master

New 11th Gold Bar Degree Awarded to Bry Cox

Posted March 14, 2017 by BryCox (Admin)

I’m happy to announced that I was awarded my 11th ‘Gold Bar,’ which is the equivalent of earning my Master or Craftsman degrees eleven additional times. Less than 1% of professional photographers are Certified, and even fewer have all three credentials, Master, Craftsman, and Certification.

For those unfamiliar, photographers wear their credentials to conventions. It’s a quick way to recognize someone’s rank and level of service to the industry, and it also encourages others to earn their credentials. The yellow ribbon and Master medallion is for the Master degree, blue ribbon and medallion is for Craftsman. Someone who earns both gets a yellow/blue combo ribbon. And every time you earn one of of those again, you gain a gold bar.

Each degree represents many years of continual learning, competitions, and service. Additionally, some of the pins show I’ve been Certified for over 10 years, a PPA member for over 15 years, and the triangle pins are ‘National Photographer of the Year’ award for Bronze and Silver levels. I also have two pins for speaking at big events in China, PPA China many years ago, and Photo Plus about a year ago.

Master of Photography (M.Photog.)
Awarded for superior photographic skills—demonstrated through the PPA International Photographic Competition, advanced education and service to the industry.

Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.)
Awarded for service as an orator, author or mentor. This degree shows a photographer has gone beyond the creation of images, dedicating time to move the industry forward and encourage education.

Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)
Assures a photographer’s knowledge, experience and continuance to develop new skills and techniques. It is a declaration of professional competence and quality assurance because certification is a credential consumers and businesses understand.

If you’re a photographer wanting to continually enhance your knowledge while working towards earning your credentials like Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and/or getting Certified, you should absolutely join PPA. Part of being a degree holder is teaching, so also check out my live workshops as well as online training videos and resources at BryCoxWORKSHOPS.com to help speed up your learning process.

And if you’re someone looking to hire a great photographer, give me a call at 801-728-3317. I’d love to hear from you.

And until next time, America.

Creating An Iconic Image, Artist of Light

Posted March 13, 2014 by BryCox (Admin)

This week I realized that I needed a really cool and iconic portrait that screamed, lighting is my specialty. It needed to be an image that could be used in a magazine, used for promoting speaking events, and used on my studio’s opening web page for all my clients to see. It had to be colorful and catch the eye and be completely different from anything else out there.

As I thought about it, the idea came. Being a specialist of light, I needed an image that said, “artist of light.”

I could envision the complete image, the location, the time of day and exposure I’d need for the right kind of blue sky, where the lights would be in the frame, and how I’d mix different lights with different color temperatures to create the right depth and mood. It would be a vertical image ready for a magazine, and I’d be holding the main light with one hand and firing off the camera with a remote in the other hand. And the kicker would be that the main light would be my flash-on-a-stick idea that I’ve been speaking about for the last few years (which is ideal for quick, manual, and very controllable custom lighting, and can be used a number of ways).

That was my idea; very detailed. So the next night I packed up my truck with all the gear I’d need and I headed out to my location. The end result not only matched exactly my idea, but turned out even better than I imagined.

The key to any great image is lighting. I’m a PPA Master photographer and I speak all over training photographers on how to problem solve and create exquisite lighting using whatever gear you may have with you. It’s not about brand, or auto-settings, but about know-how.

There is a philosophy out there with photographers that lighting is just about exposure, making sure an image isn’t too dark or too light. People with this mindset think of adding a reflector or a flash only when someone’s face is dark or backlit, and even then no care is taken in terms of using light to flatter or sculpt people. Angles of light, choice of modifiers, and color temperature are not even thought of.

I want to be different. I want to create images that stand out from the crowd. I want images that pop with vibrance and emotion and that flatter people and look amazing, that feel three-dimensional, and are created on purpose with repeatable, controllable, manual settings.

I’m sure you need a really cool iconic image to promote you or your business. Let’s talk and create that for you. Or maybe your a bride or a mom and need something beautiful and timeless of your family or upcoming wedding. In either case, give me a call, 801-728-3317.

And until next time, America.

Ryan Shupe’s Outdoor Family Portraits

Posted February 23, 2013 by BryCox (Admin)

Warm weather is coming and people are calling and thinking about outdoor family portraits. And though I can photograph families inside at any time of year, the subject of talking about families made me want to post family portraits that I didn’t get a change to post during the crazy Christmas rush.

Today’s posting is Ryan Shupe’s family. We did this grouping in the mountains near his home. With any outdoor group portrait, I pack in and set up a lot of gear and lighting equipment so that each subject is lit perfectly.

There is a push caused by new photographers to use “natural” light, but what that really means is haphazard lighting without any control. The truth is that controlled lighting should look natural, help create depth, and make people look amazing.

So after the standing group, I did a close sitting grouping. I always like to do a few different groupings of families so that people have choices. They really loved this close, black and white one.

And of course, some cute pics of the children. I was able to get all the children looking at me and smiling except the tiny baby. But she still looks cute and the overall image has a lot of personality.

