Okay, this is not something I usually do but I figure one has nothing to lose in the process so why not?   It's good to have goals and if they are "on record" here (so to speak) then even better.
First and foremost, my focus this year is going to be on my photography. This profile has a TON of it posted and perhaps even too much.  Also, other than all the photos shared, it is basically the profile I have had for a long while.  So my photography oriented goals are as follows:

- update my profile to showcase by best work
- get cards created to hand out when I see someone I want to shoot
- get a website up (ironic I don't have one really...)
- learn Photoshop (and Lightroom)
- shoot better (always room for improvement)
- shoot more (no reason why I should not shoot 1-2 times a week)
- shoot elsewhere (USA of course but I want one Europe trip)
- buy backdrops and lighting and create a studio to shoot in
- buy my 70-200mm F2.8 IS lens!
- buy an alternate camera (Canon is not ALWAYS the best)

Okay, long enough list.  For the culling of my photos for a revised profile and website I need all of your help.  Comment on the ones that you like best so I know which ones YOU all think I should keep up.  I am my harshest critic but at the same time post more than I should and some that are not even as great as I would like to present.  

Also, anyone that wants to shoot with me, what are you waiting for?  I can guarantee my rates and what you will get will be better than most deals out there. I DO travel on a selective basis so don't hesitate to make a request. I want to make it to Europe this year and that is contingent on choosing WHERE to go to I will base that on the responses/comments from all of you. If you don't want to shoot but love my work, tell a friend or ten. I am shooting cheaper than normal this year to get more shoots scheduled but that could change since my friends tell me I should charge more. I love what I do but I do need to fund the addiction so volume helps!

As for other goals or resolutions, it is a shorter list.  Basically, since I grew up somewhat of an only child and had a 10 year marriage where I felt like I was on my own, that is what I am used to in my life.  This past year I have made some wonderful friends and I want to nurture those relationships as well as make new friends.  Vince, Melissa, Jen, Ashley, Sierra and a handful of others have become close friends and I want to be there for them.  (And I am sure I leaving a number of people out) That applies to my relationship as well. I've learned over the past few months how to give where I was used to someone who gave too much and I let her. I am no angel or saint or even great catch in many regards but if I can make that list of negative traits shorter then great.  I look at it this way, if I died tomorrow I would want everyone who came to my funeral to have to pick through the wonderful stories they could tell.  Not have to filter through bad memories.  Sadly, I probably have too many people already in that boat. 

But, new year so new heights.  I'll be 43 in April but still feel younger than and can do more than those 15 years younger than me.  My motto for this year is "all the best and nothing but in 2009!"  And that applies to everything, me and everyone around me.

Thanks for reading. If you actually HAVE made it this far them you definitely are a friend. Reply/comment and share your goals or resolutions and, since it IS something I need from my friends, send me some encouragement and positive energy. I will do the same for you.  Love you all!

Thanks,
Bryan

Oddly, MySpace does not have a Category for family.  Or maybe not so odd. But on this Thanksgiving I fel like I needed to break my writing silence and send a note out to my family members, those still here and those that have passed.

Probably even less of a surprise than MySpace not having a family category is that fact that a huge part of me does not want to grow up.  I look at people my age and call them "older." Sorry, but I just do not see myself resigned to certain aspects of life that other 42 year olds seem to be.  Not that I am not responsible or shirk what I need or should do at my age. Far from it. But at 42 I am the oldest in my immediate family and on a day like today that hurts even more.

My grandfather was my mentor, my hero and my best friend growing up. My urge to travel and my understanding of people of all walks comes from him. He was a truck driver and every single summer growing up was spent going from state to state with him. Seeing the world so to speak. He was the one who at 2 years old was trying to teach me football. Today him and I would be sitting watching football together and yelling at the TV.  His role was to carve the turkey.  He had an electric knife in a case that he made a big show of assembling and then cutting. Setting aside certain pieces for different people as is the right of the carver. I honestly believe it was one of his favorite holidays as family meant the world to him.  I miss him.

My Gammy, as I called my grandmother, would be the one to cook. Half Chinese and half British our meals were always an interesting melange but Thanksgiving was traditional. No one could make gravy like her! No one could lap it up like my Grandad either. Every year the same dishes and every year delicious. She barely ate as I recall but I know we were all thankful of the work she did in the kitchen. Thankful for all that she did for each of us. I can't say she was happy to be where she was as she missed her family back in England and wanted to be back there. But she loved her family and would take care of us however she could unselfishly and constantly. I miss her.

My mom passed away last year at 58 and with it her sweet potatoes that we all loved.  I grew up with her parents so I think it was kind of awkward when she came over.  Now that I am older and can look back at it.  She was more like an older sister to me because of that.  It was not until both my grandparents had passed that she felt more like Mom. She had an old farmhouse in Jackson, NJ that we would have Thanksgiving at some years. The kids table was an old butcher block and we all had a great time. It is hard not to be able to pick up the phone and wish her a Happy Thanksgiving.  Just don't do it while WNEW was playing Alice's Restaurant!

