Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Berenson.
Hi Barry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I fell in love with black and white photography in high school, inspired by Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Paul Strand, and other early masters. Although I received an Ivy League business education, I decided to follow my passion for photography as my career choice. My career began in NYC, first as an Assistant Photographer and then as a Photographer for fashion, product, and lifestyle photography. Assignments ranged from still-life photography for major retail operations to album covers for record companies. I continued my independent photography business, opened a photo studio in Boston, Massachusetts, and was an early adopter of digital photography. The national photography business began to evolve into a more digital medium, with many companies and large retailers bringing photography studios in-house. This perfectly matched my passion for photography and my dedication to team building and leadership. Then, I decided to close my independent business and work directly with businesses to build state-of-the-art digital photo studios and high-performance teams. This work has taken me around the country from the East Coast to the Northwest and Texas and has been extremely rewarding. I live in San Antonio, running an independent photography and fine art printing business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Only sometimes. Most of the challenges involved leaving one business and uprooting my family to another part of the country for a new opportunity. They were highly supportive, however.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
“The camera should be used for a recording of life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself, whether it be polished steel or palpitating flesh.”–Edward Weston. This statement stuck in my psyche from the very beginning. I specialize in black-and-white photography that is honest and true to my nature. As a professional, you need to be, first and foremost, a good listener with the technical skills necessary to interpret the client’s vision. Many projects can be complex, with legal, logistical, casting, and negotiating finesse needed to achieve the desired results, within budgets and timelines. I have decades of accomplishments in these areas.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Be honest, and fair, and communicate clearly with everyone, regardless of role or title.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://berensonphotography.com/
- Instagram: @berensonphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berensonphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryberenson/
Image Credits
All photos ©barryberenson
