Welcome to Shot Archives

Moon | October 21, 2016

Creation.  It is defined as the action or process of bringing something into existence.  Wouldn't you agree the power to create is an empowering concept?  Excuse the formalities behind this first blog post, or lack thereof, but I hope that by introducing myself it will shed light on why I created Shot Archives and my motives moving forward. 

My name is Brandon Miyasaki and I did not go to school for photography or videography.  Just a few years ago I was still designing graphics on Microsoft Paint and Microsoft Publisher, which should tell you two things about me.  First, aside from my iPhone and Apple Watch, I prefer PCs (no Apple dongles for me).  Second, in the past few years I have had to overcome some daunting learning curves to get to where I am at today.  I have probably read over a thousand forums and watched 99% of the instructional videos on Youtube ranging from "What are the best muslin clips on the market?" to "What the heck is chromatic aberration?"  The more I learn about photography, videography, and graphic design, the more I respect the process and the professionals and amateurs who fill my Instagram feed with stunning creations.

Clients will often ask me why I got into these art forms and I offer 4 responses.  

Response #1: After graduating with a business economics degree from UC Irvine (zot zot), my Dad entrusted me with helping him and his colleagues run operations and boost marketing campaigns for start-ups and corporate companies.  It soon became apparent that many companies struggle with creating quality marketing content and I saw this as an added opportunity to help these businesses grow and resonate with their prospective clients and consumers.

Response #2: I was immersed in art at a very young age from my mother who is a creative mastermind.  She would tell me and my eldest sister that only stupid people get bored. I hated hearing it at the time, but it taught me to appreciate different perspectives and "think outside the box".  Today, when I shoot an object, film a scene, or edit a photo, I make sure to capture multiple angles and try different variations because I often find my original vision isn't always the best.

Response #3: Story telling is a very underrated art form.  In today's modern society, everyone has a camera on them whether it be a professional setup or a camera phone.  There is something special and gratifying if a cameraman is able to tell a story just from a single photo or bring out emotions from a video clip.  It is my responsibility for my clients and my own body of work to capture the best story through my lenses.

Response #4: It is therapeutic. I think we can all agree that sometimes life can take its daily toll on us and the camera allows me to refocus my energy on something that I am truly passionate about. 

As Shot Archives further develops I hope to share my creations with you, learn from you, and provide a resource for others to draw from.  I am excited. I am nervous. I am ready to create.

This is just the beginning. 

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