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

Brenda, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Growing up, one of my cousins was a photographer and filmmaker, and ever since I was in High School I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I mentioned it to a family member when asked about my plans after graduation and their answer was “that’s not a real job, you are being delusional”. That stuck with me for a long time. I grew up in Brazil and moved to the States at 21. Starting a business from scratch in another country and speaking a different language was terrifying to even think about, so I put that dream in a little box and tucked it away. Everything changed in 2021 when my incredibly supportive boyfriend gifted me my first camera. I dove in headfirst, practicing with friends and rekindling my passion. For the first time, I felt validated. Photography wasn’t just a dream; it was a real, achievable career. My confidence grew, and soon, I knew I was onto something meaningful.

A turning point came when two fellow photographers reached out on Instagram, asking if I offered mentorships. Though flattered, I didn’t feel ready, so I invited them to join me for a session or a casual chat over coffee. The experience was rewarding, and when I shared it on my stories, more people expressed interest. That’s when it clicked: this could be more than just a casual gathering, it could be a creative community.

With that, I created a flyer, shared it on social media, and hosted my first event. To my surprise, 25 creatives (photographers and models alike) showed up, including some of my friends for support. We connected, collaborated, and left inspired. That day marked the birth of Philly Shutter Club. Since June 2022, I’ve continued to organize these free monthly meetups, each event bigger and more impactful than the last. What started with 25 attendees has grown to gatherings of up to 65 creatives and over 200 sign-ups. Our community thrives on connection, and our social media presence has organically grown to over 2,000 followers. I now work with three incredible photographers; Auggy Kim, Tyler Rosario and Shaun Miller, to brainstorm and plan, making each event a meaningful, enriching experience for everyone involved. The four of us work hard to make it a safe space for people to be their best creative selves, where they can practice their craft, build portfolios, connect with fellow creatives and create content.

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’m a Brazilian-born photographer and creative community builder. My journey into this field was ignited by a family member who inspired me with his work as a photographer and filmmaker during my high school years. However, for a long time, I felt discouraged from pursuing my passion. After moving to the United States at 21 and navigating a new culture and language, I momentarily set aside my dream, believing it to be out of reach. In 2021, everything changed when my supportive boyfriend gifted me my first camera. It reignited my passion and reminded me that creativity a meaningful career path.

Today, besides my own photography business, I lead the Philly Shutter Club, a collective of creatives centered on building connections and growing together through monthly themed photography meetups. Our events bring together photographers, models, and other creatives to collaborate, share knowledge, practice and network.
What makes my work distinct is the emphasis on building community through collaboration and mutual support. I’m proud of creating an environment where established professionals and beginners alike can come together to explore their craft. In my photography business, I strive to capture natural and authentic moments. I work with portraits, elopements, I venture into concert photography every once in a while for fun and my personal favorite; fashion. I work at Runways and have worked at New York Fashion Week, and always do my best to be at Philly Fashion Week to support local designers.

I feel blessed to be part of other people’s lives by capturing important moments for them. When I see their reaction to receiving their images, it gives me a senser of purpose. I aim to create a space where clients feel seen, valued, and authentically represented. I want people to see my brand as rooted in authenticity and passion. As a small business owner, a woman, immigrant and queer, my goal is to create an inclusive and safe space for everyone who interacts with my business. I am committed to making my clients and event attendees feel respected, valued, and comfortable, regardless of their background or identity. I truly appreciate every client who trusts me to capture their special moments and every person who attends our events. Each booking, every interaction, and the support I receive means so much to me. It’s an honor to be able to share my passion with others, and I am deeply grateful for those who value my work and contribute to the community we’re building together. And I will always make my business and Philly Shutter Club a space for creativity, inclusivity, and authentic self-expression, where people from all walks of life can come together, collaborate, and feel welcomed.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I feel like from the moment I was dismissed when I shared my dream of becoming a photographer, everything changed for me. I had to explore other horizons and find a new path, which is difficult when you’re young and unsure of what to expect after graduating high school. So, I decided I wanted to move to another country, and a new dream began to take shape. Somehow, everything worked out, and about six years ago, I moved here. But my very first dream, the one that kept me going, was still tucked away, though I never completely gave up on it.

My best friend in Brazil is an amazing photographer, and I often joined her on photo sessions. I would take photos with my phone and edit them, often receiving many compliments. When I finally got my first camera, I was both afraid of success and afraid of failure. Still, I kept going. There were hard times when I had no clients and no social media presence, but I persisted, offering many free photoshoots and meeting incredible people along the way. Today, I run a business that I’m proud of and also manage Philly Shutter Club, which was born from my original passion. I’m proud of both and grateful for the journey that got me here.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A significant lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that pursuing creative passions, like photography, wasn’t a “real job”. Ever since the first time I shared my dream of becoming a photographer, it was met with discouragement and labeled as unrealistic. This led me to suppress my passion, believing for years that I needed to pursue something more “practical” to find success.

It wasn’t until I moved to the United States, found a supportive partner, and picked up a camera again that I realized how damaging this mindset had been. I had to unlearn the idea that creative work isn’t valuable or sustainable. Building my photography business and forming a community for creatives has shown me that art and passion can not only be rewarding but also life-changing. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals through Philly Shutter Club really reinforced this lesson for me. Seeing other creatives thrive and find fulfillment in their work confirmed that pursuing a career in the arts is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. Unlearning this lesson has allowed me to embrace my passion fully and inspire others to do the same without fear of judgment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bfrancophoto.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: @bfrancophoto / @phillyshutterclub
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19PZc5ppDo/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-franco-528a152a7/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brendafranco3939?si=iPW28Zgxaw9HTRc2
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfrancophoto?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits

Last image in Washington DC: Credits to Thais Andrukonis @t4photographydc