We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Moningka recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you to move beyond an idea and actually launch?

The cliché thing to say here is I always seek to know the why before the who, what, and where. I’ve been wrestling with this lately. Knowing the why is of utmost importance in spaces I occupy. But sometimes one can’t know the why without knowing the who. Especially if a project or photoshoot involves more than one who. In that case the why is not only personal but a collective why.

I recently read a quote from the former Creative Director of Céline, Phoebe Philo who said, “I don’t feel that there’s a huge amount of storytelling that needs to be done, I’m not particularly into that.” She goes on to say, “I do appreciate a level of straightforwardness.” In light of Philo’s words, sometimes the why follows the what. I straddle a fence between straightforward and story driven visuals.

Going from idea to execution for me must be very organic. I’m a Sagitarius so the way I move from idea to execution totally fits. What I mean is, there must be a level of spontaneity, collaboration, and ease. I don’t tell people this on shoots. These are not things I’ve written down. I just happened to notice them. One time I was on a photoshoot for Playboy’s clothing line. Apparently Playboy clothing is big in China. One of the models said, “This is the most organic photoshoot I’ve ever been on.” That was the first time I realized it.

There must be a level of spontaneity because to me art is alive. It moves, adapts, and maneuvers through the situations it finds itself in. We may have a location decided upon but often the best locations are the ones we stumble upon. Sometimes the best photos are not on the mood board. I love when the universe surprises us with gifts we didn’t expect. There must be a level of collaboration because the highest wavelengths are collective. It’s more than just involving more than one set of eyes. It involves more than one set of creative perspectives, passions, and experiences. And sometimes the best ideas come from those you least expect.

Lastly, there must be a level of ease otherwise the fun is taken out of it. I’m a serious person so this one took a while to accept. A producer for a really cool brand once told me, “They’re just t-shirts man.” It was a reminder that yes, we have expectations and deadlines to meet. But at the end of the day there are more important things in this world to worry about. There’s war, environmental, and equality issues happening all over. So when I get stuck on a problem during a photoshoot, I move on and move on quickly.

Brandon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At this point I would call myself an editorial and fashion photographer. But I wasn’t always working in these fields. The first iteration of my career was in Theology. I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies in 2015. Fast forward to 2020. That was the year I got to photograph Olivia Rodrigo for a respected fashion magazine called Schön. Olivia was mainly known for her work on the Disney show High School Musical. A month after I photographed her, Driver’s License dropped. I remember being asked by her publicist if they could use my photos as promo for her single. Olivia would go on to become a bona fide star.

I wish I could say I also went on to become a star but something even better happened. I got a call from an up and coming fashion brand out of LA. It was a test run for both of us. A two hour photo shoot. Four years later, we’re still working together. I consider them family at this point. The same could be said of a few other brands. I’ve learned that business is more than business. It’s about learning each other’s stories, building trust, and upholding the utmost mutual respect. I know that sounds idealistic but it’s true.

In addition to my work in fashion, my photos have been published in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and W Mag among others. Editorial is where I have the most fun. There’s more freedom when it comes to angles, wardrobe, location, and props. That’s not to say there’s no fun in working with brands. Some of my favorite photo shoots were for brands. I think we live in a time where brand work feels editorial. I believe I’ve found a balance between making images that highlight the product while adding editorial flavor. At the end of the day, for a business, the photos have to emphasize the product.

That being said, there’s a time and place where art is done for art’s sake. Art for art’s sake is sacred. It’s personal as well as communal. As stewards of art we’re responsible for carving out those spaces whether it be internally or externally, in our hearts or in a corner of our home. That space and the art that comes out of it must inform the art we do to earn a living. Everyone seeks inspiration and something to give them purpose. This month I’m participating in a group art show and photo exhibit. The photo I chose has never been published or printed. It’s one I’m excited to share in person and will only be available at the All Eyes Gallery in San Bernardino, California.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The other night I was at a photo exhibit for Bobby Hundreds. It was his first. As you can imagine, plenty of people were there. At one point I found myself in a conversation with The Hundreds Creative Director and a couple other people. He introduced me to two other individuals with some affirming words. Without realizing it, I deflected the compliment. Immediately one person said, “Don’t downplay yourself,” as a teacher would to her young students. “Don’t do that.”

