring people. I hate talking about myself and it's hard to read everything you wrote and I mean that in the best way possible. But it means a lot that you trusted me and you can see what it is I strive to do. I sincerely hope we have more adventures together! -
![Sierra]()
Sierra Sent on 05/29/2019Great Photographer!
Brian is very easy going and funny. He is honest and makes sure to be up front about everything. I had to change a few things last minute and he was happy to accommodate. He has a creative eye that most don't have and that's what makes his work different from all the rest. Affordable and easy to work with. Would definitely recommend! -
![Gabriela]()
Gabriela Z. Sent on 03/04/2019Up for adventure! Perfect balance of art and casual shots.
Brian is passionate about what he does and really works to capture the personality of his subjects. He views photography as an art, not just a business. He took my senior pictures in high school, my engagement photos, and now my wedding photos--we keep coming back!
For our wedding, he drove across the country and even did some additional shooting in Joshua Tree Park the day after the wedding. He strikes a great balance between fun, artsy shots and capturing the small details that make up the memories of your wedding day.
I'm sure we'll hire him any time we want portraits over the coming years. -
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User2854160 Sent on 11/07/2016Brian does AMAZING work and makes it so much fun! My husband and I recently celebrated our three year wedding anniversary and are still SO THANKFUL for all of the special moments Brian has captured for us, from the fun weekend in Chicago for our engagement pictures until the VERY end of our reception (He actually stayed until well after the band was finished playing!!!) We opted out of hiring a videographer and have NO regrets because Brian documented our day beautifully and captured every single little detail and moment. It's been a pleasure to continue getting to know Brian and we always enjoy seeing him occasionally around town or photographing other weddings we've attended. I definitely look forward to working with him in the future for all of our special moments as our family and love grows.
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