Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Brandenburg
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thank you for this opportunity. As a Mexican American, I’ve faced personal challenges with my career and identifying what makes me happy. My career started as an Interior Designer and continued for twenty-five years. I worked with corporate clients on their commercial interior design projects. I felt an attitude of gratitude for all the projects I was able to work on with my architect husband. After twenty-five years, I needed a change and had a bug for photography. My interest in photography started during my college years. I learned to develop film in a dark room with 35 mm film shot on my Pentax K1000-a starter camera for all budding photographers. Although I finished my college studies with a major in interior design, I did two semesters of photography and learned a lot. At the onset of digital cameras and video recording devices, I saved up and got my first digital camera, a Sony. It was the age of shooting photos in automatic mode and having all your files sent to you on a CD. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that I was able to purchase a professional camera, a Nikon D90. It was a starter camera and gave me the opportunity to shoot in manual mode and learn flash. Fast forward to today wherein I have my Nikon D750 and Canon EOS R (mirrorless) camera. From headshots to family photography I sold myself as a beach photographer, like the photographers you see on the beach servicing tourists in Mexico. This was always my dream, service vacationers. Sometimes fate is on your side and with luck, you do get to live out your dream. But the curveball named COVID hit and the world came to a standstill with all service providers. Learning from COVID, was how to pivot; how to expand services. Expanding my services is what saved the day. Today, I offer a variety of services to my client that centers around photography, branding, and marketing. I understand the importance of a good headshot and what marketing can do for a business. The core beliefs of my business is to offer variety of service solutions to new potential clients who desire updated photos, marketing graphics, and social media starter kits to be “in the game” of business.
Although I struggled for many years to find what was my happiness, I learned that inspiring others to be their best with amazing photography was at the essence of my happiness. I enjoy creating value for my clients. It is my joy to adapt, learn, and help others on their business journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey hasn’t always been smooth. Architecture and interior design, my first career, are dominated by men who often lead the construction industry. Every day, I faced the challenge of building mutual respect with male colleagues and fostering a sense of teamwork—a mindset that wasn’t always in place. My second career, photography, is similarly male-dominated, where women are often expected to be in front of the camera, not behind it.
As a female photographer, I bring a unique sensitivity to capturing beauty, love, and joy. I believe that what sets photographers apart is their ability to capture genuine emotion—something essential to our human experience. I look for that emotion in every shot, transforming challenges into opportunities and allowing my resilience to guide me in two male-dominated fields.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Karina Brandenburg Photography?
As an experienced professional, my core commitment to clients is to deliver exceptional, unforgettable service. My approach involves collaborating closely with each business owner to highlight their strengths and refine their brand. With precision and an eye for detail, I craft a brand story and elevate its presence. What sets me apart as a photographer is my dedication to helping people uncover who they truly are and bringing their unique brand to life. Each client’s brand is distinct, like a fingerprint, and I work to capture that individuality in every image. The greatest reward is the joy of seeing business owners recognize the value we’ve created together. My goal is always to meet and exceed my clients’ expectations.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for those starting out is to jump in the pool and get wet. You need to try and fail in order to get better. You have to gain experience to become good at what you do. Always, try to learn something new and give honest feedback to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karinabrandenburg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karina_brand_enburg
- Youtube: Karina Brandenburg
Image Credits
All photography is my work. My headshot is credited to George Lenta.
