Riley Brandt Photography - Blog

Billy Talent

ryephoto — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:49:35 +0000

I was going to include these in the Summer Music Festival post, but there were too many shots. So Billy Talent gets their own post.

All the photos were taken for FFWD Weekly at Virgin Fest ‘09 in Calgary at COP.

A beautiful colourful mural on site at Virgin Fest featuring different band names.

A tight shot of Ben Kowalewicz.

Ian D’Sa and his classic expression.

The young and wild Billy Talent fans.

Ben Kowalewicz and the band title in the background.

And from a different angle…

More screaming fans.

Ben sings to the crowd.

For more information and photos please visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Summer Music Festivals

ryephoto — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:24:36 +0000

Wow. It has been too long since I updated my blog.

It’s been on my ‘to do’ list for quite a while now. But it just keeps getting pushed back. Anyway, I though I’d display some of my work from this summer.

I was lucky enough to cover the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Virgin Fest ‘09 for FFWD Weekly. On with the music festival photos:

The Decemberists headlining Friday night at the Folk Fest.

Local Calgary golden boy Chad VanGaalen jams with friends including Jay Crocker who can be seen in the background with a green hat.

A great summer shot of some of the younger folk festers.

Kid Koala mixing it up with Arrested Development and others.

As long as there is the Calgary Folk Fest, there will be awesome carefree dancing. And hula hoops too.

The Arkells rockin’ out at Virgin Fest 09.

Virgin Fest volunteers, aka: Virgin Angles.

Emily Hanes from Metric lets loose on the keyboard.

The crazy crowd for Pear Jam -I can’t post any Pearl Jam photos unfortunately

Tokyo Police Club!

The Virgin Fest crowd filling up the Canada Olympic Park grounds.

A member of Wintersleep and his cool rainbow guitar strap.

K-OS and a not so cool Walmart animal shirt (not fully visible to spare some embarrassment).

For more information and photos please visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Anya – Seamstress in Red

ryephoto — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:54:52 +0000

I was lucky enough to take photos in a great old brick building in Inglewood that I had been eyeing up for some time. It has high ceilings, hardwood floors, skylights, and even an old school freight elevator (still working!).

It was my first time working with the beautiful Anya, who is originally from Russian and has awesome red hair. As well as Lisa Dawson, who did a great job on the hair and makeup. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

Model: Anya
Makeup & Hair: Lisa Dawson
Photography: Riley Brandt

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

For more information and photos please visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Funky Hair. Edgy Model

ryephoto — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:48:46 +0000

A recent test shoot I did for Mode Models turned into more of a proper fashion shoot after I found a great location in downtown Calgary. So I just had to share it. Enjoy.

Model: Michelle – Mode Models
Hair and Makeup: Liz Willard
Photography: Riley Brandt

CLICK the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

For more information and photos visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Calgary Artists Series

ryephoto — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:45:20 +0000

I got to do a really fun photo series for FFWD, Fast Forward Weekly, on local Calgary artists and their current projects called ‘Work in Progress’. There is tons of talent in Calgary so I thought this really deserved a post.

It’s also an excuse to show off some of my editorial work that isn’t as polished and pretty as a lot of my creative portraits (no hot models here, just hot art). The concept was to just let the artists work away and document it as it happens

The range of mediums and ideas varies greatly (even if I don’t always capture it in the photos) so check them all out.

Local painter Erik Olson in his downtown Calgary studio. I believe he has moved to B.C. now edit – Erik is still here in Calgary and contributing to the local art scene.

Erik Olson info: http://www.erikolson.ca/

Lisa Brawn is becoming really well known in Calgary and across Canada. Her work seems to pop up all over the city. Here she is working on one of her wood burning wildlife pieces that are displayed on Calgary’s bridges.

Lisa Brawn info: http://www.boxsocial.ca/lisa-brawn/

Local art scene royalty Wednesday Lupypciw working away on an extravagant yarn piece for a show in Toronto. Anyone who has stepped foot in ACAD for more than five minutes knows this girl. Seriously.

Wednesday info: here and here

Alexandra Hunt putting the finishing touches on a few pieces of jewellery before sending them out to galleries. Be sure to check out her galleries for a look at her work. Very cool stuff.

Alexandra Hunt info: http://www.closetjewellery.com/

John Frosst of the Arbour Lake Sghool cuts up some linoleum for a project inspired by popular conspiracies.

