BryCox.com – Celebrity Style Imaging, Inc.™

It’s always an honor to be asked to create the official portraits for a campaign.  These types of portraits are incredibly important.  They have to be real, show personality and trustworthiness, and project professionalism.  Some people may never meet Mr. Howard Wallack in person, so his portrait that voters see on billboards, banners, website, and mailers must help tell them who he is.

There is an immense amount of work and skill that goes into a portrait like this, but this is what I do every day for children, families, wedding couples and everyone else — I create portraits that strangers look at and feel that they know the person.

I always like to have a flag in a professional campaign portrait, so we started the shoot in the studio with the flag that I originally acquired years ago when I did Governor Leavitt’s official portraits.  Then we moved to some more relaxed images for options.  I loved how these all turned out.  His smile is genuine, his stance is powerful yet relaxed.

To see more about Mr. Wallack, visit his website, howardwallack.com.  And keep an eye out as you drive along I-15 for some of his billboards!

Senior shoots are so fun.  I get to do all the fun fashion stuff that I love to do, and seniors love it!  Dallin came in for senior portraits and here’s some of my favorites from the shoot.  This first one is on my magazine background, and uses one of my custom pealed edges.  It has a cool retro feel.

Dallin did the Senior Mix Session, which includes both Color and B&W, both indoor and outdoor portraits using a number of sets, and multiple clothing changes.  We mixed looks and created images that show his interests and hobbies.

I love this one below of Dallin playing the guitar.  I toned it with as a multi-tone b&w, and then added some light-leaks on the corners.  Originally when I was shooting the image, I wanted it to look like a band poster.  Now I can totally imagine text on it, advertising his next show.

We also did some cool black and whites in the studio, using some high-contrast fashion style lighting.  This first in a casual shirt, and the second in his letterman’s jacket.

Then some dressy images in the studio and out.  One of my favorites was this outdoor image, taken in my studio gardens.

And then finishing up with some cool images that use his various school jackets.  This first was with his officer’s jacket and his guitar.  I used a set that consisted all of browns, to match his clothing.

And this second with his leather letterman’s jacket and riding a motorcycle.

If YOU are a high school senior and would like a Senior Mix Session like Dallin that shows off you and your personality, give me a call to schedule your appointment.  801-728-3317. 

You know that you are only a senior once, so don’t settle for photographers who try and copy my style and look.  If you want real magazine-style images, remember that my images are used by Capitol Records, national and international magazines like Billboard Magazine and American Girl Magazine.  I have photographed a lot of famous people like Lee-Ann Rimes, Olivia Newton-John, Mitt Romney, and the last four Utah Governors (to name a few).

I WILL do an AMAZING job for YOU, and YOU WILL LOVE YOUR SENIOR PORTRAITS!!

CURRENT SENIOR SALE!

If a Senior Mix Session doesn’t fit what you need, I have other options including a sale right now for only $199 which includes the session fee, 1 outfit, 2-5x7s, 8-wallets of your favorite pose, and a digital copy for facebook and your iPhone.  Give me a call now to set up your time or call me to ask any questions you may have.  801-728-3317.

And visit the senior web page to be entered for prizes and to get more info.

Scott Foster is coming out with a new CD, and we created some awesome images for his project.  We started in the studio and then moved to one of my favorite outdoor locations.

This first image is very captivating.  The expression is great and the selective focus is real, created in camera and not in post-production.  There’s something so great about true, organic, soft-focus and selective focus.  This image is reminiscent to me of a Rolling Stone interview portrait.

Everything we created in the portrait studio was done with the mindset of being different and unique.  A CD has to stand out and almost ask to be picked up, and the images have to do that.  I used a very edgy fashion lighting style on these to create a different look, mixed with a unique stance and fun background.

We then switched it up to Scott playing his electric guitar, again with selective focus before moving outside.

We then went on location to one of my favorite places because it’s so far from anywhere.  As far as you look on the horizon, you won’t see civilization.  We are really in the middle of nowhere, and the colors and textures are so great!  I really like the lines in this particular image, and how they all work with the guitar’s neck.

And here’s the same image in a multi-toned black and white version, because it just looks so cool!  The textures really pop this way.

I love working outside and using the clouds and terrain in Utah.  They add so much drama to an outdoor image if you know how to light it.  Shooting in the desert with exposed sun is very difficult to do well — which is why I love it so much.  Few people can create images like this in direct sunlight.  There is a trend amongst new photographers to call themselves “Natural Light” photographers, because they don’t know lighting and can’t work inside and can’t work outside unless it is in shade or the sky is overcast.  There is no control and their images all look flat and dull.

