Early Favs of KUTV News Teams

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Commercial & HeadshotsPosted on No Comments

I spent a jam packed last two days at KUTV 2 News photographing all of their news teams and staff. They’ve all become friends from not only the years of doing their professional photographs, but also from shooting many of their individual personal events like family, children and weddings. So this commercial shoot becomes a great time so see everyone.

As you’d guess, they are a great group to work with. And when I’m there we photograph everything we can: various combinations of groups, individuals, and in multiple locations. I bring in a couple loads full of lighting equipment, and we shoot away. This way they’re set for all their photographic needs for billboards, promos, and prints. Next time you’re driving through Salt Lake City, keep your eyes out for their beautiful billboards.

We needed two images turned around quickly, so I thought I’d share these early favorites of the morning and evening news teams. I love the clean, beautiful lighting, the great smiles, and the overall impact of these images.

As I was finishing up yesterday, I was looking through their Instagram feed and saw these fun behind the scenes photos. This collage below is linked directly to their Instagram so you can click it and go through their slideshow from our shoot. Click their group photo and then swipe left and right to see all the others. There’s even some fun boomerang videos in there too.

 

Once the project is all finished, I might share a few more favorites. But I thought it’d be neat for everyone to see these today.

If you’re a business and need some photographic work like headshots, product images, or even commercial architecture photos of your building or entryway, give me a call. 801-728-3317. I’d love to create something amazing for you.

And until next time, America.

Jared and Paige’s Full Wedding Album, Event Held at Hub 801 Events in Ogden Utah

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Wedding Day, AlbumsPosted on No Comments

I’ve had so many fun shoots to share, I’ve been wanting to share this wedding album design for a while. So as February comes to an end and warmer weather starts coming in, it begins to feel more like spring – and that means that couples are getting engaged. So it’s a great time for me to share this wonderful wedding and album design from Jared and Paige’s wedding, held in Ogden Utah at the Hub 801 Events Center.

You may have seen some of their early sneak peek images. But now, here is their entire design, in a movie/slideshow format. This is best viewed large, full screen and in HD (if your internet connection allows).

There is so much more that can’t fit in an album, and I actually make a larger video slideshow for my wedding couples that show the full wedding story, showing all the other images. I won’t share it here because those shows are very long. To balance size and cost, wedding albums highlight the the most impactful images from a couple’s wedding day story, with the images being as large as possible so that they can be seen and enjoyed.

One of the hardest parts of a wedding is cutting the images down to the best of the best for the album. if I included everything I loved, the albums would be very large and expensive. But the good news is that I include digitals of all the other great images that don’t make it in the physical album. Here is one such set of images, a series of me doing a warm-up routine with the kids using my little stuffed bunny. I do this so that the kids aren’t scared or worried about me later when it comes time to photograph them. That way when it comes time to photograph them, I can just interact with them and get real expressions that are truly authentic and captivating.

Normally I don’t get pictures of me doing warm ups like this, but there happened to be a mirror opposite me. With my light already set up, I was able to get a few shots off-hand of this little girl climbing up on the couch and suggesting that we “put our heads together” and cooperate to keep my bunny from falling off my head.

And here are some of the wedding album page designs fro the album. First, opening the book with a great, romantic image that establishes the location of the wedding.

Here are some of the wonderful moments from the wedding ceremony.

I always love to get some updated family photographs of both sides of the family.
And of course the creative and romantic couple portraits. We did a variety of indoor and outdoor photographs, even using the city’s setting sun in some images.

And the album closes with them running off and driving away.These are just some of the wedding album spreads, so to see the entire design, watch the movie above.

Jared and Paige’s album was delivered in a beautiful box and case that utilizes a clear, magnetic top. It’s great for display, but also protects the album when it’s not in use.

If you’re getting married and would like to talk more about weddings, prices, and options, please give me a call. I’d love to show you more and hear what you love and are looking for in wedding photography. 801-728-3317

And feel free to check out my main website at BryCox.com as well as my blog here that shows tons of past weddings.

