Brandon Oda
Based in San Francisco, Brandon Oda brings a spark of creativity to portrait and landscape photography. Oda grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs, where he first began to develop his artistic eye. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and majored in photography. While he was in college, he began to sell pieces and to take commissions. This helped him to put himself through school and built his reputation as a quality photographer.
His work in the national parks has gained him nationwide recognition. He frequently takes photos for nature and travel magazines. Oda specializes in landscape photography, but he also has a successful side business in portrait photography. He frequently works with models and with families and children.
Brandon Oda is not only a skilled photographer; he is also a software designer who has created a new photo editing program. He hopes to sell his program to a software company so that he can profit from it. He uses his own editing program in his work, giving him a unique edge over other photographers. His combination of technical skill and artistic vision make him a force to be reckoned with in the world of art and design.
When Oda is not taking pictures, he enjoys taking weekend vacations with his wife. They enjoy exploring all that California has to offer. Recently they spent time in Lake Tahoe. Wherever he goes, Brandon Oda takes his unique artistic vision. He is a force to be reckoned with in the worlds of art and software design.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to take road trips with my wife. We were recently married and we’re still in the newlywed stage. I love to spend time with her and to explore the open road. When I’m at home, I enjoy working on home automation projects. We can control everything from the lights to the thermostat using voice recognition. I know I drive my wife crazy when I constantly change things. I also love spending time with our friends. My wife is a great cook, and we frequently have friends over to enjoy a meal and good conversation.
What is your favorite TV show?
I don’t watch very much TV, but my favorite show is The Walking Dead. I don’t normally go for horror, but I enjoy how the characters have developed over the many seasons of the show. It can be gory and violent at times. My wife doesn’t like it, she would rather watch a food show or a British period drama like Downton Abbey.
What are your aspirations in life?
One of my dreams is to sell my editing software to a leading company. I want to share my work with the world. It doesn’t hurt that I would probably make a large profit from the sale. I love photography, but it isn’t a very lucrative field. My next aspiration is coming true this year: I have a book deal. My book is a compilation of my best landscapes. It’s going to be published by a small press. I have always loved photography books, and it’s exciting to know that people will be browsing through my photos at home. I hope to inspire young people to try photography.
What is one thing you’ve learned since starting your career?
I’ve learned to believe in myself and in my artistic vision. When I was younger, I spent too much time worrying about what other people thought of me. I constantly tried to reshape myself to fit in with their expectations. It’s impossible to have an original vision when you’re always looking over your shoulder. When I went to RISD, I learned to detach myself from others’ expectations and to work for myself first. I was able to take a lot of risks in college, and I believe that they taught me to be a better artist.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
It really annoys me when people are rude and thoughtless. It doesn’t take much time out of your day to be kind. In the photography world, egos can be huge. I don’t like it when people have an inflated view of their importance and when they feel like they can step on others to get what they want. I’m living proof that it is possible to have a successful career without feeling like the world revolves around me.