Contrast that look with these images.  They have depth, they have real highlights and shadows, the colors are real and dynamic, and the sky and scene has drama, and all the lines and colors all work together.  There is no “plastic” looking photoshop effects.  Everything is real and because of that, you feel like you can step into these images.

We ended the shoot with Scott walking away, feeling that this could perhaps be the back of the CD or a foldout page inside.  It gives room for text and design work.

And here is the same image, but in my special multi-toned black and white.  Both are so cool!  Which one do you like?

Well, I can’t wait to see the final CD design and hear all the new recordings that Scott has been working on.  He is a great musician and a real artist and it was fun to be able to create this images for him.

If you’d like to check out his music and get his new CD, his website is TheRealScottFoster.com.

Well thanks for looking and if you need some new portraits for your project, business, or family, give me a call.  801-728-3317.  And browse my main website, BryCox.com and my blog at BryCox.com/blog.

Dallin just came in for his high school senior portraits, and being a football player, we incorporated that into his shoot.

I love photographing seniors because they are so much fun.  They really love and appreciate my crazy, edgy, and artistic side and I have a ball photographing them and creating the best images possible.

This first image is one of my signature art pieces that utilizes my custom edges and art overlays.  These signature pieces are finished with a heavy, textured glaze that really makes the image glow!  It is finished without glass and looks amazing!

We did the big shoot for Dallin, what I call a Senior Mix Session which includes both Color and B&W, both indoor and outdoor portraits using a number of sets, and multiple clothing changes.  This image above was taken inside on the fashion gray set which is a very specific shade of gray that you’ll see used all the time in magazines like GQ.

I love the expression on Dallin on these two images, the tilt of his shoulders in both, and how well the colors work so well above and the b&w works below.

I especially like black and white when done correctly, especially with moody lighting.  A Senior Mix Session is a great way to get a mix of outfits, both dressy, and casual, and get various backgrounds and sets.

I have a number of very cool sets at the studio, while also having a half-acre of English style gardens.  In one place you can get a huge variety of images quickly.

Dallin plays both football for Weber High School as well as golf.  We had a good time creating some very cool sports images for him.  I especially like this image below.

And finally, a fun image in casual clothes that is both fun while having classic appeal.  This is an image that is perfect for parents.  At Bry Cox Studio, I’ll create images that both you and your parents will be happy with.

And finally, here’s the wall composite, utilizing a few of the best images from the shoot.  The idea of a composite is to show different sides to someone’s personality while at the same time creating a design that is interesting to the eye and has a good balance to it.  These composites fit almost anywhere in the house and have been very popular!

Thank you Dallin for coming in!  It was a great shoot!

And if YOU are a high school senior and would like a Senior Mix Session like Dallin that shows off you and your personality, give me a call to schedule your appointment.  801-728-3317. 

You know that you are only a senior once, so don’t settle for photographers who try and copy my style and look.  If you want real magazine-style images, remember that my images are used by Capitol Records, national and international magazines like Billboard Magazine and American Girl Magazine.  I have photographed a lot of famous people like Lee-Ann Rimes, Olivia Newton-John, Mitt Romney, and the last four Utah Governors (to name a few).

I WILL do an AMAZING job for YOU, and YOU WILL LOVE YOUR SENIOR PORTRAITS!!

CURRENT SENIOR SALE!

If a Senior Mix Session doesn’t fit what you need, I have other options including a sale right now for only $199 which includes the session fee, 1 outfit, 2-5x7s, 8-wallets of your favorite pose, and a digital copy for facebook and your iPhone.  Give me a call now to set up your time or call me to ask any questions you may have.  801-728-3317.

And visit the senior web page to be entered for prizes and to get more info.

Last week I spoke in Illinois, right across the Mississippi River from St. Louis.  I took an afternoon to go visit the arch when I first arrived, and took some self portraits.

I used an extendable pole to control my camera, rather than relying on someone else or using a tripod.  This way I can see what I’m doing and get exactly what I want.

I’m still in my flight clothes, with jacket (great for pockets which are much needed on a flight), and Skull Candy headphones (great for movies on the plane, tunes on a trip alone, as well as iPhone calls too).  A local looking at these photos on my iPhone commented that he’s never seen photos of people by the arch where the arch looks small.  Everyone gets images up close, he said.  I specifically choose not to do that, because you just can’t see anything that way — but I did create some more artistic images up close.

It was a fun afternoon and a great start to an awesome week of speaking, teaching, and creating some awesome images!  That part of the week is coming shortly.

