His first photography shoot resulted in the client declaring: “I don’t hate it.”

It wasn't exactly a glowing review, but it was enough to launch Brandon Morrison into an entirely new career.

Mr Morrison had stumbled into visual work almost by accident and, remarkably, was paid for the first thing he ever shot.

“The first thing I ever shot was pretty bad, but the client's response was, ‘I don't hate it,’” he recalls.

That weekend, he flew to New York, bought himself a camera and got to work. Today, Mr Morrison is an event photographer and videographer whose work also extends into corporate headshots, portraits and brand content. Many of his clients first encounter his work without necessarily knowing his name.

“Most people find me through a web search, maybe they saw a recap of photos or video from an event they attended, or they're looking for a headshot or portrait photographer for the corporate space, which is a big part of what I do too.”

His approach has changed considerably since that first shoot. Like many people learning their craft, Mr Morrison spent his early years experimenting with different ways of shooting. Today, he is far more interested in the details and emotions that make a moment feel like itself.

“Whether I'm capturing a brand story or a personal story, I'm trying to capture the feeling and emotion I'm experiencing for the first time, right there in the moment.”

The same philosophy carries into event coverage. There are certain shots clients expect from a recap, but Mr Morrison also looks for smaller details that catch his attention.

Visually, he describes his style as “clean, bright and true to colour”.

He generally avoids heavy colour grading and flashy transitions, preferring the images and action to do the work. More recently, his video work has moved increasingly towards short-form content.

“I try to keep it upbeat and full of pure action.”

But making something visually appealing is only part of the job.

With social media feeds filled with polished imagery and the life span of online content becoming increasingly short, Mr Morrison believes good storytelling is what makes a piece of work stand out.

“Everyone's out there shooting ‘pretty things’, but what separates a great video from something that simply looks good is the story. Structure and intent. When you shoot with a plan and you're able to execute it and bring it to life, it makes a world of difference.”

That desire to experiment is also pushing him into new territory. Some of the work he is most excited about recently has involved experimenting with artificial intelligence in the visual space.

This summer, he shared some of those experiments with youth groups and summer camps, introducing young people to the technology and watching them begin to explore it themselves.

“Watching them grasp and explore the concept has been really incredible. I'm looking forward to sharing some up-and-coming creations.”

Building a creative career in Bermuda has also taught Mr Morrison the value of versatility. A small market means creatives don't always have the luxury of specialising in only the work they most enjoy.

“There's plenty I don't necessarily enjoy shooting or having to do, but my bills don't discriminate.”

For him, being able to offer both photography and videography has at times been essential rather than optional. But the size of Bermuda's market also creates a working life that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

“Where else in the world would I get to shoot for a magazine over breakfast, cover a speaking engagement with the Premier at lunch, and fly a drone for sunset the same day?”

That variety has become part of the career that began with an imperfect first shoot and a spontaneous trip to buy a camera.

Mr Morrison is still experimenting, but these days the goal isn't simply mastering another technique.

“Right now I'm working towards better storytelling and developing a style I'm genuinely proud of.”

And after years of learning how to make things look good, increasingly, it is the story behind the image that interests him most.