Photogen's Workshop Photos

My Rollei and Me

One beautiful aspect about hosting a workshop is all of the amazing photos that others take during the week. I was really excited to have Eliesa from Photogen Inc., a photo studio based in Minneapolis MN, join us for the week. I have loved her work for a long time and her insight and spunk added so much to the dynamic of our group last week. She just posted some really cool shots from the workshop on her blog that you should check out HERE! I'm also completely floored by all the nice things she said about her time at the workshop and in Birmingham. Thanks Eliesa! You Rock!

Here are a few more of my favorite shots that she posted:

Lara Casey of Southern Weddings, blowing our minds (my favorite thing about this shot is the two scooters resting on the table behind her)


This is Adam Linke of Shoot Q talking to our group at dinner on Tuesday night about how amazing their software is! If you are a photographer and you don't use Shoot Q, you are an idiot.


This is me attempting to sound relevant.


A more clear photo of the entire group on the roof of our building

Ingebeth & Matthew, February 28th 2009

What an honor it was for my wife, Ashley, and me to photograph the beautiful wedding of Ingebeth and Matthew. They had planned a wedding that would be warm, intimate and personal, all within the wintery backdrop of Notodden, Norway. The Landsverk Family (Ingebeth's family) can trace their ancestors back 800 years in the town of Nottodden. This rich family tradition and connection to the town was very important for the couple. Ingebeth chose to get ready and have her pictures taken at the Landsverk Farm, which has been in their family since the 12th century and is where her grandfather was raised. Ingebeth has always had a great fondness for the farm. Her family spent much time there while she was growing up and would even get their Christmas tree each year from the surrounding forest.



Matthew, who was born and raised in the mountains of Virginia, takes great pride in the traditions of both the Landsverk Family and the Norwegian culture. He met Ingebeth in Norway in 2004 while they were working for YWAM. It was a great privilege for Matthew's family and friends to join him for the wedding and to finally experience the place he now calls home.



Ingebeth and Matthew chose to get married in a small church close to the Landsverk Farm, even though it's not the church they attend regularly. They LOVED the church because it was old, small and traditional. It created the romantic and personal environment they craved for their ceremony (and provided an amazing backdrop for shooting!).



Married! More photos at the church and then back to the farm!


The reception took place an hour outside of Notodden at a cozy hotel in the mountains. It didn't snow much during the day, but once we got to the hotel, the snow really starting falling hard. The stage was set for an amazing evening with family and friends, all of which would be staying at the hotel for the night. A Norwegian reception is much like an American rehearsal dinner, full of food and toasts. Ingebeth's friend, Anna Tone, had made all of the decorations at the reception, another important personal touch to the day.



The reception went late into the night, but with all of the guests sleeping at the hotel, everyone was perfectly content with staying and partying. I didn't stop shooting until 2 in the morning when I finally retired to my room. Everyone else stayed until 4 AM. The following morning, all of the guests (and the bride and groom) enjoyed a great brunch. Most of us stayed at the hotel until the afternoon. It was a refreshing time of fellowship, hiking and sledding.

This experience was so refreshing for me as a photographer. I feel so blessed to have been asked to document this day for them and really hope to return to Norway again in the future.

View their ALBUM HERE

A Bryan Photo Workshop

Top Row (Left to Right)-
Rob Ingram, Rob Culpepper, Kelly Merrill, Jodie Johnson, Caleb Chancey, Corrina Hoffman, Kallie Buckmaster, Bill Pyne, Renee Yarbrough, Taylor Christian Jones, Amelia Strauss, Dena Robertson
Bottom Row (Left to Right)-
Stephen DeVries, Bryan Johnson, Eliesa Johnson, Jeremy Carter, Branden Lower, Josh Hausen, Jory Cordy
Not Pictured: Matt Dorrah


This past week my staff and I had the privilege of hosting our first ever workshop. The week went amazingly; truly an inspiring event. I learned so much from the group that joined us and feel like I met some friends for life.

Lara Casey from Southern Weddings flew in to speak on branding and social media. Not surprisingly, her approach and charm wooed us all! She taught us so much about our industry and how to best tell our story to our clients.

Two of A Bryan Photo's favorite vendors, Dena Robertson of Cypress Albums & Bill Pyne of Richard Photo Lab, also flew in from LA to tell the group about their remarkable services and offerings. Because they are amazing people, Bill & Dena treated us all to a cocktail party on the final night of the workshop!

