About
Barry Phipps is a fine art photographer specializing in weddings in the Chicago and Iowa City markets.
With a passion for film and for classic Leica and Hasselblad cameras, Barry is one of the few photographers in the Chicago and Iowa City areas who shoots 100% film for weddings, engagement photos and event photography. However, Barry is not anti-digital by any means. He scans all of his negatives (most of which are developed himself in his darkroom) and converts the images into digital files for final presentation to the client. The result is a completely beautiful film look combined with the convenience of digital files for sharing and viewing in the modern world.
Barry is first and foremost a fine art photographer who brings an art world sensibility to his event assignments. His work is inspired by and is a continuation of mid 20th century street and art photographers such as Garry Winogrand, William Eggleston, Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander and countless others. Barry works exclusively with available light and only uses a flash when there are no other means possible. His lenses are super fast (F1 - F2), which allows for available light photography in dark indoor locations. He considers his unique approach to be an alternative to today's typical digital photography, both in look and approach. His cameras are small, quiet, humble and discreet, and most people don't even realize he is the "official" photographer at events, as people are used to seeing photographers with huge cameras and flashes strapped across their bodies. He uses this to his advantage, as he is able to capture candid photos mostly unnoticed.
Barry studied photography, video and painting at the Kansas City Art Institute, from which he graduated with a B.F.A. in 1990. He spent the next seven years as a member of the art rock group The Coctails, a critically acclaimed band that recorded numerous albums and toured extensively in the United States and Japan. Barry is also a DJ and is president of Beep Media, Inc., a Chicago based company of ten DJs formed in 1999. Barry runs a recording studio, North Branch Studio, as well as Tight Ship Records, a small independent record label. Barry considers himself a multi-media artist.
Vendors you may like
See other vendors that are popular with couples right now