Meet Brandon Roland of Olathe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Roland.

Hi Brandon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This is a tough one! When I was a kid, my brother and I used to mess around with a camera and make funny videos, so the camera aspect has always been part of my life. Fast forward to 2017, I got back into riding dirtbikes and bought a camera to take photos of my friends riding and then have them take photos of me. I only had connections, so everything I’ve learned was all self-tough through trial and error or even YouTube; my connections in the local motocross scene eventually led to portrait photography when a friend asked me to take couples photos for her. That’s when I found my newfound love for capturing people rather than sports. Ever since then, I’ve mainly focused on shooting portraits, working with high school seniors and local models, and even branding for local entrepreneurs!

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We all imagine a smooth road, but things seem to go differently than planned! Everything has been pretty smooth, but there have been some hiccups. They do not pertain to something physical, etc. There are many emotional struggles when getting into something of a passion that you want to turn into a career. Sure, some people see success overnight, but for me, there have been times of lows where I question it. But those are the times you try even harder and keep pushing forward. I try to set a higher standard than I should, but that’s because I can reach it at some point! I strive daily to better myself and my craft; if you get comfortable, you don’t feel you need to progress. Therefore, I like to stay in the mindset that you can continually improve no matter how good you think!

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work? What sets you apart from other? What are you most proud of?
I am a Portrait Photographer who specializes in bringing out people’s authenticity through photography. Mainly, I work with models to help update their portfolios. Recently, I’ve been getting to expand and work out of state for larger modeling agencies. But occasionally, I capture headshots and social media content for local makeup artists, aestheticians, and salons. I’m most known for my clean lighting and edits; my photos maintain the focus on the subject rather than distracting elements.

What sets me apart from others is the environment/energy I offer when on set. I am very good at breaking the ice and creating a fun but professional atmosphere. That is something that has developed over time; there are some days I’ve shot 20 models in one full day. With that many people, you have to be good at getting them to feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera!

The thing I am the most proud of? That’s a hard one. I’m so hard on myself with criticism that it makes it difficult to choose. I was getting to work alongside Redbull for a motorcycle event that comes to Kansas once a year. Other than that, I would be getting to work out of state for another agency. That proves my work is valuable even at a larger scale outside of Kansas City!

Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
I don’t have good luck, but that got proved wrong this year when I won a V-Flat photography product giveaway. If you do good to others, good will come to you. So far, that has worked for me; I’ve made great connections with local artists and even helped manage local creative communities, such as The KC Rising, alongside a few other remarkable local Photographers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.MotivatedVisuals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motivatedvisuals?igsh=em83c3oweGxzZzI%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motivatedvisuals?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brandon_roland