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

Hi Brendan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My photography business began as a side hustle, simply because people were asking for it. People saw my images in social media, and either wanted to purchase prints or hire me for photoshoots. So I got into the business almost by accident. But once I started doing it, I realized I loved it, and had the potential to do it full time. About a year later, I decided to take the leap and am now doing photography full time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a passion for capturing and communicating beauty. Over the years that’s taken various forms— music, writing, design, etc. Taking that passion and turning into a career was a journey of self-discovery. My previous career wasn’t a good fit for me, but I felt trapped. My photography side hustle was a creative outlet, and it took me a while to realize that that sort of creative work was what I was actually good at and should be doing. That realization helped me take the leap of faith into a new career as a photographer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The zoo! Part of my brand is nature photography, and I always tell people that you don’t need to travel the world for wildlife shots— you can find them in your own backyard. And the zoo is a great place to start.

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’m so thankful for the several friends and family members who said to me over the years, “Your photography is really good; you could make money on that!” Those little encouragements ended up being life-transforming, giving me the courage to step out and pursue creative work full time.

Website: www.brendanbealephotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/brendanbealephotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brendanbealephotography

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