Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Quiana Brundidge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Quiana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
If I was starting over I wouldn’t procrastinate as much. In the beginning of me doing photography I was so afraid to fail and instead of pushing myself to work through that doubt, I wasted a year on something that I now love to do. So my advice is to push yourself no matter what. Try it out anyway you might love it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello, My name is Quiana and I’m a photographer. For as long as I can remember I was always creative, I was the one to always take videos and photos of my friends. I was always the one to keep memories. About 3 years ago I went to Specs Howard School Of Media Arts, but I majored in video. It wasn’t until I got invited to help out on a photoshoot with my best friend’s uncle, Wes. I saw how he put a photoshoot concept together and how he worked and instantly fell in love with photography. I went on more shoots with him and learned along the way, just by watching him work. He gradually let me set up lighting, set other equipment up, and let me take some shots. So, after a year with shadowing Wes, I decided to invest in my own camera. I got my first camera on July 11, 2019. In the beginning, I procrastinated a lot because I was afraid to fail, but from the endless support, I got from loved ones I put fear to the side and went to work. When I first started shooting, I had one light and was shooting in my basement. I asked friends to be models for me so I can practice lighting, trying to teach them how to pose, teaching myself to edit, etc. But in that little time, I got better with every shoot I did. That’s because I had so much support! My first model was Mikayla Calese, someone who is striving in her career as a model. She helped me put my name out there, and challenged me to be better at my craft. Photography for me is my dream, and I love how you can tell a story with just an image. I love that you can make it your own.
What I think sets me apart from others is how I go about my shoots. Meaning how I plan them out and how I execute exactly what I planned out. What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if this was something I would be good at, and for so long I procrastinated. But I put that aside and worked hard and now I have a name for myself and I’m continuing to grow as a creative. Disciplining yourself can be a challenge, but what helped me the most is the support I got from my loved ones.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me the most rewarding thing is seeing my clients happy. Knowing that I made their vision come to life, always makes me so happy and appreciative. With any project I do I’m always still nervous to take the photos but I let that nervousness motivate me into executing the concept. Another rewarding thing is some models or people in general would message me and tell me how much they love my work. Sometimes it’s still a shock because I never realize how many people have access to my art. But it’s an amazing feeling knowing that someone loves your work.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
When I first started posting my work I only had a few followers, about 20. But what helped me grow was staying consistent with my post, constantly learning, and perfecting my craft. People on social media love to see your growth, so don’t ever archive or delete anything you posted from the beginning it shows your audience how far you’ve come. People want to see your starting point and know that they supported you through your whole journey.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
First photo is @serenadingman Second photo is @s.niyahh Third photo @ribkarma Fourth photo @makaylasmith03 Fifth photo is @redrobynxo Makeup credit is @a_blossomed_you @kmbcosmetics All on Instagram