We have Uncle Wally’s on set and they need to get ready for a huge tradeshow in California. The biggest, the best, food manufacturers and distributors will be there. Uncle Wally’s knows that their imagery needs to be bold and on point as they have competitors from all around the country attending the show. They knew that their only choice to stand out from the crowd is to make smarter decisions. Their decision was to hire experts for their photography needs because they knew taking a photo themselves just wouldn’t cut it. In these images below, you see what goes on during a shoot. The detail and expertise of our photographers take your image to a new level. The placement of muffins, the props added, the lighting used, the angle of the shot and changed around again and again until perfection is reached.

What you see is Peri, “capturing” the essence of the 5 W’s.

Who are you marketing this product to? (audience?)
What is this image being used for? (tradeshow, web, print ad)
Where is it going to be displayed? (advertisement, paper, web)
When is this needed by? (one of our strengths is turnover of images)
Why are doing this campaign? (to increase business, sales, promote a new product?)

He understood the full story behind this shoot and all the details to ensure Uncle Wally’s successful show. Not only do we take the photographs, we help create the vision and ask those necessary questions to set you up for success, because it’s all about ROI correct? Many congrats to Uncle Wally’s for a successful show!!

Today was again, a great assignment at the Bristal Assisted Living in Westbury. The first challenge was to shoot over 40 top rated dedicated employees who together, earned a distinguished award for their extraordinary service to the assisted living community. They were all in great spirits and collectively looked forward to their shinning moment.

The team today was made up of Patty Berwald of Berwald Creative and Don Fitzgibbons.  Don has been an extraordinary photo assistant and sidekick, working the lights, model releases and making things happen quickly and efficiently.

After the large group shot, we had (2) portraits to execute in (2) different locations on the premises.  The purpose of these shots was to capture their new positions as directors of their own assisted living facility locations.  These individuals are responsible for over 100 happy tenants as well as the huge support staff.

After the shots were successfully accomplished, the files were sent to the digital department.  Here, the shots were retouched and color corrected to create flawless images for the client’s very active websites, Facebook pages, Twitter communications, and oh, ink to paper for brochures and advertisements – all delivered the next business day.

Another day in the life of Brenner Photo…

-Jay Brenner

Location photography is really such a treat…especially when you come home with fantastic images and a new understanding of an unexplored cuisine.

There is an Italian hidden secret out there that I want to share with dessert enthusiasts; a little known Italian wine named Vin Santo, “Wine of Saints”.

Location photography is really such a treat…especially when you come home with fantastic images and a new understanding of an unexplored cuisine.

There is an Italian hidden secret out there that I want to share with dessert enthusiasts; a little known Italian wine named Vin Santo, “Wine of Saints”.

While I was photographing on assignment in the Tuscan Region of Italy, we stopped to have lunch, and as a gift from the restaurant they placed upon the table this beautiful little dessert that comprised of home made biscotti and this wonderful cup of wine. (Vin Santo)

Food photography is one of my specialties, so before even tasting this dish, I first had to shoot it.

The waiter explained in broken English that the local custom was to dip the biscotti into the Vin Santo wine and then let the flavors speak for themselves. “Oh my God” It really was better than milk and cookies.

I have found that location photography is fantastic and shooting in Tuscany was really a true pleasure…especially getting the opportunity to taste the local flavors. We did come upon some other traditional foods that have made Italy famous; Gelato and Head Cheese.

Finding Vin Santo in the States wasn’t an easy task and the price was quite a surprise. But regardless, this wine is well worth it. I highly recommend serving this dish after a special dinner. I was able to find Vin Santo at Bottles and Cases in Huntington New York…

Next week I will share photographs of the most wonderful Vineyards of Tuscany.

For more information about the Vin Santo wine click here.

The Macgyver Effect

What I love about my job most of all is the unknown! In the world of photography there are so many challenges and shooting the Sebring Lehman’s 12-hour car race was certainly no exception.

Alpina Watches was the official timekeeper and one of the major sponsors of the event. They needed to cover the winner’s circle in order to get a true feeling of the event from their perspective.

With an official press pass dangling from my neck I transformed into an official press photographer. My new title gave me access to the entire racecourse allowing for another new challenge: a racecar photographer.

I stood ten feet from death as cars drove past me going 190 miles per hour. It was when I felt small pieces of rubber hitting my face that I truly came to realize that this was not going to be my typical safe day in the studio.

Being in the pits as the crew changed tires and fueled the racecars, I was transformed into the world of NASCAR and I could feel the infectious excitement of the smell of burning fuel and rubber.

