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

Viranda, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

It’s odd that when you’re in the middle of creating or, better said, becoming, you spend very little time thinking about your legacy. The driving force behind my work and life is to inspire my daughter, my younger self, and women (especially women of color) to aspire to more. To live life boldly, loudly, and without apology. So I guess that’s what I hope my legacy will be. A life full of love, laughter, joy, discovering the world around you, making it better, and challenging yourself to push beyond your limits. All I want for myself and anyone is a life without regret.

Viranda, 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?

I am an editorial fashion and brand photographer based out of Austin, Texas. I work with women-led brands to cultivate bold, evocative visuals that their ideal clients into passionate fans eager for the next collection drop. My goal as a photographer is to work with fashion brands that empower women to be the protagonist of their lives, giving them the courage to live boldly and authentically.

My career started during the pandemic, collaborating with local models in my area and shooting concepts I’d been dreaming up. That’s how my career started, me, a model, and my camera and I would buy everything I needed to make it happen. I taught myself how to find models, makeup artists, studio spaces, and everything I needed to make campaign-level shoots happen, and I did it by myself. Not for bragging rights but because I didn’t have a choice back then. Initially, I was trying to stave off the crippling depression from not being able to shoot weddings or elopements because that’s what I thought I wanted to do first.

I’d meet people in masks, and we’d keep our distance, but we would pull together the most incredible shots, and shortly after my first two shoots, I started working for a vintage shop. Getting from there, making $25 an hour, to where I am was nothing short of a roller coaster ride. It took a lot of optimism and persistence.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want every girl to know her voice can change the world. I work with women-led brands that share my passion for inspiring women to be the protagonist of their life, daring to boldly and authentically. I create visuals that inspire women to be unapologetic about what they want and who they are. How you see and feel about yourself is entwined with what you wear, which is why I set out to work with women-owned/led brands that understand the power of dressing women.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative, specifically a black female creative, is knowing that whenever I choose courage and self-expression, I open up the possibilities for the little black girls coming up behind me and the black women next to me. I know I surprise many people when I show up on Fashion sets or pitch myself as a photographer. The photography industry is full of women, but it’s reversed in fashion photography.

To see a woman, especially a black woman moving in these circles, booking brands, is beyond inspirational. Every day I get to be the person I wanted to see as a little girl growing up. Aside from knowing I’m making a positive impact, the most rewarding aspect of this job is that this is one of the few fields where people seek you out for being yourself. I grew up being odd and different from the person next to me. Being a 3rd culture military kid who grew up in Germany made navigating American society difficult and traumatic in some ways. At every turn, I was told to be less myself and more like other black girls. It was a constant battle or pushing back against conformity.

But being creative and an artist demands that you show up as yourself. Your best work comes from all the idiosyncrasies that make up your personality, and they connect you with your clients/audience. It’s liberating, and I love it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://venturewithvirett.pic-time.com/client
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virandamichelle/
• Other: please send all booking inquiries to [email protected]

Image Credits
Eden Allowitz Sydney Nava Riley Poston Julie Wierd Julia Railey Gabrielle Tanner Ilisa Layne