Meet Brendan Luke Trogdon | Owner/Lead Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brendan Luke Trogdon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brendan Luke, how does your business help the community?
When starting Royal Photos, and as we continue to grow, I have had so many ideas for making it better and giving back to the communities we serve!

Whether it’s adding new services and products, bettering our client experience, or creating helpful resources for not just our clients but all engaged couples and the other audiences my business caters too, I’m always trying to add value without adding costs.

Giving back to the communities we serve is constantly on the forefront of my mind – it’s one of our main missions! Each year a percentage of revenue & time is designated to giving back. Some of the ways we’ve given back to the communities we serve include donating our time and services, like our partnership with the St Louis Clydesdales First Responders Baseball Team or our work with the Wentzville Police Department! We’ve also donated our services as items in silent auctions for various charities and events, while also covering those same events.

There’s also something new we’ve been working on that’s still in the planning phase; something I’m super excited about – a scholarship/business grant for aspiring photographers. To help them further their education or give their small business a boost!

We’re always looking for ways to give back!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I definitely describe my style of photography to be more documentary with a true-to-color/light & airy editing style. I can pose and direct when needed but prefer to remain out of the action, capturing the genuine moments and emotions!

I’m probably most proud of my portfolio and the client’s I’ve been able to serve all over the US. When I started Royal Photos I made the decision to start my portfolio from scratch, instead of including work from before this business! Since then I’ve been continuing to curate it. The client’s I’ve been able to serve are diverse in so many ways. I love that I can be inclusive and that the LGBTQ+ community, along with everyone else feels comfortable with us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I wish I could answer this in more deatil but I’m still new here! It would definitely be an adventure for the both of us though there may be one or two spots I’d definitely like to take them.

Now that I’m living only an hour outside of St Louis, I’d love to be able to take them Downtown to the Arch and the Mural Mile – maybe even do a helicopter tour or something fun! But we’d also be able to explore the country area out here and all of the trails/scenic views.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Tons of people deserve credit for my successes! Without my lifetime mentors, all the photographers I’ve met along the way, the wedding professionals, clients, and everyone in between, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

One person I attribute a lot of my businesses success to is my partner for sure though! He’s not only a huge supporter in so many ways, he’s also my gear carrier, personal chauffeur, and has even been my second shooter at several weddings. He has traveled the country with me capturing other’s beautiful stories, all while we create our own.

When it comes to my photography abilities, a lot of it was trial and error – self-taught. I have online courses, in person workshops and trainings, a few college courses, and a lifetime of taking photos under my belt. Some of my favorite resources are leaders in the industry, Udemy & Coursera, and YouTube.

Website: theofficialroyalphotos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialroyalphotos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theofficialroyalphotos/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/royal-photos-troy