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.
mike - Extreme angle!
Stefan Hellberg - Photographer Switzerland - Sweet!
Two questions, did you use a speedlight or reflector to cast some light in their faces?
Are you sponsored by Sigma? It’s pretty. Ice someone your caliber is only(?) rocking it on sigma, especially with all sigma haters out there…
Thanks for an awesome share, have a great one!
// Stefan
Ryan Brenizer - I wish Sigma would sponsor me! But you have to shoot with their cameras, too, and I don’t like those as much. ;-)
Craig Cacchioli - That wide angle is awesome. Almost feels like you dug a hole to get that low! Do tell… speedlite to illuminate the faces?
rich - i will never see unmowed grass the same. super beautiful shot!
Eric Kotara - Great review Ryan, with some lovely work to back it up!!!