Then we did some images of just the boys. And though I had other options from this grouping, their favorite was the one with the smallest boy laughing and falling down.

And one of just the girls…

Then just the little boys…

…and just the little girls. I got a great smile on the baby in this image.

And then some individual of each child. These are great for wall groupings or album pages. You’ll notice a lot of personality in each child’s portraits and looking back on these in years to come will make them even more valuable.

Family portraits are always a joy to create, and I’m always honored to be able to create them. I feel they are really invaluable in years to come and that’s it’s important that they are done just right.

Give me a call to set up your appointment. 801-728-3317

Until next time, America.

4 New Awards at the IPPA State Convention

Posted September 29, 2012 by BryCox (Admin)

I just won 4 more awards this week at the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association yearly convention. This was the image that won all four awards, the light I photographed when I was stuck in Maine. I just mentioned it actually in my last blog post. It’s titled, “Isle of Light.”

The awards it won were a Kodak Gallery Award (that makes 7 of these for me know), the ASP State Elite Award (called the Best of the Best, my 2nd one), 1st Place Master’s division, and Master’s Court of Honor.

The level of competition is very difficult in the Masters, because the skill levels are all so high. I like competing though, because I like knowing that I can continue to create great images year after year and am always doing better.

I am always trying to raise the level of quality that I offer my clients each year, and to do a better and better job. As expectations and competition rise, I hope that clients see these awards as a sign that my quality and commitment to great images also rises each year.

Well now my print case has been shipped off to regionals and I’m anxious to see how they do. I’ll keep you all posted.

Until next time, America.

Adelaide’s Baby Portraits

Posted August 28, 2012 by BryCox (Admin)

I had the honor of photographing little baby Adelaide before she went in for heart surgery. She was so tiny, cute, and adorable, and was a joy to play with. In fact, it was hard to pick out my favorites, so I took some of her many expressions and created this composite — the many faces of Adelaide.

And this series of her playing in her mom’s suitcase full of baby clothes made a great trio design. I love her waving in the 3rd image.

And to finish things off, we did a family grouping with her parents. She was so perfect, she posed and smiled in almost every image, though this was my favorite.

She was really a doll and a pleasure to have in the studio. She’s doing much better now too and I look forward to seeing even more of her through the years.

Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego

Posted June 29, 2012 by BryCox (Admin)

While in San Diego for a wedding, I took some time in the morning to go photograph the Point Loma Lighthouse. Unfortunately, the road is controlled by a government installation and is not open at the right time of day when the sun is perfect. So I had to make due and be creative in making it look amazing during a very dull time of day, when the sun was in the wrong spot, and when it was crawling with tourists. Here’s the result.

Rather than shooting it the way I planned, I instead shot it black and white and used some fun lenses for controlled blurs. That way I could still get something exciting, while hiding the people.

I processed each of these using my own custom effects and distressed edges that I sell to photographers. It really helps give these images a unique look all around.

You would never know that the place was crawling with tourists in these images, and the b&w art effect on each of these really helps create an interesting and unique look on an otherwise dull, sun-lit day.

When creating this image below, I pointed up, blurring and darkening the ground with the lens, hiding all the people and tourists around the place.

I am really happy with the results of this shoot. It was a great creative start to a great day of shooting, and the wedding that followed was amazing! I’ll post it here later after the client has seen the images and ordered.

If you’d like some beautiful art pieces for your home or business, let me know. I have a huge collection of lighthouses and other scenics that are beautiful and inspiring. And if you’re a family, now is the time to get family portraits. Besides the nice warm weather and the studio gardens looking their best, I also have a great promotion running making it even more affordable. Check out the last blog entry to see the details and give me a call. 801-728-3317.

Wonderful Outdoor Family Portraits + Summer Promo

Posted June 25, 2012 by BryCox (Admin)

It’s summer, and now is the best time for family portraits plus, I have a great promotion running making it even more affordable than before! Right now when you call for family portraits, you’ll get a free session at the studio or outside in the studio gardens, and a free 11×14 ($199 value) with any wall print (size 16×20 and up)!

Family portraits are very important, not only to have now, but to have and look back on later in life.

I recently had the opportunity to photograph some relatives of mine. This is my uncle and aunt and their children (my cousins). It’s always extra special and fun to photograph relatives and create something lasting, because it’s for people that I have known my whole life and personally care about. In 20 years, when we all look back at this portrait, it’s nice to know that I was able to create this for them.

I love the close composition of this image, the relaxed feel, the real and wonderful expressions, the beautiful diagonals, and the exquisite lighting. The finished portrait was a 40″ canvas for their home.

We also did a series of 11x14s of the couples and children in b&w to match the decor of the room. We framed them all with black and silver frames, and the results were stunning.

It’s time for a new updated portrait of your family. Give me a call, the studio gardens are lush and beautiful, the weather is great, and I have a new, fantastic promotion running. Call now!! 801-728-3317 to set up a time. And feel free to browse my main website at BryCox.com.

Invest in Forever. Art is Forever.™