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Summer Family & Missionary Portraits

Posted June 12, 2018 by BryCox (Admin)

Families are always changing and now is the best time to update your family portrait. It’s warm weather in Utah, the studio gardens are in full bloom, and it’s the perfect time for outdoor family portraits.

This young man was leaving on an LDS mission and would be gone for two years. So we mixed a mission portrait session with a family session, and the results are a gorgeous and emotional art piece for the wall that his family can enjoy while he’s gone. See finished image and album in this video.

I like using locations that have a personal meaning to my clients. In this case, their yard was gorgeous and lush with trees. So by mixing in some custom lighting to make everyone look great and also enhance the deep lush colors, we had a number of beautiful angles from which to shoot.

And I like to create a number of family portrait options from each shoot. Some are better larger on the wall, others are better smaller on a desk. And others will just have a certain emotional punch to it, where the client just connects with it and loves it.

For this shoot, we started in casual clothes for portraits with and without the grandparents.

Then dressy for some other options.

Of course I create options of just the children individually too. Here are some of my favorites of each child.

Here’s a missionary themed image using a nearby wheat field.

This image with the flags shows the countries where this young man will serve his mission for the next two years.

And closing with some gorgeous images of just parents together.

It’s the perfect time to get some new updated family portraits. Families are always in flux and sometimes we put off our much needed portrait for the so-called “perfect” time (like when this child is married, or when that baby comes, or when I feel better about how I look). But there’s always another change right around the corner. I’m a national Master Photographer and know just how to make you look fantastic in your portrait right now.

Take advantage of this gorgeous Utah weather. Let’s talk about meaningful locations for your portraits, and if you need, I have wonderful grounds right here at the studio for both outdoor and indoor options.

Give me a call at 801-728-3317 and let’s talk about your new family artwork.

And until next time, America.

How I Created My Christmas Card, A Group Portrait of Me

Posted December 9, 2014 by BryCox (Admin)

For many years I’ve done group portraits as my company Christmas card, always a group of just me as if it’s taken at my own company’s Christmas party. And because I personally see each job through from beginning to end, I wear a few different hats and the card has become a growing joke, getting better each year. Well here is my card and how I created it.

Clients, especially children that come in are always asking me how I shoot my group photos of myself, so I decided to share with you my process.

First I mapped out the entire shot, and decided on which images I’d need, where the various people would be positioned throughout the image. I needed depth, but didn’t want anyone in front of anyone else. I even have three people tied together with garland, all handing each other the same strand. It all has to look real and work. Each person had to be working together naturally, and that meant thinking about how the angles and lighting should be.

Once it was mapped out, I began photographing the pieces. I started with my studio/home. I needed to use open area of the front and didn’t want it covered with the cedar fence and line of trees in front. So I used a wide angle up close to get the entire home in the shot without the fence and trees you’d see from the street. This gives me the best angle on the place but causes bending on the vertical lines, that I will fix later.

Next I photographed my folks’s tree in their home. My mom always puts together the best tree.

Then back at the studio I photographed each remaining part on my fashion gray background so that they could be extracted easier. Extractions are not easy nor fast, but a solid gray background makes it easier at least.

To fit a large ladder in the studio on gray, I chose my smallest ladder, and doubled the size of the legs digitally, adjusting too for the perspective of the steps. I then photographed each version of myself, imagining where each would be positioned in the final image, but used the same step on the ladder to stand so that I’d fit in the studio shot.Each photograph was fired with a remote that I am hiding in one of my hands. For instance, in the shovel image, I’m holding the remote up against the shovel’s handle. Once I’m in position, I fire the shot. After each shot, I change clothes, set up the next image, and shoot again.

After all the camera work, the digital work begins. I started with the individual versions of me, each extracted off the gray background and placed in the shot where they were mapped out. The ladder was also extended taller, being key to making sure all the other people were in the right spots and in proper perspective.

Slowly the group began to grow, and the star was added in the hand on top.

Then I extracted the tree off the living room background and prepped it.

The tree was brought in and more details were brought together.

Then to the background. I corrected the vertical lines, and the image was cropped to fit the final piece.

I then created snow from scratch and added it throughout, fading out the home as well for a misty look and to keep the background from being too busy and competing visually with the foreground.

The background was added to the crowd, and more details were added like sparkles on the Christmas tree’s lights.

Once the background was in, people needed to be moved slightly on the right side to work better with the background. Once they were in place, shadows were drawn in so that each person and object cast a shadow that matched the lighting from the sun behind. Each point of contact with the snow was then painted up close so as to “drop” everyone into the snow so they didn’t look like they were on top. That, along with creating custom shadows, help give the final piece a more 3D look and not a flat, fake look. There’s much more I could do to make it look real, but a little of that fake look will help with the comedy effect.

The star was also given a nice sparkle. More snow was added around the edges to create a natural white vignette to keep the focus inside the image, and the tree’s trunk was finished as well.

Finally, I used one of my custom edges to finish the piece, added the text, and the legend of who everyone is at the bottom. And the finishing touch as always, is adding my signature, in this case in the bottom left.

