Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Babineau.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m currently the team photographer for the Boston Celtics (14 years), Boston Bruins (24 years) and house photographer for TD Garden (23 years).
My father, Steve Babineau, who has been a team photographer with the Boston Bruins since the late 1970’s, put a camera in my hand for the first time during the 1993/94 Boston Bruins season at a game at the old Boston Garden while sitting in families season ticket seats in the Loge. After a few games shooting from that position (more for fun than work), I tried shooting games from a hole in the glass at ice level. In my first year photographing the Bruins, my images graced the covers of the Hockey News, Sporting News, Ea Sports Video game box cover, hockey cards, posters, calendars, etc. all while I was only 15/16 years old.
Today looking back at the last 24 years, I have traveled around the world with my camera, photographed multiple Stanely Cup Finals, NBA Finals, World Series, All Star Games, Winter Classics, photographed at the White House, worked with many bands, became a staff photographer with the Red Sox, and have done advertising work with Nike, New Balance, Puma, Reebok and have my images published worldwide.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Probably the biggest change in my photography career was the conversion from Film to Digital. When I started shooting professionally, I was shooting slides (chromes) and with manual focus cameras. I shot like this for many years. Lots of film processing, editing, and scanning images and sending slides out to magazines and card companies.
I believe I shot my first Bruins game digital with the Nikon D1 (2.7mp) camera during the 2000/2001 season. Though the quality wasn’t nearly as good as it is today, it was a new technology at the time that I grasped and it was exciting. Now, Instead of mailing out slides of hockey photos, I was now sending disks to clients. Everything became faster. No more film processing, waiting, scanning, etc. Then when internet technology became better, where you were able to start sending images via e-mail, etc…There was no turning back.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Brian Babineau Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I am the team photographer for the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics. House photographer for TD Garden. I also specialize in concert photography. I have done work for years with Pearl Jam and in the last 10 years have become a main photographer for NKOTB. I’ve also done a lot of advertising work with Puma, New Balance, and Reebok.
I’m known as “Babs” in the photography world (my nickname). I’ve been witness to, and have photographed some of the most memorable moments in Boston Sports history in the last 24 years. Stanley Cups, World Series, you name it – I was probably there.
Most proud of? The fact that I have captured images that are already being recognized as Iconic images, and as the years go by, they will always hold that title. I’ve been lucky to be a part of many great moments, teams, etc. and being in that position has given me the opportunity to photography great players, championships, and make amazing images we can all look back on and love.
What sets me apart from others? Probably that I started so young in the professional field. That I started with film and manual focus cameras. And my father didn’t really teach me much, I kind of had it in me and he recognized that very early on. I’m very self-taught, studied a lot and still study to this day. I’m always trying new things to keep my creativity juices flowing.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe luck has anything to do with it. Being in the right place, at the right time, and having the talent to do something, and take advantage of it and work hard at it is why I am here doing what I do today.
Did my father open a door for me? Yes he did. But did I work hard, teach myself everything I know, and take the opportunity and run with it?… damn right I did. I’m still working hard and running with it to this day.
You won’t get anywhere if you don’t work hard. All the connections I’ve made, amazing companies and people I’ve worked with are a reflection of hard work and people recognizing your dedication and passion.
If I feel lucky with anything, it’s when the Boston Bruins and Celtics have amazing teams, seasons, playoffs, championship runs, etc….that’s really fun to be a part of and I do feel lucky to be there to document it.
Contact Info:
- Website: brianbabineau.com
- Instagram: brian_babs_babineau
Image Credit:
Brian Babineau
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
