Capturing A Moment | Los Angeles

Brian To, photographer

Brian To shoots Fashion, Beauty, Advertising, Lifestyle Fitness, and Celebrity Portraits.

After graduating from UCLA Film school, I had the fortune to work with mentor Steven Meisel, who photographed me for the L’Uomo Vogue, CK ONE campaign, and an Italian Vogue Cover (pictured above with model Karen Elson). Herb Ritts, a good friend, strongly influenced my style with his clean approach to beauty, fashion, and commercial photography.

There is nothing more beautiful than capturing a truthful moment. Often what people consider mistakes are the most interesting. I simply try to create a free environment, which allows subjects to enjoy the purity of the moment as it happens.

For many years, I pursued art photography, appeared in several group exhibitions, and exhibited two solo shows of self-portraits. I became a member of Cinematographer’s Guild LOCAL 600 after shooting still photography for various independent features. I directed my first film AUDIT starring Judy Greer, Sally Kirkland, Alexis Arquette, and Michael G. Kelley which premiered at LA FILM FESTIVAL, and won Best Short Film at the WIN Femme Film Festival. 

My background in filmmaking helps me understand how to bring out the best in actors, models, and celebrities. Aside from covers, catalog, fashion, and celebrity editorial work for magazines such as INSTYLE, I have enjoyed shooting beauty ad campaigns for PURE BEAUTY, JAPONESQUE, JOHNSON & JOHNSON, GARNIER, WALGREENS, VH1, and TV shows such as BEAUTY AND THE GEEK 2, which won a Promax/BDA Silver Award for outdoor print campaign.