And until next time, America.

Dr. Collin Ito & the Sonoran Hills Dental Staff Near Phoenix Arizona

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Commercial & HeadshotsPosted on No Comments

When I was recently working in Phoenix, I got my teeth checked out by my dentist and good friend, Dr. Collin Ito of Sonoran Hills Dental, located in the Ahwatukee area. And still no cavities! It was also time to update his commercial and staff photos for his office and website. I’ve photographed him, his family, and his staff for many years, and it was good to see everyone again.

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Here’s his office staff (above) for his website, and individual head shots of everyone (below) for the office wall. brycox_cito_sonoranhillsdental_2016_01 His entry and office areas had changed quite a bit since I’d been there last. And my skills in photographing people and interiors have improved too over the years, so it was nice to shoot some new, updated photographs to showcase his place.
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Even if you don’t know him, I think you can see in these photos how genuine he is, and how great he is to work with. And he’s very skilled at what he does.
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brycox_cito_sonoranhillsdental_2016_04A nice touch is that he’s got video monitors and headphones rigged up so you can watch a movie while you’re getting your teeth worked on
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And he has relaxing areas for waiting and for consultations.
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If you’re in the Phoenix area and need a great dentist (or if you want to go to the dentist when you happen to be in Phoenix, which is how I do it), Collin is a great guy and a great dentist.

And if you’re looking for some killer commercial photos to showcase your business, give me a call at 801-728-3317. I’d love to help tell the story of your business through some great photographs.

And until next time, America.

Windy Winter Mountain Shoot with Nicholette in Utah

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, WomenPosted on No Comments

The wind was bitter cold as we hiked up through the snow to a small overlook in our nearby Utah canyon. The climb was slippery and full of tall new powder that went well past my knees and nearly to my waist at one point. Once at the top, the wind was stronger and even more frigid so we worked fast, also because we needed to beat the setting sun. The entire shoot was maybe 20 minutes long before we headed back down the mountain, yet in that short amount of time we got some great photographs. Here are some of my favorites.

Utilizing some specialized lighting techniques, I punched up background with more blue tones to enhance the cold feeling, while simultaneously adding warm light to the model. It makes her stand out dramatically, while also creating a visual separation between her and the background. And with her beautifully dramatic features, I used a more sharp, commercial/fashion style of lighting too to really enhance her cheekbones and eye shape. I love how these all turned out.

For this one, I also created an animation with slow motion snow that falls around her. Notice that the snow falls around her, some in front, most in back.


I love the changing direction, the wind, and how great these all look. This time of night worked beautifully for this deep-blue look. And the final images are captivating.

If you’re in need of a great set of images, either for work or commercial use, or for your own personal needs – give me a call. 801-728-3317. I’d love to create something amazing for you, outdoors in the Utah snow or here in the studio. It’s a great time to create some wonderful photographs.

And until next time, America.

Cold & Colorful Outdoor Shoot with Nikola

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, WomenPosted on No Comments

I had a very fun shoot with Nikola outside, despite the frigid 12º-15º temperatures. Nikola was especially great to shoot, and she was a great sport too – never complaining about the freezing cold. The cool, foggy air of downtown Salt Lake City made for some beautiful backdrops and I wanted to accent that with some creative lighting skills.

We battled the cold and took advantage of the beautiful foggy air, accenting it even more with some specialized lighting techniques to add a color shift and punch to the images. For instance in these first few images, I lit her in a way to make the skyline behind go a deeper blue. That contrast between cool and warm colors really makes her pop out, and it accentuates the cold feeling of the night.

These close ups are killer! I love her subtle expression, the look in her eye, and the color makes the image all the more interesting to me.

