The Full-time, year-round wedding photographer and the proprietor of Barry Rankin Award Winning Portraiture, and now owner of Dirla Studio in Bay City.
Barry has carefully developed his own style; rather than refining a style definitive of himself alone, Barry gets to know his customer first. He becomes familiar with their distinctive nature before he brings out his medium-format Hasselblad camera, with Speedotron flashes and umbrellas.

This 20-year veteran of the field began taking photographs "as a boy, for a hobby," he says, and went on to take photograph for both his school paper and yearbook. While a student at Wayne University in Michigan, head football coach at the University of Michigan Bo Shembeckler was one of the first people to buy one of Barry's photos.

Barry's photographic education includes seminars, conferences, and conventions, and he has studied at the Winona School. He credits Leon Kennamer and Dwayne Sauro as two major influences and is most known for his "outdoor" style. Barry's location provides him with many versions of beautiful scenery, all within driving and walking distances. In combining his quest for his clients's personal needs and desires with the interesting outdoor locations he has at his access, Barry is a veritable wealth of wonderful tales.

"One groom loved to go fishing," Barry explains. "So we really thought about what we could do to tie this in with the wedding. We ended up going to a local fish market, picking up some fish and going with the couple down to the local pond. We took the string of fish, posed the bride and groom with the fish by the lake, and came up with some pretty great shots."

Barry's WPI Grand Award-winning portrait was taken in the University of Michigan Law School quad. Upon seeing the print of this 20X24 photo displayed at his studio, many other brides have requested this same location.

His customers are drawn to him by both reputation and referral. they don't want special effects. Rather, they "want top quality, emotional photos that are going to convey the love they fell for one another. I want to stay away from gimmicks. They want hugging and touching, and to see that love.

Barry photographs approximately 30 weddings per year, and keeping with his client-conscious attitude, he also captures all requests. Of the photos taken, approximately 75 % are purchased.

When Barry says he does requests, he laughs, remembering one particular wedding: The groom was a basketball player (now an optometrist) whose grooms men were part of his basketball team. In between the wedding and the reception, Barry and the wedding party went down to their old high and took photographs: all wore high top basketball sneakers, including the bride, who wore pink ones!

Barry remembers, "They were embarrassed at first to ask me to do it, but I said, 'hey, I love it!' And we certainly don't charge extra for it."

The above tale is exemplary of Barry's continued belief that a wedding photographer should not be satisfied with everyday things. :I want to be known as a photographer who strives for the better, the out-of-the-ordinary.

"My ultimate goal is to produce my best work for every client that comes through my door." And Barry seems well on his way to fulfilling his dream.