If you’re a photographer and would like to attend one of my events, please check out my speaking website for an updated schedule,BryCoxWORKSHOPS.com.  Also, if a big event isn’t your style or if there aren’t any events in your area, you can host a small and intimate event at your place as long as at least 8 photographers attend.  If you can get 8 or more there, you can attend for free!  Call me for more details.

Well thanks for looking and please browse my main website at BryCox.com (or my entire blog if you’re reading this in a separate feed reader like facebook BryCox.com/blog).

My client, Bryan Thayer needed some new portraits for his business, website, and book jacket.  He’s a marketer, author, and speaker and is redoing his website, BryanThayer.com as well as releasing a new book.  So here’s some of the images we created.

We wanted a mix of casual and business, but needed portraits that showed strength and personality.  I really like this first image for that reason.  It’s got a lot of warmth and it is a great smile! We started out more casual and moved towards business, and created images in both color and black and white.

Then we moved to a gray background — gray is a great background for business portraits.  This particular shade of gray is used a lot in fashion and you’ll see it a ton in GQ magazine, but it’s also great when the background needs to be cut out for other purposed down the road.

Here’s one of my favorites in black and white.

And one of our top business portraits from the shoot.  It says a lot in one image, it shows strength, it shows power, and it shows kindness.  I’m very happy with these photographs and know that they will work for whatever Bryan needs now and down the road.  It was a joy to work with him and I hope his new endeavor goes really well.

If you need some awesome photographs for your business, whether they be for business cards, your website, a book jacket, or anything else, or perhaps you just need to update your family portraits this spring, give me a call!  801-728-3317.

Thanks for looking and please browse my main website at BryCox.com (or my other blog entries if you’re reading this in a separate feed reader like facebook, BryCox.com/blog).

Utahan’s already know Bill Gephardt as KUTV’s long-time investigative news reporter and fighter of dishonesty and scams.  He has always been a defender of the consumer and has worked hard to uncover and investigate fraud.  Well he has left KUTV and has started a new business, GephardtApproved.com.  For this, he needed some new commercial head-shots and portraits, and came to me!

His business is a wonderful idea for consumers, and completely unique, while being completely free!  He  investigates and approves only business that stand up to his background checks and levels of integrity, and offers a $1000 customer satisfaction guarantee to customers that have a problem with them.

Here are some of the images we created for his business and website.

Bill is so fun to work with.  I’ve done photography work for him other times in the past both for his family and work, and he is as fun and likable in person as he is on TV.  We had a great shoot and I love the images and am proud to have him use them in his new endeavor.

Bill’s name carries a lot of weight and trust here in Utah, for his defense of consumer rights.  I am excited for his new website and business and think it is a genius idea!

So if you need a business that you can trust, check out GephardtApproved.com.  And if you need some awesome photographs for your commercial endeavor, or even just some new updated family portraits, give me a call!  801-728-3317.

Thanks for looking and please browse my main website at BryCox.com (or my other blog entries if you’re reading this in a separate feed reader like facebook, BryCox.com/blog).

Over ten years ago, I switched my studio completely over from film to digital.  Digital photography was at the time very new, and practically unheard of.  Many told me at conventions that I was making a mistake.  But during that time, I went through the family’s old photographs and created this piece of my Grandpa Tony, who died long before I was born.

When people saw this, they flipped, and many asked me to create mosaics like this of their loved ones.  This started a new product line here at Cox Studio that I called the Cox Timepiece.

Just recently, my dad and others organized a Cox Reunion, for all Cox descendants going back to my Grandpa Tony’s grandpa, and down; something that hadn’t happened in about 20 years.  I was asked to restore many old photographs for my dad and others, so they could be on display at the reunion.

For myself, I went back and found this mosaic in my archives and reprinted it again, as digital printing has improved leaps and bounds over the past 10 years.

When I pulled it up on my screen, I was expecting to make some major changes since I myself have grown in my design and digital abilities over the past decade.  However, I didn’t make a single change.  I was not only impressed with the design, but I just I loved looking at these photographs all over again.

I love the photograph on the right with his tie blowing in the wind, the hunting photo, the suits, the smile….

…and in the bottom left, this vacation photo of my grandparents on the Golden Gate Bridge, dressed for fun.  Isn’t this beautiful?  I love the composition, the posing, the clothes, the paper, and the quality of this image.

I think there is a resemblance too in the family line.  Here’s a recent photo I did of myself here at my studio for comparison.

Looking at these images, I’m reminded of the importance of photographs as heirlooms.  Now more than ever, we’re being bombarded with cheap pictures and the ability to share and see them without ever printing a one.  Those serve a purpose, but the quality isn’t there.  And nothing replaces the ability to hold a photograph in your hand.

