LETTER FROM THE EDITOR | Brandon Burrell

In today’s world, it seems change is everywhere. There is some good, and there is some bad. In this case, I see this new change as a good thing. Even though a lot of you may have seen my photography over the years or even know me, let me introduce myself. I am Brandon Burrell from the Asheville, North Carolina, area. I enjoy long walks and … wait, wrong article, oops!

Let me start over. I am Brandon Burrell and your new Editor-at-Large here at Street Trucks magazine. I have been a freelance automotive photojournalist since around 2001 and have taken photos all over the country for more car, truck, and bike magazine titles than I can even remember. I’ve covered events, shot features, shot multiple covers, shot tech articles, and written tons of magazine stories. Street Trucks was actually the first “print” magazine I ever shot for, so being able to run the magazine that gave me my first chance is a huge honor for me.

I have some extremely big shoes to fill. Those shoes belong to so many people I have not only looked up to for the past couple of decades but was also able to work for and even call my friends. The late Courtney Hallowell shot my first ever magazine feature back in 1998 for Mini Truckin’ Magazine on my first show vehicle, while Brian McCormick gave me my first opportunity to take photos for this magazine. Both of those guys, along with other past editors, like Travis Noack and John O’Neill, have inspired me with their photos and even pushed me to become better with each shoot I do.

I got my start in this industry trying to be like those guys, so to be in this position now, I plan to bring back the level of photography they started this magazine with and grew it to be known for. I also plan to ensure that we only run the best-of-the-best trucks to give our readers goals for their own builds. To me, Street Trucks has always been a “dream book” for so many people, and keeping that aspect is what I will strive to do.

Now, how about a little about myself, so you guys will know how this transition came about? Up until about a year and a half ago, automotive photography was just a weekend side hustle of mine while I worked a full-time job Monday through Friday. I would travel to shows multiple weekends a year to try and shoot as many custom vehicles as I could.

Leaving that 22-year career allowed me to focus on taking photos full time for clients, such as Street Trucks, and starting an automotive detailing company out of my house. I’ve also had multiple personal vehicle builds in magazines over the years and built multiple SEMA vehicles as well as building one for this year’s show. (Check out more about this year’s build on page 108.) So when Chris Hamilton called me and offered me this gig, it was a no-brainer that I had to take it.

Being a truck magazine editor has been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember, but even if offered, it was never something that I could have done. But now with my life being more flexible, the timing was right, so I said yes! Don’t worry, Chris isn’t going anywhere. He is staying with the company but moving to a bigger role. You will still see him around, and he will still contribute to the magazine.

For as long as I can remember, custom vehicles have ruled my life. I don’t hunt, fish, or ride dirt bikes. I live for cool rides and base everything in my life around them. I even had one of my recent SEMA builds at my wedding in 2021 and included it in a lot of the wedding photos. I am a gearhead through and through, so working on cool rides, showing them, or even sitting around the garage talking about them with friends is my whole life. Between that and the fact that I have been doing automotive photography for as long as I have, I hope to not only provide our readers with plenty of high-end truck builds but will also ensure that the photography showcases those trucks the best it can.

Even though my vision is to make this magazine the best it has been, I still believe in listening to our readers to see what you guys want to see more of. If you have a truck you feel should be featured in Street Trucks, have a suggestion to make things better, or anything you want to see in the magazine, shoot me an email. I look forward to making this magazine even better! If you want to follow my personal pages, you can find me with the @burrellimages screen name on all social media platforms, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, or check out my personal website, www.burrellimages.com.

Brandon Burrell

bburrell@engaged.media

I have some extremely big shoes to fill. Those shoes belong to so many people I have not only looked up to for the past couple decades but was also able to work for and even call my friends.