We recently connected with Brandon Hanks and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I started my career due to my interest in documenting live music at concerts. I worked a show in Louisville for a band called Nothing More. They were just blowing up at the time, I didn’t even have my own camera yet. It was instant love at first snap.

I remember the drive home from Louisville to Owensboro and I was like “yep, this is what I want to do.” Naturally I became obsessed with concert photography and started to research the ins and outs and ups and downs of it all.

Eventually I was able to save up and buy a used canon 6D and some lenses (which I still have to this day) and began marketing myself like crazy. I wound up shooting for an online music publication and was able to gain access to more opportunities which would be my ticket to rubbing elbows with industry titans as well as their crews.

During all of this I began doing weddings and family sessions among other local styles of photography. Never looking to stop, I started to become a bit of an all around type of photographer which would set me apart from anyone else locally.

Eventually I would find myself working on a movie set for the first time. Eric Huskisson and PJ Starks would invite me to become their on set photographer for a film called ‘13 Slays Til Xmas’, which would lead to me working with them again on ‘New Fears Eve’.

Never did I imagine I would work on a film set let alone two of them! But it was incredible and revealed more of my creativity I didn’t know was there. I owe so much to those two for taking a chance on me being their unit stills photographer.

A short while ago I was even tapped to do photos for the University Of Kentucky. Which as a longtime Kentucky Basketball fan, was a crazy dream.

Without the support of many people including my wife of 12 years and two daughters, I wouldn’t be as motivated and have these wonderful opportunities to break barriers and industry standards of what a photographer is.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I may have already answered that as I tend to go into great detail about the many different things I am fortunate to do. I’m incredibly thankful for the support and many opportunities I get in photography. The best part about what I do is that there are no boundaries or barriers as to what I do. I have done so much in such a short time that it never is boring or stale.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe that working hard and capturing all the details and in between moments is everything. I pride myself on editing the product quickly and getting it back to the client in the fastest way possible.

Word of mouth is everything in what photographers do so I strive to always be professional and grateful for every moment I’m given.

Knowing that I do so many different styles and genres of photography it helps to be versatile so I’m not put in a box to where “well he is only this kind of photographer “. I really do, do it all.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have a ton of favorite artists that I listen to and work with. But I really wanted to work with this band Alter Bridge. I reached out to their manager and asked for advice one time and what he told me, stayed with me. He said “work hard, and bet on yourself. No one will do it for you. But if you’re as passionate as you say you are, you’ll get to the level where you can be working shows with these guys.” And he was right. I never stopped working on my craft and pushing myself to grow and I have now worked with that band 8 times and have a solid relationship with the manager who I consider not only a mentor but a friend.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackbirdimagesofficial.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbirdimagesofficial?igsh=N2dybGh1Y3EyanR2&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BU6gGGKgU/?mibextid=LQQJ4d