Introducing: My Rebrand!
Why I Rebranded as a Film Wedding Photographer in Connecticut
(And What It Means for You)
I rebranded! My style hasn’t changed, but the way I’m presenting myself has.
In 2023, I left my 9-5 job and went fully freelance. I started my own business, but I was coping with a sense of loss of self. When I worked traditional jobs as a disabled person, I was often viewed as an inconvenience for needing accommodations. I tried to hide my disabilities and the fact that I moved differently through the world than others did, for fear of repercussions. I had experienced discrimination at quite literally every single job; but I tried to keep quiet and do my work to the best of my abilities regardless.
While I had had great success with proven results in every job I’d had, when I needed accommodations, people's perception of me seemed to change. I was no longer seen as a successful, dedicated employee anymore. I was seen as an inconvenience or a liability. I had been told I didn’t look like I had disabilities. I had been told that I had to stop working until they learned more about my conditions. This discrimination crushed my spirit and made me question my worth; not just as an employee, but as a person. I knew these things weren’t true, but it was hard to shake off years of mistreatment.
Old branding annoucement in 2023
Old business cards from 2023
Designing from this mindset in 2023, I finally embraced parts of me that I had hidden for a long time. I wrote, “Although it feels weird, highly uncomfortable, and extremely embarrassing to be honest on social media, I’m doing so in hopes that others can feel more comfortable being themselves too. My design acknowledges that I’ve always tried to fit into a box. Over the years, I’ve called myself a photographer, photojournalist, writer, graphic designer, UX & product designer, social media manager, artist, etc., but none of those titles alone fully embody the creativity I am constantly trying to express in new ways. I’m a creative person with disabilities and a whole lot to offer. My initials bleed out of the box because I don’t fit into one, and I’m excited to be able to share that with others who feel the same way. The fonts I chose feel very me. Creative, feminine, bold, curvy, unique, kinda floral, retro, and honestly, maybe a bit hard to read, just like me 😏”
These things all still hold true and I still love my old brand, but now I’m designing from a place of comfort of who I am, and confidence in what I want my future to look like. I’ll take you back a little to explain.
When I finished my undergraduate degree in Photojournalism back in 2014, I moved back home to CT from Boston, and started freelancing as a photographer for local newspapers, began wedding photography, and continued shooting a lot of concerts, creative portraits, and newborn photography. Being that I was only 21 though, with a decent amount of student debt, I wanted a steady income. I also had other creative interests that I wanted to explore, so I dove into the world of Interactive Media and embarked on a path to earn my Master of Science degree at Quinnipiac University, majoring in Interactive Media and Communications with a concentration in User Experience Design. I fell in love with UX immediately, as it gave me an outlet to channel my creative abilities and pair them with my analytical thinking, as well as the perspective on how I could design with accessibility in mind. This path led me to learning several new skills along with UX and communications, including graphic design, marketing, copywriting, etc.
Although I was so excited to learn more and embrace new forms of art and design, I kind of felt that I had failed at photography; when in reality I was just a 21 year old who wanted a consistent paycheck and was not yet mature enough to endure the unrelenting stress of having your own business. Upon reflection, I’m glad my journey took it on the path it did, because through my masters degree and several corporate jobs, I gathered bits and pieces of the things I needed to become a successful business owner. Akin to a character collecting all the tokens needed in a video game to unlock a new level, I leveled up my business skills, my creative skills, and now, I’ve become the business owner I’ve always wanted to be, a skilled one with disabilities, who works with my body and honors my body’s needs, in order to deliver excellent creative services to my clients. I still wear all the hats. Being a disabled business owner means I’m a:
Photographer
Photo Editor
Artist
Graphic Designer
Content Creator
Web & UX Designer
Copywriter
Marketing Agent
Account Manager
Tech Support
Client Manager
Print Production Lead
Packaging, Shipment & Fulfillment Manager
Set Designer
Stylist
Communications Director
Writer
Inventory & Materials Manager
Motion Graphics Designer
Animator
Video Editor
Social Media Manager
Creative Director (although sometimes I ask for assistance with this one from my boyfriend Michael Vaspasiano, he’s incredible at it)
And still, disabled. Side note — I actually elaborate more on being a disabled business owner, and how I honor my disabilities in my work in one of my recent blog posts, Epilepsy Strikes Back. If you’re interested in learning more about the additional challenges that come with being a business owner when you have physical disabilities, click here to read more about the unseen labor of being a disabled business owner!
New branding heart ♡
The difference is, now I’m at a place in life where I’m very comfortable talking about my disabilities and being exactly who I am without trying to fit myself into a box for anyone, even myself. My old brand looked very different; more graphic, bolder, more exploratory. It reflected how multifaceted I am, and while I am still a multi-passionate creative, I believe my previous branding was trying to explain me instead of feeling like me.
