We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Reed a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

It was November of 2016, I was interning with a radio station at the time. One of the co-host from that station was a former photographer and she had inside favor with other brands looking for videographers. She connected me with a brand , that promoted a healthy non smoking fun lifestyle for the teens. They hosted a hiphop concert at the Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta. Some well known and unknown artists were performing that night. Crazy how my first video gig was to create a recap of this event. I still have that footage to this day. I remember leaving the venue that night thinking this was the start to something great.

Crazy thing is , I still have this clip I created on snapchat the night before the concert talking about how i was starting my creative journey . Its one of those must keep moments to remind me have far I’ve come since that period.

In early 2017, I had my first paid photoshoot. I was extremely nervous before the shoot, I kept checking youtube every 30 seconds trying to remember my camera settings. After getting home and checking out the images on the computer, You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t the best in the city! (haha) . It was a simple graduation shoot at Georgia State University . I only made $75 but in the grand scheme of things, that gave me the confidence boost needed to continue my journey as a photographer.

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 name is Brandon Reed. I consider myself to be a talented videographer and portrait photographer. My niche lies within event recaps, such as (graduations, sporting events, celebrations, weddings, engagements) On a more creative side, I also do concept shoots with aspiring models and now focusing more on corporate/artistic styled branding.

I started my creative journey in 2016. I am an former college basketball and professional player. Once i finished playing basketball I started my work journey with Amazon. After about 8 months I was let go without a real reason why. It was then I decided to create my own path and start up a business. Mid 2017 is when I created the name ReedBehindTheLens. I wanted something to have my name in it while also showcasing my abilities with the camera without boxing me into one lane. Behind The Lens can pertain to taking photos or filming.

To this day, my ability to keep moving forward with my journey is what I’m most proud of. I don’t think most people realize how expensive and time consuming it is to be a photographer/videographer. If you were to randomly call me to see what I was up to, I would more than likely be studying , learning or already talking to my brother about camera gear, lighting , posing etc. I enjoy learning the ins and out of this business. This is definitely a passion of mine!

In this service industry , the greatest positive you can have is being understanding. Everyone that inquires about your services don’t always understand all that goes into a photoshoot or a video session. Being able to help clients understand pricing and what all goes into the pricing will go a long way in assisting them with making a decision.

For me , I take everything in stride and handle it with a professional like manner. I send professional invoices and contracts , also follower up with the client to make sure there is no confusion before the shoot. I am also a playlist expert so every shoot has its own playlist to match the vibe of the client. Although I take this seriously, during the shoot I make sure I am relaxed enough to help my clients relax and feel more comfortable.

When I look at my work over the years, I see myself growing from a creative standpoint while also expanding my expectations to be better than I was the year before .

You should want to work with me. I am that confident in what I bring to table and what I can provide for you. If you ever speak to my previous clients, hopefully they will tell you how professional I am and how clean the final images/ visuals come out.

2022 makes a total of six years for me in this line of work. I want to continue to grow and expand my network and net worth. I am huge on personal relationships so even after we work, you wont be a stranger to be. I will always check up with you to see how life is going for you. Don’t hesitate to book me for your next event or studio shoot.

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

The most rewarding aspect for me has to be seeing the enjoyment of the clients when they are able to view the final images from a shoot or visual from an event. Being able to bring the vision to life and have them sign off on the creativity is a great feeling.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I would want non-creatives to understand that being a creative isn’t easy. its very time consuming . We are sensitive about our creations because we put so much time and effort into it. Its not cheap being a creative either. For instance a mid level camera will run you two grand and thats not even counting the lens, lightings, backdrop , batteries etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reedbehindthelens.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8DL7TyfOJoTMISKov-bTA