Here we have a mix of cool and warm colors again. It adds depth to the photograph, and makes the image feel more three-dimensional. Most photographers in comparison sadly use a very “flat” style of lighting. Their images are often muddy, dull, or blown out. The problem is that a photograph is already flat, and a flat picture on flat paper doesn’t have as much impact. I work hard to create dimension. I want to draw people into the images I create and make them stare and feel as if they could step into the photograph. That extra work I think gives images more of an emotional impact. I hope people can see the difference in what I offer.

These laughing images just show how much fun these photo shoots are. You can tell it’s cold, but you wouldn’t believe how cold by this genuine smile.

Finding some cover from the harsh wind, we stepped into this stoop for a few photographs. I really like the colors and textures and how they mix and blend well with her.


Shooting along this brick wall was great. I love the color harmony, and Nikola’s gorgeous hair ties in beautifully.

While speaking for Adobe at the national photography convention (ImagingUSA) this last week in San Antonio, I felt blessed to have a packed ballroom of about 1,000 people. I used these images in my demo on stage, and part of that demo was creating this trio below from scratch. I really liked the genuineness of her laughing images, so I combined them into a framed trio design to tell a story in three images. 

And finally, this serious image is just killer.

Thank you to Nikola for the fun shoot and her good-naturedness despite the freezing cold Utah weather. Often this time of year I’m shooting in the warm studio, but for this shoot I really wanted to create something different. And we got some incredible photographs by utilizing that cold air with some really creative lighting styles.

If you’re in need of some awesome photographs (even despite weather problems like frigid cold), give me a call at 801-728-3317. I’d love to create something awesome for you.

And until next time, America.

Nate and Kaylie’s Gorgeous Finished Wedding Album

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Wedding Day, AlbumsPosted on No Comments

I’m excited to introduce a new line of wedding albums, and Nate and Kaylie are the first to receive it. Adding this to my other line, new clients will more options in terms of shooting time and price on their wedding day. And this book looks gorgeous and it’s beautiful to hold.

Nate and Kaylie had such a beautiful wedding and they were such a photographic couple that I’ve been excited to share more of their images. You may have seen an early sneak peek of a few favorites in an earlier post, but here is their final album, each page shown in this video.

Here is how the album looks, and the presentation box it comes in, including the clear magnetic cover. It makes for a great display when you’re not looking through the book, as well as giving you something to protect your album.

Nate and his wife also performed at their wedding. They’re both accomplished musicians with a group that tours all over the world. Their band rocked out at the reception, and I got this short video clip of Nate rapping. It’s worth seeing.

If you’d like to talk more about wedding photography, give me a call. I love weddings and I’d love to create something amazing for you from your special day, 801-728-3317. And of course check out my main portfolio site with lots of samples and info too at BryCox.com.

And until next time, America.

The Unique and Amazing Individual, James Christensen

by BryCox (Admin)Art Images, Bry Cox Photography Blog, FamilyPosted on No Comments

A good friend, James Christensen, has passed.  I extend heartfelt condolences to his wife and family and thank them for the great times my friends and I have had with them at their home. We’ll alll miss James dearly.

He was a great man to look up to, and I identified with him particularly because he was deeply religious while also keeping a young, humorous, slightly rebellious streak. He gave so much of himself and his time and talent to the LDS Church in a variety of callings, and the enormous murals that he painted in temples will forever inspire, as does all of his art.

His love of symbolism in scripture and art, and his ability to see what others might miss, and to add these details to his own pieces provide an almost magical insight. He hosted various barbecues and kung-fu film nights — he had the ability to connect with all of our friends despite age differences.

And as you can see in this portrait below, he raised a wonderful family that I’m honored to have photographed for Sari’s wedding.

And my friends and clients will remember the many Christmas CDs that we produced over the years bearing his artwork. These were a joint project. James Conlee produced them, James Christensen provided the cover art, while I handled the graphic design and printing.

