CHEF DARIAN BRYAN
CHEF DARIAN BRYAN
Chef Darian Bryan is a Jamaican-born rockstar in the kitchen. He's been featured on Food Network, CBS News, and ESPN, and he's known for his pop-up fine dining dinners hosted in unusual locations. He's also the man behind the block-long lines at his Jamaican "Jerk Hut" pop-up events. Chef Darian also works as a private chef for several NFL players.
Recently, I had the honor of capturing Chef Darian's creative genius during a lifestyle and portrait session. We collaborated on a shoot concept based on a fantasy outdoor dinner party he was hosting. It was a blast! The plates we used and Darian's chef's coat are from his recently launched product lines, and these images would serve as branding collateral for both product launches and for Darian's general marketing use.
The location was a stunning private garden hidden away in a residential neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, and the guests at the dinner were a mix of Buffalo food writers, influencers, and family. During our prep for the shoot, long before talent arrived, we had to deal with some extremely high winds; at one point, a large branch broke off a tree and crashed into the table, destroying the gorgeous tablescape that the styling team had put together, but like true pros, we had backups over everything, and the entire table was restyled and prepped for lighting in a matter of minutes. And the winds died down as expected as guests started to arrive.
Chef Darian is passionate about celebrating chefs, his Caribbean roots, and bringing people together through his cooking. His food is fantastic, and his passion for food and family drives him to create extraordinary culinary experiences that unite people. Chef Darian's warm personality and charm are just as crucial as his food. He delights in entertaining his guests with stories about his food, Jamaica, and the occasional flambe fireball as the sun goes down. During our shoot, we captured Chef Darian in all his glory, from prepping the food to plating up the dishes and interacting with his guests. He's a natural in front of the camera, and his infectious energy comes through in every shot.
If you're ever in Buffalo, check out Chef Darian's newest venture, Bratts Hill. The name comes from Darian's childhood home in Bratts Hill, Jamaica, and the menu is inspired by his mom's cook shop, where he discovered his love for cooking and how food brings people together.
Special thanks to Kristy Pottle Culinary for the food prep and styling assist on set on the day of this shoot as we fought the weather.
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Link Love
A rundown of what I've been consuming/loving/obsessed with recently and why.
Fall of The House of Usher
I'm a huge Edgar Allen Poe Fan, so this Mike Flannagan-helmed Netflix horror series had more than enough macabre references to make it one of my favorite spooky October binges. My wife and I tore through all eight episodes in three nights.
Ricoh GRIIIx
I had been searching for a small pocket camera that could take excellent pictures and easily carried around in my EDC bag. I was introduced to this little powerhouse by Nick Kundrat, and I have been attached to it ever since. It captures excellent images straight out of the camera, and I particularly love the snap focus feature. Lately, I've been taking it out on more and more photo walks, and I'm excited to bring it with me on my next trip.
Cryo Chamber Records
I prefer to listen to music with no lyrics when working, especially when writing. I've been listening to a few dark ambient acts from Cryo Chamber Records. Since I'm firmly entrenched in the Halloween season, the moody and dark atmosphere feels appropriate. Their HP Lovecraft-inspired series of collaborative albums have been outstanding listens, as well as anything by Dead Melodies.
Traveler's Journal
I have condensed several of my larger journals into smaller inserts and organized them in a modular notebook. This makes it easier for me to carry them around when I am on the go. The inserts include my creative brainstorming notes (since I prefer to do that thinking out of the office/house), client intake/production notes, and personal notebooks with all my daily tasks and lists. This notebook system has become a constant companion for me and is probably the most essential piece of everyday carry gear in my bag (especially when paired with a Brass Kaweco Sport).