We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brandon Gorrie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brandon below.

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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?

Starting from scratch today, I’d begin focusing more on finding what others value in hiring a photographer and creative director instead of spending that much more time on perfecting my craft. Waiting to serve businesses and clients for the sake of reaching a superfluous level of skill is an opportunity cost that I was unaware of when I started.

I held the belief that I needed to overcome my own perfectionism before I could begin marketing and networking, looking for clients and offering my services to brands and individuals. There are situations where you should believe yourself instead of others, and looking back, I wish I had put myself out there more so that others could tell me I wasn’t good enough instead of letting myself believe that I wasn’t good enough for much longer than was realistic.

Unless you are revolutionizing a marketable skill, let your market guide your business instead of the other way around.

Brandon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My photography business grew out of a passion for the craft. I like building photos that inspire a dramatic mood and feeling akin to the feeling we get when we watch a very impressive movie, only more ephemeral- fleeting. I started photography to satisfy that mood and feeling in myself, and I have since grown to build a business model around providing such images for brands and individuals alike.

I believe I stand out from my peers and “competition” because I have developed the habit of creative directing all my projects. My photographic work demands a lot of attention on external factors such as location, model demeanor, colors (or lack thereof) and composition. I stand out because I don’t shoot something unless each one of these factors has been considered and laid to rest. I scout all my locations and I will not shoot somewhere if I haven’t gone with my camera beforehand and lined up the shots I wanted. I thought every photographer did this naturally, and when I discovered that few photographers I talk to ever go to such lengths to execute a shoot, I began feeling like a control freak.

I have since grown to turn my excessive need for control into an asset for service. Many brands don’t have the budget, yet, for a creative director or a creative department, stretched thin trying to keep their business growing. That’s where I come in. Like a third-party creative department, I offer brands comprehensive creative direction from top to bottom on their projects. I handle the full logistical framework for their shoot starting with creative conception, then talent acquisition and organization, and finally the photographic execution. This means that businesses only need one point of contact, me. This, in turn, gives business owners or in-house creative directors more bandwidth to worry about their internals and know that there is a day on their calendar when they will have marketable assets for their campaign, collection, season, you name it.

I’m good at this because I have been doing it for myself for years out of pure passion. Who knew it would come to be a marketable strong suit?

Nevertheless, my creative side has never been without its overbearing demands on my logistical side, and that has humbled me greatly regarding the business aspect of photography. Creativity knows no discipline and ultimately, I had to learn the discipline of business. People may like your work and find your methods impressive, but at the end of the day they will pay for convenience and reliability. In order to provide convenience and reliability to a client, there is a hustle and discipline that goes into every day to make sure you exceed expectations.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for me in building my clientele was to make connections in the places where my work would be appreciated, not because it is artistic photography, but because people want my interpretation for their brand. My work is dark and cool-toned generally speaking. I’m not going to walk into the Kate Spade Mimosa hour and expect to walk away with leads for the Spring Collection. If anything, I have been in those similar situations and I’ll be contacted for personal nude work in my style, and that’s about it.

1. Go where you are valued.
2. Go where you are valued and people can pay.

There is nothing wrong with doing TFP work for an organization you like, or to build your portfolio to make it more well-rounded. Just don’t make that your modus operandi

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Treat your clients like friends. Often times they will become friends. Your brand entity gets you to the first job, your relationship get’s you every job afterwards. Meet them for events, ask them how they’re doing. Don’t be afraid to refer them to other business should you not be available for their needs at certain times.

Know that people are busy and life is crowded and don’t take things personally when you are ignored or not met with reciprocity. One last thing, be concise with your communication and make sure that everything pertinent is stated in a timely manner. This comes down to respecting others and their time as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brandongorrie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandongorrie/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@candyman975

Image Credits
Teo Modesto Bella Stoll Ilisa Layne Peyton Gisel Ebony Tatum Jai Mercury