Kelsie Pinckard 
Hannah Henderson 
Ashley Hall Brian Braun
Dallas-based photographer, Brian Braun, is one of the few photographers I follow religiously. His work is absolutely incredible.
I interviewed him in April of 2011 for a project in a class I took at the community college I was at previously. I had e-mailed him with no expectations. I had a reply within a couple minutes. Here is my interview with him. You can read the passion he has for photography in his words.
(The picture below is one Brian shot of ACU alum Bob Smiley, Tim Hawkins, and John Branyan)
1: How did you get into photography and what made you stick with it?
I left the consulting world for this, I shot bw film in college for the heck of it. but I didn’t do my own processing and I shot on auto. Good taste of it. I later dated a girl in advertising and fell in love with the complicated productions of what high end advertisting/fashion can do. I was hooked. Burn your bridges behind you, don’t look back. no retreating. I’ve starved for this after leaving billable hourly rate of $200+…..and never regretted it.
2: What/who inspires you?
Photographers: Annie Leibovitz, David LaChappelle, Joel Grimes, Marco Grob, Tim Wallace, Nick Brandt, Alexia Sinclair, Dave Hill, Tim Tadder, Tom Lowe, Jeremy Cowart, John Paul Capogniro….etc etc etc etc etc
Andy Warhol, Spielberg, George Lucas, Hans Zimmer….
3: What is something that a client does that gets on your nerves?
Can’t make up their minds, throws in requests (that require a huge amount of prep and gear) very last minute….and wants everything on the super cheap.
4: If money were no object, what would your dream shoot entail?
This could be a great deal of different things. I’d love to shoot something around the world, maybe something high end yachts, planes, military..
Time Mag does a top 100 people of the year, the shoot goes around the world shoot these people that change the world, that would be legit.
5: If you weren’t doing photography what would you be doing?
I always wanted to be an Architect. Maybe some kind of Designer/engineer with airplanes and cool boats. Lets throw actor or comedian in their as well
6: How would you describe your photography style?
Edgey, HD is a common use, moody, slightly iconic or timeless. Styles evolve. Thats the truth. You express your mission statement which will always change. You won’t meet one person that has had the same life perspective since they were born….photogs are no different. You will go through dark periods where you want to master BW landscapes or portraits…then you might want to shoot big productions, or go to natural light. etc etc. same is true with me. I’m still perfecting my style. Never stop. Never settle.
7: Is there anything you won’t shoot? If so, why?
Ummmmmmm I avoid weddings, there are people that really get turned on by them, not me. Not my thing. Its fun for people I know to be part of their lives and you get 100 thank you cards…etc. but all in all….its not me. I can take little tastes of stuff just to break the mindset, but that usually means I can do what i want with that challenge. I kindv look it like this when I take on things I wouldn’t do normally….like kids portraits, I pretend its the President’s kids….for vanity fair. Boom, game changer…you’d take that a little more seriously wouldn’t you. find new ways to push yourself.
8: Where do you see your photography, in 5 years? 10 years?
I have my goals. I’ll always shoot a variety of things, from big products like jets to high end portraits, to sports marketing. One goal is to win the Hasselblad Masters competition before I turn 35. I’d like to get into more high end fashion. That seems fun, probably because I’m obsessed with Annie Leibovitz
9: What makes your images different than any other “photographer”?
I don’t know how different I am from others, we like to think we are, and we are, but I feel like I really try to give some emotion to my images, and marry that with pushing the technical envelope. Maybe so, maybe no…but I’m pushing myself to grow.
10: What would be your advice to a starting photographer?
First…Shoot Shoot Shoot. Experiment, when looking at images, start dissecting them how they did it. and then give yourself the challenge of trying to recreate that. Thats how you get better. Go with what moves you, Learn business. Quality images and relational business will build your business
11: What is your definition of photography?
Art for those that can’t draw, sing, dance, paint, sculpt….haha. jk. I can dance. I’m not really sure, probably the still image interpretation of that moment at that place using mechanical visualization.
12: Who are some your favorite photographers?
See #2. Joey L (Lawrence) Joe McNally, Andrew Zuckerman, Nigel Parry, Julius Shulman, Duffy, Helmut Newton, Jill Greenberg, Nick Onken, August Bradley, Vincent Laforet. Joel Tjintjelaar ….the list goes on and on and on…..
13: What photography training/classes have you had?
None, most of my stuff I’ve learned is from watching others. From Youtube photoshoots to tutorials online. Lynda.com is a really great way to learn post processing software like photoshop.
14: What makes a picture “good” in your opinion?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder isn’t it? This is a huge discussion alone. I think as long as it achieves the visual goal that the photographer wanted then its a success. I’ve seen stuff I absolutely hate and think is revolting in the highest end magazines, and I’ve seen little kids take amazing stuff with point and shoots. As long as the image speaks, its got my approval.
15: When someone looks at one of your images, what do you hope they get from it?
Above all I hope they see my dedication to beauty in what I decide to spend my life shooting. I love buildings, people, watches, planes, landscapes…etc etc. Commitment to beauty in what I am shooting, thats my goal.
16: What kind of photography (portraits, landscapes, architectural, etc.) is your favorite?
I love it all, Portraits has so many different varieties. If I had to choose, if God said this is it and only it….It would be to shoot people. We’re just too dynamic, too warped.
17: Have you ever shot film before?
Yes, i respect it for its knowledge it demands to handle it, but it doesn’t do anything for me. It doesn’t push the creative capacity envelope for me. I like a lot technical freedom/options in my expression.
18: How do you know when to click the shutter button?
When the time is right, when I have the angle, the time, the right look on subjects face, when the light is falling just right, you have that moment to capture…its your job….you’re paid to know that moment and how to capture it.
19: If you could take your art in any direction without fear of failure or rejection, where would it lead.? What new thing would you try?
I’m always trying new things, building new rigs and lighting set ups. My grandfather was an engineer so I get a lot of my technical curiosity. I love where the astronomy photography scene is going with timelapse. The Latest cameras that tolerate higher ISO Noise so amazing, Breathtaking images.
20: Is there anything that you won’t tell anyone about your workflow (in editing images)?
Not really. I learned from Photographers being open books about techniques, thus I should be one right?
In the final e-mail between us for this project, he left me with these words, “Always seek wisdom and maintain curiosity. Be just and fear not.” Not sure if he stole that from somewhere or if it was his own. I have never forgotten those words though. After that interview, I had more respect for him an I ever thought I would. I already loved his images and what he was doing with his camera and that just took me over the edge. He definitely has a life-long follower in me, that’s for sure. I mean, come on, the guy has his own app!
www.brianbraun.net
www.facebook.com/BrianBraun.Photography
