Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Larson

Hi Brett, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I got interested in photography about 13 or 14 years ago on my first backpacking trip to Colorado. I grew up in the flat midwest so I was blown away by the mountains. Spending 4 days deep in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park left me with a sense of awe for the natural and rugged beauty of the mountains. After our trip we came across a local photographer’s gallery and I was amazed by the photos. I had never seen landscape photos like that before and knew right then that was something I wanted to pursue. I’ve always had an interest in creative things (music, drawing, designing, building, etc) so photography was a natural fit. Shortly after that trip my wife and I moved out to Colorado and we spent as much time as we could hiking, skiing, camping, and enjoying the beautiful scenery. I got my first camera shortly after moving (a Canon 20D for you camera enthusiasts). I started learning the basics of landscape photography; composition, camera settings, photo editing, and how to use the natural light. I took a lot of bad photos but had enough that I thought were decent that it kept me going and pursuing things. About 9 years ago we moved to Montana, had our first child and I became a stay at home dad. Photography was still a hobby but I was starting to see it more as a potential career than a hobby. Raising a little one and remodeling a house didn’t leave me with a whole lot of free time but I continued to learn as much as I could about photography. My photos were slowly improving, but landscape photography is a difficult field that takes a lot of practice, patience, and a little bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time. Now that both my kids are in school I’ve been able to pursue photography more seriously and branch into other genres. Landscape photography is still by far my main focus but I’ve added real estate, drone photography, commercial/business work, and the occasional portrait to help supplement income from selling landscape prints.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

My biggest obstacle has definitely been the limits I put on myself. I think artists tend to be especially critical of themselves and I am definitely a harsh critic of my own work. I’ve been afraid to put myself out there; afraid my work won’t measure up to others and afraid people won’t like my photos. Also for the longest time I don’t think I really saw photography as a legitimate career option. In my mind there were only a few ways to make money doing photography. Either you do landscape photography (hard to earn a living doing), family portraits (not really my thing), or high end commercial work (done by professional photographers with years of experience, a private studio, and massive budgets). But as I’ve pursued photography more I’ve realized there are so many more facets of photography to explore. Social media has really changed the commercial game. It has massively increased demand for business and brands needing quality photos for their website, Instagram/Facebook, and advertising. I focused in the beginning only on landscape photography but the more I branch out the more I realize that I just enjoy creating great photos. I feel just as satisfied creating images that help sell someone’s home or help promote someone’s business or product as I do capturing a spectacular sunset over a remote mountain lake. Landscape photography will always be my passion but I’ve learned by branching into other areas I can actually make a living doing photography. It sure beats any other job I’ve had!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

My primary interest is in landscape photography. I sell photos at art shows, online, and in local galleries and businesses. My prints range from greeting cards and postcards all the way up to large multi-panel prints that can measure up to 8 feet across. I’ve recently started stretching and framing my own canvas prints as a way to increase the quality of my prints while also cutting my costs significantly. I frame my prints using quality hardwoods as well as locally sourced reclaimed barn wood, which has been immensely popular. It’s allowed me to use my carpentry experience and tools along with my photography to help add more value to my prints.

I also take real estate photos and produce videos for local realtors. I live in an area that is very rural but sees a large tourist and summer vacation crowd, so the real estate market is always busy and there are plenty of higher-end homes that need good photos to help sell them. Again, there was a bit of a learning curve. Being a real estate photographer requires efficiency both in taking photos and post-processing in order to make a profit, but I found a lot of my skills and equipment used in landscape photography carried over and helped me to learn quickly.

Business and product photos are my newest venture and I’m still pretty green at them. I’ve enjoyed helping local business to sell themselves and their products and has also resulted in learning new skills and ways to use my camera.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?

My family comes first and foremost. I have two kids and my wife works long hours so photography has been a great fit for me. It gives me a creative outlet and allows me to feel fulfilled while still remaining flexible to adapt to our family’s chaotic schedule. Photo shoots are often done in the evening when the light is best and I can process photos at home during the day even if the kids are home. Quality is a close second to family and I strive to produce the highest quality photos for every job I am hired for no matter how much I am getting paid. My quality and reputation are very important to me so I won’t put any photos out that I feel reflect poorly on myself or my “brand”. I am always learning, always looking for ways to improve, and always trying to perfect my craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brettlarsonphotography.com
• Instagram: @brettlarsonphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettlarsonphotography

Image Credits

Brett Larson Photography