My Dad was lost in Viet Nam when I was two so there are no holiday memories there other than always wishing he was there. To this day. Don't ever ask why I vote the way I do. To me, most any war is going to be senseless and I can't help but feel for all the additional families over the last few years that have to have a hole in their hearts and their lives for "freedom."

My siblings are each different.  I got a text this morning from my sister at 8AM.  That is her way. She is the youngest but has become the Mom to us all. My brother who is 41 will probably not call so I will later. He will most likely bitch about the football games, his wife and put on another 10 lbs. His kids will be there right with him at least on the bitching at the TV part. My other younger brother is in transition. He is living in central FL and trying to find work as he can and kick a lot of bad habits that he has picked up each year since his 18th birthday. He has recently found God and I think that addiction may replace the others so I am happy for him. He is smarter than most give him credit for but is probably the most emotionally scarred in the family. And that is saying a lot. I wish I could have a Thanksgiving with all of them.

My kids are in Reno with their mother.  It is them that I probably miss the most. Gavin is now 3 and his personality is truly shining. For better or for worse as he seems to be a little me.  I never thought you could love someone in such a way as you do your own children.  Matin is now 1 and I got to spend a month with her for the first time in October and feel in love with her on top of the parental love. Two more holes in my heart but they are amazing kids and I happy and thankful to be their father.  As Gavin says, "My Daddy!'  Matin's version, "Da Da!"  Two sounds missing this Thanksgiving.

I have had various incarnations of family in my lifetime since I moved away from NJ and my immediate family members after college. Life is what you make it and I have had a lot of great Thanksgivings to recall. For all of those that have shared those with me, in whatever manner, thank you. Some I would relive, others I probably would pass on but I appreciate the memories and miss each person in one way or another.

This year is a new experience with a new family. I look forward to new traditions and new bonds and moving forward. Life is not easy and those that know me well know some of the harder things I have endured in the past two years. Those have left me scarred but stronger and more patient. I am thankful I have people around me to love and who love me. With love anything is possible. The love that still exists for all of my family members means that they are here with me despite being gone from this Earth. They all live in my memories and it is time to add even more of those holiday memories to the collection.

I hope everyone enjoys their family this day. If there is someone you have not spoken to in a while, pick up the phone and call them.  Life is short. One day you will wish you did and people do not stick around forever and each day should be spent making memories to think back upon later in your life.  I am thankful to have a lot of great ones.  

I am a little behind on my blogs as these photos were posted earlier in the week and already have been getting some great comments so I need to catch up. I actually have a number of recent shoots to sift through, edit (to some degree) and post. But for now, I am happy to present to you Krista's shoot with a rocking '57 Chevy!

Krista wrote and asked if I could shoot her if she came down to Jacksonville and in seeing the photos she had to date I knew that a shoot with her would be just fantastic so of course I said yes.  Krista is a gearhead so it was easy to decide that I needed to find her a car when she said she was interested in a pin-up style shoot. Luckily, my 14 hours of shooting the Clay County Cruzers calendar for 2009 paid off and I was able to get my favorite car from the calendar shoot as well as an awesome location in Middleburg for a setting.

I can't tell you how hectic this shoot was! While it may look like I spent the time I should have setting up, taking test shots and all that jazz, I basically hopped out of my truck, put my camera together and started shooting. Light was fading so we needed to get all we could in that magic hour before sundown.  Krista made that easy!  She had done her research looking at other pin-up shoots and already knew some of the poses and shots she wanted and collectively we ended up with a shoot where there were very few throwaways. Usually I like 10% of the overall photos taken (which can be anywhere from 350 to 700 in total) but with Krista most were fantastic!

After shooting with the car we went down the road to the garage that is used by the lovely folks who run the CCC car club and took the shop photos that you see. A few of the members were there and that just added to the fun. Nothing like dirty old men (no, not me!) loving the heck out of the shoot and adding running commentary!  Actually, they were a great help as it was their idea to use the Quaker State oil can which ended up giving me and us one of my all time favorite shots. Need to send that to them! Let's make oil sexy if we are going to pay so damn much for it! 

I hope everyone loves these photos as much as I do. Krista is excited at making it back to Jacksonville in November for a second shoot and the second shoots are always better so I can't wait!  She is a completely fantastic model to work with, a great person and a real find.  Thank you Krista for wanting to shoot and I am sure your new found fans on here thank you too!

By the way, my usual disclaimer, none of the photos that are currently posted have been edited whatsoever.  Jess is learning Photoshop so we can improve some shots and save some but for Krista's there really wasn't a need so what you see is what you get!

