Meet Brandon Vogts | Architecture and Interiors Photographer

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

Hi Brandon, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My rule is that everything—business or personal—goes on the calendar. If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist. One of the challenging aspects about work-life balance as a business owner is that even when you set office hours or other structured routines, there will always be necessary activities that fall outside those hours. The ability to visualize how my time is being reserved and spent allows me to recognize opportunities for better efficiency, or simply realize that I might be overbooking myself. I don’t get “paid time off” the way a W-2 employee does, so if I block off time for a vacation and a work opportunity comes in, I might agree to working outside my normal hours in order to accommodate the client’s needs while preserving my vacation time during the week when I would otherwise be available. Having all my daily activities accounted for ensures I can swap blocks of time as needed. I don’t know a single full-time photographer who works 40 hours per week or less. Photography, or any freelance career, for that matter, requires a commitment beyond the typical workweek. This makes it all the more important to protect your time the same way you would protect your money. You want to know where it’s going, how you can keep more of it, and when it’s wise to invest it for a future return.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” may be cliché, but is nonetheless true in my case. Prior to specializing in architectural photography, I captured a variety of subject matter over the years, not the least of which was an ongoing assignment for my local Nordstrom, photographing the mannequin displays for the visual department. I became proficient at anticipating and addressing issues with intense reflections, high-contrast lighting, and the need for precisely accurate color—all common considerations in architectural photography. With this prior expertise, the transition to architectural photography felt very natural.

For anyone considering starting a photography operation, it’s critical to realize that only about 20 percent of your time will be spent actually photographing. Aside from various pre- and post-production activities, there are various administrative tasks like estimates, invoicing, and contracts. Photography is a business built on relationships, and marketing and networking play a critical role in connecting you with your ideal clients. This will be a challenge to many creatives who “just want to photograph.” I happen to enjoy the entire process, but for those who don’t, understand that those other activities will encompass a large part of your workweek.

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?
I generally encourage visitors to explore activities that first-time tourists would typically overlook, like the Huntington Library, Petersen Automotive Museum, and the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. In a week-long trip, there would still be plenty of time to visit their favorite stars on the Walk of Fame and the other activities most people think of when visiting LA for the first 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?
I’ve received overwhelming support from my family, friends, colleagues, and clients over the years, but what inspired me to become an architectural photographer was a conversation with one of my friends (and one of my first clients), Monty Iceman, a real estate agent here in LA. In 2013, I had recently met Monty through a mutual friend whom Monty was mentoring in real estate. He called me one day and said, “I know you like to take photos, but do you think you could take photos of houses?” I had been photographing since about 2002 and had taken some architectural photos on photo walks just for fun, but had never really considered whether I would enjoy that subject matter professionally. As it turns out, architectural photography was the perfect mix of technical and creative elements to continually inspire and motivate me. As I honed my skills photographing real estate listings in LA, I began working with designers, architects, builders, and others as well.

Website: https://www.brandonvogts.com

Instagram: @brandonvogts.photo

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

Image Credits
Profile photo by James Franklin
Photos by Brandon Vogts / “Harbor Project” design by Nick Fyhrie Studio; Joshua Tree Country Club by Foxden Hospitality