I would sometimes have to adapt his painting to a square design or to allow text to flow over top. That meant digitally changing his art, sometimes extending things or cropping areas, all of which I was always very cautious about doing. But when it was needed, I made sure every change was true to the original feel of his painting so it’d be un-dectable. And then I waited for his opinion. He was always very kind and would say, “Well done, Bry. I like how you did this, and how you did that.”

Here’s a few covers from over the years.


The most dramatic change was with this painting below where I removed everyone but the one angel in the middle, and then recreated stars and sky in their place. All these alterations were discussed beforehand. He was great about them. Here’s his original painting.

And here was the final CD cover. I feel lucky and blessed to have known him, to have his artwork on my walls, and my heart goes out to his family and loved ones. I can’t imagine the loss they feel. But I also have no doubt that he was welcomed with open arms into the highest levels of the next life.

For anyone looking for more info, here are a few links. First, his Official site at Greenwichworkshop.com. Next a video produced by Deseret Book. Despite the awful production value of this video, it is really nice to hear him talk again, and to remember how he discussed his work, to see his thought processes, and to hear the familiar cadence of his voice.

https://youtu.be/E6Ew1s_yj3o

And finally, a news article about his passing.

Audrey and Juan’s Salt Lake Winter Wedding Sneak Peek

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Wedding Day, AlbumsPosted on No Comments

I love photographing weddings, and this one was extra special. It was emotional, touching, and beautiful. I’m so glad Audrey and Juan found each other and I’m honored to have been a part of their big day.

We’ve had some frigid days this last week here in Utah, and Audrey and Juan’s day was no different. Yet with the right lighting, it all looks beautiful and you can’t even tell it’s 17º plus a wind chill.

I wanted you to see en early sneak peek of some of my favorite images, like this first one where the colored Christmas lights and the twilight sky made for a very magical backdrop to this kiss.

Here’s are a few at sunset, just before the lights came on.

Their wedding dinner was at the Salt Lake Marriott City Center, overlooking the skating rink at the Gallivan Center. We popped down there for a few colorful images. 

It was such a pleasure to work with these two and their family. I can’t wait to finish their wedding album, and when I do, I’ll share it here. You can also check out their engagements, posted previously. And if you’re getting married, give me a call and let’s talk more about your dream portraits.

And until next time, America.

Girls’ Christmas Pajama Party

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, WomenPosted on No Comments

I was thinking about what shoot would be good to post for Christmas, and it hit me. It was obvious, the “Girls’ Christmas Pajama Party.” 🙂

These friends of mine had a fun pajama party together, and had me over to create some photographs. We hammed it up with a lot of fun photos and a pillow fight.  

Luckily they suggested we end the shoot with a picture of me. It saved me from having to suggest it. 😉

Merry Christmas, everyone! And until next time, America.

Wildhorn Outfitters Video Shoot for Beach Tent

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Commercial & Headshots, Video ProjectsPosted on No Comments

On a recent cold day here in Utah before the snow hit, we needed to shoot an outdoor video commercial for a new beach tent for Wildhorn Outfitters. It’s a very cool tent with built-in poles that pops up in seconds. It’s great for car-camping or a as a cabana for a day at the beach.

I scouted locations near me and found a great beach with the right look, and talked my good friend Tara into being our model and spokesperson for the video. We really needed someone great to carry the video and she killed it as I knew she would. Her personality shines through and it makes the commercial very entertaining. She’s always been easy and beautiful to photograph, plus she’s a die-hard outdoor enthusiast with instant cred – exactly what we needed for this commercial.

So with some custom lighting, sound, and color work, plus a great location, spokesperson, and a very cool tent to showcase, we have a very sharp and professional video that’s fun to watch. See what you think.

And for social media, here’s a quick cut as a 37 sec overview.

You may not know this, but I do quite a bit of commercial work. My lighting skills set me a part in my portrait work, but perfect lighting is also key to creating great product photographs. Here’s some of the work I did for this tent both in studio and on location.

First, the carry bag and all the pieces that come with the tent.

