Our New Kansas City Studio!

We have made a major upgrade to our shooting space in Kansas City! We have moved into a 4000 square foot gem near the historic River Market. We are so excited about the brilliant natural light that pours through a glass wall spanning more than 70 feet. Finished with polished concrete floors and reclaimed wood accents, this space is both versatile and beautiful.

We can handle photo shoots both large and small. We have great access through our 4 large glass garage doors. Clients and crew can drive right up to the door, or if we are shooting a car, drive right in! But don't take our word for it, see for yourself...

(P.S. - Our Seattle clients are welcome to shoot here too!)

Fun with Airstream

This week, I'm debuting new collaborative work I created for my rep Lenlee. She asked each of her photographers to create a series of images celebrating Airstream Travel Trailers. I began by delving into the history of Airstream, and became inspired by the personality and character of the founder Wally Byam. I decided to illustrate a series of images based on Wally's musings about Airstream and the spirit of travel and adventure it promotes. Airstream's long and storied history is as much a part of Americana as a road trip! My vision soon evolved into a nostalgic look at what's "just over the next hill..." through six different decades.

Conceptualizing the scenes was the easy part! I now had to bring the concepts to reality... But, before any propping, styling, makeup and models, there was a real road trip to take. A trip that literally covered one thousand miles. Seeking beautiful and surreal settings, I drove east from Seattle to the Palouse region of Washington state. There I captured the rolling hills and vistas that serve as the backdrops to the Airstream scenes. And instead of hauling an Airstream trailer all over the state, we stopped in Spokane to shoot our hero -- a darling 1963 Globe Trotter. Owner Tammy Reid coordinated with Airstream of Spokane to allow me to photograph her baby right in their parking lot! Later, the Airstream would be digitally transported it into the various settings.

Now onto wardrobe and models! We were fortunate to assemble a talented team to carry out the final component. The combination of fantastic styling and wardrobe from Collette Jones and ISH Vintage Clothing; period-inspired hair and makeup from Glynne Davies; and our delightfully energetic models Erin Mayovsky and Blue Stiley from Seattle Models Guild (Andrew Burkhardt, agent) completed the look for each decade and theme. All the pieces were there... I just needed to digitally put it all together.

Numerous people pitched in to make this project happen. Thanks again to co-producers Lenlee Jenckes and Wendy Dreaney; props from Jacob at Gregg's Greenlake Cycle, Jay Boone at Emerald City Guitars, Nock Point Archery, and Marjie at Johnson & Johnson Antiques. Plus our own team of photo assistant Derrick Gibson and video editor Chad Johnson.

Here is a look behind the scenes of our model photo session. Thanks team! - Darryl

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

A few months ago, I attended an APA meeting and had my website selected at random for a live review in front of the audience. The panel was made up of agency folks from my local Seattle market. I found myself retelling the scene to colleagues and friends like this: "A CD from Creature and another AD from Rocket Dog thought..." and it struck me... who names a company "Creature" or "RocketDog?" What happened to the days of J Walter Thompson, Chiat/Day, Saatchi & Saatchi?

I thought it would be fun to visually spoof these agency names in a series of conceptual images. In the end, I'd have a collection of cool images to use for promos! Enter my crack consultants Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone. They loved the idea and came up with a brilliant way to make it even better: approach the leading industry marketing company about a cross-promotion! So we did. Agency Access owner Keith Gentile and Director of Marketing/Design Charles Truelson were very enthusiastic about the project! Agency Access is able to target their audience -- photographers -- and challenge our knowledge of our own market. This is just the information they provide for their members!

Genius.

Next, we all began brainstorming a list of advertising agencies with names we could have fun with. Suzanne and Amanda pushed the creative along, not settling for anything less than stellar execution and ideas. They also pushed me to make the images my own vision and make them true to my sense of humor and design aesthetic. My team, including set stylist, Lisa Hammond, and producer, Wendy Dreaney, went to work creating these scenes. Meanwhile, Keith and Charles devised a clever twist to make the contest about researching your audience and finding the creative decision maker within the agency.

With all the elements in place, a contest was born: Name That Agency - Win an iPad! Agency Access launched the campaign this week. My own promotions featuring these images will follow. Check back to see future agency images! Maybe your agency will be featured...

It's BERNSTEIN, not Berenstain!

We recently celebrated 18 years in business and it seems that some folks just can't get the name right! We love the Berenstain Bears as much as anyone, so the association isn't such a bad one. But this latest confusion takes the cake!

This is a recent message left at our studio.

Working on the book (JELLO MOLD)

I finally had the fire lit under my butt to do new work for my Darryl Bernstein Studio site (still under construction). I have avoided my own shooting for too long. It's just that we are incredibly busy shooting fine work for our clients. Why do I need to actually execute the ideas that pop into my head? Isn't it enough to "see" them in my mind's eye?

Of course not! But that's what you tell yourself before you dive into the next thing. And the next thing. There will always be distractions. And distractions make convenient excuses! After some time, tremendous pressure builds to create an incredible image. To create the best image I have ever done because it has been too long to not have qued up a gem, right? Well, that gives me another fine excuse.

So I get advice. Hire consultants to tell me what I already know... just shoot! Even if it sucks! Just shoot! Okay, okay! I'll shoot some of those ideas that I have kicked around. Just for the sake of creating. Just for the sake of getting to the next one, and the next one. I will post some of these recent efforts to my blog. Please feel free to comment, good or bad. And much thanks too Carolyn Potts for sending me on photo dates that gave me permission to not shoot overly produced images. To shoot RAW in concept and not just format. And, of course a special thanks to Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone for challenging me to deliver. To just shoot!, To stop making excuses! To break the mold...

Welcome and Hello

This blog will be home to the latest happenings at Darryl Bernstein Studio. I will take you behind the scenes of some of our shoots, let you in on upcoming events, and answer your questions about producing some of the images featured.

Feel free to join in, comment, and follow me online...

Let's go!