I will be posting more on this event in a few weeks when we get all the film back and when we get a chance to edit some of our videos. For now, here are a few Polaroids that Stephen DeVries shot on his 4 x 5:





We are already getting excited about planning our next workshop! Maybe in the fall?!?

Portico Magazine Shoot, A Polaroid

This week I shot for Portico, the Birmingham lifestyle magazine that gave me my start when I graduated college 7 years ago. I was recently reconnected with them and hopefully am going to be shooting some features for them in the future. I photographed James Smith, the CEO of Green Building Focus. His company specializes in broadening the study of sustainable building and construction (SBC) activities in North America. His portrait was taken on the roof of the new Social Security Building in downtown Birmingham. James was consulted in the construction of the building and designed this roof with vegetation. The vegetation is watered by a 80,000 gallon tank of rain water that is collected from the roof of the car garage adjacent to the building. The vegetation keeps the building well insulated, which drastically cuts energy costs year round.
Cary Norton joined me, and we both enjoyed feeding off each other's creative energy, and liberally passed the camera back and forth for shots. I can't wait to see the film, and I'm happy to be shooting editorial again!

D.A.N.C.E.

D.A.N.C.E. from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

Sometimes we finish shooting 8mm at a wedding and we realize on Monday morning that we still have a half a roll of unused film that has to be shot off before we can mail it to our lab. A few weeks ago we had two whole minutes left, so we had an impromptu Monday morning dance party! Please note our studio manager Josh dancing in the window. Its by far my favorite moment of this dance break.

Enjoy!

Church Steeple (Seen Through a Rollei)

Same Steeple, shot with a Holga:



See, isn't film just more fun? Even boring details like a church can become interesting.

Meggie and Buck Preview, March 28th 2009

Here's a quick preview of Meggie and Buck's wedding from last month. We are working on their album this week and the wedding should be live on our site on Friday. For now, here are a few quick shots!

First Dance


Here are a few pictures I grabbed right before the wedding started that I really dig:



I rarely think photographs of flower girls are cute but here's one I took with my LOMO that I actually really like:

Melissa & Chris, February 21 2009

Its always a blessing when I get to do weddings for friends from Samford (where I went to college). Melissa was a year ahead of me at Samford and I knew her through Ashley, who was in a sorority with her. I've done several of her friends' weddings, so Melissa's wedding was a reunion of past wedding clients and college friends. Chris also went to Samford but I didn't know him while I was in school. My time with this couple prior to/during their wedding was so relaxed and comfortable. Melissa is so laid back and enjoyable while Chris (whose a counselor) has a demeanor that puts you at ease. The whole wedding day felt so right and natural and I'm blessed to have been there to capture it on film!

Be sure to check out their album HERE!

Chris and His Guys.


The Ceremony.


Married!


The Reception.

Jeremiah on a Tree

Costa Rica Surfing Shots!

The morning of the wedding I photographed Drew and his groomsmen "surfing". I put "surfing" in quotes because almost all involved were extreme amateurs. Nevertheless, we all had fun. I photographed the session with my Holga and Lomo. Just in case I got submerged, I would have only lost $200 worth of equipment. I'm really pleased with how they turned out!























Bonus Video for the week!
At the resort where we stayed, there was this dog that attacked everyone who ran into the water. In true ABP fashion we decided to turn the problem into a game.
Here are Jeremiah and our friend Chris Oakley being chased by the dog. One of these two was not very successful at this particular game.


Man vs Wild: Costa Rica Edition from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

Shay and Drew, A Costa Rica Wedding Preview

I just got the film in from the Shay & Drew's wedding in Costa Rica and wanted to post a quick preview!
You two are so hot!
Surfing preview coming tomorrow!

Melanie & Patrick, January 24th 2009

Here are the images of Melanie and Patrick's beautiful wedding in Birmingham this past January! Melanie and Patrick met at The Birmingham Children's Hospital. He is a pediatric cardiologist and a few years ago he noticed a hot new Samford student making clinical rounds in his department. She later got a job in his department as a pediatric nurse and he finally got up the nerve to ask her out. A year later they were engaged! The wedding took place at First Presbyterian in Downtown with the reception at Kathy G's Park Lane. We did all the prep shots at the Tutweiler, which is my favorite Birmingham hotel to shoot at.
I'm honored to have been part of this wedding and be connected to such a cool couple!

View their album HERE

The Guys.



The Ceremony.



Married!



The Reception.


Check out their 8mm!

Melanie & Patrick 8mm from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.