Episode 92 · February 21, 2023
Christopher Bryan Photography: Using his Superpower for Good
with Christopher Bryan, Commercial Photographer
31 min
Christopher Bryan Photography: Using his Superpower for Good
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In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Christopher Bryan, a commercial photographer who's worked with clients including ones from the Forbes Global Top 10. If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then Christopher might just be the ultimate storyteller — and that's exactly how he sees his work. Everything he does, from the lighting to the wardrobe to the turn of someone's head, is in service of telling a true story.
I love that Christopher was so honest and raw with me. He describes himself as an introvert with extroverted tendencies, and he opened up about learning to temper his direct communication style, working through social anxiety, and pushing past the fear of rejection to build his business. If you've ever felt like you're "too quiet" to put yourself out there, this conversation is for you — because as he says, without risk, there's no reward.
The heart of this episode is a project Christopher is bringing to Tulsa: Help-Portrait, a one-day event where photographers volunteer their time and God-given gifts and talents to create and print free keepsake portraits for people in need. He shares two stories that will stay with you — including one that gets him every single time — and reminds us that every person has a story worth telling, no matter what's in their bank account.
Key takeaways
- Your photo is a story before it's anything else — lighting, wardrobe, hair, and posture all shape the message, and the mind makes a snap decision about a face in less than a tenth of a second.
- Everybody has a personal brand whether they realize it or not, and a headshot is often your one first impression. Keep it current — Christopher says anything over about a year to a year and a half should be updated.
- Prep matters more than you'd think: hydrate for several days beforehand, get good sleep, and don't get a fresh haircut right before your shoot — your face shows all of it.
- Introverts can absolutely run a business. You may have to 'turn it on' and take the risk of the phone call or the introduction, but once the relationship is built, you can thrive.
- Communication style can be worked on. Christopher learned to reread his emails (and have a trusted second set of eyes) so his directness doesn't accidentally burn a bridge.
- Being 'photogenic' is a myth built on an impossible standard — almost no one is perfectly symmetrical. A good photographer coaxes out your true story rather than expecting you to 'nail it.'
- Help-Portrait is about dignity: honoring people who are often invisible, connecting them to community resources, and giving families a portrait they'll treasure — because kids who see photos of themselves develop a stronger sense of identity.
Chapters
- —Meet Christopher Bryan and why story is everything
- —What commercial photography actually is — and how it tells a story
- —His 51/49 approach to running the business
- —Personality, communication, and learning not to burn bridges
- —Introvert, extrovert, or ambivert? Putting yourself out there
- —Headshot tips: brand, timing, wardrobe, hydration, and sleep
- —The truth about being 'photogenic'
- —The Help-Portrait project comes to Tulsa
- —Two stories that make it all worth it
- —How to get involved and follow along
“You've got to be able to put yourself out there, because without risk, there's no reward.”
“Everybody's got a personal brand whether they realize it or not — there is a story attached to each and every person, and how you present that is your brand.”
“Our value is the same. It doesn't matter whether we have billions in the bank or nothing in the bank.”
“When I draw my last breath, I want to know that the stories I told, the images I captured, the lives that I impacted — it all mattered.”
About Christopher
Commercial Photographer
Christopher Bryan is a full-time commercial photographer based in Tulsa who has worked with clients including ones from the Forbes Global Top 10. A self-described detail-driven storyteller, he specializes in brand, culture, and headshot photography, and is bringing the Help-Portrait project to Tulsa to provide free keepsake portraits for people in need.
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