Christmas CD Design Project

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

This last week, one of my coolest jobs was for my good friend, James Conlee.  If you don’t know him, he used to sing on Broadway and now sings and produces many music CDs.  In fact, I think this is the 9th CD I’ve designed for him.

This project was another Wasatch Christmas CD featuring James, my friend Ryan Shupe, and many other local artists.

I feel very honored to have been able to use an incredible painting in the design.  It was painted by another one of our friends also named James….James Christensen.  The painting is called “Evening Angels“ and is absolutely gorgeous.  To check on availability on this and other of his images, check out GreenwichWorkshop.com.

James Christensen - Evening Angels
James Christensen – Evening Angels

This is the painting above.  I adapted this painting for the CD design with the artist’s permission, however I won’t post the finished design or cover right now.  I’ll let it be a surprise.  I am very excited about the results and know that you will love it!

As a special gift to my Christmas clients, I will have some copies of this album to give you with your orders.

In conjunction with the CD, James Conlee will be producing his Wasatch Christmas concert this year as well.  More info about the concert will be on the radio and I’ll post info on it too, when I get it.

Until next time, America!
— Bry

THE BEST AWARD: OUT OF 50,000!

by BryCox (Admin)Awards, Bry Cox Photography Blog, Published, ThoughtsPosted on No Comments

Professional Photographer Magazine, the official magazine of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) has had a contest going.  They asked professional photographers across the country to submit images for a contest — a fight for the cover and a few images inside.  It’s a way to showcase the best images and photographers in the country in a special issue of the magazine that will be coming out.

The magazine received over FIFTY-THOUSAND entries.   They chose only 18 images.  I found out today that my photograph is one of those to be showcased in the magazine’s special November issue.

Bry Cox - Woman of Wind

This image, titled “Woman of Wind” is the portrait that will be showcased in November’s magazine.  You can see more from this photo session on the ‘slideshow‘ section of my main website, BryCox.com.

It is quite an honor and I am very excited!  I had no idea that there were so many entries either.  I just got the word and wanted to get this info up on my blog so that you all could share in the excitement.

Ok.  Now I should head to bed.  Until next time, America!
— Bry

More AWARDS!!

by BryCox (Admin)Awards, Bry Cox Photography Blog, Thoughts, Wedding Day, AlbumsPosted on One Comment

Winning awards year after year is a way of showing you the client, that you will always receive a high level of consistency and quality in the portraits that I create for you.  My entire life is about creating high-quality heirlooms for you down to the tiniest detail, and it is nice to receive awards recognizing that. 

I am very pleased to announce that I won two awards for my album, Angie & Steve which you can see in full right here.

Albums are judged on image quality and design throughout the entire book.  The first award was First Place Master Album.  I then won the Fuji Masterpiece Award for the entire wedding division from this album as well.  This makes a total of 6 total Fuji Masterpiece Awards now in my collection.

BryCox - Angie & Steve

My next two images, though they didn’t win first, still did very well.  This image below, won 2nd place Master Portrait…

Bry Cox - Door Stopper

…and this image won 3rd place Master of Electronic Imaging.  This was in the Electronic Imaging section because the background was completely created in post-production using tools that I sell photographers (available in the Products section of the BryCoxWorkshops.com site).

Bry Cox - Beautiful Dreamer

Even though these images placed 2nd and 3rd (which is very hard in the Master division), I still expected them to do better.  Nevertheless, they go on from here to compete for Regional and National awards where I know they will do extremely well for sure.

This competition was part of the Intermountain Professional Photographer annual convention and print competition.  There are two divisions in the print competition: General for the general photographers, and Masters for Master Photographers.  As a Master, I compete in the Masters division.

Well, that’s it for today.  Until next time, America!
— Bry

Ashley’s Wedding

by BryCox (Admin)Bridal Portraits, Bry Cox Photography Blog, Thoughts, Wedding Day, AlbumsPosted on One Comment

This weekend I photographed a fabulous wedding for a bride named Ashley.  Here are some of the images I created for her prior to the wedding.  These images are not just of the bride, but also include the groom — what I call a ‘pre-session.’  The magic is to have these images finished and ready for display at the wedding for all the guests to see.

Bry Cox - Ashley

These next images I created for a panoramic set.  They looked amazing, finished and framed at the wedding.  Without going into why, let me just tell you that these images are very difficult to create, not only to do well.  I am very pleased with the results.  I also designed these images to really show the emotion of the couple, using the horizon and the incredible sky.

