The following article originally appeared in The Jewish Times in 2000.<\/p>\n
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
\nOwings Mills\u2019 Bradley Zisow, 25, has his own photography firm.
\nBy Linda L. Esterson
\nSpecial to the Jewish Times,
\nDecember 29, 2000<\/p>\n
He\u2019s young, he\u2019s confident, he\u2019s energetic. At the age of 25, Bradley Zisow owns and operates Bradley Images, a professional photography company based out of his townhouse in Owings Mills\u2019 McDonogh Township. For seven-plus years, Mr. Zisow has captured the moment professionally at more than 700 events, the last three years as Bradley Images.
\nHis work is not limited to social affairs. Modeling portfolios, digital imaging and restoration, commercial photography, digital videography, and Web site design are all part of his services.
\nMr. Zisow became interested in photography early. A graduate of Friends School, during his free periods he\u2019d visit the photo lab instead of the study hall. \u201cI lived in the photo lab,\u201d recalls Mr. Zisow, who subsequently attended Villa Julie College to study photography, marketing and management.
\nInitially, he went into the photography business with two friends, but later branched out on his own. Mr. Zisow estimates he now spends more than 80 hours a week working. How about something as mundane as sleep? \u201cWho needs to?\u201d he retorts. \u201cWork now, retire early. I\u2019m young, I can do it. I need to keep it up while I\u2019m enthusiastic.\u201d
\nEnthusiastic is an understatement. Just watch him light up as he discusses his method for taking photographs at, for example, a wedding. \u201cI\u2019m not there to change the moment; I\u2019m there to capture the moment,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen you\u2019re dancing or cutting the cake, I don\u2019t tell you to tilt your head. I capture it as it happens.\u201d
\nHis method includes not interrupting the bridal couple as they participate in the activities around them. \u201cWe\u2019ll ask them but don\u2019t drag them,\u201d he says. \u201cIf the bride and groom don\u2019t want to leave the reception, we don\u2019t make them.\u201d
\nSo unobtrusively does Mr. Zisow work that, says Michelle Goodman, who used him for her wedding two years ago, \u201cI didn\u2019t even know he was around once the portraits were done.\u201d
\n\u201cI like the way he takes pictures,\u201d says Jason Porter, who hired MR. Zisow for his April wedding. \u201cThey\u2019re a little different, they\u2019re edgier. He\u2019s good with the camera.\u201d
\nMr. Zisow was one of the first in Baltimore to give newlywed couples and b\u2019nai mitzvoth their proofs within days of their events \u2013 online. Using a security code on his website, clients and their families and friends can view the complete set of photos and select what they\u2019d like to order. Ultimately, he predicts, proofs \u201cin hand\u201d will become a thing of the past. Everyone will view their proofs online.
\nWith a staff of eight photographers and six videographers, Bradley Images can handle up to three events a day. Mr. Zisow feels that\u2019s the maximum number of events the company can cover and still maintain its quality level. Mr. Zisow trains his employees to \u201cshoot my way,\u201d and he looks for people like himself \u2013 young and energetic.
\n\u201cYou can train technical but you can\u2019t teach personality,\u201d he says of his employees.
\nMr. Zisow\u2019s youth sometimes causes comment. \u201cMy favorite thing is when I walk into a job and I hear under [people\u2019s] breath, \u2018God he\u2019s young,\u2019\u201d he says. On occasion, he adds, his youth also works to his benefit, especially in putting bar and bat mitzvah children he\u2019s photographing at ease.
\nMr. Zisow\u2019s aspirations are high. They include, he said, \u201cbeing as good as Shlomo [Cohen]. He\u2019s an artist. Hid lighting, technical skills are excellent, his eye is excellent.\u201d
\nRichard Dalcin, owner of Richard Dalcin Studios, a Pikesville photographer for 20 years, praises Mr. Zisow. \u201cHe reminds me of myself when I got started. You can see it in him that eh loves what he does and is excited about what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n
-Linda L. Esterson is a local free-lance writer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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