2016 / Year in Review

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2016 such an inspiring and rewarding year for me and my family. You have been my biggest fans and strongest support. You've left amazing reviews for me and I didn't even have to ask. You have gushed over your photos and brought tears to my eyes. Your transparency in front of a camera is an honor to witness and I'm left searching for words to describe my thankfulness. 

My clients have been amazing and I consider most good friends. Not just amazing, but a breath of fresh air and fuel for my bones. Looking through the tens of thousands of photos from the past year gave me such tremendous satisfaction and happiness. I love how photographing people is such a joint effort. Its humbling and exciting and I felt inspired in 2016. Couples invited me along to some great destinations and mixing in a little travel was extremely rewarding. I shot more film, in various formats, this year than any previous year and was left wanting to use it more. I had an amazing assistant (Josiah) all year, and what a blessing he was during such a busy season. 2016 was full. Maybe too full. But, its exactly what it needed to be and I'm so grateful. 

2016 was also a year of firsts for me, in a way. After 6 years of pursuing this, it was my first complete year being a full time photographer. I must say, it was eye opening how much time I spent not doing photography, even though it was my busiest year to date. It seemed for every hour I was actually behind a camera, I spent 5 behind a computer. I'm still wrestling with how to handle this moving forward, because I was burnt out by the Fall. I'm realizing, in order to continue this as a sole job, I need to change some things and learn how to say no.. This will be really hard for me. Especially when its saying no to some really amazing jobs and people. I don't desire a crazy, rockstar, photography life. I really just want to faithfully document the people who come my way. I want to be around my family more. I want to have time with them and with friends and enjoying other pursuits in my life. To be honest, I haven't fully processed what 2016 meant to me and how to move forward into 2017. We sold a home, moved, and are currently completely remodeling a new one and my attention has been pulled in so many directions already, I'm still feeling a little burnt out from it all. 

To my 2017 clients and future clients who have yet to reach out...Its gonna be an amazing year. I'm beyond excited for you and that you've chosen to invite me into your life. Looking back has helped motivate me for 2017 and beyond and it'll be an absolute honor to document part of your life this year. One frame at a time. 

-Ryan    

Bethlehem College & Seminary / community over cost

Towards the end of April and into May, I spent a bunch of time observing and documenting student life at Bethlehem College & Seminary. My main purpose was to photograph real student life. What BCS lacks in fancy facilities they make up for with community. I like the phrase community over cost and think it accurately describes my experience on this project. I visited classrooms where students sit round table style, encouraging conversation and interaction. I visited a professors home and ate with all of the sophomore class that's invited for a monthly meal. I studied with seminary students at a local coffee shop, where a lot of other BCS students work, then walked to class with them and was deeply moved as they sang and worshipped in Hebrew. Freshman prayed for one another as the year drew to a close and later we grilled out. I observed studying at the nearby library as heavy construction equipment readies the city for the new Vikings stadium. One morning, a handful of students gathered to pray and worship in housing provided by the school. Afterwards, everyone contributed in helping make a meal we all enjoyed. There were times of teaching, encouragement and worship during chapel and church on Sunday. I chatted with many students from all over the country and world who ended up at BCS because they wanted an education different than the norm. They found this place and experience a closeness and community like no where else. For me, a lot of these images hold more weight because I know about the students themselves and part of their story. I'm really thankful to the faculty and students at BCS who helped on this project and let me photograph some pretty amazing stuff. Much thanks to Matthew Taylor for putting my work in front of the right people and helping me get this job.    

Jon, Senate, Sammy, James & baby / Midwest Documentary Family Photography

I've had the privilege of photographing the Kalscheuer's A LOT over the years and my excitement only increases each time they contact me. I mean, portrait photography is so much about relationships and the people you are photographing and these folks are THE BEST. Excuse me while I gush right now...when Senate first contacted me she was SUPER chill and trusting and she didn't really even know me. Yah, I had known Jon for a long time (we were track captains together in HS and just good friends) but when a bride hires you for her wedding, engagement and eventually multiple family sessions, its still about trust and that usually takes time to earn. From the get-go, I've been over-the-top supported by this couple and now family and this support has yielded some amazing images. I really can't say "Thank You" enough. Words end up falling short and I only hope the photographs I make will be the greatest thanks...for years to come. Here are some from our time together at Jon's family cabin in Stillwater, MN.