atedge: Tell us how you began your career in photography.

Bryan: It started back in 94’ when I was doing Grip/gaffing work (these are the people who do the lighting and power on film sets) on independent films, low budget TVC’s and stage/events in Los Angeles. I graduated from the College of Charleston, SC with a BA in “Scenography- Set design/lighting/sound for theater and film.” I was approached one day by a producer I knew, and he asked if I would like to do lighting for some “stills guys.”
I said, “Sure. Why not.”

After 3 exciting years and much blood, sweat and tears, I went from being the 4^th assistant to automotive super shooter, Rick Rusing to the go-to West coast 1^st assistant to some of the world’s greatest still photographers including , Bob Stevens, Charles Hopkins, Vick Huber, Bill Cash, Shawn Mackenzie, Paul Taylor and Annie Leibovitz. This was a career that I could never have dreamed of.

atedge: When we first met, you had just arrived from South Africa (SA), and as you noted, starting fresh. Tell me a little bit how you ended up in SA and your work there.

Bryan: There were a lot of twists and turns, which ultimately landed me in South Africa.  By 2001 I had secured financing for a TV pilot I had written that was to be shot in Southern Africa. As I was prepping production, 9/11 happened, and the world stopped. As we all had to reassess our lives, my own pivoted drastically, and I had to virtually start over again. It was a difficult decision at the time, but I decided to remain in South Africa and go back to my roots shooting still photography in this exciting new country.

A fortunate meeting with the head of Ford worldwide, having a great portfolio and name dropping some of the best of the best automotive photographers in the states that I had worked for,  opened many doors and quickly I became the “Go to Car Guy.”

I think it was my ‘Whatever it Takes Attitude“, that led to working on bigger jobs not only for automotive shoots, but all kinds of advertising work from humor, product to lifestyle. It also helped that I had built a great team around me so we could tackle any job from conception, production, post/ retouching to final art delivery.

Bryan: After the 2008 financial crisis, I had to take stock again, as the car work seemingly vanished over night.  I hopped in the studio and created some “new still life work” with a focus on alcohol bottles that I would light as I would a car. The challenge was to stand out, so I focused on splashes and pours.  I soon became the “Go to Bottle Guy” and began landing wonderful jobs where I would shoot the bottle, do the lifestyle, and then direct the TVC if asked. It was an amazing chapter, but after almost 20 plus years in South Africa, I decided to move to NYC in 2022 and start fresh again.

To see more inspiring work, view Bryan’s online portfolio on At-Edge, visit his website, and follow him on Instagram.