Conversations with Daniel Brittain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Brittain.

Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I started this journey through photography by stumbling upon it. I was going to school to be a physical therapist and I wasn’t quite loving that experience. 200-person classes and tests every day weren’t my cup of tea. 

I started using Instagram when it first came out back in 2010/11 with the ugly filters on iPhone sunset photos and caught a bug for documenting everyday scenes. 

This spiraled very quickly into getting my first camera and shooting my local surfing community in Virginia Beach, VA, and the Outer Banks. Chasing swells and learning how to photograph a story really got my attention. Not long after that, I googled what was the best photography school and found Brooks Institute in California. My family wasn’t too happy that this is what I wanted, but still supported me on this journey. I packed up and moved to Ventura, CA and it changed my life forever. 

I learned what photography really was and had the best mentors in the world at Brooks. Ralph Clevenger was my closest professor and still is to this day. He helped me grow and taught me how to be the photographer I am today. 

I always credit Brooks Institute for setting me on this path. It had the right mix of technical skill building mixed with creativity. 

Today, I shoot lifestyle and commercial photography mostly, with product and portraits mixed in. Living in a city like LA gives me so many opportunities to be somewhat of a Swiss army knife as a photographer. 

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?
The road is most definitely bumpy. 

For instance, when Brooks closed while I was almost finished with my degree, that was a huge crack in the road. I had no job or degree and wondered what was next. I ended up getting an opportunity to work with Mark Seliger in NYC through a close friend at the time, which was a massive blessing in disguise after the closure. 

The biggest thing I dealt with as a creator was comparing myself to others. I think this fairly common because we all are trying to grow and improve so fast with the trends around us. I found a balance after a while and started to trust what my style is and who I am as an artist. 

It has been a lot of learning as I go. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love to shoot lifestyle. I shoot people interacting, whether it’s for a clothing brand or headphones. 

I am known for the way I photograph people, color, and my lighting. I like to describe it candid yet posed because it has to be natural and portray a mood and a feeling. 

Most of my shoots involve manipulating natural light so that it looks poppy and has a commercial feel. 

I am most proud of how I have developed into my own style, and love trying new concepts. I think in a way, my style and the way I shoot sets me apart from the pack. I also don’t like to pigeonhole myself to one type of photography. I love shooting product and still life as well. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
All my best memories as a kid are of road-tripping to the Outer Banks, NC, with my mom and dad. 

We used to drive on the beach, bring the beach chairs and fishing rods, and be there all day. It is a very special place to me. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Danielbrittain.photo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielbrittain_/

Image Credits
Daniel Brittain