Custom Artwork for Your Space

Take a walk around your home, what do you notice? Ignore the shoes that your youngest still hasn’t put away or the full glass of milk on the counter that someone poured and left to get warm. Forget the mess for a minute and focus on your decor.

Does your wall art jump out at you? Do you notice each piece when you pass by it everyday because it brings you so much joy? Or, is it simply background noise? Does it blend into the rest of your decor to the point that it might as well be part of the wall?

If you find yourself noticing the latter, it’s time to make a change. 

Your home should be your oasis; your escape from the world. It should be full of things that you love, things that warm your heart and make you happy. Personalize your wall decor with memories, mementos and keepsakes. 

At Bryan White Photography + Art, we have the unique ability to turn those memories, mementos, and keepsakes into works of art.

Imagine at your next dinner party, your friends comment on your new art piece only to look closer and realize it’s a portrait of you and your family. Your home can look impeccably decorated and be full of the things in life that make your heart sing. Let us help you.

This winter, we’re offering in-home and in-office consultations to help you conceptualize the custom art that will be perfect for your space.

Whether you want to take an existing photo and turn it into a hand-painted portrait, or develop a creative abstract piece with hidden personal details, we’ve got your back.

Take this portrait of wine bottles commissioned for the Timmerman family’s new wine room. At first, all you see is a beautiful painting which is perfect for a room filled with wine. But ask the family and they’ll tell you the full story. 

The painting depicts the Timmerman’s three favorite brands of wine, but on closer inspection, you’ll see the dates on the bottles are the years their daughters were born. Every last detail from the style of the bar to the way the glasses are positioned, was determined beforehand in order to create artwork that is exactly what the family was looking for.

But our custom art isn’t limited to homes. We create pieces for businesses to showcase their personalities and passions.

Bernadette Leonard of Berni Inc with her daughter, Jacque Leonard Hansard showing off their new art piece.

This piece was developed for Berni Inc. hair salon. Bernadette Leonard wanted her clients to glean the atmosphere and inspiration behind her establishment from the moment they walked in the door. With this painting, portraying iconic women of the past, she established the tone of high class glam with ease.

From a local bank wanting to portray their dedication to the community with art that showcases hometown locales, to libraries wanting to teach the history of their city through artwork, we have done it all. 

And we can do it for you too.

Now is the time to book your in-home or in-office consultation, and you can finally get your space to feel customized and personal to you. Contact us here.

See more custom art here.

10 Tips for Taking Your Own Pictures This Thanksgiving

When we’re not styling fun or dramatic portraits in our studio, we meet our clients on-location all over North Georgia for custom-designed photoshoots as unique as they are. But as the holiday season is upon us and families are busy celebrating together, we can’t be in every home at once. No need to panic! With these tips you can capture the season’s memories with your own camera and ensure that every special moment is memorialized.

1. Plan ahead

Before your house is full of family and friends, take some time to decide what pictures are important to you. If you’re after a group shot, figure out where you want people to gather. Nothing is quite as frustrating as fifteen people giving their opinions all at once. If you have a plan, you can call the shots and get the photo you want.

Now is also the time to charge your camera battery, empty your memory card and pull your tripod out from wherever it’s collecting dust. With a little prep, the photos will go quickly leaving plenty of time for eating, drinking, and general merriment.

2. Look for Natural Light

When you look back at your photos from Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to worry about is having to edit them to make them look presentable. Open the blinds, pull back the curtains and find ways to make your pictures shine without the assistance of flash. Indoor lighting can create a strange artificial cast on your photos. Natural light, whether through the windows or outside, uninhibited, is your best bet for clear, bright images.

The good news is, if you do end up with photos that have a weird green tinge, we can help! Our photoshop experts can perfect your favorite images from the day. If you want to take it one step further, we can turn those shots that make you smile into actual works of art. With Bryan’s artistic background and skill, a beloved Thanksgiving memory can be a treasured family heirloom.

3. Get Shots of the Details

You’ll likely remember who was there and what you ate, but the intricate details will become hazy as time goes on. Look for little moments and details you want to remember: the way you decorate your front door, the placecards at the table, a close up of your little one grasping their fork. It might seem silly now, but when you look back in five or ten years, you’ll be glad that you have shots that paint a picture of the day.

