Meet Brie Childers | Photographer and Producer

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

Hi Brie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I used to think of risk-taking as a risk I was taking, and it always warranted caution. I no longer agree with that perspective. Now I think of risks as something that I have to seek out and do with enthusiasm. Go big or go home. No risk, no reward. These quotes were intended for the bold personalities in high school sports. But now I see how necessary they are for my current career, and why the risks are what I got “right” when I was starting out and building a career.
When I was 25, I went to Paris with black and white xerox portraits of my friends on the beach (NOT fashion) and went to go see a modeling agency to get feedback. I didn’t get hired that day. The agent probably laughed as soon as I left. But taking the b/w pics with me to Paris, and making the phone call that got me an appointment, and then showing up with a $300 jacket from Zara (not $3000 from Chanel) … is an example of a risk-worth-taking. The biggest risk was my ego if they rejected me by laughing. The biggest payoff was that I didn’t hear a “NO”, I heard a “you need to work with stylists and make up artists”. That helped me move forward.
And now I try to think of risks that could make me stand out. I say “yes” when I am not sure that I can pull something off, as long as there is enough time for me to figure out how to pull it off. I approach clients even if there is only a small chance that I’m the right photographer.
Taking risks has to be a part of my marketing plans.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a fashion and portrait photographer. I try to take photos that aren’t the typical pics. I love sensuality, sincere emotions, unusual poses, lighting that is dramatic. I love when people are themselves and take risks while we are shooting. I like trying new things, even if they sound lame or cheesy. There is too much “good work” out there, with people looking and acting “good” in photos. I need to be better than good. I’m always looking for something that is real, but something that is a bit extra or unusual. Boring is boring.
Was building my career easy? Being a great photographer is easy for me now, after years and years of working. But the word easy never comes to mind when I think of my career. I can’t even think of all the challenges, but my own biggest hurdle is asking for the money I deserve rather than working for what people are offering. I’d rather work than sit at home, so charging what I am worth is hard for me.
My story started when I went to school to learn how to use a darkroom and tungsten lights. Then started to sell photos on coffee shop walls. Moved to LA and worked for free all the time. I always control what I can control, like showing up early and being ready for things to go wrong. I still keep knocking on doors. Never had a Plan B. Got frustrated when guys who yelled at their assistants and acted like jerks got the jobs over me, but that was the normal thing. Got really depressed when instagram took away the novelty of celerities in their living rooms or sexy women in a small bikini. Branched out. Was too “all over the map”. Found my way back to my niche. Now I feel the most confident that I’ve ever felt about my work and about myself.

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?
Angel City Game
Beach day at Annenberg including eating lunch at the restaurant and ordering fries
Getty Museum visit
Hopefully my brother’s band Zachariah or my friend Kerry Hart would be playing at the Hotel Cafe one night
Hang out for an afternoon at my studio and take some pics in some cool dresses or suits
Eat at Gwen on Sunset and let go of my “no beef, no pork” rule for a day
Volunteer for an afternoon at my friends’ pop up store, NelaPurge , that is helping families who lost their homes in the fires in LA

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 could thank a long list of amazing people, starting with my family. My husband has been my cheerleader and helper every day. I’m going to give my career shout out to my old mentor, Joseph Viles, a photographer who knew how to take beautiful photos and enjoy his job and be a perfectionist and also a great family man.

Website: https://www.briechilders.com/

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

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

Twitter: quit it. recently.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brie.childers

Image Credits
Photos all by me. IN them: Cassie Jo Craig, Cristo Fernandez, Helen from Q, JJ Winks, Wendy Both, Robbie Jones, Lindsay Price Stone, Carolina, Marjory from Q Models