Bryan 

The 9-year old brother reminds the 5-year old, Hannah Montana loving sister of her current idol's catchphrase. It is so true.  Or as I have been reminded myself many times, "Life is about decisions." Everyone has the ability to make the decision to lead a life of happiness and focus on the beautiful things it has in store. I know far too many people who would rather focus on the negatives, dwell on the past and are constantly waiting for "the other shoe to fall." I have very little patience for those people, if any. We all have made bad decisions but what matters is what you do afterwards to recover and get back on track. Not always an easy thing to do but if you believe in yourself, believe in the fact that life IS what you make it and live your life accordingly, great things happen. I have been accused of being "the luckiest person I know."  I'm not.  I just put myself in situations that have the best potential for the best outcomes and avoid those with the potential for disaster. Or at least I try. I have found myself in the worst possible situations and they have been life altering. Life IS what you make it.

Sometimes you do not even realize what the implications of your actions may be in the end.  On March 31, 2008 while responding to people who had added me as a "friend" on MySpace I came across a "friend of a friend" whose profile name was Junk Girl the Clown. Her photo was intriguing in the sense it was not your typical MySpace photo. I took a look at her other photos and to be honest, none really showed me what this Clown really looked like. Her photos weren't taken to show off her beauty, they were taken to capture her personality. And they captured me. Not as much though as the words on the page. One can only hope we learn from past relationships and I have experienced partners that could not write whatsoever to those narcissistic enough to write volumes about themselves, or more appropriately, the "famous" person they want to be in order to be "a name in this town." Intriguing photos of someone who enjoys life along with words that truly seemed to be from the heart and, more importantly, the mind of this Junk Girl was enough for me to send a friend request. Life is what you make it.

A note on friend requests is required here. Yes, I have thousands of "friends" on here. Most are models, other photographers, artists, lovers of photography, burlesque dancers, attractive non-models I would love to shoot and (Gasp!) even some real life friends.  Most of those are in my Top Friends.  Junk Girls and Clowns were not on the list of "approved" friends or networking people. This request was for quite a different reason. I wanted to know this person and saw a kindred spirit.

"I don't accept random friend requests. Why do you want to be my friend?" So far, so good. I can see she was as intrigued with me as I was with her.  Uh huh. Having gotten to know this person as well as I could with what she had shared of herself I had an easy answer.  Of course, I chose to give quite a different answer than what truly attracted me to her.  Without thinking really I responded with what I was NOT to prove to this Clown that yes, in fact, you can hit that "Accept" button.  The fact that I responded to that at all was a blessing. Typically I look at it as you either want to be my friend or not. I share a quite honest and complete rendering of who I am on my profile. Justifying a friend request is not something I usually do. I want friends that want to be my friend.  But yet, respond I did. Life is what YOU make it.

So began the usual week or two exchange of messages that I equate to a more cerebral and extended version of the 15 minute conversation that follows "Can I buy you a drink?" in a bar. Somehow we ended up challenging each other to write the story of our lives to each other. This Junk Girl went first and I was even more captivated.  Later I was to learn that what she shared was more to scare me off than anything but no, stupid me read it and was further captivated.

"What's your story morning glory?" For those that know me well, they know my story tends to read like a Spanish soap opera.  Junk Girl's wasn't too far off. So I shared.  Oddly enough, our stories had many parallels and I pointed this out only to be rebuked with an offhand, "I don't believe in parallels" comment. Okay. Duly noted. My story, while not designed to scare anyone off, definitely has the ability to do that.  But both having lived through events we never wanted to experience again created a foundation and realization that despite the distance and randomness here were two souls who would not venture down certain paths again. More importantly, I think we both realized here were two hearts broken in similar ways and that maybe, just maybe, we knew how to reassemble them for each other.  Maybe. Only one way to find out.  We decided to meet in a city we both loved, spent a lot of time in and felt like we could be ourselves in. New Orleans.

Leading up to actually meeting we had spent many hours on the phone talking, laughing and sharing even more about ourselves. To say we fell in love with each other would not be a stretch but reality held us back. What if upon meeting that "spark" was not there.  We weren't quite what each other thought? There was no physical attraction?  We knew it would suck but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. We would spend a weekend enjoying the city that care forgot by letting go of care.  Instead, we found something that we cared about more than we had even imagined we would. We found hope in finally being with the person we had always wished we had but had been let down by in the end. The next visit was planned.

Fast forward.  We have spent many weekends together in New Orleans, in Baton Rouge, in Jacksonville, in New York City, in bed.... We have definitely met our match.  In all ways.  We challenge each other, for better or for worse. We push each other. We can drive each other crazy. All those things in good ways as well. Life is what you make it and we are taking a chance that we can make it what we want. Jess and her kids are moving to Jacksonville on August 9 and our new lives begin. Wish us the best, wish us luck, wish us all that we ever wanted.  Hell, wish us the worst and we will strive to prove you wrong.  We have been told "you deserve each other." We do. Those that have been "destroyed" in our wake obviously were not strong enough to see what life could hold.  That in all truth, life IS what you make it and it IS about decision. And we choose to make it the best life possible. Partners. Even.

Drawn into a Betsey Johnson store by the pin-up style dresses on display in their window I was taken aback by the Dita Von Tease look of one of the "shop girls" in a perfect white dress with red anchors.  I knew right away I wanted to photograph this lovely girl! As luck would have it  she had done some modeling in the past and was excited to try the pin-up look she pulled so well. A few weeks later we set a date and time and Emily arrived in the white dress with red anchors ready to ham it up for the camera!

