My name is Brady Cooling I am 24 years old and I live in San Diego, CA. I am originally from Ocean City, MD where I spent almost my whole life before moving to California. My journey into photography began over three years ago in 2014. It is something that began by accident, and was not something I would have ever known I would want to do or love so much. However, ever since then, it is one of the things in my life that I cannot live without!

I was fortunate to grow up at the beach and be exposed to the ocean and so much beauty in one place. It was truly a special place for my childhood and family, but little did I know that this place would spark my creativity in a way I would not have expected. My first memories of photography were looking through endless skateboarding, surfing, and music magazines and looking at the photos more then the words. Along with this, was my mom taking thousands of at the time (annoying) family photos of every place and thing my family did almost every step of the way. Seeing friends in the surfing and music industry taking photos and getting to capture the special moments of these events really inspired me to want to do what they did. My love of music and nature pushed me to pursue photography and showcasing what was in my backyard and the places I traveled. Once I realized these passions and being inspired by friends, the fire was ignited, and that was all she wrote..

I came to a big crossroad in September 2014. I was originally going to transfer from community college to a big four-year school in Maryland. However, at the time the fear of being in debt swayed me differently. Instead of transferring, I waited a semester and decided to work and travel more during these few months. Arguably the most important thing that came out of this decision was me picking up my first Nikon DSLR. On a whim, I took every photo I had ever admired, watching all of my friends taking photos, and the amazing town I am from (Ocean City, MD) and the amount of concerts I went to in a year and bought a camera.

I knew nothing about photography, and after finding people to mentor me, endless hours spent watching videos, and asking (and probably annoying) my photographer friends with thousands of questions, I felt it was time to begin this next stage in my life. Also since this time I have graduated with a degree in environmental studies and art from Salisbury University, which has truly driven my focus and passion with photography/art, but also my concern and love of the environment from spending so much time outside at a beach town, but also my studies and to combine these two loves into one piece of art.

Since then, this journey has taken me across the US (moving across the country twice), shot over 200 concerts and nearly 400 artists, shooting surfing in swim trunks and also in over a foot of snow, countless new friends met from my travels, years of happiness, learning, and fun, and most importantly has given me a new sense and purpose of life and what I want to do here.

I want to tell stories. I want to show my passion  and love of the variety of subjects I shoot. I want to work with as many diverse people, places, and things possible in this world; and shoot everything possible always. I want to try new things, be different and create my own path. I want to never stop exploring and never stop learning in this craft and getting better each and every day I shoot. Most importantly, I want to have fun and be the best person I can be through my love of photography!

So if you want someone who is as passionate as you are for your next wedding, festival, event, concert, portrait, commercial event or anything in between please don’t hesitate to contact me to help curate and capture your special moment and memories whatever they may be!

And Remember:
“Don’t watch the music play,
listen to the music play!”