Brandon Day shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Brandon, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’ve always been a bit of a wanderer, and that’s shaped much of my adult life. There are certain paths we all recognize—school, careers, the traditional steps toward success—but I’ve rarely followed them in the usual order. In the corporate world, I found opportunities not by submitting resumes but by connecting with people, listening, and offering help.
Over time, I realized the defined path often felt safe, but it left little room for curiosity—and curiosity is what drives me. It’s what pushed me to leave the corporate world and build Daybreak Media, where I could combine creativity with purpose.
Now, I try to balance both. Running a business demands structure—there are processes and systems that keep things running smoothly—but I still leave space to explore. The best ideas, projects, and connections often come from wandering a bit off the path.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Brandon Day, founder of Daybreak Media, a Colorado-based visual media company focused on photography, videography, and storytelling that connects people to purpose.
After years working in corporate communications and investor relations, I saw how often powerful stories went untold. I started Daybreak Media to change that—to help organizations and individuals share the human side of their work through authentic visual storytelling.
Our projects range from documenting construction and energy crews in the field to producing cinematic wedding films and brand stories. What makes Daybreak Media unique is the way we blend precision and emotion—combining the discipline of production with the curiosity of a storyteller.
Right now, I’m producing a documentary about Mooseman, a story of addiction, recovery, and the healing power of nature. It’s deeply personal and represents the kind of work I want Daybreak Media to be known for: stories that remind us of resilience, connection, and the beauty of second chances.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think most relationships—whether on a production set, in client communication, or personally—break down when communication, trust, or accountability start to slip. Trust is usually the first thing lost, but it’s often the result of poor communication or a lack of accountability. People aren’t mind readers—it’s easy to assume someone understands what we mean or expects what we expect. On the flip side, it’s just as easy to unintentionally offend someone who might understand a situation even better than we do.
For me, asking questions is the best tool I have. It slows everyone down, invites dialogue, and lets each person connect their answer back to the process we’re working on. Accountability, I’ve learned, tends to erode most quickly with people we’re closest to. Maybe it’s because expectations shift, or because familiarity blurs the lines of professionalism. Either way, accountability is something I can control, and it starts with me.
When things do go wrong, I lead with ownership. A good example was a contract where the time listed didn’t match the actual event start. I arrived later than the client expected and missed part of the event. My first words were, “I’m so sorry—how can we make this right?” I stayed late, the event went smoothly, and the client ended up hiring me again. That experience reinforced how quickly relationships can be repaired when communication and accountability return to the table.
At Daybreak Media, we put communication first, and because of that, we rarely face long-standing issues. Even when a project timeline slips, the team owns it, communicates it, and we move forward. When communication, trust, and accountability are all present, the workflow improves, the respect is mutual, and projects just run smoother.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, and it was fairly recent. I had a stretch where nothing seemed to go right. Weather delays threw off shoot schedules, projects were pushed back, and I was still processing the loss of my dad. Then I got sick—the kind of sick where you have no energy, no drive, and you just want to sleep until it passes.
But when you run your own business and you’re a husband and a father, that’s not really an option. My wife stepped in and took on so much of what I usually handle. She was incredible, but watching her shoulder my responsibilities made me feel like I was losing my sense of worth. Over time, that feeling built up until I was just empty, depressed, and ready to give up.
I remember sitting alone in a dark room, angry at everything, and realizing that the world wasn’t doing this to me. I was doing it to myself. Projects were delayed? That happens. I was sick? Then go to the doctor. I missed my dad? Of course I did, but he wouldn’t want me stuck in that space. He’d want me outside, chasing the next adventure, living fully.
That moment didn’t fix everything overnight, but it shifted something. I understood that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable—it’s about knowing when you’re breaking and still choosing to rebuild. Running a creative business comes with uncertainty, and sometimes it feels personal when things don’t go as planned. But that low point reminded me why I built Daybreak Media in the first place: to create something rooted in purpose, even when life gets messy.
Now, when things go sideways, whether it’s a slow season, a reschedule, or just the weight of it all, I go back to that night. It reminds me that I always have a choice: to pause, to reframe, and to keep moving forward.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. Like most people, I wear different “masks” depending on the context. The version of me a client sees on set is different from the version my son sees at home, which is different from the version my close friends see over coffee. That doesn’t mean any of those versions are fake — they’re just facets of the same person.
At work, especially as the face of Daybreak Media, I focus on being steady, dependable, and creative. Clients need to know their project is in good hands, so I project calm and clarity even when things are hectic behind the scenes. At home, I’m more vulnerable, more reflective, and sometimes more uncertain.
The thread that ties it all together is my core values — curiosity, accountability, and respect. Those don’t change no matter which “mask” I’m wearing. I think the public version of me is real, but it’s a curated slice.
The deeper layers come out with time and trust.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I think about things like this often. Honestly, if I only had 10 years left, I probably wouldn’t be answering interview questions — no offense.
But really, time is the one thing we can’t create more of. We trade it away every day, and most of us don’t realize how valuable it is until we start running out of it. If time were money, we’d wake up each morning with a goldmine to spend — and it’s up to us whether we invest it wisely or waste it.
I’d stop spending time on things that don’t move the needle for the people I care about. Family is everything to me, and while I already try to make that a priority, I’d double down on it. I’d spend more days camping, playing, and experiencing things together — not just existing side by side, but really living in those moments.
Technology connects us in incredible ways, but it also takes something from us if we’re not careful. The human connection gets thinner. If I had 10 years left, I’d want to make sure I was fully present — less screen, more sky.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daybreakmedia.com
- Instagram: brandonday_co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daybreakmediallc/
Image Credits
Brandon Day
