Meet Brandy Isadora: Photographer & Author

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

Hi Brandy, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’ve spent most of my life in Arizona, so I feel a deep connection with Phoenix, particularly with the art community. From the time I was very young, I was immersed in the arts in one way or another. As a child, my parents collected vintage movie posters and glamour headshots. The walls in my home were covered with the faces of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Bridgette Bardot, Errol Flynn, David Lee Roth, and many others. As a result, I became fascinated with photography. However, it wasn’t until many years later that I would even consider photography as part of my career. When I was eighteen, I invented the Bisadora Hip Purse, which received an Engineering Patent and launched my career as a handbag designer. During my time in the fashion industry, I learned a lot about photography, marketing, and being an entrepreneur in the art world. Over time, I realized that I loved combining my skills as a photographer and writer. In 2014, I decided to turn that passion into a career. Since then, I have published two books, the award-winning Tattle Tales: Tattoo Stories and Portraits and Mannequins: Stories of the First Supermodel. My experiences have taught me the value of hard work and patience, which I feel has given me the foundation to be successful. 

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.
My mission as a photojournalist is to use my skills as a photographer and writer to provide a space for people to feel seen and heard. It is my goal to not just snap a picture, but to share people’s stories through photography. I love exploring and learning subject matters that are unusual, challenging, and at times controversial. There is certainly nothing easy about working as an artist because there is a lot of talent out there and the technology for marketing and advertising is constantly evolving. I’ve had to forge my own path, and I accomplished this by being very clear on where I wanted to be in my profession and then setting goals and a timeline for everything I wanted to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend were staying with me for a week-long trip, I would take them on some road trips to some of my favorite places, such as Jerome, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. We would also visit the Phoenix Art Museum and check out the local music scene. Of course, no trip would be complete without a food coma, so I would take my friend to a variety of great restaurants like Hana Japanese Eatery, The Henry, and First Watch, to name a few.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents have always been supportive of me, so I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank them enough for their love and support. There have been many times when I felt uncertain or defeated, but their encouragement kept me going. My parents definitely deserve a lot of credit.

Website: https://brandyisadora.com/
Instagram: @brandy_isadora
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/brandy-isadora-6007374
Twitter: @Brandy_Isadora
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandyisadoraphotography/