We had the good fortune of connecting with Brody Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brody, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve been fortunate to have an array of creative influences in my life, I remember rummaging through my grandmother’s photo album trunk with such wonder of how photos capture adventure. The buck didn’t stop there, however, because I entered into my first photography contest at thirteen years old and that’s where my journey with photography ignited and has been a constant in my life ever since. When I was entering adulthood, I had become eager to find a new direction after school, and I had made the decision to follow my heart with the acumen I had acquired through experience to build a business with photography. Trust me, it was quite the internal struggle between continuing schooling or make the leap to do what I’ve always wanted to do–live a fulfilling life while earning an income doing what I love. Now, I get to share stories and the perspective of others through photos while they get beautiful memories to look back on. I’d like to think that I’ve made my thirteen-year-old self really proud.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Whenever I set out to be a photographer, I welcomed adversities and embraced what the journey would bring. I believe that you definitely anticipate failures but it’s how we react to them and move forward. These lessons show up in all kinds of ways and have shown me that there’s always a positive to find in the situation. My brand is built on optimism and connection, meaning that I truly seek to find the beauty in everything that I do and I value the connections that I make. I know that there’s a lot of power in being a photographer, because I have the ability to share the perspective and moments of others that I may have not known otherwise. Yes, it helps to have a camera that captures that, but there is *so* much more that separates a good photographer from the rest of the crowd. I’m in the business of connecting with people who are looking for a photographer who is going to intentionally document their authentic moments as they are unfolding throughout their lives. That could be for their wedding day, g or sharing their small business.
Whenever I married my best friend and soul mate, Cory, we decided to elope in the mountains near Colorado Springs and have an intimate celebration with our loved ones in Texas. When we started the planning process, we thought it’d be a pretty easy time, since we are both organized and able to manage multiple things on our plate at one time. However, we incurred so many more obstacles than what we were expecting. One of them being LGBTQ+ friendly resources for weddings in general, not even the elopement portion. There’s a lot of information out there, but we didn’t have the time to ‘infer’ or even trust vendors that they were going to serve us fully on one of the most important days of our lives. This is what fueled my passion to becoming an elopement and wedding photographer, because I wanted to make sure that no-one else had to feel like this on their wedding day, no matter what that day looked like, because this hardship shouldn’t be an isolating process. To this day every client that I meet, whether that’s over coffee or over zoom, I reinforce that my sole job is to empower them that their special day is about them, and it’s on their terms regardless. Of course, I’ll make sure their photos are authentic to them, but I’m also here as a friendly resource that’s going to be your hype-man without any judgement!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Oh, boy!! This is one of my favorite topics of discussion when it comes to helping friends and family plan their trip out to Colorado Springs, because I’ve got so many recommendations! For my coffee lovers, there’s plenty to scope out in COS, because there’s a mutual love for coffee everywhere. Downtown COS has Homa Cafe at Kinship Landing, with the best oat milk latte ON DRAFT and plenty of vegan friendly brunch options. A few blocks away, there’s Switchback Coffee Roasters that has such an inviting atmosphere that you could spend all morning there working in their shop and time would just fly by.
Looking for a bite? You need to check out Bingo Burger, Cerberus Brewing, and Shuga’s before you disembark on your next adventure! Speaking of adventure, there’s literally hundreds of trails in the Pike’s Peak region that cater to all experience levels. My personal favorites are the trails at Garden of the Gods Park, Blodgett Peak Open Space, and you have to explore the trails around Cheyenne Cañon! After you’ve hit the trails and are ready for drinks, there’s an abundance of atmospheres to choose from. Icons downtown is a LGBTQ+ friendly space that offers signature drinks and the bartenders are singing pros who will serenade you while they serve–how neat, right? If you’re looking to celebrate the evening for something special, you have got to check the eclectic Rabbit Hole where moody speakeasy vibes meet upscale dining. For a get together with your friends, COATI Uprise has the space and the atmosphere that almost anyone can vibe with. The space is styled like an open food court concept with multiple specialty bars, so you can bring the whole gang–you’ll be sure to find something for everyone.

I enjoy new experiences when I’m traveling, so if you’re not a foodie or looking for drinks, then a few places to check out while you’re in town include the Pike’s Peak Highway, where you can drive up to the top of America’s Mountain. Also check out Cave of the Winds, which shares the rich native history of the Pikes Peak region, or check out some the amazing off-road/ATV tours around the COS area that show off the beauty of the Front Range.

Like I said, this is one of my favorite categories to talk about even when it comes to my photography clients, and I feel like I could gab for days about things to do!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of my husband, Cory. As any small business owner knows, family support is everything and I’m grateful to have support of the ones I love most. The photography industry is such a competitive niche, but it’s a lot easier when you have a community to lean on when it comes to overcoming obstacles, finding creative solutions, or just getting to level with someone who gets it. For me, I have so many amazing people who I’ve met solely through photography who have elevated my business to where I am today. Nate Dale, with New Adventure Productions, is an incredible human who always provides grounded advice when I’m at a roadblock with my business. Alisha Bendel, with Loco Love Photography, shares a love for intentional details and models how to be an emotive photographer with her art. Hannah Rummel, with Hannah Rummel Photography, has such a visible passion for everything she does, and I honestly have learned so much from her partnership and friendship over the years that I couldn’t say enough about her and how she has impacted my business. Community is such a driving force for us creatives, because there’s a balance to maintain from empowering ourselves as entrepreneurs to fueling our creative flame with projects. Without these talented individuals, I can safely say that their contributions are what led to my success as a business owner and made me a better photographer.

ersonalBrodyLee__b

Website: www.brodyleephoto.com

Instagram: @brodyleephoto

Facebook: Brody Lee Photo Company

Other: www.pinterest.com/brodyleephoto

Image Credits
Photos of Brody by Hannah Rummel Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.