Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Gray.
Hi Briana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Born and raised in the Kansas City area, I’ve spent my entire life rooted in the Midwest. I’ve been married to my best friend, Phil, for nearly 20 years, and together we’re raising four children, ranging in age from 17 to 6.
For over 16 years, I worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing some of life’s most meaningful moments. In 2024, after sensing a clear nudge from God toward something different, I stepped away from wedding photography to pursue a new calling.
That transition led me into nonprofit work as the Executive Director of Solace Photography, an organization that provides compassionate photography free of charge to families facing the loss of a loved one. Alongside my colleague Laura Foote, we primarily serve families at Children’s Mercy Hospital, offering them a way to preserve sacred moments in the midst of grief.
Outside of that role, I work as a Christian life coach and am the co-host of “Echos of Impact” alongside Cherise Thompson. The podcast explores how God uses both the trials and triumphs of life to shape us and bring Him glory.
Lately, my own journey has been one of surrender—learning what it truly means to lay down control and follow God’s leading, even when it doesn’t make sense on paper. That process has included walking away from financial security to discover what it looks like to create lasting impact for His kingdom instead.
In this season, I’ve also found a deep sense of joy in simpler, steadier rhythms: cultivating deeper friendships, growing in a more intimate and personal relationship with God, and learning to slow down and appreciate nature. I’m soaking in these final years of having our older kids at home, finding SO much joy serving in our church community at Maywood Baptist Church in Independence, and saying yes to literally ANY adventure I can—near or far.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not—but it’s been worth it.
It took years to discern what God was asking of me and to take step-by-step actions to remove things that no longer belonged in my life. While it wasn’t hard to walk away from photography itself, it was very hard to walk away from the people we had come to love deeply.
We had clients who were with us from beginning to end—families we watched grow from photographing a young child to eventually documenting their wedding. We saw the lasting impact of those images, especially as families shared them after loss. It was always so much more than photography.
Starting something new, like our podcast, was intimidating, but God faithfully brought people alongside me at every step, and we’ve now been live for over two years.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
From a young age, I’ve been deeply curious about everything—people, stories, emotions, faith, and what’s happening beneath the surface of everyday life. While I can navigate small talk, I’m most known for going deep quickly. I’ve often joked that I must have “tell me your whole life story” written on my forehead, because whether it’s someone in a checkout line or a child’s teacher, people tend to open up to me with surprising ease.
I don’t say that to take credit for it. I truly believe it’s something God has gifted me with. At times, my inquisitive nature can catch people off guard—it can feel like I’m prying, when, in reality, I’m genuinely interested in who they are and what has shaped them. I also love learning and then translating what I discover into conversations that feel accessible and meaningful to others.
All of this has found a natural home in my podcast work. It allows me to move beyond surface-level conversation and get to the heart of what matters. We get to process life honestly, ask real questions, and continually point back to Jesus. It’s truly one of my favorite parts of each week.
In my work with Solace Photography, I’m also deeply aware of the sacred space I step into. I believe I have a gift for helping people feel at ease quickly, which is especially important in such sensitive and grief-filled environments. It’s an honor to enter those moments with families and offer them something lasting and meaningful in the midst of loss.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.solacephotography.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ERkibhv1M/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EchosofImpact
- Other: https://tr.ee/Az7hfLmd8d
