Behind-the-Scenes: Barett Henry of Civic Photos

As part of Beauty Week, I thought it was fitting to highlight a photographer that does extraordinary stylized portraits. Barett Henry of Civic Photos first contacted me when he was showing off the nuptials of Gissel and Isaac. Remember their day? I was so taken with his technique that I couldn't wait to see more. Once we started talking I realized how committed he is to his craft and how much we can all learn from his talented eye.

      

Photography is so crazy important and people don't seem to realize what a nuanced art it truly is. So many times I've heard of people that were disappointed with the outcome of their event. This is definitely one of those times - you get what you paid for! Don't be mad at me, I'm just saying...Here are some indispensable tips for picking the right photographer and getting unforgettable photos. 

BIO: My name is Barett Henry I live in Houston but was raised on the Caribbean island of St.Eustatius. I think being raised on a small island really helped me appreciate things that others often take for granted. I have a beautiful wife, Yorlin and an amazing dog, Nibbles. I like doing all the things that most guys like to do like play video games, go to the movies and occasionally go dancing. Basically we try to be social people.   

OKNW: Your photos are wonderful and so stylized. How did you get started in photography and what drew you to weddings? BH: First of all thanks for the compliment. I really try to focus on using unique angles, wide apertures, the use of the beloved tilt/shift lenses and vintage post-processing techniques. I like to call my style of processing images "modern vintage". In regards to photography, I always loved taking pictures. It was a great hobby of my for years.

Then it all changed in 2009 when I purchased my first DSLR, a Canon 50D. As time went on I practiced more and more and as a result starting getting better. It was in that same year that the father of one of my friends was getting married. I remember doing everything short of begging to shoot it, just for the opportunity really. I think the main thing that drew me into wedding photography was to give people a quality product though. I saw what other photographers in the Houston area were offering in terms quality and so I figured to myself that I could at least do that good or maybe even better.

OKNW: What kinds of trends do you see in Texas weddings that set them apart?  BH: Well, first of all I would like to think that the friendliest brides and grooms exist in Texas!!! Texas weddings are unique for a couple reasons. One reason is that although Texas is often portrayed as a country state with cowboys and cowgirls running around, it’s actually quite modern. So when shooting a wedding here you will often see not only country elements such as boots or hats but you will also modern elements. This balance is difficult to replicate in other states.  

OKNW: What questions should a bride and groom ask when they're looking for a photographer? BH: It’s really important for the couple to first know themselves…as to what type of vibe they like when they look at photography. Some individuals are very traditional; others are more into modern themes. The questions they ask should include but doesn’t have to be limited to the following:

#1. What style of photography do you shoot? If the photographer doesn’t know or doesn’t define a specific style it would be good to review one of their latest weddings…ask to see the entire gallery.

#2. Who will be taking the photos at the wedding and do you bring/offer a 2^nd shooter? They would want to ask this because some photography companies hire photographers to shoot for them. Either way it’s always good to know whom your photographer will be so that you are able to directly ask questions or tell them of certain aspects of your wedding which are important for them to capture. I personally 99% of the time bring my awesome assistant with me to every wedding and my wife whom helps keep everything organized of cours. It’s really a team effort when it comes to shooting a wedding so it’s important for the brides and grooms to know and have confidence that they will be in good hands. 

#3 Do you limit the number of images you take at the wedding? Do you limit the number of images you give me after the wedding? How long after the wedding will it be before I see the images? This is very important because some photographers limit the number of images they deliver to the client to a few hundred even though they might take in excess of 2000+. I am not saying it’s good or bad but its wise for the bride and groom to know in advance weather the amount of memories they will have from the wedding day will be limited in any way due to the photographers style of shooting. It’s also good to know in advance weather it will be a couple months or so before you see your wedding photographs so you can have the right expectations.

#4 Can friends and family take photos during the wedding? These days since amazing DSLR camera’s a quite affordable. It would be good to know if your wedding photographer would easily be bothered by someone else casually taking pictures with a semi-pro body at your wedding just to keep any potential drama in check.

There are many other technical questions which a bride and groom could potentially come up with to ask the photographer but it’s usually best if they focus on choosing a photographer whose quality of work and style match what they are looking for and leave all of the technical details up to the people they are paying to capture their day for them. 

OKNW: What's your favorite part of the job? BH: My favorite part of wedding photography would be the portion where we sneak away with the couple to create some beautiful memories during their wedding day. During these times it’s only the Bride and Groom and the memories they want to create. Capturing that is quite enjoyable. My all-time favorite would be engagement sessions though, since its dedicated to capturing moments only of two people. It gives a photographer such freedom in creativity of making the perfect scene. 

OKNW: What elements or moments are you looking to capture? BH: During a wedding the walk down the aisle, the exchanging of the vows and rings, the kiss, the first dance and the cutting of the cake are just about the most important moments to capture. As far as the elements of the wedding we strive to capture - the decorations, the details, the emotions of the guests. Of course the emotions the bride and groom display will always be given our priority but we try to create a storybook wedding in the way we shoot any wedding. 

OKNW: Favorite wedding cake flavor? BH: Oh, its easily vanilla cake with buttercream icing with strawberry and Bavarian filling…I really don’t have to think twice on that question!

Thank you, Barett, for your incredibly insightful and honest answers. The photos just have a charm that's indescribable and make me feel all warm and fuzzy :)

 

Comments

[Srigrace]

This seems to be good, the idea's good to see in the blog. the content is simple & efficient

[OK, Now What Bride]

Yes, simple yet so dramatic!