Today we’d like to introduce you to Hope Bray.
Hi Hope, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve loved taking photos for as long as I can remember. One of my favorite things to do after summer camp was to print out all the pictures I took and put them into an album so I could relive the memories. My dad is a cardiologist, but his favorite hobby has always been photography, and when I was in high school, he bought me my first SLR camera. I honestly had no idea how to use it beyond the auto setting, but I loved it anyway.
Years later, while studying abroad in Florence, Italy, I took a photography class and finally learned how to shoot in manual and understand the technical side. After having my second child, I hired a family photographer who also taught photography classes. I decided to take one of her classes as a refresher, and after that, I was completely hooked. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a photographer myself. It felt like the perfect way to do something I’ve always loved—and actually make a living from it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my biggest obstacles in becoming a photographer was starting my business as a young mom. Balancing motherhood while trying to grow something from the ground up wasn’t easy. I also didn’t have any formal training, so I really struggled with self-doubt in the beginning. But even through those challenges, I’ve always felt that God gave me a strong creative and artistic ability—something I’m deeply thankful for. Over time, I began to trust that gift more and more, and I saw it come to life through my photography. I truly believe He gave me this passion and talent for a reason, and that belief has carried me through. Those early struggles helped shape me into the confident, capable photographer I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I’m most proud of in my photography is how my images capture emotion and let you see real life being lived. When I first started, I focused on weddings and families, but over time I discovered my love for natural light photography and now specialize in branding, seniors, and families. My favorite photos are always the candid ones—the unposed, in-between moments when people aren’t looking at the camera. Those are the shots that tell a story and make you feel like you were right there. I just really enjoy capturing people in a way that feels natural and gives you an idea of who they are.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising about me is that I’ve lived in four different countries. One of my favorite unexpected moments happened while I was living in New Zealand—I was walking through a small shop near the waterway and spotted one of my photographs on a greeting card. I had sold the rights to that photo to a company, but I had no idea it would travel that far. I was so surprised to see it that I immediately turned it over to check the back—and sure enough, there was my name. It was such a surreal and proud moment to see my work out in the world like that, and reminded me just how far a single image can go.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hopebrayphotography
- Facebook: Hope Bray Photography
