Life & Work with Brody Hall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brody Hall.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Early on… I was born in Arkansas, lived all over the country, and had a great childhood. After high school, I joined the US Army and was 11 Bravo (Infantry) for a small period of time before I was injured. After my discharge, I headed off to college where I got my degrees in English Lit & Creative Writing, and that is where I started with the camera…

And then…

I started my photography career with seasonal photos in the mall. Taking pictures of the kids with Santa and the Easter Bunny. I worked for several companies until I started my own business. I still smile when I get to work a seasonal photo job – there is nothing like seeing a child’s face light up when they talk to Santa!

I realized that my gear was sitting there the rest of the year and that was just wrong. Nothing like on the job training, Santa/seasonal work taught me so much about reading kids and how to be fast with the camera. I worked for a few other photography companies as well, including Olan Mills, The Picture People, Sears Photos, among others. Each place taught me something unique when it comes to photography; exposure, posing, props, lighting. Without a doubt, I get a lot of compliments on my directions & posing skills and I owe all that to Olan Mills. Studio work, I gained mostly from The Picture People. I have really enjoyed my time at different jobs and learned a lot.

Weddings were a little different matter. I learned most of that on my own when I first started out. I read books, went to seminars and WPPI conventions, and I listened to some of the best photographers in the world.

And here we are

While working for some of these companies, I started doing portraiture and events in college, shooting for the local newspaper, and covering community events. I finally broke into weddings and doing larger corporate conventions when I moved to Los Angeles. And here I am!!! I have worked at the White House, the Pentagon, and Arlington Cemetery. I have photographed NBA, NFL, Hockey tournaments for Canada, and World Super Bike races. I have shot for companies in France and magazines in England. I have photographed events and weddings up in Alaska & Canada and down in the Bahamas, as well as the Turks & Caicos Islands. I LOVE TAKING PICTURES!

And…

I have worked with and taught a number of interns, passing on my tips and tricks. I have worked with several other photographers at sporting & charity events (especially The Miracle Party charity group), sharing with them and learning from them. One of the best learning opportunities I ever had was working with Grant Oaks and David Beckstead. Over the years, I know my work has gotten better and better. I am excited to see my level of photography develop in the next ten years.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
You decide smooth is a matter of opinion. There are always ups and downs! I have always had amazing support from friends and family and I never take life too seriously. I completely trust in God and He has always taken care of me.

So I am good with the roller coaster! I love laughing and I love making people laugh. Bob Hope has always been one of my heroes, and it’s his quote I take very seriously, “I’ve always been in the right place and time. Of course, I steered myself there.” Just with any business, you have to persevere and be strong. Enjoy the ride…the ups and the downs…

One thing to remember… There are no good or bad photos. Photography is an art, art is subjective. What one person likes, someone else may hate. Neither is wrong or right. Don’t let someone else’s opinion or judgment of your creation ever decide anything. It will smooth out that bumpy road a whole lot…

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What pays the bills. It’s pretty simple, I am fast and good, so events are my moneymakers! Weddings, parties, nightlife, corporate conventions, etc. I love em all. I get to meet the most amazing people.

I treat my brides like models, posing them and directing them and they love that. I can shoot a party in a club, with low lighting, still catching the fun and excitement. I can get amazing Key Note speaker photos at a corporate retreat and catch awesome photos of their Awards Gala. Best of all, I can get the photos edited and back to the client in a day or two (they love that part).

Animals & sports are soooo much fun. Sports are a challenge, the action is there, that isn’t a problem, the lighting indoors can be very tricky. I have photographed mountain climbing, kayak rodeos, ice climbing (crazy), races, football from Peewee to NFL. What a wonderful way to spend a day… Animals are a passion. I don’t have a pet, just too much trouble with all the travel. BUT, I love em! I did work for a large cat refuge in Colorado for about three years and it was incredible. They took wonderful care of the animals, and it showed.

Portraits!!! This is my outlet! This is my chance to go wild. I get to build sets, I learn chemistry, I get to play with water, I get to smear paint, I get to figure out lighting set-ups. I GET TO HAVE FUN! I do regular headshots and fun family portraits, but I also get to work with up and coming models that want to push their portfolios. That means everything is on the table and we just gotta choose what direction we want to take. I have done Brides in Ice Castles, models in milk, kids in paint, guys in fog, all kinds of fun stuff!

MY PROUDEST MOMENT
I was contacted by a nurse (Sky Hart), she was in charge of a mentally handicapped patient. This girl, who was nearly 30, was in a car accident when she was 13, a piece of glass cut across her brain. The accident killed her parents and she would forever be 13, her mental state could never grow up. When she was actually 13, she very much wanted to be a model, and at 30, she still had that dream. So we brought in the team… A make-up artist (Marla Gingrich) started to work on her face, eyes, all of it. A hairstylist did her upright, a wardrobe designer (Stevi Summers) brought in some amazing outfits. My assistant (Ken Ross) and myself set up the studio, the lights, and the backdrops. It was the most MAGICAL shoot I have ever done and will never forget it. The next day, the nurse called me and told me how much the girl loved it and cried on the way back to the hospital. I thank God that He let me be picked to do that shoot.

Pricing:

• As a veteran, I always offer a discount to Military and First Responders

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.BrodyHall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brody_hall_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brody-Hall-Photography-198283873540002
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpFO9hIuYAJ6d1dTkDSl_Q
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/brody_hall_weddings/

Image Credits
Ken Ross Nate Hart Brett Ingliss Jennifer Neely Allen Dye Steve Riley