Meet Brandy Dawson Photography

Hey guys! Whew, it’s been a whirlwind past couple of weeks! The blog has had some AMAZING posts lately… I am blown away by how beautifully talented each one of our blog contributors are! Last week I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Brandy of Brandy Dawson Photography. This woman is fierce, driven, and a pillar of strength and wisdom for everyone she meets! She’s also a fabulous portrait photographer… she’s SO good! The first time I saw her work, I was looking through her photos from a missions trip she took to Africa, and they were phenomenal! Brandy’s shots just exude so much emotion and beauty. Her style is bold and classically beautiful, just like she is. I am so excited to introduce you all to Brandy… be sure to check out some more of her work through the links at the end of this post!

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi ya’ll!! My name is Brandy and I live on a farm in Columbia, TN with my husband and our stray cat, Tail Pipe! We just moved to TN a few months ago and I am super excited to be here, to get settled and to finally lay down some roots and grow our family and my business! I own a portrait photography business and I am so thankful that God gave me this passion! It has allowed me to meet so many wonderful clients and grow with their families which is super important to me! I never thought I would be a business owner. In all honesty, I figured I would be behind a desk during the day and coaching sports after school. But, it’s been amazing to see God working in our lives to allow me the opportunity to pursue this passion and use it to connect with so many awesome people I would not otherwise know! When I am not taking pictures with my “big girl” camera I am most definitely taking them with my iPhone, enjoying coffee dates with friends, in the kitchen cooking up something awesome for dinner, or planning my next great adventure, as I love to travel!

Where is home?

Well, until now, home has been a little all over the place but my husband and I just moved to Tennessee a few months ago and we love it!

What is a website/blog you frequently visit?

I am actually really bad about keeping up with blogs but I spend a ton of time on IG and Pinterest and Houzz and I get linked back to a lot of blogs and websites that way!

If you could have lunch with one person, who would it be?

My Granny (great grandmother) – She passed away almost 2 years ago but I would love to go back to her house and be in the kitchen with her. We would make fried chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes for lunch and homemade bread and watch the gameshow network!

What are five words friends would use to describe you?

Loyal, energetic, outgoing, generous, encouraging

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Well, I will be 35, so hopefully settled in our new home here in Tennessee with a kid or two! Business wise, I would love to have a successful and consistent client base with a dedicated studio space that reflects my style and is flooded with beautiful natural light, but we will see what God has in store!

If you had to choose one lens, which one would it be?

Sigma Art 35mm 1.4 is my jam right now!!

What’s in your camera bag?

Canon 5DMKIII, Canon 5DMKII, Sigma Art 35mm 1.4, Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 100mm Macro, Canon 70-200mm ISL, but the 85mm is on my wish list and I am tempted to give up my 70-200 for the 135mm as I LOVE fixed lenses!

How long have you been doing photography?

I have been doing photography officially since December of 2010… so 4 years now.

What type of photography do you specialize in?

I am a portrait photographer! I believe in the seasons of a woman’s life, and the importance of capturing them all — the celebration of a graduation, that unmatchable moment when she realizes her family is about to grow bigger, the everyday matters that are rarely mentioned but deserve to be treasured. I see the value in walking with people through life. From senior portraits and maternity shoots to family photos and newborns, I believe in finding the crossroads in my own work where beautiful meets bold and classic photos merge with the timeless endurance of a woman’s life.

Did you go to school for photography?

I did not go to school for photography…I actually went to Texas Tech University on a softball scholarship and graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. The ongoing joke is that I “fell” into photography. Literally. It all started with my point and shoot camera falling into the water on my honeymoon. After my husband suggested replacing my camera with a bigger investment, a fun past-time morphed into something so much bigger — a heart to grow, teach, and capture women in their big and brave moments.

What advice would you give your 15-year-old self?

WOW… this is a great questions and I can think of so many things I would tell myself (looking back) but I think the advice I would give myself is to follow your heart and stand firm in your beliefs no matter what others are doing or saying. Don’t give into the peer pressure and never do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Listen to that still small voice and really think about the decisions you are making because they matter more than you think.

How does your relationship with God affect the way you do business?

It affects everything… 100%… and I would not be where I am, doing what I am doing, without Him. He knows my heart and my passion for connecting with people and placed photography in my life for a reason. I pray that I am always using my business to serve others by capturing their special moments and I hope they they see something different about me because of my relationship with Jesus.

What is your favorite verse?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
JEREMIAH 29:11

How would you describe your style?

Simple, Bold and Classic – I love a mix of organic neutrals with bold pops of colors and I see so much beauty in the simple things. It really translates to my style of photography.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

My husband is the love of my life!! We are college sweethearts just celebrating 11 years together. He’s such an amazing man and a true gift from God and I am so blessed to call him my husband!

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My parents/sister and grandparents and great grandparents – I can’t really pick just one but I can say that my family as a whole has been such a huge support. Everyone played a different roll through the stages of my life thus far and I am super grateful for them! They raised me up in a godly home environment, supported me through all of my sporting endeavors from age 4 through college, and are a sounding board and listening ear whenever I need them and they are such a blessing to me! I love them so much!

If you could shoot with another photographer, who would it be?

I loved getting to shoot with Sue Bryce last year but if I had to choose someone else I think it would be Amanda Holloway – her senior portrait work is EPIC!!

Where do you find your inspiration?

I draw a lot of my inspiration from the clients I work with. I love getting to know them and serve them and ultimately pull from their personality and interactions as a family. Its so fun to me because each one is so unique and different!

If you could choose one person to photograph, who would it be?

I am going broad here, but women who have never been photographed or women who have gone through a transformation — hitting a weight loss milestone, becoming a mother, being 50 and fabulous, getting ready to graduate high school or college, etc.

Places you can find the Artist:

www.brandydawson.com
www.instagram.com/brandydawson
www.facebook.com/brandydawsonphotography
www.pinterest.com/brandyd
www.twitter.com/brandy_dawson