Testimonial: Blue Sky Gallery
“Blue Sky marked it’s 35th birthday in October 2010, and having The Portrait Booth at our fundraiser was a perfect way celebrate 35 years of photography in Portland. A line of guests instantly formed to take turns in the booth, and everyone got creative with their poses—even Mayor Sam Adams. Ryan Brubaker’s set-up had minimal impact on our space, his demeanor was relaxed and encouraging, and having a unique Polaroid print to take home at the end of the night was a special treat for all.”
- Todd J. Tubutis Blue Sky, the Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts
Testimonial: Ball Janik LLP
“Ball Janik LLP hired Brubaker Portraiture to attend a property management trade fair and they were the hit of the entire event! Ryan and Kimberly were fun, professional, produced beautiful portraits and a welcoming atmosphere for the fair participants. We will be calling Brubaker in the future when we want to make a good and lasting impression. Thank you Ryan and Kimberly!”
- Amanda Fitzpatrick, Ball Janik LLP (Highlights from the OWCAM Expo)
Inspiration: Robert Frank & Tom Waits
Tom Waits and Robert Frank, New York City, 1985 By Ted Barron, from the New York Times
There are so many aspects of this image that please me… Tom Waits having his portrait taken by Robert Frank, in the street, with a pack-film Polaroid.
One of these shots became the back cover of Rain Dogs.
Inside a broken clock
Splashing the wine
With all the rain dogs
Taxi, we’d rather walk
Huddle a doorway with the Rain Dogs
For I am a Rain Dog, too
Oh, how we danced and we swallowed the night,
For it was all ripe for dreaming,
Oh, how we danced away,
All of the lights,
We’ve always been out of our minds
Inspiration: Itinerant Photographer
Itinerant photographer in Columbus, Ohio (LOC)
This is an itinerant photographer in Ohio in 1938, from the Library of Congress photography archive. His camera most likely has space for rudimentary darkroom processing in the back.
During the early part of the twentieth century photographers set up in the street with large, often hand-made, cameras selling portraits to passersby. They weren’t unlike a visual version of a busking musician. This is the tradition we’re working to keep alive with The Portrait Booth.
Event: A Lovely Dream Fashion Show
Our good friends Amy and Mary are throwing a fashion show this Thursday, February 3rd, to show off their latest designs:
“We are both woman owned businesses and self employed entrepreneurs with a passion for fashion and a love of color. We decided to join forces to host this event and celebrate all our hard work and show Portland what we can do! It’s going to be a fun event with music, dancing, refreshments and fun and funky fashion. “
— More info at A Lovely Dream Fashion Show & the event’s facebook page
We’ll be there with the The Portrait Booth shooting folks in their finest outfits. There’s music, dancing, fashion and much fun to be had in a gorgeous ballroom. The event is free and open to the public, so come on out and join the party!
Highlights: OWCAM Expo
Last Friday we brought The Portrait Booth to the 2011 OWCAM Expo in Vancouver, Washington. The event was essentially a trade fair for property managers and those who wish to court their business; lawyers, contractors, exterminators, etc. We were asked to be a part of a vendor’s booth and got to shoot and hand out portraits to a good share of the attendees. This year’s event was western themed, so we found a vintage six-shooter – caps not bullets – and a proper 10-gallon hat and headed up to Washington state. Here are some of the highlights…
Inspiration: 1920 Police Photographs
Portraits of Australian criminals from the 1920s
I’ve looked at these photographs a dozen times in the last couple weeks… They keep drawing me back. The sense in which people don’t seem to know how to act in front of a camera. The dress, the curiosity of what landed these folks in the police station. Such rich imagery…