Meet Brandon Stearns

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Stearns. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brandon, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

It’s kind of tricky actually. I’m not sure I’ve fully overcame imposter syndrome but rather it’s something I continue to work on. What really makes it difficult is the saturation of content I see on my social media feeds throughout the day. Seeing everyone else make really cool films, music videos, etc. made me doubt myself a lot! I think what’s most important when addressing it, was simply talking with my friends about it. Putting my feelings out there publicly allowed me to see where those feelings were really stemming from. Allowing me to combat those thoughts to a degree. It’s all about the small victories, especially early on. Don’t dwell on the small mistakes, they’re going to happen whether you like it or not. So don’t get in your own way!

I spent a long time just doing photography. Attempting to make good-looking compositions using natural light. When I thought I shot something cool, I’d share it on social media. That continued for a few years before I really started to feel confident in what I was shooting. Getting good, constructive feedback from my peers. The scariest part was selling myself and my “skillset” as a service to others rather than just keeping it as a hobby. But again, it’s about not getting in your own way. Alot of those early projects I did for local small businesses, I wasn’t super confident going in. It was the act of doing it that allowed me to really build that confidence. So, once I had several projects under my belt, the confidence started to come more naturally.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am currently a cinematographer/director based out of Milwaukee, WI. I’ve been working professionally for 8 years now. I’m currently employed full-time at the ad agency, Margle Media as a video editor. My nights and weekends are usually spent working on music videos, brand promos, and now my very first feature length documentary! The documentary revolves around the new non-profit organization I’ve been working hand in hand with for the last 11 months or so, “Harmonic Harvest”. Our mission is dedicated to combating neighborhood deterioration and alleviating tensions by weaving together the collective efforts of individuals, organizations, and businesses. Looking to cultivate interconnected communities through the power of social impact.

My favorite part of shooting these videos are the people I get to meet along the way. I love showcasing others in my community who are making a real impact by sharing their stories.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

First off, perseverance. You have to keep creating no matter what. There’s going to be some moments along the way that make you question why you’re doing this in the first place. That’s just part of the process. In the long run, your body of work is going to get better no matter what! If the effort is there, results will come!

Secondly, I would say patience. None of this comes easy or quick. If that’s what you’re hoping for, I wish you the best of luck. It’s years of trial and error. The work always improves in time when the effort is there. I’m still doing trial and error with every project I work on, and trust me, my patience is tested with a lot of projects!

Lastly, I would say don’t be afraid of feedback. I still get nervous putting my work out there, but I know it’s the only way I will get better. Taking feedback as less a personal attack but simply an opinion that you can use to your advantage. A small mental note you can use moving forward in your career. Just make sure you can still take a step back from the comments and observe them from an objective point of view. Don’t become attached to the feedback, whether positive or negative.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

Crazy enough, the most impactful thing my parents did for me was doubt me. When I decided on my college major (film production) I remember having a feeling that I was letting my parents down. My family has always been more business oriented, so I remember the look on my parents faces when I told them I wanted to pursue more artistic endeavors. It wasn’t exactly a positive reaction. But deep down I also knew I didn’t want to be stuck at a desk job punching in numbers. I made it my end all be all and threw 100% of my effort into proving everyone wrong. Recently, they’ve shown tons of support for what I do, so these days, that isn’t really a motivating factor anymore. Now there support means the world to me, and it definitely helps knowing I have a strong support system behind me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Still working on it!
• Instagram: shotbystearns

Image Credits

Cristian Reyes, Chino Villatoro, Nick Kohnhorst, & Sarah Rose Photography