Who's Who: Brian Molyneaux
Brian Molyneaux was raised on the South Side of Chicago. Yes, it's capitalized. Went to The Second City for Improv acting and is currently in an Improv troupe. Lived in Ireland, San Francisco, New York, and Oakland. Shot lots of street photography in each of those places. Has been told he's sort of funny. Loves life and photographing people and eating food. Not all at the same time though. Brian now lives in Oakland, CA, has a family, and a dog. Shoots professionally and is a commercial photographer.
How did you get into advertising?
I did a lot of assisting over the years on advertising shoots as well as on editorial and corporate photography shoots. I was fortunate to have had on-the-job training while working with a lot of great photographers. Advertising always appealed to me for the collaborative aspect of working with a lot of moving parts and people all gathered around one common goal: to create compelling imagery for a client and for myself.
The most recent personal/passion project you are/were working on?
I have been working on a personal project every day for almost 2 1/2 years now, which I call my One A Day. Each day I make a portrait of a person I meet on the street, in cafes, etc. and immediately create a connection with them. In just a few minutes I blur the boundaries that we both carry to get to something deeper and to create a great, or hopefully great, thoughtful and engaging portrait. I meet people where they are not only physically but also mentally and have been able to be a sounding board on many intimate life stories. They have allowed me to bare witness to whatever is going on with them in that current moment. I feel grateful and blessed that the connections I am making every day on the street with people I do not know until I say hello are impactful for me as well as they are for them. My project is about reconnecting with our humanity (people) in a genuine and respectful manner in a world that seems to be connected more technologically and less interpersonally.
On a technical note, I photograph everyday using a manual lens on a digital body, I get my shot(s) in less than 24 frames, all in usually 2-5 minutes. I am creating content, curating my project, and posting on social media everyday. I am continuing on with this project with no end date in sight. The project can be found on my Instagram. Please follow me/it there.
The next big thing in advertising is going to be?
The humanizing of brands and more focus on diversity and gender equality in the marketplace which is also the next trend for the planet, I hope.
The piece of advertising work you wish you had thought of is ...
Dove campaign for Real Beauty or the Old Spice campaign The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.
The internet/digital tool you couldn’t live without is?
Instagram.
In a film about your life, you’d like to be played by?
In no particular order Jimmy Stewart, Ricky Gervais, Cary Grant, Matt Damon, or me. I know the script really well.
Words or phrase you overuse?
“Chin slightly down, no, half that.”
Your last social media update said?
Alabama #oneaday #portrait #portraits #commercial #artdirector #creative #rep #50mm #lifestyle #brianmolyneauxphotography #nikon #editorial #photography #oakland #ca #everyday #faces #human #people #light #creativedirector #portraitoftheday #color #pink #green #pattern #fabulous
Your dream collaboration is?
Any large project with a great respected agency/brand that makes a huge social impact while showcasing the pluses of the client. Win, win, win.
The last piece of music you listened to was?
There is a lot of great music on my Spotify Discover Weekly right this minute as I write this but I’m really feeling Car Seat Headrest, Hinds, Chastity Belt, Broncho, and Thee Oh Sees currently.
BRIAN MOLYNEAUX
917.242.5756 mobile
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmolyneaux/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianmolyneaux
Twitter handle: @BMolyneaux