These detail shots are perfect to include in an abstract art piece or a framed collage. Bring us your favorite detail shots and we can combine them to create a unique piece of art that is as meaningful as it is irreplaceable.

4. Take Plenty of Candids

Have you spent an inordinate amount of time on Pinterest preparing for this holiday season? You’ve likely pinned a slew of family photo ideas and are eager to replicate them. There’s nothing wrong with trying to take your own group pictures, but don’t forget to capture an abundance of candids as well. They might not necessarily be the shots that end up framed on your wall, but they will make you smile, laugh, and maybe even cry as you relive the sweet moments of the day.

5. Set the Scene

Naturally, you’ll want to get a few pictures of the spread on the table with the family seated, ready to dig in. You’ve spent hours curating the perfect meal, why not memorialize it? Remember to grab a few pics behind the scenes as well. Imagine how fun it will be and look back to see your son bonding with his grandmother as she teaches him the right way to make a pie. You’ll certainly enjoy the trip down memory lane, laughing at the fumbles and fouls from the family football game. It’s the moments that don’t seem camera worthy that will end up being the most beloved.

6. Clear out distractions

Take a look at what is in the frame before you snap the photo. Dirty dishes piled in the sink, an overflowing trash can, and a jumble of grocery bags will draw attention from the subject in your photos. You don’t have to obsessively clean all day to avoid unsightly additions in your photos. Just take a minute to see what’s there and rearrange your photo accordingly. Can someone stand in front of the trash can? Maybe you can readjust your position to cut out the distractions entirely. The more time you spend prepping before you take the photo, will save you from having to edit it afterwards.

7. Add Angles

One benefit of high quality cameras on cell phones is the ability to point and shoot at a moment’s notice. This is great for capturing fleeting moments, like your nephew’s first steps or your daughter scoring a goal, but it can also result in your images looking boring and predictable. Mix up the angles in your photos to get some eye-catching shots. You can stand on a chair to get an aerial view of your table. Try a shot of everyone’s feet lined up as they sit and chat on the couch. Let yourself have fun as you look for creative ways to capture the day and you’ll end up with images that reflect that. 

8. Focus on What You’re Thankful For

The whole point of Thanksgiving is taking stock of the things in your life that matter most to you and the pictures you take should show that. There will be new things that come along every year that stand out in your mind as blessings echoing that particular time in your life. But many of the things that fill your heart with joy and gratitude will stay the same: your family, friends, and loved ones. Be thoughtful as you take images of those people and moments that you want to remember forever.

9. Prioritize the Moment

Ultimately, a photo shouldn’t take priority over the moment itself. Remember to set the camera down and be present for the important things. You’ll still have your posed group shots and images that set the scene of the day, whether it’s the family watching the football game or your carefully staged decorations. But when a spontaneous event presents itself, don’t be afraid to leave your phone in your pocket and just enjoy it as it’s happening.

10. Schedule a Professional Family Session

When the leftovers are secured in the fridge and the food coma has set in, you’ll have an album worth of photos of your fun-filled holiday. Now that the chaos has passed, it’s time to schedule your professional portraits. These tips will certainly help your amateur shots of Thanksgiving be more enjoyable to look at, but nothing can replace a professional portrait session. Try to schedule your session while you still have family in town and get the benefit of stunning artwork that incorporates your full family gathering. 

5 Ways to Coordinate Outfits for Family Photos

Getting your kids dressed appropriately on a day to day basis while avoiding a deluge of protests is hard enough. But coordinating outfits for your entire family can be akin to something out of a horror film. Don’t fret, this guide will help you choose the perfect family photo outfits and avoid an accompanying headache.

Things to Consider

Before we can dive into styling and coordinating outfits, there are some factors that need to be considered.

Where Are You Taking Your Portraits?

The location of your family portraits is a determining factor in your color scheme, style, and even accessories. For instance, if you and the fam are headed to the middle of a wooded forest for some fall foliage, you’ll probably want to avoid stiletto pumps. Pictures at the beach require a breezy, casual wardrobe, while a busy city location can be more flexible in terms of whether you go casual or formal.

