Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Hendrickson.
Hi Brandon, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When my daughter was one we would go for walks at different parks in Richmond to get out of the house. From time to time I would come across a scenic spot and would pull out my phone and snap a photo. The phones never did it justice, at least not the way that I experienced it. I remember the moment I decided I wanted to just try photography. We were walking at Rockwood Park in Richmnond and we came down to the lake. It was the middle of the fall and the leaves were near their peak foliage. The water was still and reflective and showed the scene above it. The sky was blue with some puffy clouds. I pulled out my phone and snapped an image. The image felt flat compared to what I was experiencing and I knew I just wanted to try photography.
That evening I start researching cameras. New cameras are not cheap and I knew if I was just going to try it I needed to go used. After a few days I came across a Canon Rebel T3i on Facebook market place. The woman was selling it for like $50 under what most people were selling theirs. I immediately messaged and the next morning I was on the road from Richmond to Charlottesville to pick it up.
On my way back after my purchase I decided I was going to set a 30 day challenge. I knew if I didn’t create a challenge I would play with the camera for a day or two and place it on the shelf where it would collect dust. I had no subjects in mind. I just had to shoot everyday for 30 days and post an image on instagram for 30 days.
During the challenge I photographed my daughter, dog, flat lays on the table, and other subjects. However, I was continually drawn to the city skyline, the river, and various Richmond sites and capturing them during sunrise or sunsets.
When you immerse yourself in something like that you quickly learn a lot. I learned how to shoot manual, compositions, the different stages of a sunrise or sunset. Long exposures, night photography, and more.
During this time I would also follow local photographers that were shooting the same kinds of images as me. I would see some of their locations and sometimes they would post camera settings and their thoughts of an image and I could work backwards on how they captured it.
I quickly fell in love with the whole process of photography. I also discovered that at times it was therapeutic. If I had a bad day or was struggling with something, a day out with the camera helped. I would get hyper focused on my next shot and whatever I was struggling would disappear.
After a couple years, I came across a photographer who was showing their work at a local arts and craft show. His niche was city skylines. He has been around the county and had beautiful images of San Fransisco, New York, and more.
I went to visit him and he told me a little of his journey and how he was doing selling his work. My first thought was “I could do that!”
I immediately got started. I picked out several of what I thought were my best images and I threw a couple hundred dollars in creating prints and purchasing photo mats, and the packaging. I borrowed a couple tables and table clothes and I had a cheap canopy. I signed up for a local pop up market that was taking place at the Diamond (the local minor league baseball stadium).
I got there and set everything up. It was the most basic and amateur set up. All the prints were laid out flat on the table and I had a couple book stands propping up a few prints up. Shortly after setting up, it started to rain. I knew rain was in the forecast and I had bought canopy walls off amazon to help protect my work. I quickly discovered the walls didn’t fit properly and left big gaping holes in the tops, allowing some rain to come in.
It was a struggle from the start and it rained for the first four hours of the show. Not many people showed up and I made all of $15 during that time! I got so frustrated and I figured I would be giving away my new made prints for Christmas presents later that year.
The rain finally stopped and the sun came out with about an hour left of the market. People slowly trickled in and I managed to sell another $150 worth of prints before the close of the show. It was a hard lesson learned that you never know what may happen and you have to be there in order to make the sales.
In September of 2023 I went all in on my photography. My business specializes in three genres of photography. The first and my favorite is the art side of the business. Creating land and cityscape images and turning them into wall art. My images sell as matted prints, canvas wraps, and metal prints. I set up my booth at various art shows in and around Richmond. I also have several dates at the RVA Big Market on Saturday mornings.
The next side is the motorsport side. I’ve been a racing fan since I was 10. I grew up watching NASCAR and since my love of racing has extended to all forms of racing. I primarily work with Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania, covering their track days.
Lastly, I shoot real estate, capturing images and video for agents putting up homes on the market. It has required to learn new skills like working with drones and getting my Part 107 drone license, 360 cameras for 3D tours, and video work.
Each leg of the business provides a different set of challenges and also keeps my work interesting. When one side slows down or starts to become stale, another picks up and adds a little excitement.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all! Every day there’s been a new lesson.
One of the big struggles has been dealing with the pressure to get the business running and to be able to help support my family financially. I am so blessed to have a wife that supports my dream and has taken on the financial burden while I work to get my business up and running. it’s true what they say, the most important decision you ever make in your life is who you marry! There’s been times where she’s been my rock when a show didn’t get well and things were tight.
Another has been figuring which shows to go to. I’ve paid big bucks for shows that I thought would go well and made little and then I’ve done events where I spent little to get in and made a lot. Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason and it’s been a trial and error process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I capture land and cityscape photos and turn them into wall art.
One of things I am most proud of is a photo I licensed out to the Great Richmond Transportation Company. It was an image of Richmond’s Main St Station with of GRTC’s Green Pulse buses driving by in a green blur. The image was blown up and placed all over their bus shelters through out the city. Every time I drive or walk past a bus stop I look my picture. It’s pretty surreal to see your work being used and displayed for the whole city to see.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was and still am a big introvert and tend to be quiet and reserve. At least until I really get to know someone. I have a very small group of friends and tend to be a bit of home body, unless I am going out to take photos.
Growing up I loved baseball and swimming. I played and swam into high school and afterwards I graduated I got into triathlons and ultimately became a full swim coach.
I’ve also had a love for racing. It started with NASCAR when I 10 but as I’ve gotten older I enjoy all forms of motorsports.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brandonmichaelphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandon_michael_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMPhotography9/
- Other: https://brandonmphotography.etsy.com
