We’re all familiar with the images used in Bellarmine’s fun social media posts, informational brochures, and heartwarming videos, but have you ever wondered who’s behind the camera?
Brendan Sullivan has been serving as Bellarmine’s Visual Storyteller since 2020. He watches the growth and development of hundreds of Bellarmine students from behind the lens, capturing endless memories, popular events and commemorating graduations.
“One of the best parts about working here is the community. Being able to document that same community, day in and day out, is certainly a joy and a kind of privilege,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan describes his approach as a storyteller and journalist as “human first.” During his decade in the fast-paced field of journalism, he learned how important it was to cover difficult or urgent events with empathy and kindness. Now, at Bellarmine, he prioritizes capturing the unique joys and experiences every student encounters during their journey.
“I have [photographed students] on their first day, and then also photographed that same group of students walking across the stage as they earn their degree and move on to the next chapter of their life.”
Building relationships with students and other figures on campus has been one of Sullivan’s best experiences. When he joined Bellarmine’s faculty, the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging. Nearly every photo he took of students featured masks and social distancing, which hindered our ability to connect freely.
However, as masks disappeared and campus events returned to normal, Sullivan discovered what makes Bellarmine so special: “It's the community. It's the people.”
Sullivan employs a careful creative process, whether behind the camera, at the computer, or in front of an interviewee, to perfectly showcase Bellarmine students' lives.
He considers photo and video “two different mindsets,” prompting him to keep two separate settings ready on his camera. Regardless of the medium, lighting is crucial. While covering events on campus, he captures a variety of still images, video clips, soundbites, and more to compile impactful and moving content to show during special events, such as Week of Welcome’s convocation or graduation ceremonies.
The editing process relies on a tagging system created by Sullivan: “I tag all the files with prominent information so that it's searchable and I can find it down the road.”
“I enjoy being creative and having a camera in my hand, but so much of my job does not involve a camera in my hand. It's done with editing or producing a video, or archiving things or, coordinating, scheduling people's interviews, and setting up equipment. [We have] terabytes and terabytes of files, and we organize them in a way so that they can be used and can be enjoyed by viewers.”
These tags include the names of relevant students and the nature of the event attended. Later, Sullivan color-codes the pictures he deems his favorites and uploads them to Bellarmine’s photo archive on Flickr.
This archive contains “thousands and thousands of searchable images,” which Sullivan and the teams responsible for Bellarmine’s visual strategy use to best convey the company's impact and experience.
“...Because of my journalism background, I really try to have that approach of capturing genuine moments and showcasing how these real things are happening,” Sullivan said. Prioritizing the personal experiences of each student and authentically capturing them is another aspect of his “human first” method of storytelling.
“I'm doing something I look forward to doing each day,” Sullivan said. “The relationships I am making here and the stories I'm telling here still mean a lot.”
Sullivan recommends that aspiring photographers or visual journalists “focus on the positives” and find a career that “pushes you to be a better person [and] a better employee” and “stretches your mind [and] brings you joy.”
If you’re interested in building the skills and experience described by Sullivan, Bellarmine offers a variety of courses that target the creative muscle of artists and storytellers. Classes such as Beginning Photography, Video Art, or Digital Production Studio can aid you in your mission to capture meaningful stories and experiences—and they are all available during the Fall 2025 semester. Learn more about our programs and majors.