Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ross Bernards. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ross, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I was raised by parents who worked hard to provide for us kids. They did everything they could to not only put food on the table but make sure they could also attend our sporting and school events. Sometimes that meant going back to the office after those events. I learned from a young age that the clock doesn’t determine when the work is done, the work is what determines when it’s done.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an adventure and outdoor lifestyle photographer. My job is to showcase brand’s products being used in the great outdoors on incredible adventures in awe-inspiring places. What I love to do is not necessarily shoot the product but to show people’s genuine reactions and stoke on using the products and capturing those raw moments while we are out.
There are so many stories to tell and these days that’s what every brand should be striving to do. Every brand has a unique story, and being able to help tell those is the best way to captivate and capture your client’s attention. There is so much noise out there and we are all fighting to break through and get our products, our brands, our value in front of people’s eyes. Telling a story and connecting with your potential clients is the best way to not only get their attention but also help get their brand loyalty. You want them to be able to see themselves on those adventures with their products and know how those products are going to help them enjoy those moments and create those core memories with the ones they love. That’s where I come in. I love planning these adventure shoots from top to bottom. I love being able to pick and find the perfect locations and activities to meet the vibe my clients are going to set. I love helping to formulate shot lists to get the creative juices flowing and discussing how we can bring their visions to life. My goal is to bring something that is stuck in someone’s head into reality. It’s the most rewarding part of my job.
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?
For me, it’s the 3 P’s, Patience, Perseverance, and Practice. Being a photographer you have to be patient, sometimes conditions just aren’t going to line up and you have to wait for the moment and be ready for it. Being a freelancer is a rollercoaster ride you are going to have ups and downs. It is so important to not get down on yourself and to persevere in those lean and tough times. The best way to do that is to understand creativity is a practice, like a muscle, and if you don’t keep working on it, it can atrophy. Get out and shoot and practice as often as possible. It helps to keep your mind sharp and your eye trained to look for compositions and look for those moments. The more you practice, the less you have to be patient because you see more moments to capture even when conditions aren’t ideal. The more you can capture in those moments the more value you can bring to your clients which means the lows aren’t going to be as low but the highs can be even higher. The 3 p’s all work with each other and when you can use them to your advantage the opportunities are endless.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I think becoming more well-rounded is crucial these days. Things in the content creation sphere are changing so rapidly all the time and we are constantly being asked to wear different hats. Learning how to adapt and pick up new skills is absolutely crucial while also keeping your strengths where they are or growing stronger. It is so important to always be able to add new tools to your toolbox. Clients can ask you for really wild things at times and if you have the right tools in our toolbox it just makes you that much more marketable and brings a stronger likelihood of them booking you over someone else who may not have those tools.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rossbernards.com
- Instagram: @rossbernards
- Facebook: facebook.com/rossbernardsphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-bernards-965a5313/
- Twitter: @rossbernards
Image Credits
Ross Bernards Photography
