Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Richey.
Hi Brooke, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My photography journey started in high school at the Allen High School Freshman Center, where I was part of an after-school photography class. Growing up, I was a very quiet, awkward, and introverted kid—a bit of an outcast. I was really into anime and cosplay, and I often felt like I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. I cut my hair short, had piercings, and dressed emo as a form of rebellion against everything around me. I often felt like the world was against me for no particular reason, and photography became my creative outlet for all of that teenage angst. I still remember thinking it was funny that I was the only student in my class who already understood the basics of shooting and owned a real camera. Back then, I spent most of my free time photographing flowers, plants, and nature before eventually falling in love with architecture. Some of my favorite memories are driving into Dallas at night just to photograph the city skyline. It became my favorite way to end the day.
Even though I was often told that pursuing photography was a waste of time, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Around the age of 20, I decided to go all in. I applied to every photography-related job I could find, downloaded Facebook specifically to network, and sent friend requests to photographers all over the DFW area. That decision completely changed my life. I found an incredibly welcoming photography community filled with talented, creative people who encouraged me to keep learning and growing.
Around 2022, I had the opportunity to help manage Nova Photography Studio, which became a huge learning experience for me. I gained hands-on experience with client communication, scheduling sessions, organizing shoots, and learning studio equipment. I also learned how to coordinate with other photographers, manage bookings, and ensure sessions ran smoothly from start to finish. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of the business side of photography and helped me grow not just as an artist, but as a professional.
I immersed myself in workshops and networking events where we photographed professional models and luxury cars at incredible locations around Texas. I naturally gravitated toward off-camera flash and beauty and fashion photography. More importantly, I began gaining confidence for the first time in my life. I had finally found something I was truly good at. Over time, I went from attending workshops to eventually hosting my own, sharing what I had learned with others and helping photographers grow in their own journeys.
In early 2025, I had the opportunity to lead a small team at Blue Bird Portraits. It wasn’t something I ever imagined myself doing, but it taught me that I could lead and manage a team while handling photography sessions. Although the studio eventually closed, that experience ended up being the push I needed to pursue freelance photography full-time.
Today, I photograph a little bit of everything—from weddings and portraits to cosplay, fashion, and creative editorial work—and I genuinely love the variety. Along the way, many people in the photography community encouraged me to step in front of the camera myself. I had never considered serious modeling because I didn’t see myself as particularly beautiful or unique, but after enough encouragement, I decided to give it a try. Modeling transformed my confidence just as much as photography had. I learned how to pose, style myself, do my makeup, and express my creativity in entirely new ways. Looking back, it’s almost hard to recognize the person I was before finding this community.
Photography didn’t just become my career—it completely changed my life. It introduced me to lifelong friends, gave me confidence I never knew I had, and allowed me to build a creative life that genuinely fulfills me. Today, I can honestly say I’m the happiest and most confident version of myself, and I owe so much of that to the incredible people in the photography community who believed in me long before I believed in myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most creative careers, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been finding consistency in work. There were times when I was making great money and felt confident in my decision, and other times when things slowed down and I questioned everything—even wondering if I should have stayed at PetSmart instead of pursuing photography full-time. It took time, persistence, and a lot of trial and error to build something stable, but today I can confidently say that photography pays my bills.
More recently, the rise of AI in photography has introduced a new challenge. I’ve noticed a decline in certain types of work, especially headshots, as more people turn to AI-generated images—even with my competitive pricing. It’s definitely been a bump in the road, but it’s also pushed me to continue evolving, focusing on the human connection, creativity, and experience that can’t be replicated.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the things I love most about photography is that my specialty is always evolving. I’ve never wanted to limit myself to one niche because every new challenge teaches me something different. Throughout my career I’ve photographed weddings, portraits, fashion, beauty, commercial work, events, products, real estate, and creative editorials. Whatever project comes my way, I enjoy figuring out how to create the best possible images for it.
If there’s one area I’m probably best known for today, it’s convention and cosplay photography. Being part of the cosplay community has been incredibly rewarding, both creatively and professionally. Convention weekends have become some of the busiest and most exciting parts of my year, and I typically photograph enough clients to generate anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per event. More importantly, cosplay gives me the artistic freedom to create cinematic images that blur the line between photography and storytelling. Every costume represents months of work and passion from the cosplayer, and I love creating photographs that do justice to all the effort they’ve put into their craft.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single photo or accomplishment—it’s the confidence I’ve built through this career and the relationships I’ve made along the way. Photography has given me opportunities I never imagined, from leading a team of photographers to hosting workshops and eventually stepping in front of the camera as a model myself. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to grow alongside the community that first welcomed me.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely care about the experience just as much as the final images. Whether someone has never been in front of a camera before or they’re an experienced model, my goal is to make them feel comfortable, confident, and excited throughout the shoot. I know what it’s like to struggle with confidence, so creating an environment where people feel seen and proud of themselves is just as important to me as taking beautiful photographs.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
That’s a difficult question because, honestly, I had a wonderful childhood despite a few struggles along the way. I have so many happy memories, and people often tell me I’m still very childlike today. I actually take that as a compliment. I think staying connected to your inner child is one of the best ways to stay happy and continue seeing the world with curiosity.
If I had to choose one memory, it would be something that, looking back, feels like the beginning of my photography journey—even before I owned a camera. Whenever I saw something beautiful, whether it was a sunset, an interesting building, or a landscape, I would hold up my hands, make a rectangle with my thumbs and index fingers like a camera viewfinder, close one eye, and say, “Click.” It was my way of taking a mental photograph so I could remember that moment forever.
I didn’t realize it then, but I think I was already training myself to notice beauty in everyday life. Even today, that’s still my favorite part of photography—finding those little moments that make someone stop and appreciate the world a little differently.
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