Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Cummings.
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 am a licensed structural engineer during the week and a professional photographer on the weekends. I purchased my first camera the summer before my freshman year at the Texas A&M University. I bought that first Nikon D50 to be a creative release from the stringent and intense engineering classes I was taking. During the summer between my sophomore and junior year, I went on a study abroad trip to Spain. Little did I know I would run into, to me at that time, a photography guru. On this trip, I was attending a master class on the workings of my camera and grow my skills. This trip sparked the creation of BKC Photography. Once I got back to campus I began shooting graduation pictures for friends and fraternity brothers and Ring day pictures (which is when Texas A&M Students have take 90 hours and now qualify for our Aggie/school ring). From there on out began the rollercoaster of growing my brand, monetizing my work and keeping my passion for the art of photography.
Today, I am loving my niche I am creating for myself. I am expanding my portfolio into wedding, studio and lifestyle/branding photography. I am still being a sponge and looking for mentors and peers within the photography space to sharpen my skills and continue to mold my brand.
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?
It has not been a smooth road, I have struggled with the fire behind my creativity the most. There were slow moments, when creating content was non-existent, especially with Covid-19. I took my time to work myself back into the art and started back up like I originally started this whole journey, finding models and creating photos that I wanted to create that would allow me to try new techniques. Comparison to other creators in the industry also became a struggle of mine. I had to learn to train myself to see their work as motivation and inspiration rather than a goal I could not reach.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a licensed structural engineer here in the state of Texas, working for a civil engineering consulting firm. The company has various disciplines of civil engineering, but the department I work under is Public Infrastructure/Transportation. As a structural engineer, I am part of a team responsible for designing on system (Texas Department of Transportation) bridges, off-system bridges ( bridges designed in smaller towns or residential communities) and other miscellaneous structures such as junction boxes, retaining walls and canopies. The thing I love about this career is that I am able to see the structures I design come from an initial proposal to lines on paper as construction plans to a structure that stands and is used by civilians every day. Photography allows me to break free from the well-calculated and logical processes of being an engineer. I enjoy them both and they balance me out.
What’s next?
My plans are to continue to grow my brand of photography and develop a niche that I am beyond proud of. I aim to be a lifestyle/branding photographer helping influencers, companies and the average person create their brands as well. I plan for wedding and graduation photography will be something I will never give up, to celebrate major life accomplishments, milestones and love. Career-wise I am on this path and plan to continue to grow and learn my craft of a structural engineer. I seek to manage a team and complex projects that I am able to coordinate and create unique and efficient solutions to the problem at hand.
Pricing:
- Graduation Packages Range: $325 – $475
- Individual Portrait Packages Range: $125 – $500
- Wedding Packages Range: $1500 – $4250
Contact Info:
- Website: bkcphotography.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bkcphotography06?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bkcphotography06
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BKC_Photography
