Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan York

Hi Bryan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I used to draw when I was in jr. high and high school.
In my junior year in high school, I ended up taking a very basic film photography class. It was then that my love for photography began to bloom. I started loving it more than drawing and would soon discover I had an eye for it.
I enrolled in a few community college photography classes and started learning more. Slowly I developed my interest in taking pictures of people by working with people within my community.

Fast forward to 2015 when I moved to Colorado.
I had been in my new home for just a month and I ended up hospitalized to learn I had suffered from a stroke at the young age of 27.
I immediately thought I had lost my ability to do photography. Through a friend’s encouragement, I figured out how to adapt and do photography again. It soon became therapeutic since it turned my attention away from my limitations to something that felt normal. It was exhilarating to be able to do what I was sure I had lost!

My focus shifted to using photography in my recovery. Since I couldn’t drive, I had to figure out a new way of meeting people, and portrait photography was the answer. I had a service to offer that allowed me to build extraordinary friendships. Photography has been my key to opening doors into people’s lives and new opportunities!

One of the most meaningful opportunities I had while living in Colorado was joining a PPA-affiliated guild in Colorado Springs. The friendships and camaraderie around photography have been priceless! It keeps motivating me and challenging me to pursue my passion for photography.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

When I had my stroke I became fully disabled and lost most of my ability to function on my right side.
I was dominantly right-handed and over the years have had to learn how to become a lefty.
Overcoming my disability and finding new ways to do photography or faster ways to develop my photos have been my biggest challenges.
Learning to ask for help and accept has been something I have had to learn with humility. It has all been a process and I have to be selective with who I work with. I have to find people who are comfortable working with someone who is disabled and also have a tender heart toward providing extra help where needed.
Not everyone is understanding of my situation and it often it can take time and patience waiting to find the right people.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I am a passionate hobbyist portrait photographer based out of Portland, Oregon.
I specialize in my one-on-one individual sessions and have a love for fashion and editorial photography. I work with models a lot and due to my networking skills can assemble teams of various artists and skills.
Additionally, I have learned enough to train newer models.
I have great people skills and I treat every moment and encounter with my subjects as a blessing and opportunity to leave an impression on their lives.

What kind of impression will you leave?

Who else deserves credit in your story?

A big thank you to Jay Billups of https://www.gojbcm.com/ who encouraged and motivated me to continue photography after I had had my stroke.

Thank you to my close collegues and friends Carrie Cleghorn, David Ochoa, and Michael Montgomery who have encouraged and helped me navigate photography and adapt to my disability.

I want to give a shout-out to PPGCS (Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs) and all its members.

“The Guild is the best professional photography group along the Front Range” -Larry Adkins

Everyone is like family and PPGCS is where I have grown the most as a photographer.

If you are in Colorado Springs or Colorado and want to be a part of an amazing community + grow as a photographer check out PPGCS at https://www.ppgcs.com/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yorkphotography4.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/york_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/york.bryan

Image Credits

1. Nicole Kappner

2. Gary Rickard

3. Minh-Ly

4. Amie Boulton

5. Leo

6. Holly

7. Michael Hanke

8. Roseanna