Up-and-coming photographer August Bradley is making a name for himself in the fashion industry with his innovative style, conceptual imagery, and beautifully textured photographs. Whether shooting for designer labels, consumer brands, or lifestyle magazines, Bradley always seems to tell a story, often with imaginative or mysterious overtones. In the past year, he has received worldwide acclaim for his work— from winning the prestigious Hasselblad Masters Award in 2008 to being selected for the Graphis Photo Annual “of the year’s best photographs” in both 2008 and 2009.

Growing up in his mother’s photography studio where he served as her lighting assistant from an early age, Bradley eventually became a professional photographer specializing in fashion and portrait work for big commercial clientele, like J.Crew, Gap, and Banana Republic. These days, he turns his camera more towards his own pursuits and conceptual projects. His recent photographs tell dramatic stories— narratives heightened by their hyper-real, almost illustrated appeal. “I like the idea of the model being in a story independent of us,” states Bradley, “which is unusual for fashion. Conventional wisdom is to engage the viewer, but what I do is create a moment that is unraveling in its own right, that isn’t controlled, even though it is.”

To read more about August Bradley, check out his Q&A with Feature Shoot.

And be sure to view August Bradley’s photography at AugustBradley.com