More info about the always hip, never boring Arbout Lake Sghool: http://www.thearbourlakesghool.com/

Dave Foy and Jennifer Saleik painting away at the same time. In reality they never really work like this. But I had to get them both in the shot. Their work is really cool. It’s like multi-layered surreal landscapes made with several transparent sheets and tons of small details.

Dave and Jenn info: http://www.skewgallery.com/dave_and_jenn.htm

Jason De Haan at the very beginning of a surreal sci-fi landscape collage. The only artist who’s face isn’t shown in the series. I already had a photo of someone working away at a desk so I had to change it up.
Jason De Haan info: http://jasondehaan.com/

Ryan Fairweather, Tim Belliveau and Phillip Bandura from Bee Kingdom Glassblowing working on a piece for a travelling exhibit. Really friendly and talented guys. I believe they host workshops and courses.

Bee Kingdom Glassblowing info: http://www.beekingdom.ca/

Ceramist and one of the founders of Box Social, Mariko Paterson begins a series of owls as a historical take on England’s Martin Brothers. One of many cool projects going on in her studio.

Mariko Paterson links: here, also check out: box social

Graduating ACAD student Meags Fitzgerald works on ‘Crèche’, a recreation of the room she was born in done entirely in textiles. It is such a great idea that has been executed really well. Some of the small details include hockey cards made from textile.

Check out Meags’ work at the Marion Nicoll Gallery. April 6 – 11th.
Meags Fitzgerald info: here and here

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For more photos and information please visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Business Fashion

ryephoto — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:36:04 +0000

After such a successful Grace Kelly – Classic Hollywood shoot, I had to get together one more time with Susan and the Man’s Ruin Makeup crew.

The photos are loosely based on the idea of following a women around while she gets ready and then heads out on the town in her business attire.

Thanks again to everyone involved!

Model: Susan (Mode Models)
Makeup and Hair: Man’s Ruin Makeup – Link
Photography: Me – Link

Click the Photos for a Larger version

For more information visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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1 Blouse, 2 Swimsuits

ryephoto — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:20:52 +0000

This post starts off with a few blouse shots left over from the business fashion part of the shoot. Then onto two different swimsuits.

After such a successful Grace Kelly – Classic Hollywood shoot, I had to get together one more time with Susan and the Man’s Ruin Makeup crew.

Thanks again to everyone involved!

Model: Susan (Mode Models)
Makeup and Hair: Man’s Ruin Makeup – Link
Photography: Me- Link

Click the Photos for a Larger version

For more information visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Newborn Photos – Feb 09

ryephoto — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:05:11 +0000

Beautiful baby Anais decided to be my model for some great newborn photographs last week. She is about 2 and ½ weeks old in the photographs and was very co-operative.

She has set the bar pretty high for other newborns out there as far as not being fussy goes.

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

For more photos and info visit my website:
Riley Brandt Photography

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Classic Hollywood – Grace Kelly

ryephoto — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:20:31 +0000

It took a while to find a model to fit the bill, but I finally found someone I was happy to use for a Classic Hollywood – Grace Kelly inspired shoot. Grace Kelly was an American actress (one of Alfred Hitchcock’s favourites) who became the Princess of Monaco in 1956. She was also a fashion icon.

Thanks so much to everyone involved! I am really happy with the results.

Model:        Susan – Mode Models
Makeup:     Man’s Ruin Makeup – Link
Hair:           Melissa Lynne – Link
Location:   Hotel Arts

Click the Photos for a Larger version

For more information visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Lingerie – Boudoir Photos 1

ryephoto — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:03:40 +0000

I had a long day of shooting on the weekend. After the Grace Kelly – Classic Hollywood shoot, we did some beautiful lingerie photos as well. For those looking for a sample of my boudoir photography, here you go!

Thanks again to everyone involved

Model:        Susan – Mode Models
Makeup:     Man’s Ruin Makeup – Link
Hair:           Melissa Lynne – Link

Click on the Photos for a Larger version

For more photos and information please visit my website:

Riley Brandt Photography

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Maternity Photos for the New Year

ryephoto — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:43:11 +0000

I got to start off the 2009 new year with a great maternity photo shoot of a lovely couple. It was fun, relaxed, and a lot of great ideas were exchanged.

I took all of these photographs at the couple’s apartment using available light and some portable lights. An expensive studio isn’t necessary to make beautiful photos

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

I am really happy with the results of this on location photo shoot. I like the bright colours in some of the shots and the happy mood that comes across. Even getting a nice studio like black background was achieved in a small apartment.

