Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Chatlien.
Bryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got started with Photography while growing up in Alaska. I was surrounded by landscapes, wilderness, and wildlife on an incredible scale, yet was always puzzled as to why it was so hard to capture on film. It was only a hobby then, but I kept working on how to translate some of the most beautiful things in this world into a format that I could share with others.
After a brief stint in the Navy, I moved to Dallas for a job at T.I. and pursued acting and filmmaking part-time in my off hours. I’ve earned my chops working as director of photography on Independent Films, Tv Projects, Corporate Training Videos, and plenty of other projects. That film style was carried with me as I transitioned back to still photography, and began working with the finer details of peoples faces as opposed to massive landscapes. There is a balance to the many aspects of shooting different types of photography, especially when people are involved.
Every client needs a wholly different style, feel, and message in order to connect with their own intended audience. The most fascinating part is that we are wired to see the subtle truths in people’s facial and body cues. If you think of body language as an actual language, it’s a fun process to learn how to translate it to English, which makes you a better listener and clearer communicator. We play with that a little each time the camera comes up, and I get to share some of the things I’ve learned with my subjects. I look forward to continuing Marketing, Fashion, and Art photography, and have always dreamed of being sent off on an assignment like National Geographic Photographers.
The next step is combining the Landscape Photography of my childhood with the skills and style I have spent my adulthood mastering.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been plenty of bumps on the road. Photography is an expensive career, and trying to manage expenses, build a studio, and take care of yourself is a long, slow road. I went almost 10 years with no personal, recreational travel because I was concerned about money, and was afraid that I would miss the email or phone call for a vital booking.
That’s doubly frustrating, and kind of funny, if you remember that one of my dreams was to be a travel photographer. When you mix the concrete difficulties of the budget with the Impostor Syndrome that all artists struggle with, it means that your progress is not always steady or even linear. It was years before my work was up to my own standards and I felt confident about showing it off.
I don’t have a photography degree and have not taken any Photography, Editing or Business courses. The lessons have been slow and occasionally costly to learn, and I used to wonder if I’m missing the boost ahead, or leg-up that I might’ve gotten by getting a formal education and getting that piece of paper in my hand. That feeling that I was lacking something led me to talk with professors at an Art College a few years back.
I applaud their honesty because after talking with me and looking through my portfolio, they admitted to me that anything they could teach me, I was already doing and learning on the job. A few weeks later, my phone rang, and it was a client that had been referred to me by one of those professors… that was a much-needed morale boost.
I’ve learned over the years that the important thing is just to keep moving. It doesn’t matter how fast you’re moving, as long as you’re moving forward. Rather than getting lost in the vision of building your “palace”, as so many of us do, I keep busy doing what I call “Making Bricks”. No matter what you want to build in the long-term, you need bricks. Bricks are minor, but they add up.
Keep busy doing those little things that will add up, and eventually, you will be able to build that palace. Every edited photo I add to my portfolio is a brick. Every light I add to my kit is a brick. Every successful shoot and a happy client is a brick. Alone, they’re all just bricks, but over time, they add to the business that I’m fortunate to call mine, and they’re all priceless.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is primarily based around portraiture. Specifically, Actors Headshots and Corporate Headshots. Two very different beasts. Corporate headshots are short sessions with a large number of people who may or may not care if their pictures turn out well, and most of whom are utterly unhappy doing a photoshoot. Usually, all I need to do is play with each person a little bit and get a few genuine, flattering smiles from them.
Actors headshots are very different. Believe it or not, even actors get nervous about headshots. Their Headshot is crucial for their career, and subtleties count for everything. A pause of a quarter-second between shots can be the difference between that charming million-dollar smile, and a questioning look that speaks of insecurity. The energy conversations become extremely important, and a successful shoot can help change someone’s life.
My time shooting headshots has taught me attention to the tiniest details, which is critical even when shooting huge scenes or large groups at once. I’m proud that I’ve shot fitness, fashion, catalog, product, art, marketing and editorial… and that I’m still finding new directions to explore and play.
After 15 years of gathering info on photography tricks, gear, and practices… I’m about to start up a youtube channel to give a little back. Tune in for lessons on photography. We’ll be starting at basic levels and working up as we go along.
What were you like growing up?
I was (and still am) an introvert. I had horrible stage fright and would do anything to be behind the scenes in school and church musicals. That’s one of those handicaps you can sometimes learn to tame since I truly enjoy being “on” in front of people now, but absolutely cherish my alone time to recharge. I loved swimming, building models, and drawing when I wasn’t bingeing sci-fi books and movies… Those things relaxed me and let me recharge in a way that few other things could. Growing up in Alaska, you spend huge amounts of time outdoors regardless of the weather, and we loved long camping and hiking trips.
Pricing:
- $400 Senior Photos sessions, in-studio and outdoors at places that inspire you
- $250 Actors Headshots, in-studio and with natural light, to get the ever-critical variety in your portfolio.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bryanchatlien.com
- Phone: 469-363-1604
- Email: info@bryanchatlien.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatlienphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bryan.Chatlien.Photography/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZBKUM1NWH15FJxV29OKEg
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
