Here's a behind the lens with Ryan Flood of FS Photography, an interview with my wedding photographer. Be sure to check out some of his amazing images at the end of the interview!
CBL: What inspires you as a photographer?
Ryan: Photography is a wonderful way to experience and interpret the world and there are an endless variety of directions you can pursue with it. That fact alone is inspiring to me, yet as I have grown as a photographer, I have learned that I am most inspired by people and our we interact with the world and with each other. Whether my focus is on an individual and their relationship to their environment, or the unique bond between two people in love, I find the human spirit to be the most mysterious and inspiring subject of all.
CBL: What's the best part about your job?
Ryan: By far my favorite part is getting to know a lot of different people through a range of experiences. When I'm traveling and taking photos, I find myself more observant and engaged with the people, culture, and environment of the area I'm traveling in. Photographing a wedding is exciting in exactly the same way. I get to focus on the relationships between the bride and groom, their families, and everyone who is there to celebrate with them, and I get to express this through photographs that preserve that feeling forever! The best part is that every couple and every wedding is unique, and the challenge of creating photographs that are visually compelling and also capture the unique spirit of a couple. I find this combination of creative challenge and the opportunity to establish relationships with our clients very rewarding.
CBL: What type of setting do you like to shoot in?
Ryan: Any setting with beautiful natural light is always appreciated! However, it's exciting to be creative with a new environment or lighting situation that I'm not used to. Often, a situation or setting I am unfamiliar with results in really dynamic images. Although Portland is not home to a lot of modernist spaces, we do enjoy shooting in or around buildings with a strong sense of design or unique architecture, whether it's a gritty industrial area or a stylish boutique hotel.
CBL: What's your advice to a bride looking for in a wedding photographer?
Ryan: Look for work that truly inspires you. Certain looks and styles will come and go, but photographs that capture the mood or feeling of your wedding are what you will remember many years down the road. The personality of a photographer is just as important as their work. How you interact with your photographer will be reflected in many of your photos, so choose someone you can be comfortable and genuine with. Experience is also very important. A wedding day is full of energy and emotion, and can often involve unexpected surprises from a vendor's perspective. So choose a photographer who is comfortable with that environment, flexible, and professional.
CBL: How did you get started?
Ryan: I started by taking a photography class my senior year of high-school. In college, while pursuing a degree in American Studies, I needed to bring in a little income and started shooting for the school newspaper (eventually becoming the photo editor), the theater, and any other photo jobs that came my way. It was a small school and I became known as "the photographer" pretty quickly. At that time I viewed my photography as more of a passion than a profession. Fast-forward to a few weeks before graduation and I had the epiphany that photography could actually be a career! I jumped right in and started shooting weddings shortly thereafter upon moving to Portland. I quickly realized that I really enjoyed working with people in this way and was inspired by the creative energy that transpired.
CBL: Tell us an interesting fact about you.
Ryan: I trained and performed for many years as a classical vocalist, and believe the voice is one of the purest forms of instrumental expression. Many people are so nervous to sing and wary of their voices. If you put your soul into it, singing is a thing of beauty whether you are Pavarotti, Aretha Franklin, in a fourth-grade choir, or belting it out in the shower!
click on images to enlarge
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