These old photographs of my grandpa, though many were snap shots, have a sense of quality, of lighting, and of composition.  They tell a story and were printed so well that they’ve lasted generations.

One of my favorite parts of my job is the final delivery where people can handle and hold their photographs.  Up until then, everything is viewed digitally.  But in the final delivery — after the retouching, the printing, the mounting and glazing and any other artwork is done — in the final delivery, there something tangible.  And with that tangible photograph comes an indescribable palatable feeling that only comes in being able to hold and appreciate a photograph, a feeling that doesn’t exist when seeing an image on a phone or computer screen, no matter how great it is.

If you’d like to see more of my work, or commission me to do a photograph for you, give me a call at 801-728-3317 and check out my website at BryCox.com.

I do a lot of business portraits for people, but it was really fun to photograph my uncle, Bob Cox.  He has reinstated his real estate license (something he used to do many years ago) and needed some new business portraits.

A lot of people tell us that we look alike, which I always like to hear.  There have even been times when I’ve been stopped on the street and asked if I’m Bob Cox’s son.

Anyway, I really liked the suit and finished the image as a nice, classic business portrait.

BryCox - Bob Cox 1

With this finished image, I designed up and printed his business cards.  Here is the finished card design.  I opted for a more artsy look, bold and light colors on black rather than the stuffy and traditional look of black type on white.  I finished them as a glossy card 4/4, with an extra layer of coating for a nice tactile feel and some real punch.

BryCox - Bob Cox 2

I’m excited with how they look.  If you are a business person and need a new portrait, give me a call.

- Bry

Bry Cox (Sep 2009)

Tonight while I was dressed up, I did a new self-portrait of myself.  Some of my contacts for speaking gigs have asked for an updated photo, and I can also use a new image of myself on the professional photography forums that I’m a contributer for.

I specifically did a photo of me smiling this time.  On a couple occasions people have told me after meeting me, that they were suprised to see that I’m a happy guy.  Somehow they thought that my serious self-portraits meant that I was a  dark and brooding type of person.  That’s so funny to me.

Yes I do smile a lot, but tend to photograph myself serious.  So this time I made myself laugh for a real genuine smile, and this photo turned out to be my favorite.

As far as the blog goes, I’ve got a lot to tell you all, and will get some of the highlights up this week.

Until then,
– Bry

I was very happy to create this portrait of Mr. Ron Micheli — the official portrait for his upcoming run for the Wyoming Office of Governor. 

Ron Micheli

I love creating great portraits of people.  One of the joys I get from being a portrait artist is creating from scratch using nothing but light, a two-dimensional image that not only captures how a person looks, but also the inner spirit, glow, and personality of that person.  I want people to look at my images and feel like they already know the person while having never met them.

Despite all the very technical aspects that go into creating a portrait and lighting someone just right, I actually think one of the hardest things to do as an artist is to capture a person’s true personality.  That’s why I love creating portraits, and I think that it is what really sets me apart in this industry.

That feeling of knowing a person’s personality in a portrait is crucial in an photograph like this, and this image has it!  It contains the warmth, kindness and thoughtfulness that Mr. Micheli showed me when I first met him.  I had only talked to him for a few brief moments before we stepped into the camera room to begin the session.  Though we talked nothing of politics, I could tell from his manner and his kindness that he would be a fresh and honest relief to the world of politics.  I wish him well!

Until next time, Amercia!
– Bry

I have a new portfolio DVD for 2009, and it is all finished and ready for you!  It is formatted for your large widescreen home theater so that you can view the images large and in the comfort of your own home.

Bry Cox - Portfolio DVD

This DVD includes specific slideshows on weddings, bridals, families, children, high school seniors, models, as well as some entire wedding albums so that you can see how I might tell the story of your day from start to finish.  You can order one for free right off my main website, here. (Click on Free DVD on menu.)

You can watch it on any DVD player or computer, both Mac and PC.  The music is amazing and was all written and recorded by my sister, Elise.  Each music score was specifically chosen for each slideshow to accentuate the mood of the images.  It is a wonderful DVD and I know you will all love it.

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Note to photographers: I can understand how other photographers may want to frequent my site, and I appreciate that. However, I received thousands of requests from photographers for my last portfolio DVD, photographers not wanting to hire me but to get ideas for themselves.

If you are a photographer, please understand that I spent a lot of money and time producing these DVDs and am happy to give them for free only to clients and potential clients. I cannot respond to photographers requests for free DVDs, but you can certainly order them for a cost (along with many other photographic items) in the store part of my photographic workshop site.  Thanks for understanding.
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And until next time, America!
– Bry