Meet B. Bradley Leland | Photographer and Police Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with B. Bradley Leland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi B. Bradley, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started my Real Estate Photography business at the very outset of COVID. I was still going to work my full-time job as a police officer daily, sometimes pulling weeks of shifts in a row to cover for officers who were out of work due to COVID exposure. The world felt like it was a bit out of control and I was seeking a way to control my own life and destiny a bit, so I started researching things that I could learn and challenge myself to start a business – photography piqued my interest.

I saw that there might be an opening for this type of business because one day on a 9-1-1 call, I had contact with a realtor regarding a dispute for a scheduled home showing and some fears about COVID exposure. I put the two thoughts together and decided that there may be a local opening for high-quality real estate photography.

Over time, after a few years and about 250 houses, I moved away from that segment of business and moved toward sports and wildlife photography. It is challenging and inspiring.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a photographer. My main focus is on sports and wildlife photography. I started making photos just before COVID, and I knew nothing about photography at all at that point. I started watching YouTube video after video after video until I started thinking that I might understand the basics. Then my poor daughter became my guinea pig and was such a good sport while I tried to figure everything out.

The initial purpose of learning photography was for me to start a side business. I did real estate videos and photos for a few years. I really lucked out in that business because the onset of COVID restrictions in California meant that realtors were investing more in things like photos and videos. So as a side business, my work really took off. I think I shot something like 330 houses in 18 months. As a side business I was incredibly busy, and eventually got burned out of working two full time jobs. I started to back away, and eventually closed the business completely about 18 months ago.

I was sitting around with all of this very expensive camera gear and was considering selling it. I got a back injury at work and found myself sitting at home with not many physical activities I could do, so I decided to try my hand at wildlife and sports photography.

I volunteer my time at a local high school and community college making sports photos. Amateur athletes are a really a special breed of human – the amount of athleticism, focus, talent, and effort is really something to behold. I had spent some time as a track coach for the local high school and know firsthand just how special these kids are. Going to games and events and giving these athletes photos for them to remember this extraordinarily formative part of their life is special for me.

Wildlife photography started as something to really pass the time. I wouldn’t be able to tell you the name of most of the birds I capture, but I can absolutely tell you where I was and what I had to do to get the photo. Bird photography is incredibly challenging and I really enjoy the art of the pose, the edit, and the capture.

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 am a huge nerd for experiences. If that happened I would probably head to Monterey, CA and take a whale watching trip, stroll along the wharf, and drive the coast with our families. There are a couple of really cool small historical places to visit there. I would probably also head up to the San Francisco Bay Area and tour some of the ships in the bay up there, go see some museums, and maybe listen to some lectures at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. Alcatraz is always fun.

But if relaxation is the goal, my go-to is always South Lake Tahoe. My daughter and I got up there twice a year, just her and I. We love strolling around Heavenly Village, driving around the lake, and finding new places to stop in and visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Above all people, my 13 year-old daughter deserves all the credit for my business. Being a single parent presents enormous challenges in terms of starting and running your own business. My daughter is absolutely my sidekick, and she has been so patient with me as I started and grew my business; the number of photography and business trips she went on with me, how she was always willing to be my “assistant”, and her patience with me as I tried new photography techniques and gear on her makes her so worthy of recognition.

Above and beyond that, the team of friends and fellow-creatives that I have assembled on Instagram and through happenstance meetings has been really inspirational. I love how creative spaces are so supportive of each other.

Instagram: wild_eyed_views & sideline_sports_pics

Image Credits
These are all my photos.