A week later I attended another event. My cousins were performing some cover songs. The room was packed with new and familiar faces. It was a diverse group of creatives and working professionals. I found myself in a conversation with a friend I hadn’t seen in four years. He immediately affirmed the work I’d been doing lately. Again, my response was to downplay and deflect his positive affirmations. “What are you talking about right now?” he said. The tone in his voice resembled the voice I’d heard just a week before. The universe was telling me something. “You’re catching me off guard right now,” he said. From his point of view there was no need for fake humbleness.

The lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that being authentic doesn’t require me to deflect affirmation. Deflecting affirmation undermines people’s freedom to express their views. It also robs me of embracing the path I’ve chosen to take and the progress I’ve made. I recently read an interview with Arthur Jafa in the Los Angeles Times. In one response Jafa said, “It’s no longer possible for me to uphold this sort of neurotic mechanism I have.” He was reflecting on a time when someone told him how humble he was. “It no longer can supersede objective reality,” he said. “Sometimes I ask, did I sleep through my moment?”

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

When we think of the term creative we think of work outside of other fields such as business, health care, or law for instance. But being creative permeates every single thing we do. Noah Purifoy, artist and co-founder of the Watts Towers Art Center said, “One does not have to be a visual artist to utilize creative potential.” He continues, “Creativity can be an act of living, a way of life, and a formula for doing the right thing.” Just as an artist has to be creative, a parent like myself has to be creative when thinking of what to make for dinner. An aspiring fashion designer has to be creative with how they market their brand. A young entrepreneur has to be creative when working with limited resources. I think compartmentalizing “creators” as something outside traditional career paths denies the reality that we’re all creating something.

When I made the transition to become a photographer someone who practiced photography as a hobby said, “I would never do photography as a career because I don’t want to resent it.” My response to them was, “If you really love something you’ll risk resenting it.” I believe that’s true of anything. And just because we risk resenting something doesn’t mean we will. I’ve yet to resent what I do. I’ve allowed myself the space to feel whatever emotions arise then let them pass. Resentment is when we hold onto those emotions. Running them over and over again in our heads to affirm why we think we should be somewhere else doing something else. My love for what I do has only gotten deeper. It’s taught me more about myself than I could ever learn if I were to pursue a traditional path.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brandonmoningka.com
• Instagram: @kaipo81
• Linkedin: Brandon (Kaipo) Moningka
• Twitter: @BrandonKaipo

Image Credits
#2: Models: Londyn Harris-Elzein, Blake Nunn Photo: Brandon Moningka Creative Direction: David Rivera Production: Gabriel Medina Wardrobe: Mars #3 Talent: Kevin Alejandro Photo: Brandon Moningka Wardrobe: Jill Vincent Grooming: Nil Muir Photo Assist: Alexi Negrete Special Thanks: Leslie Alejandro #4 Models: Rata, Evan Terry Photo: Brandon Moningka Production: Kam Casey Creative Direction: Alec Wiens Photo Assist: Sala Johnson #5 Model: Sydney Wiley Photo: Brandon Moningka Wardrobe: Patty Cruz #6 Models: The Bailey Twins Photo: Brandon Moningka Wardrobe: Keyla Marquez #7 Models: Brighton Reinhardt, Greta Brooks, Kealani Amari Photo: Brandon Moningka Photo Assist: Jeremy Tullo Wardrobe: Jill Vincent Wardrobe Assist: Cindy Nguyen Hair & Make Up: Heather-Rae Bang HMU Assist: Jesica Southard Production: Jillian Newman, Devon Belter, Azzurra Catucci, Yasmin Coutinho PA: Nathan Ziebell #8 Models: Quiana Reeves, Justin Mascorro Photo: Brandon Moningka Creative Direction: Alec Wiens Wardrobe: Erin Zhang Production: Kam Casey #9 Model: Eliseo Equihua Photo: Brandon Moningka Wardrobe: Javier Aguiluz #10 Models: Sabrina Victoria, Tripp Photo: Brandon Moningka Wardrobe: Erin Zhang Wardrobe Assist: Chuck Page Make Up: Claire Brooke Creative Direction: Alec Weins Production: Kam Casey