Now to expand on yesterday’s picture…
Personal work is extremely important to keep a photographer focused and constantly improving. Even with my clients, who are amazing and more willing to experiment than most people, I can’t ever say “Hey, I tried this really cool thing and it didn’t work out. Can you get married again next weekend?” So I’m putting together a little project that should mean some envelope-pushing for me. It might take a little while because it’s busy season, but I’m very excited about it. All you get to know about it beforehand is that, for my main star, I needed more than just a model, I needed an actor with an amazing emotional range.
Luckily I knew just where to find one: My friend Kelly Denicolo. Kelly and I actually went to high school together in the frozen tundra of upstate New York. We didn’t know each other that well, because, let’s face it, I was much cooler than she was. My talent and fabulous singing voice made me the star of all the musicals, while she was more of the subversive class clown type, encouraging students to have disco dance-offs during class-time and thinking up new and creative ways to get detention.
No, wait, I got that backward. She had the amazing singing voice (mine has been outlawed in 43 states), and I was the one who wrote the president that I wanted to secede my room from the Union because I had always dreamed of founding a climate-controlled nation.
But it’s been … several … years since high school, and we hit it off as New Yorkers. She’s focused on her dramatic talents ever since, so I thought she’d be perfect for the project, but I wanted to do some test shooting to see her emotional range on-camera.
I thought she’d be good, but I was wrong. She was amazing. I told her to recreate emotions so complicated even I didn’t understand what I was saying, and she nailed every one with subtlety and seamless transitions from one to the next. Seriously, if there are any screentesters out there, call me.
I’m more excited than ever now to get this project going!
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Sam Hurd - so, did you end up buying that softbox with the triflash mount that Phillip had at his studio, or are you just shooting through an umbrella for some of these? Light looks nice and soft in the daylight shots!
Cynthia - She is beautiful and your work is amazing. Great job on this one!
Brad O'Connor - It seems that you have an endless supply of beautiful women to photograph! I really love your work and find it very inspirational. Thanks for sharing some of your skills with the photographer community.
Ryan Brenizer - Thanks all! Just umbrella, Sam, still considering the softbox. Indoors was through an octobox, just using the modelling light.
daniel stark - dang! these are so amazing! looks like some were done with a backdrop–they’re so dramatic! super job! how close were you with your flash?
Hugo - These are so good they make me hate you.
Sally - She’s beautiful, and these are really striking portraits!! Love them all!
Rima - Oh sounds interesting Ryan! Stunning images as always mr Brenizer
Sarah B, - What, no “Gonna wash that man right outta my hair” scene? Dang. These are great! Nice to see Kelly’s many awesome emotions once again :)
- Sarah, another ex-frozen tundra denizen
Becca Dilley - I love the silhouettes of the trees with the clouds and, of course, your awesome subject. Really nice, and I like that you write about continuing to push and play.
Ryan Brenizer - Haha Sarah, I was trying to figure out how to work that in.
Sweet Caroline Photo - pure awesomeness, clouds the perfectly exposed subject ftw.
Juha Sompinmäki - Nice shots but i think u gotta clean up your sensor Ryan :) Either that, or there were a lot of giant mosquitos around in the big horizontal cloud image.
Alvin Banzuela - Stunning images. Looks like your sensor could use some rest and cleaning….. ;o)
Heather Parker - great shots very nice lighting and color. it was nice meeting you ever so briefly the other day with laurie
Ian Butterworth - Great shots with your great ability to get the subtle facial expressions in the photos making them so compelling. Do you have any tips for makeup like powders to help with the sheen on the skin? Or perhaps your models are so beautiful they don’t need it.
Kelly - That first horizontal shot of her against the bright blue evening sky & clouds is amazing.
brett maxwell - excellent! makes me think I need a sledgehammer.
Nathan Gilmer - She is good! Your pictures are excellent too. I especially love the first inside set. I can’t wait to see what your “project” is.
Amanda Basteen - Great set! I love the shot with her looking up to the right, beautiful job! :)
Mark - @Brett x2!!
matt shumate - She’s gorgeous.
Oh yeah, the photography is outstanding—as usual. :P
Eric Kotara - Those skies are absolutely lovely; really wonderful work Ryan.
Stefano Choi - I’m really digging the shadows. Great stuff as always.
Ryan Brenizer - Ian: I don’t know much about make-up. We’ll be using an MUA on the shoot, but this was all Kelly and proper lighting.
Tabitha McCausland - Her eyes are awesome! Great job Ryan!
Kirsten - The full session definitely lived up to the preview!! Which isn’t always easy to do. For normal people ;-) Incredible session Ryan!!