BryCox - Ashley

BryCox - Ashley

BryCox - Ashley

And finally, here is a beautiful series of the bride sitting on a really cool old blue truck.  This was one of the bride’s favorite.

BryCox - Ashley

Well, that’s it for today.  I’m excited for this cooler weather and for fall to come.  I love creating images this time of year.  If you are new to my site, looking around, and need some incredible photographs, please give me a call.

Until next time, America!
— Bry

Paintings of Children

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

I just finished some paintings of some beautiful little children.  As many of my clients know, I offer paintings using my photographs as a reference.  These are usually finished on canvas and look amazing!

Here is one that the client came in to preview today.  She wanted this painting of her daughter to feel like a painting from an old master, and therefore dressed her appropriately.  She also emailed me some samples of paintings that she liked, and I used them as a reference for posing and lighting to create first a photograph that I then used as a reference to create this painting.

Bry Cox Painting

Because images are small on the web, I know that you can’t see the brush details that show up on a large wall image.  So below is a crop of the same painting to help show those details.

Bry Cox Painting blow up

I love the more abstract feel of the background and draping while the face and skin is very detailed.  I created two paintings for this client and here is the second painting below.

Bry Cox Painting 2

Well, if any of you would like one of these paintings of your children or family or anything else, just let me know.  I love creating these and love to see them all finished, hanging in a home.  They are absolutely stunning!

Until next time, America!
— Bry 

Invest in Forever. Art is Forever.™

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Children, Babies, Maternity, Family, ThoughtsPosted on No Comments

Sometimes people ask me about my slogan,

Invest in Forever. Art is Forever.™

I’ve put it on everything from my website to my business cards for many years now, and sometimes I guess I just assume that the meaning is evident. Nevertheless, here is why I came up with that so many years ago and why it’s become a part of my business.

First of all, comparing prices amongst different photographers can be confusing. It is because the price of art is completely different than anything else out there. Normally when we shop, we look for the best deal. We all do it.

Art is completely different and is priced completely different. Artists charge based on what they are worth and what they put into a piece in terms of quality, materials, time, experience, expertise, and their heart.

The slogan is a reminder to not skimp on what matters. Your wedding portraits, your family portraits, and other timeless memories are heirlooms! They will be worth more and more as time goes on. You should have such amazing images that you love and enjoy them now and for your entire lifetime!

Just this week my parents wanted me to come over to their place. They had brought out all of the old 8mm and Super-8 movies of my sister and I growing up and wanted us to come see them. We went over and when it got dark, we set up the projector and watched some of them — just pieces and snippets of our past in little 3 minute reels.

I saw my early birthday parties, President Reagan coming to Hooper, and many other fun memories. Those movies are priceless! My dad invested in a Super-8 movie camera and projector back when few people had them, and I am so grateful now.

It was fun to see in those movies, the home decorated with photographs taken of me back then by my uncle Alan Gibby — a true master. In fact, one of the very few PPA Master/Craftsman in Utah. We still have those photographs and they put everything else taken at the same time, to shame.

Though I didn’t learn my trade from my uncle, he is the reason that I too am a PPA Master/Craftsman. I wanted to earn those same degrees and have those same national credentials that show clients that I really care about the work I create.

As I said earlier, artists charge based on what they are worth and what they put into a piece in terms of quality, materials, time, experience, expertise, and heart. An incredible photograph is an investment in the future and that’s why I say,
Invest in Forever. Art is Forever.™

Until next time, America!
— Bry

Ashley’s Engagements

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Engagements, Announcements, ThoughtsPosted on 2 Comments

You may have noticed that I didn’t get a post up last week.  That’s because I was out of town working. Anyway, I’m glad to be back in the studio again, and here’s one of the fun jobs I’ve been working on.

Today I finished this painting of Ashley and Brett.  They are getting married later this month, and as part of their engagement order, they got one of my painted canvas images.

It is not a photograph, but rather I use a photograph from the session to create a painting that is finished on canvas as a gallery wrap.

Today I finished stretching it and getting it ready to hang.  It looks amazing!  A canvas gallery wrap has an internal frame, meaning the canvas stretches out and around the frame so that you only see the canvas.  It is very classic, contemporary, and hip at the same time.

