Meet Drew Bennett | Freelance Cinematographer & Photographer

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

Hi Drew, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think most freelancers would argue that there’s a healthy amount of risk we have to partake in order to thrive and grow in our careers. For me, the whole notion of leaving the constant cash-flow of my previous job of bartending and entering into the creative economy was something that I saw not only as risky, but not financially viable. It wasn’t until COVID turned the economy upside down that I truly decided it was time to make a serious go at freelance photography and cinematography.

Taking calculated risk has been somewhat of a theme not only in my career, but also in my life as a whole. After I graduated from Appalachian State University in the mountains of North Carolina, I knew I wanted to get out to bigger mountains and a larger metro area where I could start working in the photo industry. After consuming an endless amount of content from outdoor magazines and YouTube videos, I knew Colorado was where I needed to be. I had to work two jobs, leave a girlfriend behind, and move to an area where I knew absolutely no one. It’s still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and at the time it felt like a huge risk to take. Fast forward 5 years and Colorado is home. I’ve connected with a community here, cultivated a strong client base, and found a person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I’ve worked hard to put deep roots in this state and learned the valuable lesson that sometimes the right path isn’t always the safest or easiest.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For me, photography and filmmaking has always been about telling stories of how humans interact with the natural world. I knew very early on that I didn’t want to be stuck in a studio all the time. The narrative human element has always been what interests me the most. Whether it’s been telling the story of climate change with the National Science Foundation or working with professional athletes to build a more inclusive outdoor industry, I find the most meaning in working on projects that educate and advocate. It’s this same approach of human-centered storytelling that I take with me into commercial and advertising projects. In the corporate world in recent years, we’ve seen a huge shift to a more narrative approach to marketing and brand-building by storytelling and aligning with consumer values. Because of this, I’ve found that my documentary approach to visual media transcends into the commercial world, an area and industry that I’m excited to explore more as a young creative.

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?
One of my favorite pastimes is escaping the city! So if I had a friend visiting from out of town, we’d maybe spend one evening getting a incredible dinner in Denver somewhere in RiNo or the Highlands and then spend the rest of our time hiking, biking, and exploring the many mountain towns Colorado has to offer. I love taking out of town friends on long drives through one of our high elevation mountain passes and watching their reaction to the endless views we have in this state. A perfect day is one that begins on the trail in Summit County and ends at Outer Range Brewing, my favorite brewery of all time.

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?
This is a hard one. There are so many people that have made where I am today possible. My mother raised me by herself and gave me the resources and courage to chase my dreams. Without her, none of this would be possible. Professional, very early in my career, there were a few photographers that really went out of their way to support me. Richard Steinberger and Daniel Bedell are both professional creatives that at times gave me a place to live, mentored me, paid me extra, and gave me constant constructive criticism and support. It’s unfortunate that the two of them don’t know each other. They truly helped kickstart my career and taught me what it meant to work hard and continually improve your craft. Not only are they mentors that helped shape who I am professionally, they’re also close friends who I respect immensely.

Website: www.drewbennettphoto.com

Instagram: @drewbennettphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbennettphoto/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drew.bnntt

Image Credits
Behind the scene image of me photographing girl in studio: ©Kirstin Anne