Red shoes or black?  Red.  Would you like flower for your hair? Yes, please. Luckily, even though my stint as a photographer in this incarnation is fairly new I have had years of experience wardrobing, posing and shooting women in various locations, poses and states of dress, or often, undress.  For this shoot, it was the dress that inspired it all.  The dress and Emily's perfect pin-up look. Ali, Chrissy Jean and now Emily. All with different looks but the same wonderful style.

We were meeting at 5PM on a Sunday in downtown Jacksonville and I arrived an hour earlier to caffienate and find the perfect locations. For anyone that shoots with me it is important to note that I am infamous for not really having a specific location in mind beforehand. For the most part I let the models pick their outfits so it is seeing them, getting a feel for the person and then finding that perfect setting which makes a lot of my photos. For Emily's shoot, a photographer and art student herself, I had found a few locations I wanted to use, all in a one block radius of our Starbucks/changing
room.

Parking garage, alley, brick wall, electric meters, yellow tiled wall, mirror tiled entranceway and the soon-to-be infamous Sally Corporation's building all were used for this shoot. Ironically, the alley I had chosen was one that Emily herself had used for photo projects.  Which, I might add, made it a  lot easier to say, "Hey! Let's go down this secluded alley and shoot against a brick wall!" to someone I really had met in passing for a few minutes in a retail store!

I love the photos we ended up with! I hope to shoot more of Emily as well as more pin-up style photos.  Look for some featuring Jess in the near future. In the meantime, check out Emily's wonderful photos and leave your love for her and constructive criticism for me.  Feel free to go back and check out Ali's and Chrissy Jean's photos as well.  More to come from all of them!

Anyone out there think they have "the look" for a pin-up style photo shoot?  Contact me and let's do it!  

I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Colin Powell in June.  He told a story about a Japanese government official who, when asked what his favorite city in the world was, said it was New York City. Because you have the whole world in one place.  And it's true.

I grew up at the New Jersey and while I appreciate the beach I can't say I was a beach bum. No, my weekends and my summers were spent taking the train or driving into "the City." The West Village and St. Mark's Place were my haunts. The Peculiar Pub was my "local" before it moved to Bleecker Street and the original space became the Slaughtered Lamb.  Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time in New York City.

Not all my trips have been alone. I used to take my girlfriend in high school, Chrissy Jankowski, because she said, "The city makes me horny." I have had a very memorable experience on the roof of the Beacon Hotel in the middle of December (no name mentioned here...), hung out with my wife at the time and friends in bars with unmarked doors, taken my 1 year old son to visit and spent a wonderful first trip with an ex.

The city has been the start and the end of many things for me. I bought the first clothes with my own money at the original Urban Outfitters (black Levis and a dark green sweatshirt which I wore until it fell apart). A piece of my soul resides in the city and I feel at home there.  It is ever changing and there are always new places and experiences to enjoy. At the end of June that list of experiences was added to in a very special way.

I live in Jacksonville, FL. My girlfriend Jess lives in Baton Rouge, LA. For now. We have spent a number of weekends in our home away from home, New Orleans. But, we had never actually traveled or flew someplace together.  Five years or so ago my friend and photographer Bob Coulter had taken me to the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island to take photos. It was forever emblazoned in my memory.  When I first met Jess one of the immediate thoughts I had was, "This girl would LOVE this parade!"  I don't call her my Beautiful Freak for no reason. And the parade is, if nothing else, an exhibition of freaks of all kinds. And I use that word in the most complimentary way! I started to tell her about it and before I could even finished she was excited and saying she wanted to go. So plans were made, a costume was designed and Dickhead and Jersey Boy were taking their first real trip together back to the city that shaped me in so many ways, for better or for worse.

We met up in Atlanta airport and took a flight together to LaGuardia. After 2 hours and 15 minutes and a few pomegranate martinis each we flew over Shea Stadium (old and new) and landed in the Big Apple with a newly made friend, Faith, who had partaken in our pomegranate pounding. We had arrived.

First, let me say this weekend was truly planned out. We had a short amount of time and whole lotta things we wanted to do that were going on with the Mermaid Parade being the feature event. So on Friday, June 20, at 3:30 PM we got to our room at the W Times Square, unpacked, pressed a dress, showered, applied make up (not me, Jess!) and ran to the subway to head to dinner.

Later that evening we were going to see Linnzi Zaorski, a New Orleans jazz/torch singer with whom we had made acquaintance with (and who I have taken some photos of in the past) and who happened to be playing in NYC this weekend and then after head to the Slipper Room on the Lower East Side to catch a burlesque show. Dinner was at 5:30 PM at Butter and we had an amazing meal, some great wine and their decadently delicious strawberry beignets before heading next door to Joe's Pub to catch Linnzi.

