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

Hi Brandon, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I’d never really had much of an interest in photography until 2018, probably around my birthday that year. I’d take walks and see pretty scenes in nature and take photos on my phone for the fun of it. I mentioned wanting a camera to my girlfriend at the time, and she surprised me with one for Christmas – a Canon Rebel T6.

I’d originally meant to stick with nature and scenery, but about a year later, a friend sent me an ad to do a shoot with a person. I enjoyed it so I began to shift in that direction. I came up with Atelis Photography (“atelis” is an English transliteration of a Greek word meaning “imperfect/incomplete”) during the early days of COVID, and I spent a lot of my free time during the lockdown those days studying photography and editing. I’d sometimes edit photos 4-5 times just trying to learn new things each time. It started to take off when a friend asked me to shoot content for her around that May, and in October 2021, I quit my day job as a coder at a marketing company to focus on it. It was difficult at first, but turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

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?

It really just started with an enjoyment of the beauty of nature, and eventually shifted to a full-blown business and career path for me shooting photos for people and organizations. I’ll do nearly anything requested by a client, but my main focuses have been primarily boudoir and content for creators, and the club/nightlife industry. In May 2021, I started shooting promo photos of the bottle servers and bartenders at Aura Nightclub in Kansas City. It’s one of the most popular spots in the state, so not only getting to do it, but becoming well-known for it continues to be a huge honor for me even two years later.

I don’t do a ton of weddings, but I will shoot them from time to time. I also really enjoy doing products – if you’re selling your crafts or want great shots of the food your restaurant makes, I’d love to do them for you. I think what drives me is being able to help people through the lens of my camera. And yes, I know that was incredibly cheesy. That’s me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Whether I’m doing modeling photos, shooting at the club, weddings, or whatever else, the most important aspect of what I do is creating a safe and comfortable environment for all of my clients. It’s the first thing I stress when I consult with everyone – and especially when it comes to modeling and boudoir, I do my best to teach especially newer models good habits. Look for red flags. Take a friend. If something doesn’t feel right, seek out others that have worked with that photographer and ask about their experience. I hate to have to say this, but there are a lot of people in my line of work that do it for the wrong reasons, so I want to make sure people are always safe, both with me and anyone else they ever shoot with.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

That moment when I send photos back and the client has the reaction – they see themselves and get to feel powerful and confident. I live for that. It’s no secret that I’ve always been a people pleaser, but more than that, I just love being able to help others however I can.

One thing I hear a lot when a prospective client first approaches me about a shoot is that they want to feel beautiful again. Sadly, it’s often after the end of a bad relationship, but the positive there is I get the opportunity to help them regain their confidence through photos. Not to be cliche, but I think that’s a beautiful thing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelisphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atelisbr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/atelisphoto

Image Credits
I shot the photos myself. Clients/models include: Aura shots: Taylor Pascalar (blue posed photo) Polly Dillier (red and blue photo with green braids) Candace Elliott (colorful posed shot) Taylor Pascalar and Polly DIllier (bottle service shot) Karlie Brewer (graduation photo) Liz Lewis (boudoir photo) Lindsay Moll (standing on water) Downtown Kansas City (night shot) All are used with client permission.