Feels like picnic season 🧺 🌞 🌳 The combination of cool breeze meets warm sun makes for the perfect setting to be outside. My midwestern taste buds switch from hearty comfort food and crave grill meats and fresh produce.
Growing up, summer “vacation” was simple. Drive a few hours to the city or a park to meet some family and my parents always packed lunch and snacks. Being the Chef he is, my dad would make more extravagant lunches than just turkey and cheese. From fresh fruits, salads and a sandwich with all the things and we always ate well. Simple pleasures.
This was a fun one shot in studio alongside some of the very best in the biz. I love creating scenes, but it cannot be done with out the talented people our industry is made of.
Photography📸 @ryan.bringas
Props🧺 @senarosenberg
Wardrobe👚 @madeline.telford
Food 🦐 @arden.kelley
HMU💄 @makeupbydoria
Talent Agency🙎🏾♀️🙎♀️ @nicepeopletalent
Lighting and Digi💡🖥️ @tblokel@remphotography__
Retouching🎨 @daymoon_studios
Models 👯♀️ @alyssalowww@kynnah.giselle
Living in a Chicago for many years, I was always enamored by the ability of people to enjoy their space no matter how small. One apartment I had in particular, I remember this older gentleman who would hang out in his space and it felt as if no one else was around. He wore a robe that was too short and would smoke a cigar daily. I imagine walking down those sketchy apartment steps and as the ground level comes into view, you see Tom enjoying an urban pool party. He is a suave guy, enjoys the simple things in life like as sips his perfectly poured cocktail and keeps his feet cool in the kiddie pool. He snagged his sunglasses at the gas station and he enjoys reading the Ya ya sisterhood. It’s the old man belly and the heir of confidence that makes you want to hear his stories of where he’s been and what he’s done.
@ryan.bringas@senarosenberg@madeline.telford@arden.kelley@makeupbydoria@tblokel@remphotography__@daymoon_studios@laurenmcnalis@stewarttalentchicago@foundartists
Hacienda -an afternoon in Mexico. Fresh caught shrimp hit the grill. Where’s my beer? Ice cold drinks with brightly flavored sides. I want a salty chip with spicy salsa, only so I can take a sip of that margarita with extra limes. In that order. Then with your hands, you crack the shrimp and dig in. You lick your fingers because that hit the spot.
🦐@mollierebeccahayward
🍽️ @studio.compose
👨🏻🌾 @nicepeopletalent
#foodphotography #foodphotographer #foodstyle #lifestylephotography #chicagofoodphotographer #tabletopphotography #hacienda
I love shooting restaurants. They’re faced paced and allow you to be fully creative. This one for the @graduatehomesteadroom was a blast. The bar is unique and well styled. It gave me a lot of opportunity for beautiful moments. The leather booths have a this classic feel but elevated by the moody vibe and dark wood tables. Restaurant shoots typically feel like photography bootcamp, composing and lighting quickly because food dies quickly. 😋
Guacamole de Mayo 🥑
To me, guacamole is ritualistic and just like when I’m grilling, an ice cold drink like a @casamigos Margarita is implied. Yeah, I make rules that I abide by when it comes to cooking. If an avocado isn’t perfectly ripe, then I won’t make it.
I will wait.
The process of layering the flavors of these simple ingredients is therapeutic. And I make it the same way every time.
Fire roast a Serrano pepper.
Cut and scoop the avocado with a spoon.
Dice the onion.
Chop the cilantro.
Squeeze the lime.
Mash with a spoon, a fork is just not the same.
Taste for acidity. It needs enough lime juice. 🍋🟩
Finally salt to taste.
Single chip for the chef. 🤤
Surface from @chicagosurfaces
Photographer @ryan.bringas revisits the spirit of growing up in the ’80s and ’90s in his personal project Retro Game Night. The series captures the simple joy of hanging out in basements and dens—playing video games, snacking, and letting the fun spill from the couch to the floor. With wood paneling, shag carpet, and tactile knick-knacks, the video celebrates a pre-cell phone era of landlines, camcorders, and real-life connection.
@samer_dp — DP
@senarosenberg — Art Dept
@chuzoni — AC and Lighting
@aintno_holli_backgirl — Wardrobe
@muadana — Hair & Make-up
@sierrakmills — Assistant
@d_helmick — Editor
@_jonesbrandon — Colorist
@_daija_monet — Talent
@johancliftonso — Talent
@aurorapenepacker — Talent
@eliseoreal_ — Talent
#videographer #lifestylephotographer #foodphotographer #visualstorytelling #sourcecreativetalent
Food and Shit™ my food + photography obsession with getting it right.
Episode 2 Grilling Streak.
A seemingly simple task that most people get wrong. It requires prep, patience and time. If your grills too hot, you risk burning it. Your cook is perfect but you don’t let it rest. All of these details matter, just like photography. It’s understanding that when shooting meat, you need light, styling and capture in sync for that perfect result.
#notai #foodandshit #ryanbringas
This is Food & Photo Shit™ a series of shorts that focus on my obsession with getting it right.
Episode 1 Sourdough.
Remember if you slap your dough, it tastes better. 👅
I had been dreaming this one up for what seems like the better part of a year. Tapping into old memories as I brought together a concept for a retro modern take on the hang. I guess I’m primarily a nostalgic photographer now. There will always be a sweet spot in my heart for the childhood I had growing up in the 80s and 90s. Riding my bike, no phone, just the streetlights to tell me what time it was. Change was happening right before our eyes, but I can remember those moments like it was yesterday.
Sena, per usual, knocked the styling out of the park. It’s funny what you can do with 4 walls and a rug. We built the set, had a functioning Atari, Tv and camcorder, tons of little details, period specific artwork and that shag carpet made this scene real. Holli and Dana nailed the vibe between wardrobe and hmu. Paired with lighting from Naomi and Sierra, suddenly we’re transported back. 🎮 🕹️📹👾💥 I value these test shoot so much in my career growth because of the people I ask to help. It’s the crew who I trust that understand my vision and support me by doing what they do best.
The talent though; they truly fell into character, took direction and improvised. Absolutely elevating the scene. If you haven’t already, check out the motion spot. 🎬
Photography @ryan.bringas
DP @samer_dp
Props @senarosenberg
Assist @chuzoni@sierrakmills
Agency @stewarttalentchicago@distinctartists
Talent @__daijamonet__@johancliftonso@aurorapenepacker@eliseoreal_@foundartists
READY PLAYER FIZZ!!! 🥤 🎮 👾🕹️📹💥
A vintage cola story that celebrates tangible and analog. The game room is where we practiced the art of “the hang” and were professional at snacks. Even though we lived at home, the game room felt like ours. The couch with its lasting impressions from countless hours of lounging and laughing. Flickering in the background was the tv and our attention flew from one topic to another. Feeling like we ruled the world and knew way more than our parents.
Thanks to an amazing crew for helping bring my idea to life!!
Director @ryan.bringas 🙋🏽♂️
DP @samer_dp
Art Dept @senarosenberg
Lighting and AC @chuzoni
Editor @d_helmick
Colorist @_jonesbrandon
Wardrobe @aintno_holli_backgirl
HMU @muadana
Assistant @sierrakmills
Talent @__daijamonet__@aurorapenepacker@johancliftonso@eliseoreal_
Agency @stewarttalentchicago@distinctartists
Studio @wirkstudios
Special thanks to @danielkwons for the camcorder.