In the winners circle I felt something different…it was the elbow of my fellow Press photographers fighting for position as we shot the winners getting gifts and hats from all the sponsors.

It was a childhood dream come true to be part of the action, and I look forward to the next big challenge.

In this never ending changing world of photography there is always something to learn or try that can affect the way we can connect with our viewing audience.

These images are what I consider to be a successful execution of the trendy yet effective use of HDR.

Our model John is an accomplished salesman. His success in sales stems from his fervor and knowledge of his product; high-end wrist watches. Proof of John’s passion is his tattoo – the inner workings of the watch he wears.

I took on the assignment not for the money (since it was free) but more for the challenge of capturing something special. As I was shooting, I realized that if I used a strong contrast light and implement High Dynamic Range Rendering that the portrait would turn into a work of art.

I know which is my favorite of this series, please share your favorite and other comments…

Happy shooting!

Jay Brenner

Energy Conservation on the Holidays:

O.K., so why do we celebrate our Holiday Party in the middle of January?

There is just too much energy being used up at the end of December, between holiday parties, trying to shop after work to obtain those perfect gifts for loved ones, and attempting to avoid mall parking lots on the weekend. You know the deal…but here at Brenner Photo, we had one great time celebrating the New Year at Mac’s Steak House in Huntington. We were more than pleased with the quality of food and service, the flowing drink and the awesome Pictionary skills that were displayed throughout the night. It was the men vs. the women, and we still don’t know who the winner was…nor did it matter by the end of the evening.

The after party was taken to the town of Greenlawn where we listened to live music at the local pub, Off Broadway.

So save energy…don’t fight the long lines and the over scheduling of December – go the alternative route, and save energy by celebrating outside of the box.

Happy Holidays in January

Jay Brenner

When we started this blog early on we posted an HDR image that we composited in the digital department for all to see. It was a building lobby, marble floors, shiny, flashy and all that. It came out great. We do a lot of HDR lately as people are liking and requesting it more and more. Recently Jay had the opportunity to shoot at Sands Point castle preserve/museum on long island Originally built at the turn of the 20th century by Howard Gould and later owned by Daniel Guggenheim and Harry Guggenheim. This place is unbelievable !!! We have to post this one for everyone to witness themselves. Having experience as a second hobby of mine woodworking and refinishing old antiques and appreciating the time and effort that goes into woodworking. The room in this castle is really an unbelievable sight to see. The detail and craftsmanship that went into this must have taken quite a while, and making this room into an HDR image really shows off all the wonder that this room entails. HDR imagry really captured the detail and intricacy this room has and can still be appreciated without being there in person.

Wednesday 10/21/09 is Show Time Xpo 2009 at the Javits Center from 8:00- 5:00PM stop by and visit us at Booth # 517!!
It’s Free and Is worth your time. Hope to see you there!!!!……… Alan

It was another exciting week here at the studio, although we had a few hours of downtime it didn’t turn out to be downtime as we decided to shoot a fun portfolio shot using an item from chris’s star wars collection. A lifesize wearable Vader replica !!! Neat and fun, but a very challenging thing to photograph…. Shiney, metallic, lights, and buttons, oh my ! It was not only a challenge for chris to put on this 50 pounds of plastic, hot wool, and leather and to stay in it for an hour or so to shoot some different poses, it was also a challenge to light this piece and come up with a neat shot that would incorporate the lightsaber and get the dark feeling that the character requires. Jay did a wonderful job with this, and in addition used his wonderful skills with several light painting techniques that really brought out all the curves and detail the suit has. For more examples of lightpainting go to website and check out the Lightpainting portfolio section.

While the rest of the world was enjoying the “Dog Days of Summer” with long days at the beach and BBQ’s we have been busy gearing up for the 2009 Holiday Season.
Ahh the world of advertising, we are always months ahead of the actual calendar. But it can certainly be a shock to the system when the thermometer says 90 degrees and I am clipping dozens of images of Santa Claus figurines and Snowmen doormats, I don’t know whether to get some Ice cream or sing Christmas Carols. Chatter around the studio has turned to talk of ideas for our “world famous” holiday card, with a prize going to the employee with the winning idea there’s a lot riding on creativity. Anyone with any fresh ideas feel free to send them our way.

But with the summer winding down i take comfort in knowing that in a few months when everyone is complaining about shoveling snow and below freezing temps I will be lost in my own world of summer dreams while working on files of beach chairs and margarita sets…..

Hope everyone had a great summer!!!