I am not sure which came first, being nosey or an interest in ‘street photography’, but a fascination

with people and the way they live their lives is why I enjoy the business so much.

I can’t hide behind lights and technology, I am reliant on a small Leica camera, patience and lots of
optimism. But what I get in return is the chance to make an honest picture which people know
immediately is a genuine moment and which hopefully burrows deep into their memories. (All
photos copyright Matt Stuart 2010)

My name is Charles Bandes. I fell in love with photography back in 1990, and have found it to be a
consuming passion ever since. It is a great pleasure to be able to work with people of all ages and
backgrounds to record their special moments and events.

My home and studio are located in Somerville, Massachusetts, and I am available for photography
jobs nearly anywhere in New England. If you have a specific job you'd like to discuss with me, please
contact me for an individual meeting. I find that it's best to sit down and discuss each job in person
or over the phone, as trust and comfort level are critical to photographic success.

Since my early days at RISD I have devoted myself to photography in many forms - fine-art,
documentary, portraiture. (I keep a blog for my personal and fine-art work, if you'd like to have a
peek at that.) My diverse experience has made me comfortable in nearly every photographic
situation. I strive to bring out each client's personality in my photos and to tell the story and spirit of
each special day through my albums and coverage.

Brett Simison was born in 1972 in the small farm town of Citronelle, Alabama. "My story is pretty
common: I began shooting after my grandfather gave me his old Canon AT-1 when I was 12 years
old. I've been photographing ever since."

After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology, Brett landed a
job assisting National Geographic staff photographer Michael "Nick" Nichols in Charlottesville,
Virginia. "I learned a lot from Nick, primarily the business and logistical side of photography. He also
forced me to take more chances with my shooting and get away from the 'picture postcard' style
that many new photographers adhere to."

During the dotcom boom in 1999, Brett took a break from photography to work in web design and
development. A year of corporate work inspired him to strike out on his own, so he started an
award-winning animation website that he maintained until 2005. "Working in design gave me insight
to the other side of the creative business: photography consumers. I think that's one of the reasons I
work so well with my advertising and commercial clients: I've been there and can anticipate their
needs."

Brett returned to photography full time in 2006 and shoots a mixture of editorial, commercial,
advertising, events, and fine art. "I come from a primarily journalistic and documentary background:
I'm an observer. I also believe that the photographic medium is capable of conveying the enormous
beauty of reality, so I strive to meld those two worlds in my work -- I want to create images that
resonate with message and meaning."

His clients and publications include Outside, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Christian
Science Monitor, Harcourt Houghton-Mifflin, Time (Asia), Skiing Magazine, Sizzle, Blue Ridge
Outdoors, Dirt Rag, Outdoor Traveler, Patagonia, The University of Virginia, Middlebury College, the
New England Culinary Institute, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Today, Brett and his wife Amy live in the town of Middlebury, Vermont where she teaches at
Middlebury College. He's often cold.