Check Out Brandon Yoshizawa’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Yoshizawa.

Hi Brandon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began taking pictures as a way to ensure that I was able to capture memories from when my wife and I went on our honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand. From there, I was hooked; taking pictures of any and everything imaginable. In hindsight, this is what forced me to learn how to use the different settings of my camera and allowed me to photograph various subjects which led me to my passion of photographing landscapes and cityscapes.

From there, I focused solely on those subjects with an intent to photograph a scene in the best light and most unique angle possible. I’ve spent the last several years building a portfolio of images across these two genres that have been recognized worldwide from published articles to award-winning photographs.

Within the last year, I dove headfirst into web3 and began selling my photos as NFTs. While photography is not my full-time job; my passion fuels my commitment to my continued success within the industry.

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?
That depends. From a personal progression standpoint, I would say it has been smooth. Since I do not rely on photography as my main source of income, I can focus on photographing the subjects that I love to capture. I’ve pushed myself to capture unique angles, once in a lifetime type weather conditions and continued to improve on my post-processing techniques to be able to progress through the years.

From a marketing perspective, there have definitely been struggles. One of the hardest and most vulnerable parts of being a photographer is sharing your art with the world and being subject to not only the praise but the criticism. Getting started is also very hard being a no-name and trying to build a brand and a following. With social media apps continuing to change, photographers have to do their best to shift social media strategies to keep up with the evolution of the platforms, A photographer who is successful in making it a business must also be a good marketer and have great business sense. I found this to be the most difficult part about turning my hobby into a side job.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Given that I have a full-time job, I am not out traveling the world. My focus with my photography is showing off all the local Southern California beauty around me, spanning from overlooks of Los Angeles to our local national parks. My vision and style capture a scene in the best light and angle possible in order to show the true beauty of any given location, evoking a sense of energy and splendor. Oftentimes, I will revisit the same location in order to capture that one truly unique moment. I am known for capturing my hometown of Los Angeles under rare conditions and angles. I am proud that I can show off my vision of Los Angeles and the beauty that it beholds.

How do you define success?
Success within the photo industry is hard. Comparing myself to others who might be full-time travel photographers or have better equipment is a losing battle. Success to me is being able to be a better version of myself every day. I strive to nail that one angle I have been dreaming of or learning a new way to edit that can transform an existing photo in a whole new way. In a world saturated with tons of photographers, I can say that I am successful if I continue to improve in my craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bay-photography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bay.photography
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bay_photography
• Other: https://linktr.ee/bay.photography

Image Credits
Brandon Yoshizawa