So what’s your guess on how long it took to complete this project? All in all, it took about 23 hours including both the camera and digital designing time, and that doesn’t count working with the printer and mailing company to get it all out to each of you. Hopefully when it comes, it brings a smile to your face. If your address has changed, let me know so that I can update it for the next mailing I send out.

I hope all of you have a joyous season with family and loved ones. Merry Christmas!!

And until next time, America.

My Painted Portraits are Different and Magical

Posted December 24, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

One of my specialized products are painted portraits. I start by creating a photographic portrait during one of our sessions, and then use that photo as a reference to create a completely different and magical painting for you. The end result is a unique piece of art that is finished as a stretched canvas in almost any size you’d like.

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Paintings can be of individuals, like this image above that I did a while back for a musician, or like the paintings below of families that I finished for Christmas orders.

If you’d like me to create a unique painting for you, give me a call. 801-728-3317

Merry Christmas, and until next time, America.

How I Created My New Christmas Card, A Self Group Portrait

Posted December 17, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

My Christmas Card is out and in the mail. If you haven’t seen my past Christmas cards, for the last few years they’ve all been group portraits of me, but in the studio. My idea is that it’s a funny company group photo from my own Christmas party. My clients know that because of the custom work that I do, I personally see each job through from beginning to end, which also means that I wear a few different hats. The card is a growing joke, and each time I’ve done it a little better. But this time I really wanted to out-do myself!

Clients, especially children that come in are always asking me how I shoot my group photos of myself, so I decided to share with you my process.

Next I photographed my folks’s tree in their home. My mom always puts together the best tree.

Then back at the studio I photographed each remaining part on my fashion gray background so that they could be extracted off the background easier. Extractions are not easy nor fast, but a solid gray background makes it easier at least.

To fit a large ladder in the studio on gray, I chose my smallest ladder, and doubled the size of the legs digitally, adjusting too for the perspective of the steps. I then photographed each version of myself, imagining where each would be positioned in the final image, but used the same step on the ladder to stand so that I’d fit in the studio shot.Each photograph was fired with a remote that I am holding with one of my hands. For instance, in the shovel image, I’m holding the remote up against the shovel’s handle. Once I’m in position, I fire the shot. After each shot, I change clothes, set up the next image, and shoot again.

Slowly the group began to grow, and the star was added in the hand on top.

Then I extracted the tree off the living room background and prepped it.

The tree was brought in and more details were brought together.

Then to the background. I corrected the vertical lines, and the image was cropped to fit the final piece.

I then created snow from scratch and added it throughout, fading out the home as well for a misty look and to keep the background from being too busy and competing visually with the foreground.

The background was added to the crowd, and more details were added like sparkles on the Christmas tree’s lights.

Once the background was in, people needed to be moved slightly on the right side to work better with the background. Once they were in place, shadows were drawn in so that each person and object cast a shadow that matched the lighting from the sun behind. Each point of contact with the snow was then painted up close so as to “drop” everyone into the snow so they didn’t look like they were on top. That, along with the shadows, help give the final piece a more 3D look and not a flat, fake look. There’s much more I could do to make it look real, but a little of that fake look will help with the comedy effect.

The star was also given a nice sparkle. More snow was added around the edges to create a natural white vignette to keep the focus inside the image, and the tree’s trunk was finished as well.

I hope all of you have a joyous season with family and loved ones. Merry Christmas!!

And until next time, America.

Tara’s Family & Graduate Portraits

Posted August 7, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

My friend Tara recently received a graduate degree with honors from the University of Utah. With that big moment and also because her family was all in town, we did a mix session creating some family portraits and some graduation portraits of her as well.

Her family was so nice and it was great getting to know them better.

After photographing the family, we focused on some individual portraits of Tara. I have photographed Tara on other occasions and I love it. She’s very photogenic but also has a great personality that really shows through and is fun to photograph. Here are some of my favorites images from the shoot.

I always feel it an honor to photograph families, and especially felt that way and loved having the opportunity to photograph Tara’s family at this time. I appreciate them asking me. I would also love to photograph your family as well. Give me a call if you’d like me to create something special for your family. 801-728-3317

Until next time, America.

Emotional But Important Family Portraits After Losing a Loved One

Posted July 25, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

Last year, tragically a border agent with family ties to Utah was killed on the border. I knew this man and certain members of his family very well. It was a tough and sad situation.

Recently, their extended family was all going to be back together in Utah, and they asked me to create a large group portrait of everyone, as well as smaller group portraits of each family. This was a particularly emotional and hard shoot to do, but again reiterated to me the importance of families, loved ones, and of having great portraits — not just for us, but especially for our loved ones.

For this shoot, I brought my entire studio to the home of one of the family members who was hosting the get together. I set up the background, lights and gear in their home, and I began photographing each individual family.

Then because of the size of the large group, the lack of space, and because of the needs of various versions of a large extended family portrait for various people, I instead created a digital composite. Instead of actually shooting the entire group at once, I instead invested some serious digital creation time to blend and mix the smaller family group portraits together into one beautiful panorama. It’s designed so that smaller group relationships are shown while portraying the entire family’s adhesiveness.