Cox - Ashley\'s Painting

You should also see this too — the composite design of the couple I finished, framed, and delivered last week.  I really like this and feel it shows a lot of moods and expressions.  I am excited for their wedding.

Cox - Ashley\'s Composite

If you are interested in a painting like the one above or any other photo shoot that focuses especially on your inner mood and emotions, just contact me to set something up.

Until next time, America!
— Bry 

Kristi’s Wedding Album Slideshow

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

I posted a new slideshow today on my website. It is Kristi’s wedding album design. Kristi and Aaron were married in the Salt Lake Temple and had a ring ceremony and dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Here is one open spread (2 faces pages) from their album.

Cox - Kristi\'s Album

I wish you could see this in person. Each page is very large, measuring 11×14 inches. Together, the two page spread measures when open, 22 inches wide by 14 inches tall. A very cool design! And as with all my wedding albums, each page is custom designed by me, the artist, without any pre-designed templates. This way I can insure that every image is perfectly set, and that the background colors and elements work perfectly with each image as well, to best tell the wedding story with flow, emotion and impact.

It was a fantastic and beautiful wedding!

Take a look at the slideshow version of this album at my website, by clicking here.  To view other weddings and slideshows, go to my website at BryCox.com and click ‘Slideshows’ on the left menu.

And until next time, America!
— Bry

Trevor’s Baby Announcement

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

Many of you have already seen my exclusive and very cool new line of Cox announcements that I’ve designed for weddings, graduations, and the births of babies.

Here is a recent one that I’ve been really excited about.  This is of baby Trevor, and I designed this one as a square trifold design.

Trevor Announcement

Here is the announcement, flat, before it is folded.  The two outside images are what you see first, and the logo is on the back.

Cox - Trevor (outside)

Here is the inside of the announcement after it is opened up.

Cox - Trevor (inside)

These announcements are used to show off the amazing portraits I’ll create for you in a very cool design.  I have many options for you for various sizes and prices.

To see more of my own custom line of announcements available also on a variety of exquisite papers, call me to make an appointment or ask about them the next time you are in the studio.

Until next time, America!
— Bry

Courtney’s Bridals

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

Here’s one of the coolest shoots I’ve had this week — Courtney’s bridal shoot.  She had a designer and custom dress made for her by Alta MODA in Salt Lake and wanted a really fun shoot.

We worked all over the Salt Lake area to create some very creative and unique images for her.  Here are some of my favorites.

Courtney\'s Bridals

The white edge on the first image is one of my own custom edges that I created from scratch.  That image also incorporates some of my magazine enhancements that I’m known for.

All of these images are very dynamic, use color to tell the story and draw attention to the right balance points, and show how beautiful Courtney is is her amazing dress.  I’m looking forward to her wedding!

Until next time, America.
— Bry

Website Updates & Wedding Slideshow from the Logan Temple

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

I’ve been updating my website with even newer samples for everyone to see.  There are new images all over the site and specifically in the portrait sections of men, women, brides, engagements, and commercial.  There are more updates to be made, and they should be up over the next 24 hours too.

Also, I’ve also added a new slideshow of Capri’s wedding album.  It can be seen by clicking here.

Capri\'s Wedding Album Spread

All of the album slideshows in my website, display the bride and groom’s entire album design, page by page — showing 2 pages up at a time like a book that is open.  The image above is an example of one spread (2 facing pages) in the album.  Click it to see more.

Capri’s wedding was a gorgeous event, starting at the Logan Utah Temple, and ending up out in Plain City.

If there’s anything you all would like to see on the site, please let me know.
And until next time, America.
— Bry

Miss Utah, Jill Stevens

by BryCox (Admin)Bry Cox Photography Blog, Commercial & Headshots, Published, ThoughtsPosted on One Comment

I recently photographed Miss Utah, Jill Stevens, a Sargent and medic in the Utah National Guard. You may remember her making news for doing push-ups on national television on the stage at the Miss America Pageant, and for winning the award, “America’s Choice” there as well.

Here are some of the images we created at her place in Salt Lake.

Cox - Stevens

The shoot was very fun and I think the images really capture her personality and inner sparkle.

These images were for a local magazine cover, which came out today. Here’s the finished cover and the image they chose for the final design.

Cox - Stevens 2

I should also mention that Jill has been speaking all over the country, and has just finished writing a book which will be coming out next month. You can get more information about it here.

Well, good luck in your adventures, Jill. And until next time, America!
–Bry