Linnzi was standing outside when we walked up so we chatted a bit and went in and got a table directly in front of the stage. Camera in hand we waited for what we knew would be an amazing performance.  We were not disappointed in the least.  Linnzi and her Jameson were in good form and, the best part, the NYC crowd absolutely loved her.  More pictures were taken. We said our good-byes and exited back out onto Lafayette Street.

With little over an hour to "kill" we walked through Astor Place and over to St. Mark's Place. Also, Trash and Vaudeville was closed but on any given day or night, the sidewalks of St. Mark's Place aka Joey Ramone Place can be described as trash and vaudeville!  2nd Avenue, a left turn and a few blocks led us to, shocking as this may be to those that know us, a wine bar!

Literally. Wine Bar (truth in labeling here folks!) was good for a brief respite and an excellent glass of Spanish red and then it was a short walk to the Slipper Room. Now we both have been to burleque shows individually and have enjoyed them but we were excited to see a show together. The Slipper Room is small and the show was great even if a little unproduced for what we were used to in New Orleans. Nothing against the performers though! Jo Boobs was fantastic and we were most definitely entertained. As much as scantily clad women is a turn on for both of us I'd say the person who stole the show was Seth Herzog. Come on. A Jew in a Wonder Woman leotard who was seemingly infatuated with his own balls? Hysterical. Just what a burlesque show needs and not always has even if Seth may have been a little over the top for some. Nonetheless, a great show and great little new discovery in NYC. Add it to the list. The night ended with a taxi cab ride back to the W where Jess laid back and we began the rest of the evening's festivities a bit early...

Saturday. Breakfast from a NYC deli, airbrushing Jess (and the bathroom porcelain), assembling our costumes, RockStars and Absolut New Orleans and a taxi cab ride to Coney Island and there we were. Our first of hopefully many Mermaid Parades.

We were marching with a group of friends of Gemini and Scorpio.  We waited in the (much longer) PRE-registration line, had someone we did not know ask us to watch her little girl (guess a Siren and Pirate look trustworthy...), posed for countless pics and finally entered the staging area.  Many more countless pics later, we found Miss Scorpio and got acquainted with our new friends.

The Vintage Mermaids were soon ready to march! And roll.  We had a trike with the more than apt Sal pedaling and carrying the payload of a mixer, two CD decks and the Broken Hearts from London disc jockeying and spinning the tunes. 

How many of you have ridden in or marched in a parade? I hadn't so let me just say right here and right now, add it to your bucket list.  When we hit the boardwalk and had throngs on either side yelling, waving, taking pictures, smiling, laughing and generally appreciating our efforts at entertainment it was a moment you do not forget.  Seeing Jess dance and be my Beautiful Freak in full force was worth all the gold paint that was inhaled. Holding hands and dancing down the boardwalk together to Runaround Sue immediately made the Top 3 of 42 years worth of memories. Vintage dress to cut up and make a tail, $20. Pink wig, $60. Airbrush gun and gold paint, $120.  Dancing down the Coney Island boardwalk, priceless.

We met so many cool people that day and saw so many amazing costumes! For at least one day a year Coney Island is the Happiest Place on Earth. Sorry Disney. We didn't win the group award (our generator died just before the judging stand so we had to mime our way past the judges....) but the Marie Antionettes rightfully did.  An amazing and rewarding experience all around.

Next up, more burlesque! We walked up to the Mermaid Ball, met burlesquer Little Brooklyn along the way and took a short breather on the boardwalk before heading into the old Childs restaurant for an evening of not so great go-go dancers and a few great burlesque performances.  Kudu played a great set, the Brooklyn Brewing beer was nice and cold and we both danced our asses off!

The plan was to then head to the vintage Swing House party hosted by Gemini and Scorpio but even I run out of energy at some point so we decided to take the subway back to the hotel, made some more new friends (hola Mohawk Dave!) and finally made it back to the room, showered and used what energy we had left to the best possible use.

Sunday was sort of left open. No set plan other than wake up, exercise in bed and head to breakfast.  Clinton Street Baking Company was our destination this morning.  Ours and enough other people to have us wait for an hour while the barista/bartender gave us greatly reduced (read: free) mimosas since he thought the $10 price tag was too high. You just can't get good help these days! An awesome omelet a plate of huevos rancheros and some out of this world cheese grits (in the North no less!) later, we needed to walk off the feast. The rest of the day was spent checking out shops on the Lower East Side, SoHo, Chelsea, Union Square and finally the Museum of Sex. Very inspiring displays. So much so we headed back to the room after to reflect, discuss and reenact some of the educational and historical things we had learned.  We were lucky. No school trips that day at the Museum. Kids love it I hear.

Last impromptu item on the open agenda on Sunday was a jaunt through Central Park and up to Strawberry Fields and then it was off to the airport. A most wonderful weekend got extended another night when our flight was delayed out of LaGuardia and we were forced to spend the night in Atlanta. We tired each other out further and reflected on the last few days before drifting into a short yet satisfied sleep.

New York City once again had welcomed me back into its arms and had shown us what life is all about. Being with someone you love and enjoying every second of every day in whatever way possible.  Together. We'll be back. There is a lifetime of future memories to be made we both are looking forward to them. New York City memories are particularly special.

