EP 111 - The Truth About Shooting Analog in the Wedding Industry with Brjánn Batista BettencourT
This week on the podcast, I got to sit down with someone whose work I’ve admired for a long time - Brn James. Brian has one of the coolest photography journeys. He’s thoughtful, intentional, and completely rooted in the world of analog. We talked about everything from creative identity to navigating an industry that loves trends a little too much.
Meet Brjánn
Brjánn (Brian) Batista Bettencourt is a Toronto-based photographer and cinematographer whose work lives at the intersection of documentary truth and nostalgic longing.
Brjánn’s career spans photojournalism, editorial portraiture, and motion-picture work, with tenures at the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Country Music Television, where he photographed renowned artists such as Shawn Mendes, Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley and Florida Georgina Line. His analog film work has been featured by CBC and placed him on the cover of PhotoLife Magazine for his work with Kodak Ektachrome.
Today, Brjánn works internationally across weddings, editorial assignments, and long-form personal projects, drawing inspiration from his coming of age experiences in the skateboarding community and duality of cultures as a Portuguese-Canadian. He lives in Toronto with his wife and collaborator, photographer and designer Ryanne Hollies.
Why Film?
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing Brjánn talk about why he shoots exclusively on film. For him, it’s not about being trendy or nostalgic - it’s about the physical, mechanical, slow, intentional nature of it. The way film forces you to pay attention. The way it holds emotion.
He put it perfectly: “I’m not just shooting film because it’s film. I want my photos to convey a feeling that is authentic to the moment.”
And honestly? That sums up his work so well - honest, emotional, rooted in human connection.
Stepping Outside the Box
When Brjánn moved into weddings, he didn’t do it the “traditional” way. He followed what felt right, leaned into his own strengths, kept pushing himself creatively, and didn’t let the industry dictate what his work should look like. That in itself is such a good reminder: the best work usually comes from trusting your own experiences and letting them shape your style - not copying what’s popular online.
The Luxury Wedding Myth
We also dove into the whole “luxury equals success” messaging that floats around the wedding industry. Brjánn shared how so many photographers get caught up thinking that shooting luxury weddings is the end goal, when really, success looks wildly different for everyone. What matters is connection, fulfillment, and creating work you’re proud of - not chasing an image of success that someone else made up.
Community + What’s Coming Up
And speaking of creativity and community… Summer Camp is coming up May 11–15, 2026 in Hood River, Oregon. It’s truly the most immersive photography retreat I’ve ever put together - packed with creativity, film, connection, and just getting back to why we love this work in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Brjánn’s story is such a grounding reminder that the best thing you can do as a photographer is stay connected to who you are. Let your life shape your perspective. Let your curiosity lead the way. And don’t be afraid to define success on your own terms.
Thanks for listening, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of this one.
Connect with Brjánn:
Stay tuned for a potential Super 8 workshop happening in 2026!
Website: www.3bphoto.ca
Instagram: @brjann.c0m
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