And here are some angles showing the tent set up with the screen and canopy up. One of the things that makes this tent unique is the canopy and shade options. If you’re a customer shopping for a tent online, you really need to see his visually.

As you saw from the video, this top mechanism pops the pole tension into place. You just stand the tent up and pop this. 

Here’s the tent at the beach, again all custom lighting to make everything pop. Even the sky has a great deep blue to it.

They also make a number of products like this really cool camp chairs. I got me one because they’ve very comfortable and pack a lot smaller than any other chair I’ve seen.

And Wildhorn has these cool fat feet that don’t sink into the sand or dirt when you sit in the chair. 

And here is one more example from the beach shoot, a shot of their beach blankets all packed up, and in various colors. 

If you’re looking for a cool Christmas gift, check out the gear that Wildhorn Outfitters has available (also on Amazon).

And if you’re needing some great video or commercial photography for your business, give me a call. There’s a lot I can do right here in the studio while it’s cold outside, plus I can make a lot of locations work beautifully right now too. Give me a call at 801-728-3317.

And until next time, America.

A Christmas Music Message for You

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, ThoughtsPosted on One Comment

I was wondering what to send out to everyone as part of a Christmas message, and it hit me. Why not something more personal like me and my sister playing some Christmas music?

Every year, my friends and I have a dinner together and host an acoustic night. We invite a small group over, I bring in some sound gear, and perform along with a few others. So this year, I recorded my numbers to share with you all.

This first one is me singing with my sister, ‘O Holy Night.’ We winged this for the first time together as we performed. I printed off some words and chords, and we talked it through before going on (I’ll sing first, then harmony together on chorus, then a harmonica break, then harmony together on verse and chorus once more through). I really liked how it sounded.

For my second number, I got out my tenor sax to play and sing one of my all time favorite jazz and Christmas numbers, ‘Christmas Time is Here.’ It’s a Vince Guaraldi chart written for Charlie Brown.

A few things I have always loved about the original 1965 Charlie Brown Christmas program were the very things CBS hated about it. First, Linus quotes Luke 2, and in a wonderfully moving way too. CBS thought that was just inappropriate. Second, I love all the great jazz music throughout, which CBS considered bar music not to be mixed with a cartoon. And finally, actual children were used to voice the characters which CBS disapproved of, thinking adults should have recorded everything I suppose in an awful baby talk. Thankfully CBS lost, and Charles Schulz got his way, partly because it was too late to change anything. It was an immediate success and became one of the highest rated and most adored Christmas programs ever.

I love watching it and am moved by it still to this day.

(Video note: my camera feed died part the way though, so I did a freeze frame, but the sound continues.)

As a plug for my sister, she recently crossed 1 million spins on Pandora. 🙂 If you’d like to hear more of her music or to get some of her CDs, visit MusicByElise.com

Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoyed these. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Audrey’s Studio Engagement Portraits

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Engagements, AnnouncementsPosted on No Comments

It was a joy to photograph Audrey and Juan together in my studio for their wedding engagement photos. Their wedding will be here in the Salt Lake City area, and engagement shoots are perfect for wedding announcements as well as beautiful displays to be shown at their wedding dinner and home later. Here are some of our favorites from the shoot. First, their double-sided wedding announcement portrait.

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And this wall collage is great because it shows a lot of variety and personality without taking up a ton of wall space. It’s designed with visual balance and to keep your eye moving around to each of the images over and over.

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And these trios are stunning. They tell a story in a beautiful, framed design that is perfect for a table easel or wall. And see what I mean about these two being great together? 🙂

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I’m very excited to photograph these two on their big day coming up. They’re a wonderful couple, they’re very photogenic, and I look forward to meeting and photographing their families and being a part of their big day.

If you’re engaged and would like some wonderful images, photographs that you will love your entire life, give me a call at 801-728-3317. I’d love to create some beautiful portrait heirlooms for you.

And until next time, America.