Respectfully,
Jersey Boy

If you want to view some of our memories, check out my "NYC/Mermaid Parade 2008" folder of photos.  Hopefully you will be inspired to go to the parade next year, or if you already attend, then reach out and say Hello and let's organize a group.  Anyone who can, please also support Coney Island!  There may not be a parade next year so do what you can to keep Coney Island condo free.

 

Photos galore is not quite as good as Pussy Galore (the James Bond character...you perverts!) but nonetheless there truly is a TON of new photos posted for your viewing pleasure.

Where to start...? I have been traveling so much the last few weeks and I came back with photos from a new model in Reno, NV and more from a familiar face in New Orleans, LA.  Good stuff!

The first update is a second shoot with the lovely Jacksonville based Quiana.  As anyone who shot with me knows I love to collaborate. Yes I have a vision in my head but I like the seed to be planted by the model so that it "fits" and the personality that is the person can show through.  Quiana had the idea for a pool hall shoot so on a Monday afternoon Miss Quiana and I pretty much had the bar to ourselves and came away with some great shots!  A little different than the last ones of Quiana as are the bonus shots we took in the park afterwards.  With a change into a more formal dress the beauty that is Quiana looked stunning amongst the trees and sun of the park. Check them out! I am sure there will be more of the lovely Quiana!

Switching gears, and coasts, we next head to Reno, NV for the blonde vintage queen Chrissy Jean! This was a shoot that was destined to take on the life that it did.  Her and I both came together with the same idea in our heads. Unspoken we both prepared and bought suitcases for a shoot in the desert. The Lucky 13 dress, her beautific blonde hair courtesy of Amanda at Origins Beauty Salon, the red flower in her hair and my gift of a drool inspiring bottle of Sailor Jerry run capped it off. Chrissy is so expressive and is such a great actress that the script we both had developed on our own played out perfectly!  The forlorn runaway housewife with nothing but lingerie and a bottle of run! Great stuff! After the desert we stopped in downtown Sparks and took some photos with the old trains they have as well as a few in the amphitheater for the pigeons. You will definitely see more of this Montana born, Jones Soda and cool music loving pin-up queen! Great to have a new friend to catch shows with in Reno too! You rawk girl!

Lastly, but not least, from New Orleans we have a second set of photos from the blonde bombshell Britney.  After the first shoot we knew that as soon as I was back in my second home that we would be shooting again. And thankfully so!  As great as the first shoot with her was these are even more amazing!  She met at the hotel in a schoolgirl outfit and I immediately knew that an impromptu shoot was in order!  We were going to shoot in old Algiers anyway so a short distance away in Belle Chasse I knew of some school buses and the rest is photographic history! Hawt!

On our way to old Algiers we made another stop under the twin bridges of the Crescent City Connection and got some amazing shots during the magic hour before sunset.  She looks absolutely amazing in her flowing dress with the breeze off of the Mississippi and the light capturing her face, shining through her dress and highlighting the contours of her...well, her contours made for some wonderful pics! Some of my favorites up to that point.

Next it was finally on to old Algiers at sunset with light fading.  Britney had a metallic blue dress that caught what light was left and the shining blue of the dress, her blonde hair and her bared skin was enough of a contrast of the sunset over downtown New Orleans that we got the best pics of the evening!  Thanks again to Britney for being such a wonderful model.  Her and Greg are cool people and we can't wait to hang out again and of course shoot more! Can't shoot without Greg's sound effects!

If all that is not enough I have added some pics in the "My Photography" section that are just random "artistic" photos, a few new ones of my kids (check out the 3 year old cutie that is my son!) and more to the May 2008 folder.  Like I said, photos galore!

What's next?  I am heading to Baton Rouge this weekend and Sunday morning will be heading out to a burned out plantation home for a second shoot with Jess, who, by the way turns 30 Thursday! Party at 600 Main on Friday if you want to stop by!

After that we are off to New York City and Coney Island and the Mermaid Parade!  No shoots set up as time will be limited. Friday night we will be hanging with Linnzi Zaorski (if you haven't seen my pics of her check them out - she used them for her NYC posters!), going to see Hot Box Burlesque at the Slipper Room and even more burlesque and bands at the Mermaid Ball Saturday night. Sunday is recovering I am sure. 

Lots more shoots already scheduled including a third shoot with Sierra where we explore her more business-like side that will prove to be even sexier, a second shoot with Stef (Jude), a live concert shoot for Shawn Fisher and a new model Emily who we first saw in Betsey Johnson and I just had to get to shoot with me!  Coming soon! 

Anyone out there who would like to shoot, regardless of city, please contact me. Especially if you are in LA as I have a friend there I have promised to shoot and a lovely burlesque beauty that wants to shoot as well!  So add your name to the LA list and let's make it happen!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and if you can't make it to 600 Main Friday night in Baton Rouge, please stop by Jess' (Junk Girl the Clown in my Top Friends) profile and wish a happy old age!  LOL

Muah!
Bryan 

Is there a master plan for the universe? Is there even a minor plan for individuals? Hard to say. After all that I endured in 2007 I would hope it was not part of any entity's plan for me.  But then, the year did teach me quite a bit. Live, love and learn.

