Category: Senior/Grads

I had the opportunity to photograph Grace, and do some fashion and senior portraits for her.  She was so fun and had a sparkling personality, that I loved photographing her.  I had a great time laughing with her and focusing on really capturing her personality.

There are a lot of photographers all over the country who follow my blog, and for those of you looking, you should know that these images are all un-retouched, and all were created using one light!  That’s a cool thing!

This is incredibly unique because the trend with most photographers lately is to not use any lights because they don’t know how to use them correctly, but then use tons of Photoshop effects and retouching to fix the images later.  The result is weird smooth-skinned people with glowing white eyes, or images that seem flat, gray, and dull and lack punch.

The other group of photographers, are pretty good at lighting, but need to use multiple lights.  It normally takes multiple lights to sculpt a person correctly, create dimension, and separate the subject from the background.  I teach these exact techniques all over the country. (Photographers: visit my workshop site BryCoxWORKSHOPS.com)

But I also think it’s fun to do the seemingly impossible, and that is to purposefully use one light, and still do everything that you need to do with multiple lights, and in the end create images that are unique, different, that have personality, depth, and that grab you emotionally.

I love this stunning four-up composite of Grace below.  It is so interesting how all the images can be so different and yet work together so well.

I also designed her up a trio composite using some of my custom fleurs in the corners.  There are great products that when framed, can hang anywhere in the home.

I then used a beautiful Tuscan set to create these images, and felt that some warm lighting would complete the mood.  This color is not a computer effect at all, but rather how I actually lit her on the set.  Again, these images are un-retouched and have no effects.  I did however on this image below, add one of my custom made photo edges to this, to complete the old world theme.

And here is another of her on this same set, but serious.  I love her expression in these.  She was so good at both serious and smiling images.  Both types of expressions really draw me in on these images.

Are you a high school senior right now?  Do you want something that is different, unique, and that can’t be copied by other photographers?  Do you want your photographs taken by the artist who is called to train photographers all over the country and who photographs for magazines and famous people?

If so, give me a call at 801-728-3317 and let’s talk.  I have basic packages starting at $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) up to full Senior Mix Sessions that includes both Color and B&W, both indoor and outdoor portraits using a number of sets, and multiple clothing changes!

You are only a senior once, so don’t settle for new photographers with no credentials.  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!!

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

I just got back from teaching a workshop on creativity and fashion in Illinois.  I’m so excited about the images I created there!  They are awesome!  I had fantastic models and a great location to shoot in too.

I created this short video for YouTube of the highlights.  Check it out!

And here’s a separate link in case the video above doesn’t show up in your blog reader.  Just click on this photo here.

I created images both outdoor on location in the city, as well as indoor in a studio.  This is one of my favorite images from the shoot.  I walked the model Kim in her high heels, out to the shore of the Mississippi River, where I could see a lighthouse in the distance.

I only knew that I wanted the lighthouse, but when I got out there, I found this big rope, and suddenly the image came to me.  Fashion is about mixing opposites, suddenly I had the image in my head.  This pretty girl all dressed up in cute clothes doing manual labor on the shore, pulling on this enormous rope.

I lit this and all of these outdoor images with one light, set manually — me personally holding the light in one hand, with my camera in the other.  That’s the way I can control exactly where the light is going to hit her face as she moves and bends.  Also, none of these images have been retouched or enhanced.  The colors, contrast, cropping, smoothness of the skin, whiteness of the eyes, and even the color “effects” or anything else you notice, are all done in camera.  This was part of the class, to learn how to create awesome images in camera, without having to “fix” them with Photoshop or other software.

I have a saying: “The trick to Photoshop is Photography.”

I was lucky that one photographer got some images of me working.  Here you can see me working my own light with my free hand, adjusting as the model adjusts.

These next images I created in a studio that we set up in the hotel.  The softness is not a computer effect, but done optically with a lens.  The warm colors were created specifically from the custom white balance that I set while shooting.  Again, no retouching or effects applied — just great photography.

Contrast the feel and look of these images above with this next image below, created in the same spot, but different lenses, different lighting.

I took this model also down to the docks and created these in a huge boathouse/warehouse.  These first couple are shot using the setting sun coming through a window.  One of my favorite things about this is shadow from the window panels on her.  Again, no color or other adjustments.  The idea of this workshop was to be completely creative while being completely technical — balancing the two halves of the brain in harmony.

I absolutely love these images using the window light, especially this portrait of the two of these girls together.  It’s so mesmerizing to me!

Then switching up the lighting and lenses, I used the same room to create some completely different looks.  Many photographers have or know only one style of lighting — all their images look the same.  I believe that an artist should be versatile, being able to do anything they can imagine.  Photographers need to be able to masterfully create images in all sorts of styles, using all sorts of lighting patterns and light sources — and the images should still be awesome!

I also created some awesome twilight images of this model using specular flash outdoors, using the docs, railings, and lights as leading lines.

And here’s one of my favorites of her friend, using the light from outside to wrap around and light her.

The idea of my workshops is to help photographers create great images on purpose, and not by accident.  Many times photographers have the mind-set that if they just shoot a lot, that by the law of averages, some images will work out.  I believe in creating the opposite way.  I believe that if someone is hiring you to create amazing photographs, that your images should not be haphazard, but rather deliberate.  They should be done right, and done on purpose, with intent, and with care taken on both the creative and technical aspects so that every image is good, and not just the lucky ones.

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.

