My name is Billy Hunt, and I am a wedding and portrait photographer in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to producing amazing imagery, I create a relaxed, positive space for my brides, grooms and everyone I photograph. My clients are discerning, thoughtful people, who not only want great imagery, but want to enjoy the experience. I love what I do, and I think that it shows in my work.
This website showcases my weddings, portraits and personal endeavors as an artist. Through it, I hope you can get a sense of who I am. Thanks for visiting and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feedback.
Recently, the organizers of a red carpet/runway fashion show contacted me to do some promotional material. I love fashion, and was super excited to be able to help the event, which benefits the UVA Children’s Hospital. Needless to say, I did not know what I was getting into. I will post some images a little later, with information for the event, but I thought I would show you a video of the shoot. It shows how I work, and is a glimpse into what I do to help people get a good image. I think it is funny how non-plussed I am photographing a drag queen. Film by Brian Wimer. Music by the Dirty Projectors.
For the first time ever, two titans of Charlottesville’s wedding photography industry, Billy Hunt and Jason Keefer, worked together to create a wedding photography juggernaut. It is kind of like Voltron, but without the sword.
Seriously, this is the first wedding I have ever shared with another photographer. Jason and Tammy Keefer and I shot different parts of the event, and it was super fun. I would love to do it again. Anyone interested, let either of us know, and I think we could form some type of wedding dream team.
Christy and Guy were amazing, or course. They are so perfect for each other. They are both caring, laid back people, with a lot of loving friends and family. Also, this is the first chance I had to photograph a bride with her pet rat. Here are a few sample images, with more to come later.
“Billy, this is Lea at OpenSpace, we loved your CLAW videos, and want you to make us a commercial. Are you Interested?”
“Huh?”
“I said, Are you interested?”
“You know this is Billy Hunt Photography, right? Not Billy Hunt Video? I don’t really know what I am doing.”
“I am sure you will figure it out.”
I am in awe of the people at OpenSpace. Jeff Gunther and his team pursue their goals with an fearless efficiency that is breathtaking, and a little scary. Plenty of people think employees should be able to do their jobs remotely. Not too many would make it a company policy, and build one of the most elegant spaces in Charlottesville for everyone to work in. Very cool.
Here is the video that Brian Wimer, Jennifer Tidwell, and I put together, with Gene Osborn writing the music. Please check it out, and let me know what you think. FYI, this is my first official job under my new company, Powhatan Studios. Billy Hunt Photography is about photography, Powhatan Studios is collaborating to create video and new media for businesses. Prepare to get your mind blown. Boom.
My friend John Grant has an art show in October at 2nd Street Gallery. Jason Keefer and I made a little movie about John and his work. Definitely check out the show. This video does not do justice to his work. It is exquisite.
Jennifer Tidwell, Brian Wimer, and I are filming a commercial for OpenSpace, and we need some help. It is kind of a cross between a video, and an event, so if you are free, please stop by the metered parking on Water Street (where they have the farmers market) on Friday Sept 18 at 9:30AM and you can maybe be in the video, get famous, and then forget the little people who got you where you are today.
OpenSpace Commercial Filming
Friday, September 18, 9:30am
150 W Water Street
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had their 50th anniversary this year. To highlight the improvements that have been made in cars in that time, they wrecked a 1959 Chevy Bel Air into a 2009 Chevy Malibu. Before the Bel Air was wrecked, I photographed the car for the IIHS’s calendar. It was sad to see the car get smashed, but it is good to know there is a powerful organization out there trying to save lives on the road. These guys have probably saved half a million lives in the last 50 years. Think about that. 1/2 a million people, all around who would not be. It blows my mind.
The calendar shoot was very interesting. They allowed me access to their mountain of lighting gear, and I was like a kid in a candy store. There is something about turning on a 50 foot softbox that makes you feel important. Also, the expertise and helpfulness of the photographers and staff at the IIHS cannot be overstated. They are chill, but they work hard. Amazing.
At the crash, I got to work with my friend Jason Keefer. He is a really good photographer, and it was nice to see his process.
After the crash, their tests showed that the dummy in the Malibu had a slight foot injury while the dummy driving the Bel Air had extensive injuries, and would probably have died.
Recently I had the opportunity to collaborate on a commercial for the Live Arts Gala. I think it came out really well, and really appreciate the experience of working with such smart, creative people. Serena Gruia, Matt Thomas, Hilty Hazzard, Jessica Priest, Wistar Murray, Zach Snider, Karen Thomas, Brian Wimer, and Wes Webb all helped.
We ended up doing a stop action movie, without stopping the action. I put my camera on a tripod with the motordrive taking tons of still images, and all the puppeteers moved everything around in the studio. Later we cropped, color corrected, and sized down, and assembled more then 600, 22 megapixel images to match the storyboard. Why do it this way? Because we are bananas!
My book on the Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers, “A CLAW to Remember:The 2008 Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers Retrospective” is an honorable mention in this years Photography Book Now international photobook competition. This is a big deal. Out of 2400 entries, my book was selected as one of the best by jurors including representatives from Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and Blindspot Magazine, in addition to sweet sweet Platon. If It couldn’t get any cooler, my good friend Jon-Phillip Sheridan is also in the show. He and I are going to roll up to the opening in New York, and show them how we do it down here in Charlottesville.
My Studio Party last Friday was a good excuse for me to get my space nice, and a chance to get people over here to see where I am and how I work. It was really fun, and since I took pictures most of the time, I did not feel embarrassed like I usually do at openings. Thanks to everyone who came out.
Finally, anyone who missed it should stop by and check out my fishtank. For some reason, it makes me proud.
As a thanks to all my great fans and supporters, I am hosting a party in my studio this Friday, September 4. I will be taking free Facebook portraits for the first 50 people. Additionally, I will be selling my art at very good prices. So please stop by, check out my new couch and fishtank, and say hi.
Billy Hunt Photography Studio Party
408 E Market St. (in the maclin building)
#104A
Friday, September 4, 2009
6:00-8:35pm