Learning to live and love sounds simple but I would have to say that as simple as it sounds most people take it for granted and do not even know how to truly live.  Knowing how to truly love is even more elusive and difficult for some.  I think the issue for most people is that even knowing what living and loving truly is.  Granted, the definition is going to be subjective.  But therein lies the problem. Few people truly know themselves so what living and loving is to them is usually misconstrued or, worse, fabricated. You have to BE yourself to KNOW yourself: hurts, vulnerabilities, accomplishments, failures, embarrassments, strengths, doubts, hopes and all.

Not an easy or even a palatable thing to do for anyone.  Going through everything I did last year forced a look into the mirror and hence, into the looking glass I did go. I found a person lurking there that I had not seen in a long, long time. Long as in over 15 years.  It was nice to make the acquaintance of that person again and to see, experience and explore the world with him. 

It was in those explorations that I quite by accident stumbled across a person who calls herself Junk Girl the Clown.  Now, let me say, a junk girl and/or a clown were not destinations I had on my travel itinerary for my new world orderly explorations but somewhere in the plan a detour had been written down.  Moniker aside, the first impression of Junk Girl the Clown was someone who had seemed to be traveling the universe in much the same fashion as I was at the time. Well written, intelligent, fun, humorous and with a deepness that was hinted at if you knew how and where to look. Interesting. To say the least. So, with nary a glance at what she actually looked like, I said Hello hoping that face paint, red noses and floppy shoes were not a fixture in her day to day wardrobe.

The warm welcome and immediate acceptance of this stranger who warily said Hello was overwhelming.  "Who are you and why do you want to be my friend?"  Ah, yes.  Reminded me of a t-shirt I once saw a guy wearing at Lollapalooza, "You had me at get lost!" Luckily for me, I actually did know who I was and wasn't and even knew why I wanted to befriend a clown. As it turned out, she was traveling the universe in a similar fashion as me as her recent past, which she did open up and share with me, strangely mirrored my own.  Uncannily so. I pointed this out and in all her clown warmth it was summarily dismissed.  However, I was welcomed to the circus and hence the greatest show on Earth begins.

Live, love and learn. We both have experienced the highs and lows of great relationships that have crashed and burned. From that, we both know how to live and love to the fullest and take what we have learned, both about ourselves and others, to at least try to avoid the same mistakes and same heartaches and same failures of the past. Jess is my Dickhead. I am her Jersey Boy.  We both take life seriously but with a grain of sarcastic salt. We are not safe from that sarcasm from each other.  Healthily so.  We both have met someone who is our equal in so many ways.  We measure up even, for better or for worse. Partners in crime in the great heist that is life and love.  Learning what it means to try to trust another with your heart and your future. Hell, with today. Each day is precious and why waste it on someone who cannot appreciate it as a partner, an inspiration, a motivator, a teacher, a lover, a giver and a learner.

Is it scary?  Yes. Everyone has insecurities and fears and doubts but to let them consume you is a waste of energy.  Anyone who has seen the two of us together comments on what a "lovely couple" or how "amazing you two are" and "how have you two stayed together for so long?"  Ha! Take a look at the May 2008 picture folder to be let into our life. The energy from the way we interact creates energy. Not just for us but for others.  Everyone is a hurt little child on the inside and acknowledging that and letting that child out to play to replace those hurts with hope and highs is what life is about. Acknowledging those hurts and helping another reach those highs is what love is about.

I am glad I was let into the circus. I am glad I let a clown into my world. The circus came to town when I was most ready for it and was happy with my life and all that I am accomplishing and was more than okay with being alone.  I didn't need a love or a relationship and was not looking for one.  But who can resist a circus? Play in the hay and you never know what you may find. I am still more than happy with myself and look forward to sharing that person with someone who is willing and open to living, loving and learning with me. I look forward to all the ingING left to come with someone who is so much more than just a dickhead or a clown. How much more is yet to be seen but the new Jess is more and the new more is Jess.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the new Jess!  So what you may not know the old Jess? I can assure you it is no matter. My latest photos bring you Jess for your viewing pleasure!

Like most of the "models" I have shot so far this year, Jess had never really been in front of the camera for a "photo shoot." Again, no matter.  My job is to capture the beauty I see in the people I shoot and that made this a real easy shoot!  The first shoot is always a little difficult though as the model does not know how I will capture them and what will look good (to them and/or to me - not always the same thing) and I don't necessarily know what will make that person look the best.  Jess has a natural beauty that is truly evident to me and I think I was able to capture that well.  That and the fun we had doing the shoot and the happiness that goes along with her beauty.