And if you’re a high school senior, model, or for whatever reason you need some dang awesome photography, give me a call 801-728-3317.  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).

Oh wow!  I’ve missed some blogging.  But what a great way to get caught up, then with this post!  I recently taught a photographic workshop and created some very fun and fantastic images!  Here are a few of them…

This first set of images was to teach and demonstrate how to photograph women, how to light them, how to position them, and how to get great expressions that are real and exciting.

I then showed everyone how to post-process the images with some of my custom-made effects and edges.  I really liked this model.  I specifically picked her because she was fun and flirty and had a great look.  I loved her eyes and cheek bones.  We really got some great images!

This image was a great one for demonstrating how to create a real and custom painting, using a photograph.  I love how the dress and the background all work together.  The texture in this is awesome up close!

This image demonstrates my new ‘Holga’ Photoshop effect.  I wrote this effect to mimic the look that comes from using the old 120 plastic Holga camera.  It even mimics light leaks and lens aberrations too!  Very cool!

Same image but using another one of my custom-made effects.

For this next shoot I demonstrated making use of various types of experimental lighting.  Lighting should always compliment the subject, and always be under control, no matter what you’re using: sun, flash, reflector, softbox, umbrella, etc…  There’s never an excuse when you’re a professional.  Light should always compliment and work for the image, and not just be there to create an exposure.

So for this shoot I showed that no matter what we used for light, even using new and experimental equipment, the results should always be the same!

We demonstrated all sorts of different lighting equipment, both inside and out.  This image of her was taken outside using the hotel as a background.

This last photoshoot was done on the last night, very late at night after everything was over and done with.  It was actually a non-official shoot that we did on our own.  I wanted to do something down on the strip of Vegas, and found out that this model was LDS like me.  We sort of bonded for that reason and she was cool coming with me and a few friends to the strip at about 1:00 am in the morning in the pouring rain for a few last images before we all quit.We went to the Paris area because it had overhangs to block the rain and was also the least ‘cheap’ looking place in town.

This next image was shot down low using a very wide lens which elongated her legs, making her look taller.

These were taken just before we got kicked out of the area by casino security.  Apparently we can take all the photos we want with dumb cameras, but when you have a good camera, some gear with you, and a bit of an entourage, it suddenly is forbidden.  But that was fine.  It was late, cold, rainy, and we were getting tired.

On the way back to the car, we grabbed a couple more images in front of the fake Eiffel Tower.  This gal was a great model.  She really seemed to gather a crowd while we were photographing on the street.  We had a good time and had a great adventure.

Thanks to all these models for working with me, to all the photographers who came and supported the event, and thanks too to my friends for hanging with me and making the event so fun.

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 BryCox.com/blog).

I just got back from speaking and teaching at a photographic conference in Miami, Florida, where I was teaching the art of Fashion Portraiture.  My approach was to show photographers how to make women look amazing using custom lighting and posing that is specific to each woman’s face shape and body.  I also showed how to do this under varying lighting conditions: in the studio, out of the studio, with a windows, with reflectors, with portable lighting equipment, and even in direct sunlight on the beach.

The trick is to always create a spectacular portrait with complete control of light, and to do it under any lighting condition, and still have it custom for that person’s face shape and body.  Meaning great images anywhere…no excuses!

Here are some of the fashion portraits I created in Miami.

These first few images were created around the hotel using ‘other’ lighting techniques.  These ‘other’ techniques that I was showing was due to the fact that the original lighting equipment that was provided to me, DID NOT WORK!  But rather than waste time trying to dink around with the equipment, I went right into showing problem solving techniques, and how to still create stunning and correct lighting for the model in other ways.

These next two images are shown just as they were shot, with no effects!  I was showing a very high-key style of lighting using some special equipment, and exposing for the final image.

Here are just some black and whites done in a very sassy and fun way.

These two studio images I was showing the use of shadow, color tone, and angles to highlight the eyes.

A very pretty and young high-school senior.  A fashion approach works great with high school senior photography.

This is a model from the country of Malta.  She has very exotic looking eyes and lips, so all of my images of her seemed to be closer to really show those features.  I have a great one of her below of her on the beach.

If you notice in my photographic work, I ALWAYS light people so that their eyes pop, no matter the situation.  Eyes are key to a great and emotional image.

Some images of a different model in direct sunlight, using docks and boats as a background.  Busy backgrounds and sunlight are both very difficult.  Both together are even harder.  These images show that both of these can work really well if done right.

And then back in the studio…

And this next image shows just how fun it is to work with me.  🙂

And the Maltese Princess again, but out on the beach.  Later that day I showed photographers this image directly in the processing software, so they could see that this was shot straight…no adjustments at all!  This was shot in direct sunlight on the beach with external lighting, and everything was set up manually — no auto flash, no auto exposure, no auto anything!

It shows photographers that we all need to be a technician and be more exact in or work, and that pays off in extremely difficult lighting situations like this — Perfect, right out of the camera!  Being a technician means having the ability to forget the equipment and work better with the model for a more stunning and captivation expression.

And this was just a fun art image I created on the beach and then painted in front of everyone later that day using some specific tools that I sell to photographers.

Well there are way more images, but this blog entry is already long enough.  This event in Miami was called AfterDark.  It is an event that travels the country and I’ll be doing more for them in the future.  If you are interested in attending this or any other of my photographic workshops, please visit my workshop site, BryCoxWorkshops.com to see my upcoming schedule.