Meet Brayden Heath | Brand & Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Brayden, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve always felt like risk is at the heart of growth. Whether in life or a career. I think it started for me with skateboarding as a kid. You’d try the same trick a hundred times, fall, get hurt, get back up, and then one day it finally clicks. That taught me early on that anything worthwhile comes with some level of risk.
In my career, that shows up as having the guts to believe in yourself, even when things feel uncertain. Freelancing can be daunting; you’re constantly asking yourself where the next project will come from or how to create work that reflects your style and voice. But risk is what pushes you to keep showing up, to create, and to accept that failure is part of the process.
A friend of mine once shared a line that now hangs above my desk: “Putting in 80% gets you 80% back, but putting in 100% gets you 1,000% back. The last 20% is where the magic happens, because almost nobody goes all in.” That stuck with me. To me, risk isn’t about recklessness; it’s about being willing to commit fully, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Photography has taken me all over the country and even around the world, and what I love most is the people I’ve met along the way. Over the years, I’ve tried just about every niche you can imagine, which has given me the confidence to jump into any project, whether it’s raw, editorial-style moments on the street or carefully styled product photography in the studio. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to capture meaningful moments that really bring meaning and value for my clients.

That said, the journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve lived in six different states, and each move meant starting over, finding new clients, rebuilding my network, and proving myself again. Out of everywhere I’ve been, Colorado has been the most rewarding. The creative community here is so collaborative and down-to-earth. People jump in to help, no matter their role on set, which feels very different from the vibe in NYC or LA.

What I want people to know is that this isn’t just a career for me, it’s who I am. Photography is how I process the world, how I connect with people, and even how I dream at night. I’m serious about the work, but I also believe in keeping it fun. For me, the magic happens when you’re creating something meaningful together, something that lasts far beyond the shoot itself.

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.
Great question. I’d kick things off with dinner at Super Mega Bien in RiNo. It’s one of my all-time favorite spots. They do modern Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese dishes dim sum–style, with carts rolling around the room. Everything’s meant to be shared, and there’s such a fun variety that it always feels like an experience. After that, we’d keep the night going on Larimer Street in RiNo. Lots of energy and great bars.

The next morning, I’d pack things up and show them what Colorado’s really about: the mountains. We’d head south to the Great Sand Dunes, which honestly feel otherworldly, then make our way over to Telluride. It’s one of the most beautiful mountain towns I’ve ever seen, and camping up at Alta Lakes is unreal. Peaceful, quiet, and tucked away in the alpine.

Back on the Front Range, I’d take them through Boulder. The bike culture there is incredible. The city has the best bike infrastructure I’ve ever seen in the States. Riding around the trails is always a blast. That night we’d hit Avanti for dinner and drinks, then walk Pearl Street to soak up the local vibe.

Honestly, it’s always tough to make an itinerary for Colorado because it’s so vast. You could spend a lifetime exploring and still not see it all. But I think that mix of food, nightlife, mountains, and small-town charm gives a pretty good taste of what makes this place so special.

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?
I’d first like to shout out my photography professors at Oklahoma State, Kelly Kerr and Nathan Harmon. Kelly taught me how to be lean, quick on my feet, and always ready to capture the moment, skills that shaped my editorial styled work. Nathan gave me a deep appreciation for lighting and the technical side of studio photography. Most importantly, they both instilled in me the passion and persistence it takes to stick with this industry. I feel really fortunate to have had that balance of two very different approaches, because I still find myself blending their lessons into my work today.

I also have to give a huge shout-out to my best friend and longtime collaborator, Shane Farnsworth. We’ve been working together for over 15 years, and I can’t count the number of times his encouragement, creative eye, or lighting wizardry have elevated a project or just kept me sane when I needed someone to talk shop with.

And of course, my wife and son. They’ve been there through it all, supporting me in the highs and the lows, and holding things down at home when I’m on the road. I couldn’t do what I do without them.

Website: https://www.braydenheath.com

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Image Credits
Brayden Heath