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

Hi Brody, thanks for joining us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of being an entrepreneur or creative is the kind of crazy stuff that happens from time to time. It could be anything from a disgruntled client attacking an employee or waking up to find out a celebrity gave you a shoutout on TikTok – the sudden, unexpected hits (both positive and negative) make the profession both exhilarating and exhausting. Can you share one of your craziest stories?

I was at my desk editing pictures when the phone rang. Nate, a good friend of mine was calling to ask a favor. He wanted me to do a freebie photo shoot of a friend of his, it was important. I knew Nate well and trusted him. If his friend needed photos for some reason, I was happy to help. The next day Sky called me, Nate’s friend, and explained the situation. Sky was a care tacker and the lady she was in charge of wanted to be a model. Melody was 13 years old when she was in a horrible car accident. The crash left both her parents dead and a large glass shard lodged in her brain. Surgery saved her life, but the damage was done. Melody would forever be 13 years old.
Melody simply could not grow up mentally. And what 13 year old doesn’t want to be a model. So, at the physical age of 33, Sky wanted to give her a wonderful birthday surprise. When Melody showed up at the studio we were all waiting on her. I had brought in the whole team for this one. The make-up artist and hair dresser went to work on her, a wardrobe designer started picking out outfits, and I did finishing touches on the set lights. The shoot went GREAT!!! We all had fun and Melody was smiling and laughing the whole time.
When it was all done I thanked my team for helping out and being so incredible. I thanked Sky and Melody for letting us have so much fun working with them. And I thanked God for letting me be the one to do the photos.
The next day, Sky called to thank me. She told me that after the shoot, in the car, Melody was so excited and happy, she was balling her eyes out. My tears came as I hung up the phone. It was the best photo shoot I have ever done.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Santa Claus! That is how I became a photographer. Sadly, he didn’t visit me and drop off a camera. I got a job taking photos of him in a mall! That is how I started my photography career. For a few years I worked for a company out of Denver, CO taking photos of Santa during the Xmas season. It didn’t take long to realize I could do this on my own and do it better. I hired my dad to be Santa (yeah, he is that good), mom managed the set, and I was the photographer. It went GREAT!
Then I realized that I was making my living working five weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter. I was bored the rest of the year. So I started reading, practicing, and even working with other photographers. I worked for the Picture People (amazing light training), Ritz Camera (I learned all the technical aspects of cameras and lenses), and then for Olan Mills (the best posing training EVER). I started shadowing wedding photographers and portrait photographers. I went to PPA conventions. Most of all, I photographed everyone and everything I could.
Over the first few years developed my style, figured out what I was good at and what to stay away from. I built up my studio gear, got better equipment, and started advertising my services. I changed my company name a time or two, and finally everything fell into place.
I no longer take photos of Santa and the Easter Bunny, but I do miss it. I appreciate the confidence those mall photos gave me. I learned to work with kids and groups, I learned to shoot fast and accurate, and I learned to be a photographer.
Now, I do mostly weddings, parties, and corporate events for my living, with a few portrait sessions tossed into the mix. (Those are where I get to be creative and just have fun.) Events are wonderful, I get to meet so many amazing people and then I get to make them smile.

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

In all honesty, I NEVER considered myself an artist. I’m not sure I know the definition of an artist. I am a photographer, I am a fast photographer. I love what I do, I do it well, I do it fast, I get paid, and I leave. In the last few years, I really have come to appreciate what others say and how they respond to my work. I love the laughs and the smiles and the thanks. I believe I do bring artistry into my work, but it is so second nature to me that I don’t even realize it. I will shift my subject over so we don’t have a port-a-potty in the background. I pose my wedding groups and they LOVE that. I will angle my subjects to a flattering side. I set my lights, change them, and set them again until they are just right. I try and make things look even, smooth, and balanced in my eyes. And I guess that is what artistry is.
My second rule of photography: There is no such thing as a good or bad photo. Photography IS art and art is subjective. What one person loves, the next person may hate.
However, I really do love when I get an amazing review from a couple or a corporation thanking me and praising my work. It’s a boost to the confidence for sure.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There is a resource I wish I had known earlier in my career, and I kow it’s not exactly what you are looking for in this interview. His name is David Beckstead. In my opinion, probably one of, if not the best wedding photographers I have ever had the joy of meeting. I pretty much wanna kick him in the shin for being so freakin good. I had 6 wedding photographers shoot my wedding and he was one of them. I was floored when I say his work. I started reading his books after that, learning his thought processes, what he looked for in an environment or setting to work with. The guy is AMAZING! And did I mention he is hilarious. He rocks!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BrodyHall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brodyhallphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brody-Hall-Photography-198283873540002
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brody-hall-64ba022a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpFO9hIuYAJ6d1dTkDSl_Q/videos
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brody-hall-photography-nashville

Image Credits
Mermaid; Grecia Coyle Baby in Tub: Zen Santa: Buddy Hall Family: Dan Colasanti Bride in the Desert: Sky Frazier Bride in the Ice: Amber Dembeck Bride and Groom: Carissa & Chris