Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Keller.
Hi Brandon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Hawai’i on the island of Oahu. Those roots affect the way I strive to conduct my life and business, and the culture of my childhood inspired the name of the company. “Pono” is a Hawaiian term that can be understood to mean righteousness, goodness, balance, and zen. I’ve always felt a connection to the term, and I try to reflect those qualities within my life. My upbringing taught me patience, empathy, honesty, and care for others that I try to show in my professionalism. It helped me to understand how my words and actions can both positively and negatively affect those around me. As a result, I feel like I always try to be my absolute best to give others around me a greater chance to succeed in their own goals and aspirations.
After graduating with a film production degree in May of 2018, I figured there was no better time to take a big swing and establish something I could call my own. Starting a media company offered me the greatest opportunity for growth, personally and professionally; it allowed me to expand my skillset in unexpected ways. It presented challenges I didn’t think I was ready for. I’m grateful for the experiences my work has brought, and the opportunity for growth is what motivates me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being in a creative industry, the nature of our work can be arbitrary at times. The self-critique and occasional murkiness of creative vision prove to be bumps in the road – we are our own harshest critics, after all!
As a fairly young business, we still experience growing pains as we evolve and grow in our work. One thing I’ve had to learn quickly is balancing risk in business decisions.
I don’t consider myself a risk-taker, though I think establishing an independent company is inherently risky. Risk can also be found within the subsequent steps taken to grow the business.
I’ve come to conceptualize risk as to the likelihood of seeing a return on investment, whether it is of time, money, mental bandwidth, work-life balance, or anything else. My decisions revolve around the input and output results of a given possibility – how likely is it that this money I’m spending will pay itself back? How quickly can I expect that payback to happen? How likely is it that I’ll never see this money again?
Not all risk is created equal. Sometimes it pays off to take a big swing, even if you end up missing. I sometimes find myself having to bet big to take a meaningful step forward. In those situations, the variable of risk tends to be more substantial, as it becomes more likely the value of the investment may not be recovered. I assess the company’s ability to deal with the worst possible outcome; if we have enough money, time, energy, etc. to afford the potential loss of investment, there’s less reason to hesitate.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Pono Media, LLC, we offer videography and photography services to help our clients tell their stories, connect with their audience, and capture their most important memories. From marketing and social media videos for businesses to headshot, family, and pet photography, our skillset and portfolio span a wide range of projects. Establishing a healthy professional relationship with our clients is always our first priority, which gives us the chance to collaborate closely in pursuit of their ultimate vision.
We strive to provide a high-quality experience to each of our clients and customers. I consider it important that our company shares the aloha spirit and the qualities that make Hawai’i and its people one of a kind. It helps establish a strong foundation with everyone we work with and brings us closer to capturing a client’s message, story, and memories with the care they deserve.
Our brand has been built by direct referrals and word of mouth. I find that the best working relationships are forged when we really get to know our clients. It’s easier to build a meaningful partnership when you have a mutual connection rather than through anonymous emails or texts with a stranger.
What matters most to you? Why?
I would say mutual respect and kindness are at the top of my list. The word “aloha” is much more than a greeting – it is a spirit of collaboration, goodwill, and human affection without necessitating reciprocity. It’s the authenticity of both thought and action to demonstrate goodness to the world.
To me, healthy working relationships are founded on this mutual care for one another, as it leads to a willingness to work together towards a common goal. It shows an understanding of the human relationships within the work and demonstrates a desire to nurture a connection rather than a blind devotion to a bottom-line profit. When both sides agree upon those pillars, the sky’s the limit.
Contact Info:
- Email: brandon@ponomediallc.com
- Website: www.ponomediallc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pono_media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ponomediallc
Image Credits
Abby McConnell
Brandon Keller
