Meet Karolina Bryner | Unit Stills & Events Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karolina Bryner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karolina, what inspires you?
I’m definitely most inspired by other people: their stories, their innovation, their creativity, all of it. It’s truly been an amazing experience getting to see some of the most talented people I’ve ever met be so truly in their element, making amazing things. Working on set, and also in the LA comedy scene, you really do get to see the best of the best in action. It inspires me to continue pushing myself creatively, and it also gives me the coolest challenge of capturing the essence of their work with just one photo.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I originally started out doing the typical types of beginner photography: portraits, couples, etc., but I soon learned that my heart wasn’t totally in it. Some of my favorite personal photos have always been the more candid moments, and I wanted to work towards that type of photography, whether it be live events, concerts, theatre, film, or television.

My journey to where I am currently definitely relies on hard work and perseverance. It hasn’t been the easiest road, but it most certainly has been the most rewarding. Finding meaningful projects was a little bit of a challenge at the start, but I’ve learned that through keeping a sense of community with others that I’ve worked with or had conversations with has been immensely helpful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For the last 5 years or so, I’ve been in Orange County, so I’m definitely still finding some hidden gems in the city.

The beach is a must, and my preference there is Zuma Beach in Malibu. There are also a ton of really amazing food spots around, some that I’ve not yet tried, so I’d love to just explore the food scene. Shooting comedy shows has been a blast, so I’d definitely love to take friends to a show at The Elysian or The Yard. I’d also make a day trip back to the OC and do Disneyland (because who doesn’t love Disney?) and to my favorite spot for drinks, Honey Pot Meadery in Anaheim.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The big one would have to be the other photographers in the stills photography world. I’ve never been a part of a group of creatives that truly support each other in such a niche area. From people who are just starting out to those that have been working in the industry for 20+ years, I’ve been so lucky to meet and talk to so many amazing people. Specifically, I’d like to call out Nicola Dove, a stills photographer from New Zealand – she runs the Film Stills Academy and the Unit Stills Directory. Nicola offers some of the best education on stills photography, brings in amazing guest speakers from all areas of the industry, and she is a constant support to all of her students.

Website: karolinabryner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karolinabryner/

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13783665/