natural light

Street Fashion Shoot in Carlisle Pennsylvania, Part 1

I just got back from teaching a multi-day photography seminar to the Professional Photographers of Pennsylvania. For one of those days, we did a live shoot on the beautiful street of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, just outside the convention hotel. They had this very pretty high school senior model for me to photograph so that I could demonstrate various lighting techniques while shooting fashion images.

The big take-away I hoped photographers would get out of my program was that no matter the location or lighting style, images should be so good in the camera that they don’t need retouching. Eyes should pop, skin should glow, and people should look better and thinner because of your lighting techniques – not retouching.

And great images means a quicker work-flow, cleaner retouching techniques, and far more powerful photographs because they’re believable. As a followup to that shoot, I wanted to post some of my favorites – unretouched of course. I spent my computer time picking favorites, doing some quick color toning, and adding edges. Other than that, no retouching, no eye whitening, no skin softening, nothing. I hope people can see how great these images look. In fact they’re better than most people’s images after retouching.

During the workshop I showed how to create and design collages for clients. During that demo I shared my quick retouching techniques. So in this collage, two photographs are retouched. The rest are not. I doubt most people could tell which ones are which. If anything I hope people notice the variety of personality and expressions from such a short shoot.

And here is a fun trio design using photographs shot just inside the stoop of an old building.

This next image is actually a painting that I created in front of the crowd of photographers. So this was first retouched, then used as a reference to create this painting. I love paintings because they’re so unique and different. And they look stunning on the wall.

This blue tone to the background is not a computer effect. It was done in camera with just lighting. This street was fantastic to shoot on. Every building and doorway was quaint and engaging. We had a lot of wonderful meals on our downtime in this area, all within walking distance.

And to finish up the shoot back at the hotel, a few images in the hotel lobby using a couple strategically placed lights.

I also did a second shoot with an adorable little girl. I hope to post some of those later. But for now, if you’re a photographer and would like to train with me, check out my training website at BryCoxWORKSHOPS.com. I do a few live events around the country each year. But I also offer full online courses on everything from lighting like a master, to getting great expressions, to the quickest workflow using Adobe products. Those courses are great for people who want to learn at home, or get a head start on a live training event with me, or for those who want even more training after a live event.

And for kicks, here is an iPhone pic of me in action shot by one of the photographers. Aside from my entertaining “stance” (which is the correct way to bring your camera-line lower), I like this photo because it shows my camera meter. I believe strongly in constantly measuring the light from all directions. And it also shows the how the street scene and the model look normally with “natural light” (which is how the iPhone sees things) versus in my photographs which have specific lighting techniques added.

If you’re in the market for some new photographs, either as a senior looking for a fashion shoot, or perhaps you need something for your family, now is the time. Give me a call as spring is booking up, 801-728-3317. I’d love to create some fantastic photographs of you.

And until next time, America.

Last call for Fall Bridal Portraits

This is the last week for fall portraits in the leaves here in my studio gardens. It’s perfect for one person or a small group, like these bridals like these that I shot here a few years ago and still love.

brycox_fall_portraits_utah_06brycox_fall_portraits_utah_05
brycox_fall_portraits_utah_07

If you’re getting married, give me a call. I’d love to create something beautiful for you here at my Utah studio. Of course I travel and shoot destination weddings, but I shoot quite a bit for Utahans here in both my outdoor studio gardens as well as my indoor studio. I can create a lot of looks both indoors and outdoors here in one location, and there’s still a few more days to get something beautiful outside.

Give me a call at 801-728-3317.

And until next time, America.

Last Call for Fall Portraits at BryCox.com

The leaves here at my studio gardens are almost gone. None of us like to think of Christmas too early, but if you’d like some outdoor fall portraits for Christmas cards and gifts, this is the last time to get them created.

I know just how to make you and your children look great. And I believe in short shoots that don’t tire everyone out, where we get even more variety and choices. And the fall leaves make for great family portraits as well as exclusive line of abstract paintings on canvas.

brycox_fall_portraits_utah_02brycox_fall_portraits_utah_01
brycox_fall_portraits_utah_03

If you’d like to bring your family or kids in for some fall leaf portraits, give me a call at 801-728-3317.

And until next time, America.

New 60 Second Videos About Wedding Photography

I’ve been working on some very short, 60 second videos about wedding photography. Not too long ago, when someone was looking for a photographer for the big moments in their life, they would visit in person with a few photographers. I liked that and still prefer it.

However, now people like to just shop on their phones. I get. I do the same. But photography is completely different than anything else. It’s so custom, so personal, and it’s the only thing we keep from a wedding to enjoy our whole lives and pass on to our children. Great photography become family heirlooms. People fight over it when we’re dead, and we see people on the news running into burning homes to save their family portraits.

What I create for people is so different and unique, just looking at photos on a website does not do it justice. So I’ve been working on some little videos so that prospective brides can quickly and easily see my images, get to know me, my personality, and also understand what makes my approach completely different.

Here are a few of these new videos. More are in production. See what you think and let me know.

Is there a video you’d like to see? Since most of my clients are women, if you’re a woman and looking for photography, what would you like to see? Post below or send me a personal email.
Okay, and until next time, America.

Musician Portraits for Scott Foster’s New CD

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.