The largest finished version of this was a 70 inch canvas which looked amazing!

We then created these smaller groups, like the original family…

…and another of just grandkids. A large group of grandkids in one portrait is always a challenge. There are so many young people who don’t want to sit still, let alone where I need them to sit for balance, let alone to look forward and show personality. But they are always a fun challenge and I love how this one turned out. Everyone has such personality and years from now they will love looking back on this image and seeing each other.

It was an honor to be asked to create the photographs for this family. I really appreciate the opportunity to be apart of these memories.

And now is a great time to book your own family portraits! Kids are out of school, the weather is great, the studio gardens look amazing, and the July Family Portrait Special is still going on! I’ve got some opening still before the end of the month, and if you at least call by the end of July but need to make your appointment during the first part of August, that’s okay too. My number is 801-728-3317 and you can see more details here as well.

Until next time, America.

July Family Special

Posted July 10, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

With kids growing up, families changing, the weather being beautiful, the studio gardens in bloom, and this July family promo, there isn’t a better time than right now to get a new family portrait!

Whether you have a big family or a small family, or whether you’d like a painted portrait or something entirely different, give me a call and let’s talk about creating something emotional and timeless for you.

These two images are examples of my painted canvas portrait series, where I paint in an abstract way over the photograph to create something new and entirely different.

Portrait sessions can be inside the studio or outdoors in the studio gardens for free with this promo, or can be on location for an extra fee. However, right now the studio gardens look amazing! To give you an idea of where some of these images were created, three of the images in this post were created right in the studio gardens, with the others being created on location in places that are special to the clients.

This is a great time to get your extended family together for that once-in-a-lifetime portrait, while at the same time creating portraits of each smaller family while they are together. If you’d like to see more examples and stories about each of these family portraits, many are posted right here in past blog posts as well as on my main portfolio website.

So what’s the catch? Call now to make your appointment in July. By doing so you get a free session (usually $200-$400 depending on the size of your family), a free retouched and hard-mounted 11×14 with leather protective finish so that it isn’t damaged by handling or fingerprints and doesn’t need glass (value $199), as long as you purchase any framed wall piece like a 16×20 portrait of your group, or a child’s trio, or a multi-image collage for example.

The image you purchase can be larger of course. For instance you may want a painted wall canvas like the samples at the top, or perhaps a long panorama canvas of your extended family so that you can see each child’s face from a distance. What you get is up to you.

Many are doing the free 11×14 as the portrait of their children with their wall portrait of their entire family. Some are doing the session of their children using the free 11×14 as their group portrait and a wall collage as a way to showcase each child.

You know it’s time for new family portraits. Don’t settle for average photography. You will look amazing and will get portraits that are real, emotional, timeless, and that don’t have all the plastic skin effects or weird washed out retouching.

Give me a call for any further questions and to set up your appointment to get the best options for dates and times. My number is 801-728-3317. Again, check out my main portfolio site at BryCox.com to see more samples, or the blog here too.

And until next time, America.

Healey’s Family of 40

Posted February 25, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

It is always important to get family portraits, and right now is especially an important time for the Healey family, and I feel really honored that they hired me to create the portraits for their entire family.

Overall, their entire group was about 40 people, including married children and grandkids. We set up in their family yard during a wind storm and rainy week, and miraculously found a dead spot from the weather. Their yard made for a fantastic backgound and the images all loom wonderful.

I’m excited to post them today, even though the web just can’t do them justice. This first image is now a beautiful canvas hanging over their fireplace.

I love this large grouping. Everyone is positioned comfortably and realistically, the entire shape is balanced and keeps your eye moving, the expressions on everyone are real and happy, the background has depth and texture but is dark enough that it isn’t distracting, and lighting on everyone though difficult, looks amazing.

Big groups are more difficult to do right than you’d think, but they are very satisfying. I really love how this portrait turned out. It has to be my new favorite.

With every large family group, I also like to do smaller groups. Above is the original children gathered around their folks, and below is each individual family.

Each family is grouped and lit a little differently depending on the family, but the overall look of each group matches in case people want to create a wall grouping and hang these portraits near each other.

Each family has their own personality and every child looks great. I really love photographing families and especially love getting little kids to all look cute and smile. It’s more than just doing some tricks to get a smile, but rather work to get each child to show their personality in both the pose and their expression. These little boys below look perfect. I especially love the tough pose of the boy standing and leaning into his mother.

When people are positioned right, lit right, and they have a real and believable expression, the result is a portrait that is fun to look at, and yet classic and timeless.

These little girls below were so funny and wiggly, I was surprised to get any images with all of their feet down on the ground. They were so giddy and were laughing so hard at everything I did, that it was cracking me up too.

And finally, here is the couple that started this big group. I really liked this image of the two of them.

Again, it was a real pleasure to work with everyone in this family. I loved all of the groupings and families, and love how everything turned out. I always feel it an honor to create and capture memories for people, but especially for this family. I really love these images and hope that they all do to.

Until next time, America.

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