How’s the Weather?

Has it been a sweltering autumn or perhaps an especially chilly spring? Think about that when you’re choosing what your family will wear. Shorts, dresses, and sleeveless tops are spring staples, but if the sun refuses to shine, opt for something that will keep your clan from shivering through your photo session. You can still incorporate bright shades and floral patterns, just do it with a cardigan or pants.

Where Will You Display Your Portraits?

You might think it’s premature to decide where to hang your pictures before they exist, but this little bit of forethought is necessary to ensure that your wardrobe color scheme coordinates with your home decor. If you already have a wall in mind that is in desperate need of art, let us know! We can keep that in mind during your session to make sure we get the right photo, whether it’s a panoramic horizontal piece to span a mantel or a gallery wall in your hallway that combines individuals with family shots.

Is it Comfortable?

So you found the perfect dress for your sweet tot, but the tulle is a tad itchy. Guess what? That dress is not perfect. It might look beautiful, but your little one will be pulling, tugging, and whining the whole time she is wearing it. Keep comfort level in mind. Kids, and dads for that matter, have a hard time hiding their emotions. And if something is too tight or too scratchy, they won’t be able to relax enough to give us a genuine smile.

How Will You Accessorize?

Accessories are a must when it comes to family portraits. They add texture and interest that keeps your portraits from falling flat. But the key to successful accessorizing is moderation. Not everyone in your family should have an accessory, solely for the sake of adding something to their outfit. We don’t want it to be distracting or busy. Instead, choose one or two people who might already wear an accessory like a scarf, necklace, or hat. It should be a natural addition and fit their personality.

Are the Patterns Too Busy?

You don’t have to be afraid to add patterns to your family’s wardrobe. It can seem like a daunting task, but you don’t have to stick to solids. As long as the pattern isn’t too small or busy, you’re good to go! Remember to focus on balance. Not everyone needs a pattern. It’s all about coordinating, not matching.

Let’s Get Styling

Now that you have a few things to keep in mind while you’re choose outfits, here are some tried and true ways to style for your photoshoot with ease.

1. Start with One Outfit

Don’t stress yourself out by trying to style all 4 or 5 (or 8) outfits at once. Complete one single outfit and build the rest from there. It helps if the first outfit has a few colors or a pattern. Then you can create your color scheme from that look to incorporate in the rest of the family’s clothes. 

2. Choose a Simple Color Scheme

If you have a solid color scheme as a foundation, it’s pretty simple to choose pieces that fit within the scheme. Keeping the colors neutral will guarantee that you don’t have any accidental clashes. Just make sure you don’t fall into the ‘matchy-matchy’ trap. There’s a fine line between five outfits that utilize the same colors, and five outfits that are identical.

3. Style Around a Theme

Choosing a central theme is an easy way to make sure the overall style of your family’s outfits is cohesive. Your portrait session location will have a big impact on your theme. Going back to our beach example from before, you might choose a relaxed, beachy theme which will lend itself well to lightweight fabrics and pastel colors.

4. Shop for Clothing Collections

Stores these days make it almost too easy to choose coordinating outfits for the whole family. Walk into Old Navy and what do you see? A family of mannequins that look like they’re headed to their portrait session. If you don’t have the confidence to choose wardrobe pieces yourself, leave it to the professionals. It’s as easy as fighting off the crowds to find the right size and shade.

5. Let Your Family Have Input

I can understand how this might seem like a dicey suggestion. Did I really just recommend that you let your children have a say in what they wear? Sort of, just hear me out. This method of styling is more geared towards extended family photo shoots or those with a group of adults. Not everyone is going to want to buy something new for family pictures. Opening it up to opinions allows your family members the option of working with what they have, or suggesting colors they are comfortable wearing.

Fall Family Photo Color Schemes

Autumn is such a fun time to take family photos because the foliage is full of an array of colors and textures. But how do you coordinate all those gorgeous shades outside with outfits for your family? We’ve compiled a list of outfit color schemes that are so simple to recreate, you can’t go wrong!

