Photography has filled me with purpose and joy, and taken me places I never thought I'd go. I have covered three U.S. presidents, been blessed by the Pope, and been stared down by Muhammad Ali. I've shared a laugh with Smokey Robinson, and had a picture I took of him used when he received a lifetime achievement award. I've photographed a 110-year-old woman as she told me what it was like to climb onto the torch of the Statue of Liberty. I was chosen as the only independent photographer allowed near Obama and McCain in their last meeting before the 2008 election. I'm the only photographer in the world to have been officially represented by the three largest photographic retailers in the Western hemipshere. Heck, I've even had a photographic technique named after me (which is crazy).
But I have never felt so blessed by photography as when I am photographing a wedding. At weddings, we are most visibly ourselves -- the walls we walk around with come tumbling down under the forces of joy, anxiety (and sometimes a bit of alcohol). To document that experience, the relationship of friends, families, and a couple launching a new stage in their life, is an incredible feeling. When a client says "This is the first picture I've seen of my parents that actually looks like them!" I feel like I've done something with lasting value. After years of shooting and more than 225 weddings under my belt, I still find each one to be more exciting than the last, and try to make each one the best one that I've ever photographed.
In addition to a staff of photo assistants, I am so happy to have my partner Wendy as a full-time studio manager to make sure that our clients' needs are met at every stage from the first inquiry until years after the wedding. Wendy is the hardest worker I have ever known, and she makes my clients' experience as stress-free as possible.
Mandy - Wow. Stunning photo! I love it!
mike - You make it look so easy. Cheers to that, Ryan.
Craig Cacchioli - Beautiful shot Ryan. I’m definitely going to have to schedule some time to experiment with this method. The results are undeniably brilliant.
Omar - Looks awesome, but if you’re open to some criticism, I’ll say that it would look even better had the sky not been blown out – how about “HDR Brenizer method”? :)
Ryan Brenizer - I’m open to criticism, but I disagree in this case. It wasn’t a happy spring day. Not blowing out the sky would have made it grey and depressing.
David Whitham - This is amazing, as usual…. Since this is so wide, did you move your feet for this one?
Johnny Wolf - Very cool. Also wondering if you had to move sideways to avoid any distortion, or do you just correct it in post?
Omar - You’re right then, blowing out the sky was the better option. Have you ever tried combining your method with HDR though? I’m just curious.
Dan Potter - Stunning image!
Jenn Harrison - Awesome shot! Makes me want to hop on a plane to NYC!
rich - absolutely amazing – you always produce such great work!
Jpanda - Impressive! Must try out this technique of yours!! ^^