Meet Brandon Vallejo | Professional Portraits & Events Photographer

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

Hi Brandon, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think there are moments we live through, that in reality, are ways in which the universe communicates to you, whether you are on the right path or not. Being that it is still early in my career, There have been many situations where I question the quality of my work, how I stack up against the wealth of photographers also trying to make things happen, or that I needed to go back into a 9-5 because the money was more secure. We all have doubts, and this is only multiplied exponentially, when it is your art and passion, that you are attempting to sell in order to make a living. But then… something happens

You book a shoot that you didn’t expect, perhaps, or you meet someone new, and it leads to another opportunity to show your work. Then you edit the photos, and you make a breakthrough in the quality you are able to deliver. Maybe you master a new technique, and when you deliver the gallery, your client reaches out and expresses with joy, how amazing of a job you did, that they would not imagine working with anyone else. It is like a breath of fresh air, a motivating push, and a shot in the arm to just keep going. A reason to keep improving, and a purpose to get you out of bed each day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In order to properly answer this question, I need to drop some background info, while making the biggest attempt to not write too much.

I grew up as an illegal immigrant in the state of New York, having moved when I was only 5 years old. Upon graduating from high school, I wanted to further my education, but could not attend college, since I was not a US citizen or resident and would not have been able to travel or apply for a job. This is where I made the tough call to go back to México permanently, to get an education and pursue a professional career. Having left as soon as I received my diploma from Suffern High School, I immediately started my advanced education, majoring in Communications at Christopher Columbus University Mexico in Veracruz Mexic0. This is where I was first introduced to Photography, but it was never something I thought to do as a job, let alone my own business.

3 and a half years into my new life and I received a rude awakening. At 3pm in the afternoon, on March 27, 2014, I was kidnapped and was missing for 5 days. This is normally where people have a million questions, like who kidnapped you, why did they take you, what did they do to you. In the interest of keeping this interview brief, those details will have to wait for another day, but the TLDR is my captures believed I was an American citizen, and let me go under threat to my life. I fled to the American border and plead for a political asylum. I spent 3 months in immigration jail until my background and identity could be cleared, and was granted a parole into the country in early June 2014. From there, I had to restart my life from scratch. Immigration court, thousands of dollars, PTSD, therapy, and confusion took over my life at this point.

One day, out of nowhere, a friend asked me to take some workout photos for him. When I sent them over he told me I should be charging for my work, that it was very good, and that is the moment BVD.image was born. BUT, it didn’t happen overnight. Years of reading and studying photography techniques, working for free, practicing non-stop, then charging $20 for headshots. With every passing year, my craft continues to improve, and my clientele is slowly snowballing. I am not exactly sure how I got here, I only try to pour love into everything I do and always do the best I can, regardless of how big or small a project may be.

I have been told I should write a book countless times, but I have no idea how to do that kind of thing. Given the chance, I would love the opportunity to speak out in regard to the difficulties people go through when traversing the American immigration system legally, and the path that led me to take my business full time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
MY FRIENDS AND I LOVE FOOD

We go out of our way to find new and authentic foreign restaurants, and cherish the opportunity to try so many cuisines, given our location in NY, where you can eat anything you can imagine.

Once we decide on a day, then comes the tough choice. Do we go Korean, or Mexican? Perhaps Indian, or Persian. We set a time to get together, and carpool to our chosen spot. We normally eat more than we should, so we don’t get dessert. Instead, we stop at my local stop N shop on the way home and stock up some snacks. Watch a movie, play some Xbox, talk some shit, and everyone goes home happy. I am 30 lol, My buddies and I are not party animals by any means, we all just want to decompress from the pressures of life and laugh together.

If you need a specific example, our go-to Ramen spot is called Menya Sandaime, in Fort Lee, NY.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
MY WIFE Alyssa without a shadow of a doubt.

She is my best friend, my number 1 fan, my every day crush, my ride or die, and everything in between.

When you first decide to take the risk to take your passion full time, there is a degree of fear and anticipation, and having a shoulder to lean on when life gets heavy is absolutely paramount. Any time I feel like giving up, or I am questioning the path I am on, she is there to put me back on my feet. She has shown me, in the years we have spent together, what unconditional love looks like. I thank the universe every day for putting her in my life, and I can do my best each day to remind her of how amazing she is.

Anyone that knows us personally can attest to how much we have been through, and surpassed, together.

Website: https://linktr.ee/bvdimage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bvdimage/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdimage/

Image Credits
All photos are mine and were taken by me. @bvdimage