My father is a carpenter, and as a kid I got a taste of this every Saturday as I would go to work with him to “help” build houses. As I grew older, I became more interested in computers and art. I graduated with a degree in graphic design and began working for A Bryan Photo doing color work, album, web, and print design.
When we began doing printing in the fall of 2010, I reconnected with working with my hands. I fell in love with the physical and wanted to devote more and more of my time to fine art presentation. It is interesting to think that I have taken much different journey than my father, only to gravitate back toward the same interests.
A few weeks ago, my parents came down, and I explored with my dad in my woodshop on building custom picture frames for A Bryan Photo’s Fine Art Prints. While this is still a work in progress, we are proud of our first frame and the direction we are heading in to deliver quality heirloom products for people to enjoy for decades.
I’ve been thrilled to have gotten a chance to work with Caleb’s wife, Laura, on a really cool project we’re calling, Found Frames. I’m constantly wanting to improve how our client’s images are preserved and presented in final form. We have worked really hard in the past few years to better our album process, and now we are contemplating the best way to approach framed photographs. At our annual staff retreat, we settled on the idea of restoring and preserving found frames, and ultimately presenting them to our clients in a complementing sets. The photographs could be a mixture of images A Bryan Photo has taken from your wedding as well as images from other events (e.g. your parent’s wedding).
We decided to start the Found Frames project on our own walls in the studio. Laura scoured flea markets, estate sales, and antique shops for beautiful frames. She then worked on each frame. Some required new glass and matting, while others just needed to be repainted. She then arranged and hung the frames.
We are excited about this new offering and would love to discuss it with any client who may be interested.
When someone asks me to explain Super 8, I always reference this short clip and they understand immediately. This is a perfect depiction of home movies in the 70s and creates a sense of nostalgia for the “golden days.” This short intro is only a minute long, yet it speaks volumes about the personalities of each family member. It’s a perfect snapshot into what life was like for them on a daily basis.
In the 1960s, Eastman Kodak created Super 8 as a cost effective solution for amateur filmmakers and consumers to record the everyday lives of family and friends. Its ease of use and ability to swap film cartridges mid-shoot allowed for widespread growth and popularity in the 70s. Because of the cost of film, families chose key moments and special events in their lives to capture and display, which is why most of our parent’s films were so story driven.
Today, with our iPhones or Flip cameras at our sides at all times, we have no discernment for which life-events deserve special documentation. When we are able to capture without any monetary cost, we end up overshooting our lives. This leads to the truly special moments of life getting mixed in with the mundane. Even worse, the special moments are never presented in a final format.
In our minds, Super 8 is the perfect antidote to this problem. Not only does the medium evoke feelings of nostalgia (i.e. The Wonder Years) but it’s presented in such a way that it is worth revering.
When you think back on the “wonder years,” which events were worth remembering, and therefore, worth documenting well?
I’ve recently gained inspiration from an amazing book, American Photobooth. It highlights the history of the photo booth and has an incredible collection of images that have been created in these booths throughout the last century. The book is a great reminder of the power of the singular, unique keepsake.
A spread from American Photobooth
I wanted to recreate a similar take-away for guests at wedding receptions that I’m photographing. I also love the idea of these images living in only the physical form. I felt it was best to have a fixed environment (camera doesn’t move) as well as having the subjects sit. Within these constraints, like with a classic photo booth, subjects can get creative with how they use the space. People are encouraged to get in close which inevitably creates fun and spontaneous imagery. In January, Caleb & I created our first booth at Blake & Kelly’s wedding reception using a Polaroid back on a Mamiya RZ 67.
Branden created and printed a card with Kelly & Blake’s custom logo. Then, he hand-cut four slits on each card which allowed the polaroid to be slipped in easily. After the polaroid was taken, the subjects were handed the image and were able to take home a fantastic keepsake from the wedding.
We shot over 200 Polaroids for guests at Kelly & Blake’s wedding. I love the idea that Kelly & Blake will be viewing images from their wedding over the next few years as they visit friends and family’s homes.
“Shoot like the uncle.” This odd phrase is one we often repeat to ourselves while shooting various Super 8 sessions. The idea stems from the nature of Super 8, which evokes feelings of nostalgia and home movies. Since our home movies were often shot by a close relative, perhaps an uncle, the footage carries a certain intimacy and closeness. If trust if established with the person behind the lens, the subject has no problem starring into the the camera. You may say that the “fourth wall” is easily broken within this medium.
While I was shooting the Barker Family in December 2009, I handed the oldest son Frank the camera and let him captured his family :
The Barkers here are smiling directly at the camera, moving as Frank does, and responding to his direction. Frank was comfortable with his family, so they engaged and interacted, which in turn created a more memorable and interesting film.
My best films are the ones that feel like home movies, relying heavily on emotion and nostalgia rather than shooting techniques. At the end of the day, I hope the film feels like it was created by someone who knows you well.