Click to visit my website for more photos and info

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Dark and Moody

ryephoto — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:46:33 +0000

I am normally shooting very well-lit photos with no shadows for Mode Models. But I did a few this week that embrace the shadows for some fun and a change.

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

I consider the first three to be a set. So:
(1 of 3)

(2 of 3)
More ‘bright and dreamy’ here than ‘dark and moody’…

(3 of 3)

And the next set:

And the last few that I think are pretty cool.

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

I love the blue on blue with the dark shadows. The client would never use them, but I like them

Click to visit my website for more photos

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East Indian Wedding Make Up

ryephoto — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:53:06 +0000

I was shooting photos for the website of make-up artist Prub Bassi of Bassi Bridal Creations the other weekend and wanted to share some of them. Prub specializes in East Indian wedding make-up and henna, but does other make-up as well.

All the girls are friends and family of Prub’s and it was everyone’s first time modeling. Hard to believe considering the results.

CLICK the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

It’s unfortunate that when the photos are uploaded to the web they lose quality. The colours are so much brighter and vibrant in the originals. The reds and blues become quite faded in the following photos.

CLICK the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

I think the blue dress and the light hair work together so well in the above photos

There are a lot of other great photos of different girls from that shoot, but this post is getting too long as it is

More at Bassi Bridal Creations

Click to visit my website for more photos

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Editorial and Portraits: Oct – Nov 08

ryephoto — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:16:51 +0000

I have some recent (and some old) editorial work to post. And some of the new stuff will be printed on beautiful glossy high resolution stock again! It is always a welcome change compared to ugly old news print.

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

First the old:

Fast Forward Weekly published a photo from way back of Calgary Alderman Rick McIver. I wanted something different than a boring old head shot done in a office. I found a police bike on display at city hall that day, asked around, and got the man on the hog. It turns out, Mr. McIver is the only alderman who rides, so it actually suits him.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach made an appearance at C.U.P.S. in downtown Calgary to talk about the success of the Rapid Exit housing program. I believe this photo ended up on the cover of Street Talk, a newspaper with a goal to end poverty.

Learn more about C.U.P.S. here.

The new stuff:

I was shooting for the University of Calgary’s alumni magazine ‘U Magazine’ last week. It won’t come out until December (or maybe even January) but I can post a little taste of my work here.

It is all about international students studying here in Calgary and their interesting stories.

Hongmei, from the famous Fudan University in Shanghai, is photographed in Calgary’s China Town.

Sung-Ah from Korea studies contemporary dance. Those feet must have been chilly…

CLICK on the PHOTOS for a LARGER version

John working away towards a carrier in medicine. That doll was heavy!

Malgorzata, a Polish lab tech, shot from a more interesting angle to get away from the other ‘grip and grin’ style shots I did in the lab.

And for something a little more fun:

Mobadass!! That guitar is on fire. I almost forgot all about flash drag, but the performance was a little boring so I tried to liven it up a bit. Check out that pink streak!

And Tele, the band that open for them at Dicken’s Pub on 9th ave SW.

Click to visit my website for more photos

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Hot Little Rocket and Secret Broadcast

ryephoto — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:40:32 +0000

Well it only took five months ! but Fast Forward Weekly finally published my photos of local Calgary band Secret Broadcast. I always dug this shoot because I got them into an actual broadcast studio.

CLICK on PHOTOS for a LARGER version

Another one from that shoot back when I was still a lowly intern.

Hot Little Rocket together for 10 years !!!

This one was a lot of fun. There was cake up everyone’s nose but mine! I gave the band a lot of ideas to choose from. They liked the birthday party idea and then took it one step further and did it up ‘The Damned’ style.

It’s so weird to look at them before the mess.

Art’s Guide 2008

I was really happy to have my photo end up on the cover of the Fast Forward’s 2008 Art’s Guide. It looks a little faded here though…

The director Vanessa Porteous is going to be putting on a puppet version of Don Juan with Old Trout Theatre. That isn’t a Don Juan puppet, they hadn’t been made yet, but I think he still looks like he could be the world’s greatest lover

A shot that didn’t get used.

I was hoping FFWD would use this one on the inside spread, but they chose a different shot. It is supposed to be Vanessa and Don Juan having a romantic moment together that is interrupted by the paparazzi!

Click to visit my website for more photos

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