Outside of this box that I originally designed, I’m also quite a romantic. While I’m still doing art and design, I’m focusing (no pun intended) on my original love, photography. Being disabled is hard, but you know what makes me happy? Love, and art. I love love, and I love capturing it on film. Photographing weddings, elopements, engagements, and couples sharing their love together feels extremely fulfilling to me and I wanted to capture the nostalgic feeling it gives me through my rebrand.
Film vs digital images and why I shoot film — read the article!
I recently wrote an article about why I shoot film, where I talk about visual snow syndrome, and how I see the world with what looks like a layer of film grain all the time (read Why I Shoot Film: Visual Snow Syndrome From a Film Photographer's Perspective here). The world through my eyes is extremely textured, grainy, kind of muted like an old memory, and filled with imperfections. I wanted that to translate into my branding.
My old brand was colorful, expressive, and full of personality, but it didn’t yet reflect the kind of work I’m most drawn to creating, especially in this chapter of my life. Over time, my work has naturally shifted and I’ve leaned deeper into film photography. I used to capture weddings on digital only, but now, fully embracing all my imperfections, film has become the best medium to share my vision (again, no pun intended, but boy do these write themselves). I love capturing love in its purest form and creating images that feel like your memories, as they were.
I approach photography through the lens of an artist who studied photojournalism, combining my love for capturing candid moments with an artistic twist, creating images that feel both cinematic and genuine. I realized my brand needed to shift with that. If you want photos that truly reflect the energy between you and your loved one, all while evoking feelings of passion, playfulness, and romance, I’d absolutely love to connect!
This is exactly what I tried to embody through my rebrand. My new branding is still creative, still feminine, still a little retro, but now it leans fully into romance. Not just in the obvious sense of weddings, but in the feeling of it all: nostalgia, softness, intimacy, warmth, memory. Less about trying to show everything I can do, and more about honing in on what I love most.
While I still do art and design, currently, the majority of the work I’m taking on is film wedding and elopement photography in Connecticut, New England & beyond. Specializing in 35mm & 120 film, I capture engagements, elopements & micro-weddings with a nostalgic, documentary style. From Connecticut weddings to destination celebrations, I create authentic, timeless film images that feel like beautiful memories. Learn more about my wedding packages here!
As both a Connecticut wedding photographer and a destination photographer, I’m drawn to settings that feel cinematic, nostalgic, and timeless — city halls and courthouses; retro hotels, historic inns, art-deco spaces, and vintage motels; art museums, libraries, greenhouses, and natural landscapes.
Another version of my vintage logo heart ♡
If this resonates with you—if you’re looking for a film wedding photographer who values emotion, storytelling, and images that feel like real memories, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement, a micro-wedding, or something a little unconventional, I’m always drawn to people who care more about how their day feels than how it looks on paper.
This rebrand is me, refining me! Nothing will change for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about film wedding photography and the differences between digital vs. film wedding photography, check out my new resource, Why Film Wedding Photography Looks Timeless & Is Film or Digital Right for You.
Hope to work together soon, and thanks for coming along for the ride! ♡
— Bri
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Hi there! I am an artist & writer with disabilities, and I have been running this Disability & Art Blog unpaid for the past year — sharing personal stories, research, and resources to help others feel seen, informed, and empowered. While I love what I do, I also believe disabled people deserve to be compensated for their time, labor, and expertise. I’m currently crowdfunding to turn this into a sustainable, paid job — one that lets me focus on independent disability journalism, educational content, and artwork that speaks to the real lived experience of being disabled in America.
Help me keep the blog going and expand it into audio & video podcast formats to make it more accessible, engaging, and inclusive. With your help, I can write investigative articles, interview experts, and launch my podcast, Thank You So Much for Asking. Every contribution is meaningful and thoroughly appreciated. Thank you so much for your support! — Sincerely, Briana Raucci
A thank you to my supporters
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my GoFundMe campaign thus far! Your support truly means the world to me. I deeply appreciate that you see the value in this work and that you believe disabled voices, independent journalism, and accessible storytelling are worth funding.
Because of your generosity, I was able to make time to participate in this podcast and write this blog post. That may sound small, but for those of us juggling disability, advocacy, and creative work with limited resources, it’s everything. All the thanks to: Mike & Julia Oriente, Dorothy Vaspasiano, Michael J. Harkey, James Miller, James Mcgee, Vicki Gelpke, Larry Gobel, Wendy Naratil, Taylor Macioci, Judy Petrillo, Stacey DeMartino, Jordyn DeMartino, Maddy Ullman, Joy Panigada, Judith Wilcox, and Lauren Raucci for making this possible!
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