Meet Brandon Hartley

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

Hi Brandon, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Brandon: I grew up in the suburbs of Metro-Detroit. I was very fortunate to have supportive parents that worked hard and sacrificed, so they could give me a chance to be successful and follow my dreams. While I never lived in downtown Detroit, I worked there, went to many many concerts, Slow Roll, and Red Wings games; Detroit will always be my home. It’s the pride and hard work of the people that influenced me the most. It’s a city that a lot of people outside of have very loud opinions about, but if you take the time to talk to anyone from neighborhoods downtown, they will admit, Detroit needs work, but that’s not going to stop them from having real pride or turning their back to the city. In High School, I would often bring my camera downtown, and never once did I feel afraid. As a photographer, Detroit taught me you can find beauty anywhere, it just might not be as easy to see as other places, but it’s there – you just have to look a little closer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I take a lot of pride in being trusted to film someone’s wedding, especially elopement. Imagine, it’s just you and your loved one, saying vows to each other with a beautiful backdrop. Your family and friends are not there, but you hired a stranger to capture this really intimate and private moment. Isn’t wild? Whenever we get hired to capture these moments, we set up multiple in-person chats or video calls, so we can really get to know the couple and make sure we’re a good fit. Of course we want to say ‘yes’ to every inquiry that comes are way, but the vibes have to feel right – with my wife and I, it’s almost like a double date. We strive in giving our clients the most authentic experiences and content to prove it, we hardly stage photos, we want our clients to feel like they went on a romantic date-not like they held unnatural poses for 45 minutes because it’s “trending”. We want our clients to walk away with having a intimate memory they will cherish, and the photos and videos we deliver is just a plus to bring them back to that time. In a industry that’s becoming very saturated, especially in Colorado, it’s hard to stick out. What makes our business unique is the lengths we will go to make clients vision become a reality. Whether it’s driving a rental car from Colorado to the middle of Michigan for a wedding in the woods, or sprinting up a mountain trail with heavy camera gear to the peak to get a shot, because the bride & groom are runners and their whole wedding party is running directly from the alter to the nearest peak. Our lengths don’t stop there either. When I edit videos, a delivery standard I give myself is: I don’t stop editing until the final product makes me emotional. That’s the Hartley Wilderness way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever friends from out of town visit Colorado, I tell them they have to checkout Crested Butte – no matter the season, it’s my favorite mountain town. A Red Rocks show is a must, it’s truly an experience like no other. You can’t go wrong strolling down Pearl Street, but if I had to choose my favorite spot, it would be the Boulder Dushambe Teahouse. The atmosphere is incredible, and while they are known for their tea selection and tea-cocktails, the food is just as amazing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the most beautiful person inside & out I’ve ever met, my wife and business partner, Juliana. Her compassion for nature and humanity, and drive for a better future inspires me everyday. She’s the first person in my life to truly see me and there’s never a moment where she doesn’t give me the support and tools I need to pursue my dreams, even when sometimes I can’t see it in myself. Juliana and I are a dream team when we shoot weddings and events for clients. Juliana photographs, while I film. We’re so connected when we are out on the field together, we’re able to read each others thoughts, and adapt to our next pivots while planning our next shot, and not being in other’s shot. It’s kind of like swing dancing with someone, anticipating each others moves, being in sync, and learning to let things we can’t control just flow. While working with your partner is not for everyone, as my mom often reminds me of her not-so-successful experiences with my father, I find we’re in a unique situation where we are able to give each other more honest feedback than I would get with a coworker or boss.

Website: https://hartleywilderness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartleywilderness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hartley-Wilderness/pfbid02LaYLQB3PzuLz8CqSuk1MfifhzWamHaw52cVJhhhaWeskPPkbDYCCKVjzHdy1P4KTl/ 

Image Credits
Hartley Wilderness Photography LLC.