Mosquitoes and bleeding ankles aside, we did have a lot of fun.  I had no idea where we were going to shoot but my "location fairie" (cousin to my parking fairie) treated us well and found the perfect warehouse and yard that just happened to have an open gate on a Saturday evening.  It is a location with a few more opportunities so you will see at least one more shoot from here. But yeah, there were spots where the mosquitoes were swarming and voracious!  Photo shoots have their hazards! Nonetheless, we had a blast.

First shoot down and I think Jess came out looking fantastic!  I can guarantee with certainty that there will be a few more shoots in the future (can you say Strawberry Slutcake?) and they will just get better and better!

Since this was her first shoot please leave comments and feedback and plenty of encouragement for her.  Ideas for shoots for her or a certain look you'd think would be perfect?  Do share!  And yeah, see more candid shots and read about Jess here soon... Subscribe to be kept up to date and hang on for the ride!

Ciao for now!
Bryan

The following is actually a blog from my old profile that was deleted in March 2007.  I guess with Mother's Day coming up and with my Mom passing away this past year and my son's birthday on May 26th this one felt right to repost....

 

Magazine Street in New Orleans is one of my favorite places to hang out.  There is still a Rue de la Course for me to get their awesome iced mochas, plenty of great eateries and bars and some awesome stores to shop in.   It is a neighborhood that I would love to live in and have actually discussed the possibility. We will see. What I love most about it is that I can be ME there. The me that most people do not get who know me in person. 

The "me" that was discovered on my last trip to New Orleans' Magazine Street was the father in me continuing to develop.  Which, really when I think about it, is just me reaching back to being a kid. Most would tell you that is not a far reach.  And while there are soo many cool local stores on the street, I love American Apparel.  While shopping there they had an awesome CD playing that Gavin was enjoying and I was dancing around the store with him in my arms having a grand old time.  Dancing down aisles and around the other girls shopping there...we were having a blast. One of the guys working there was totally amused and on his way to the back of the store said the following, " You know?  You have to be the coolest Dad ever!" A fleeting comment but one that made my day, week, month and possibly my year. 

The music we were dancing to?  The quoted complimenter informed me that it was Hollertronix' "Never Scared."  Awesome piece of a DJ mix.  Bad thing is, I CANNOT FIND IT ANYWHERE!   So, should anyone out there have it in any format, please let me know. You'd make me and Gavin very, very happy!

Being a cool Dad is very important to me.  For a number of reasons that I will get to (yes, this is another lengthy bio-pic script of mine) eventually.  People always ask what do I do that I travel so much.  I enjoy my job but always cringe when I have to inform someone that I work for Corporate America.  No, I am not a rock star, no I am not on a book signing tour, no I don't have photo shoots in all those cities. What I do is work with companies to improve their retirement benefits for their employees so I meet in Board Rooms to convince CEOs, CFOs and the like that they need to care about their employees' retirement and then, as a part of my job, I go and conduct seminars/meetings for the employees.  Cool?  Not really.  But it is something I enjoy.

However, I have had a lot of cool jobs. Some lots cooler than others. As some people know, for 6 years of my life I was a radio disc jockey and got to work with Matt Pinfield, interview bands (most memorable was Dave Faulkner - Hoodoo Gurus lead man- in the bathroom stall at Irving Plaza in NYC), announce bands onstage and ride on their tour buses. If that wasn't enough, I also spent 6 years as a photographer and web designer for a website I used to have.  I recently asked someone I work with and am friends with in Corporate America what would be your dream job?  He answered, "Photographer for Playboy."  Well, I got to experience that.   Better I think because not only did I photograph my wife at the time but we got to meet and become friends with a ton of really cool people. I am proud of the things I have done and I think having done those things keeps me young.  I mean, I could sit and here and go "Wah! Look at the past at what I did and look at me now!" But why do that?  I am the same person that did those things and what Dad's can claim all that? 

The answer to that, and why it is important to me that I am "cool" not only in the American Apparel store clerk's eyes but in my son's eyes is that my Dad, who I never really got to know, was very cool.  He was drafted and sent off to Viet Nam in 1968 when I was 2 but up until he left he had a band called the Motifs.  He loved the Stones and the Kinks and his band actually had a Top 10 hit on WMCA in NYC in the Sixties.  They are mentioned in Dave Marsh's book "Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story" but, what the book failed to mention that I just recently discovered, is that my Dad was personally an inspiration for Bruce Springsteen himself and Bruce even wrote a song as a tribute to my Dad. Now how cool is that?

http://www.nj.com/war/ledger/index.ssf?/springsteen/ledger/index.ssf?/springsteen/stories/1118_arena.html

Here's the link the article where I discovered this and I am happy to share with you some of my past and background.  Will I be as cool as that to Gavin?  Hard to match that but the same thing that made my Dad cool keeps me young and hopefully cool in Gavin's eyes:  music.  Music is timeless.  You don't HAVE to be 16 to like Fall Out Boy or Panic! At the Disco or any of today's bands.  You just have to keep an open mind, enjoy new experiences and love to take in all that the world has to offer. I hope to share some of that with my son, but I know he will also share that with me.  So, in the end it will be him that will make me the coolest Dad ever.