Portfolio Review: Style Photographer Justin Bridges

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Justin Bridges arrived in New York City with Wall Street dreams. Those ambitions crashed, opening up a door to new passions and wholly different pursuits. Bridges, the bearded face behind Tucked Style, has since settled nicely into life behind the camera.

Mixing editorial and street style, Bridges has contributed to GQ, created campaigns for Modasuit, and sits on Esquire's Blogger Council. Most recently, Bridges served as the official Style X/SXSW street style photographer for 2012. With that under his belt, he shared his favorite portraits with COMPLEX and the stories behind them.

Portfolio Review: Style Photographer Justin Bridges.

"It's a pleasure to get to shoot the good guys, and David Hart is one of them. I shot this portrait for his 10 Essentials on GQ.com."

"Brands have ideas about themselves, and people have ideas about brands. Through my pictures I've always wanted to mold brands through my own vision. I pulled some Club Monaco clothes and styled a lookbook that I think really gave CM a fresh perspective."

"I never wore a Dr. Marten up until recently. After that, I couldn't believe that I had missed out during some of the most rebellious years of my life. I decided to construct a still life editorial encouraging people to "Re-Rebell" (made up word). In the true spirit of my oddly-wired brain, I think the results came out with some cohesive mashed up themes."

"I was in awe the first time I had the opportunity to spend time with Nick. He's since become one of my favorite people to shoot and a guy I've come to be quite comfortable with. I plan on shooting him once a season; hopefully, I won't get on his nerves."

"Occasionally, you end up with a story on your lap that you didn't expect. One of the hardest interviews I've conducted ended up being one my keenest learning experiences. I love catching those hints of personality that are usually difficult to extract."

"You don't need a studio or a lighting set up to get some cool things accomplished. This is true especially when you have the dapper aesthetic and smile of an Ovadia in your sights. It's a joy to catch a portrait on the fly."

"Your friends are always a good source of portraiture. Strong work comes out of a connection or a bond. I often times just like hanging back behind my friends...they are incredibly expressive and share a common humor. I wish I could get paid to just snap this kind of stuff all day."

"Every fashion week brings a degree of non-stop hustle and sleep deprivation. Each year, although it gets harder and harder, you really start to earn your stripes. Being backstage is a surreal feeling as a blogger. By the way, models really know how to make my job look easy."

"Manolo is a sharp shooter, a literal style assassin. He basically shot this portrait himself. The view didn't hurt."

"I was hired to shoot a campaign for Modasuite. The campaign ended up being a young and aspiring menswear crew. Honestly, this is the kind of stuff that keeps you pushing for the top. An opportunity to work and play with some amazing young talent just like yourself."

"This is just one of those moments you feel lucky to catch. Fashion is really a small world, and in many circles, it's a family. This is an example of that very belief."

"This shot came from my first time really committing hours in the frigid cold to get involved in street style photography. I can't say it didn't hurt, but I also can't say it wasn't rewarding. Getting to mix it up with Tommy Ton, Scott Schuman, and Nam was an experience that launches you into introspection. It's also just exhilarating. Street style will be a staple in my toolkit from now on out."

"Beauty is my favorite thing to shoot. It may not always be a gorgeous model, but I love finding the beauty in a subject... no matter how corny that sounds."

"I got my first street style gig for SXSW and Style X this year. It was one of the most challenging jobs I've ever had. On the flip side, I was at SXSW so I have no complaints whatsoever."

"Again, this was shot for SXSW and Style X in Austin, Texas."

"One of my favorites from Texas."