Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Campbell . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brandon , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence and self esteem are always under construction. But the place I’m currently in comes from being placed in situations that I didn’t feel ready for. Sometimes everything would work out, others it wouldn’t be smooth but I was able to work my way through the problems I ran into, and others I just fell flat on my face. Every one of those situations was a lesson one way or another.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a Photographer and Cinematographer who used to mock photography as an artistic medium.
Growing up I wanted to be a painter and saw photography as just pushing a button, but when I was in high school my art teacher gave me a film camera to use over winter break along with 2 rolls of film, and a 5 minutes crash course. After I got back he showed me how to develop my photos and I fell in love with it and everything took off from there.
I went on to art school at MICA as a Graphic Design major but always found myself with a camera in my hands. But my time in school and working for various companies and organizations left me feeling very limited with what and how I was able to create. Most companies wanted the same looking work and there was either a lack of or poorly done representation for me as a black artist. After college I decided to start my own business, Asha Media Solutions, as a way to create the way I wanted to, do projects I truly care about, and try to create the representation I felt was missing.
My photography focuses on portraiture specializing in proper treatment of skin tones all across the spectrum. My cinematography is based in narrative film making that I mix into my practice with political and commercial projects.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resourcefulness, the ability to find comfort in discomfort, and the ability to accept criticism.
Everyone doesn’t have access to art school/college, the latest and greatest technology, or “friends in high places”, but you might have YouTube, a cell phone, and some friends to help you out. If you have the motivation, that can get you really far. Being able to use what you have to get where you want is a compounding skill with exponential benefit.
The ability to be comfortable being uncomfortable is beneficial no matter what you do in life and was recently retaught to me by my mentor. He said you’ll never feel like you’re ready because you care enough to be good, but there’s people with less talent and skill in the positions you want to be in because they have the guts to take the leap.
And accepting criticism is a hard yet important skill to develop. You’ll spend a lot of time working on something and everyone wont like it, but understanding how to take feedback and transform it into a better result will push you along in life as well. The other side of the coin is being able to accept positive feedback, which is something I still struggle with. You are you own worst critic, and it may be hard to accept when people compliment your work, but it’s important to accept those compliments and indulge in the fact that you did a good job.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal clients are those that are passionate about what they do with a story to tell and a goal that ties them together. Everyone has a story to tell, but everyone wont care. It’s the passion and motivations behind the story that draws people in and the goal is why you’re telling the story in the first place. The clients that have those elements are my favorite and tend to result in the best work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @1time_atbrandcamp @ashamediasolutions
Image Credits
Morgan Dezurn