Denim and Blush Pink

The benefit of incorporating blush pink into a denim color scheme is that it’s a subtle pop of color that is almost neutral. 

Recreate the Look: 

Forget what anyone else says, boys CAN wear pink! Whether it’s brother in a blush pink button down or little sis in a rose colored baby doll dress it will fit the bill. Let mom pull in the pink with a necklace or cardigan and dad can embrace the denim with jeans and a white shirt.

Red, Black and White

Red, black, and white might seem like the most basic color scheme there is. But basics do well in photos and that’s why we love it. Red is such a rich, eye-catching color that it’s important to keep the other colors simple and neutral.

Recreate the Look:

The key here is not to overdo it with the red. Pick a couple family members to wear a big block of red like a sweater or dress. If you want to add a pop of red into any other outfits, keep it small and simple like a scarf or necklace.

Denim and Red

Denim gives off a casual vibe in your photos. It’s such a versatile shade that you can really incorporate any color as a secondary in your color scheme.

Recreate the Look:

When you’re using denim it’s easy to fall into the simplicity of jeans and a plain colored shirt. Fight that urge. Try putting someone in a red plaid button down with jeans. Put mom or sister in a red dress and a jean jacket. Don’t be afraid of breaking the red and blue up with neutrals like cream or white.

Cream and Denim

Shades of cream in your family portraits create a fresh feel without succumbing to the sterile vibes that stark white can illicit. Sure, cream shades coordinate with nearly any color, but pairing cream with denim is a winning combination that is chic in its simplicity.

Recreate the Look:

This family pulls off the cream and denim color scheme flawlessly. Mimic their style with a lace cream dress, a few cream sweaters and maybe a pair of light khakis. Throw in a couple denim jackets to pair with the cream tops and chambray shirts to balance the khaki bottoms. Everyone else can throw on a pair of dark wash jeans to keep it simple.

Navy, Maroon, and Yellow

We know what you’re thinking: that’s a lot of color for fall portraits that will inevitably already be full of a lot of color. But when done right, these shades combined create a perfect autumn wardrobe that plays off the foliage beautifully.

Recreate the Look:

Implementing these colors into your family’s outfits requires a careful balance of wardrobe pieces. The easiest way to achieve that balance is to choose one wardrobe element, like little sister’s dress, that contains all the colors and build the remaining outfits off of that. Yellow should only be used in one or two outfits, since it is so eye catching.

Tan and Olive Green

Like blush pink, olive is a pop of color that is practically a neutral. Pairing it with tan, cream, or beige keeps the look from being overbearing in terms of color while still maintaining dimension. A neutral color scheme, like this one, allows the beautiful fall foliage to take center stage in your portraits.

Recreate the Look:

Olive comes in a variety of shades. Someone in your brood can wear a light olive green shirt while another family member dons a pair of dark olive green pants. Try to maintain an even balance of tan and olive green within your family’s outfits. Remember that color can be incorporated in accessories too!

Tan and Blue

As evidenced by all the denim in the color schemes above, blue is an excellent option for fall wardrobes. Blue complements shades of orange and yellow, making it the perfect choice to play off the fall colors in your photos. Offset the blue with tan to maintain a fresh, minimal style.

Recreate the Look:

Follow the lead of this family by putting the gentlemen in blue button downs and the ladies in tan sweaters. Using different patterns for each of the boys shirts keeps the portrait from falling flat or being reminiscent of the identical outfits found in 90’s family photos. 

Burgundy, Denim, and Khaki

Burgundy combines the warm, rich shades of autumn bliss: red and purple, to create a charming color that belongs in any family portrait. With a shade so rich and distinct, it’s important to match it with neutrals like denim and khaki so you end up with a delicate balance of colors instead of a deluge of saturation.

Recreate the Look:

Keep the burgundy to a minimum when styling your family. Look for simple ways to incorporate it in one or two outfits. Outfit your clan in a mix of khaki pants and denim jeans to break up the monotony of color. As always, accessories are our best friend and we never turn our nose up at a burgundy necklace or scarf.