The Coldbrew Collection

Creative Portrait Photography by Tony Gist

I love making photographs that feel like the people in them—sometimes beautiful, sometimes dramatic, sometimes a little strange, and hopefully never boring.

This is a collection of some of my favorite portraits, creative experiments and moments from sessions throughout Phoenix and Arizona. Some started with carefully planned ideas. Others started with “Hey, what if we tried this?” and we figured out the rest along the way.

A woman with long dark hair and closed eyes, sitting on a rocky terrain outdoors during sunset, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
A woman dressed in 18th-century European costume with elaborate white wig holding a decorated fan in a vintage-style room.
A pregnant woman in a beige dress stands in a field of yellow flowers, holding her belly with a smile, with hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Woman with elf ears and makeup peeking through a large Christmas gift bag with snowflake patterns, wearing a Santa hat and jewelry.
Woman dressed in a dark, satin gown with lace, sitting on sand, looking up, wearing a headpiece and pearl jewelry.
Black and white photograph of a woman with long, wavy hair showing two different facial expressions.
A man with a beard wearing a red blazer and black shirt sitting on the ground in front of a vintage red GTO car outdoors with trees in the background.
A smiling young woman and a smiling young man embracing each other on a balcony during sunset, with a river and silhouettes of trees in the background.
A black and white kitten lying on a brown leather surface, looking directly at the camera.
A young woman in a blue graduation gown and cap stands outdoors at sunset by a river, smiling softly at the camera.
Pagemaster Cosplay Portrait on a book themed set with added VFX that were not made with AI
A woman with dark curly hair and intense brown eyes wearing a black leather outfit with metallic rings, holding metallic prosthetic arms with blades and screws.
A family of four standing outdoors on rocky terrain with a mountain in the background during sunset, smiling at the camera.
Cosplay of Disney's Belle from Beauty and the Beast on a book page themed photo set
Smiling young boy wearing a plaid shirt and sweater standing outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background.
A man with a beard wearing a red blazer and black pants standing in front of a red vintage car in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background, a woman with sunglasses sitting inside the car.
Person dressed in gothic style with black and white makeup, wearing a black jacket with silver buttons, sitting or squatting on the ground in a dark setting, with a somber expression.
A woman with pink hair and tattoo on her left arm, wearing a pink cowboy hat and pink shirt, and a man with dark hair, wearing a light-colored cowboy hat and Western shirt, holding toy guns, standing outdoors with a desert landscape and mountains in

No Two Sessions Should Look the Same.

People are different. Personalities are different. Ideas are different. Their photos should be too.

The Coldbrew Collection isn't meant to show you one particular style of portrait repeated over and over again. It's a collection of people, personalities, moments and ideas—from simple headshots and family photos to carefully planned creative portraits and the occasional idea that sounded slightly ridiculous until we tried it.

That's part of what I love about photography. Every person who steps in front of the camera gives us an opportunity to create something different.

People standing together with a dog, holding an ultrasound photo, with one person holding a baby onesie that says 'I'll be home for Christmas.'
Close-up of a woman with curly hair looking away, wearing a white shirt and jewelry, with warm lighting in the background.
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a white t-shirt is sitting on a vintage brown leather armchair, smiling while holding three cats. The room features a green bookshelf filled with books and a window with a view outside.
A woman in an elegant black and lace evening gown standing on a staircase in a dimly lit indoor space, with a large potted plant visible in the window behind her.
A woman with dark, curly hair, showing an intense expression, with makeup and special effects giving her a fierce appearance.
A couple in vintage Western-style outfits poses in front of a wooden church with a bell tower topped by a cross, during sunset or golden hour.
A woman dressed as a zombie with pale blue eyes and discolored, rotting skin, wearing a blue and white checkered apron over a shirt, standing in a dark room.
Close-up of a woman with platinum blonde hair and dark eyes, partially obscured by black and red gloves, with a sheer white veil covering her head.
Woman with a big curly white wig adorned with butterflies, wearing bright blue eye makeup, red lipstick, earrings, and layered pearl necklaces, dressed in a blue ruffled top.
Close-up of a person with pink hair and glasses looking through a frosted glass surface with artistic streaks of paint and a hand creating a smear effect.
Close-up of a small brown puppy with dark eyes against a black background.
A young woman with pink hair, sunglasses, and tattoos sitting on a red sofa in front of a colorful graffiti wall. She wears a black t-shirt, white boots, and accessories including layered necklaces and a pink wristband.
A young man with short, curly hair and blue eyes wearing a black leather jacket with a fur collar, holding the collar with both hands, against a dark background.
Close-up of a woman with bright red hair, dark makeup, black lipstick, and black tear-like streaks under her eyes.

See Something That Gets You Thinking?

Good.

You don't need to recreate anything you've seen here. In fact, I'd rather we didn't.

Whether you're looking for a great portrait, something meaningful, something completely ridiculous—or you don't know what you want yet—let's come up with something that feels like you.

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