Member Spotlight: Brad Olson
We sat down with Phoenix-based commercial photographer and Blok member, Brad Olson, to talk about his journey as a professional photographer and his advice for establishing a long photography career.
How long have you been a professional photographer? How did you get into it?
I have been a full-time photographer for about 10 years, prior to that I worked in video production. When digital cameras became comparable to film cameras, I was really attracted to still images, especially once I learned Photoshop and its capabilities. I found the immediacy and creative control when working with digital images very appealing.
What was your first camera?
My father gave me my first camera. It was a Nikon 35mm film camera and a simple ‘kit’ lens.
Do you have any advice for how to make it as a photographer long term?
I think that you have to first decide if you are an artist or a business. If you are a photography business, you need to develop your clientele and continue to bring value to your services. Now more than ever, everyone is a photographer to some extent and as a commodity, images are very abundant. From a business perspective, it works best with a narrow and deep niche. Find a very specific type of photography and then become great at that one thing. If you are an artist, you need to have a highly desirable and unique style that attracts a market - and then a whole lot of luck.
What’s your photography niche?
I primarily shoot commercial images within the fashion industry: look books, e-commerce, catalogs, fashion editorials and advertising campaigns.
How has having a Blok Membership helped you build your business?
Having a professional studio environment to bring clients into and work comfortably in is a huge asset. Blok Studio has been great in making sure the studio is inviting, clean and ready to shoot.
What’s your favorite thing about the Blok Membership?
One of the best things about Blok is the online scheduling system. It is super easy to check availability and schedule time. And with the Blok Membership, there’s no minimum hourly booking requirement so if I just need to get in for a quick 1 hour session, I can do that.
Best photography advice you've ever been given?
Train your eyes to be more critical. It’s simple enough to learn how to use your camera and lighting, but none of that means anything without a critical eye.
Interested in becoming a Blok Member?