Brad Branson

Being born and raised just an arm’s length from Hollywood, Brad (Bradford) Branson had developed a love of the high contrast black and white film noir style. At seventeen Branson arranged a “chance” meeting with movie legend, Gloria Swanson who offered the charming fan a part-time job as her personal assistant and projectionist. He went on to work in film editing as an assistant cutter before being hired at a top Hollywood photo lab where his appreciation of photography evolved meeting L.A.’s hottest photographers Greg Gorman, Herb Ritts, and Matthew Rolston. With his growing interest in all facets of photography he was soon taken under the wing of renowned photographer, Paul Jasmin who provided a valuable hands on education in portrait photography helping Branson hone his talent and develop a style of his own. It wasn’t long before he became a respected name among his peers and was added to the impressive roster of photographers of the prestigious photo agency, Visages alongside George Hurrell, Paul Jasmin, Herb Ritts, and Firooz Zahedi. By age 22 his portraits of celebrity and underground cult icons regularly appeared in magazines including Andy Warhol’s Interview, Vanity Fair, L.A. Style, and Rolling Stone. He also was granted the opportunity to photograph then rising star of the art world, Jean Michel Basquiat that same year.

Submitted by Fahey/Klein Gallery