About Ryan.
Hey.
The internet is a crazy place. It's hard to find your way. Even harder to stand out.
Sometimes, you might wish you could throw your phone away and never look at a screen again.
But you can't, can you?
I make things and tell stories. I've done it my whole life, since I was just a kid with a computer. It helps me make sense of the chaotic online world.
It's my rebellion against the noise.
I believe strong stories have the power to disrupt the ordinary and provoke change. That’s why I dedicate myself to creating bold, authentic visual narratives that make use of multiple creative media.
This isn't just about playing with gear and fancy video effects; it’s about challenging the status quo and redefining how stories are told.
Let's make an impact. Let's work together.
Where it all started
When I was in 5th grade, I was introduced to Microsoft PowerPoint by the school librarian. It changed my life.
Suddenly, I could use text, images, sounds, and video clips to create cinematic experiences for every class project. My decks were often 60-70 slides long, complete with timed animations, sound effects, and and music. It was then I discovered my passion for telling stories in the most creative way possible.
In high school, I learned everything from photoshop to studio production to live event broadcasting. Equipped with industry standard tools, I looked forward to a long life of bringing creative visions to life.
Education
Degree: B.S. in Digital Media & Computer Graphics
School: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2019)
Description: Traditional college degree programs just didn't fit my fancy. I wanted to learn technical skills in computer science & graphics programming at an engineering level while being able to engage with abstract problem solving and the arts.
I designed my degree to incorporate these often separate skillsets, tied together by cross-functional project-based courses.
4 years later, out popped a production extraordinaire who can operate cameras and computers eyes closed, and jump right into strategy meeting with compelling ideas.
My Deets:
Sun/Moon/Rising: Aries/Scorpio/Virgo
MBTI: ENFP
Enneagram: 4w3
Clifton Strengths: Adaptability, Belief, Connectedness, Ideation, Positivity
High 5: Strategist, Empathizer, Catalyst, Believer, Philomath
Personal Interests: Communication and technology, AI, Design, Poetry, Classic Literature, Rock and Funk Guitar Playing, Bass Guitar, Writing, 90s Computer Games
Controversial Take: Anti Swivel Chair
Hometown: Pullman, WA
My Skills:
Video Production: Lighting & Cinematography, Camera Operation, Direction, Production, and Editing
Animation: Motion Graphics Design, Animation of software windows and UI components, animated titles and lower thirds, character rigging and animation, 3D compositing.
Creative Development: Content Strategy, Market & Audience Research, Creative Concepts
Photography: Professional Headshots, Creative Portraits, and Food & Product
Design: Website Design and Build, Graphic Design, UI Design
REVIEWS
Alchemist...
"I worked most directly with Ryan on some ongoing video production projects, and in this field he is truly an alchemist. I was always amazed by the quality and polish he applied to the raw video and audio files that I would submit to him. Whether he was working on a project with a high or low degree of specificity, he would reliably be right on the mark in delivering the content his stakeholders expected.
I highly recommend Ryan to anyone seeking a skilled and reliable media production professional. He is not only a talented videographer and video editor but also a dedicated and adaptable team player."
I highly recommend Ryan to anyone seeking a skilled and reliable media production professional. He is not only a talented videographer and video editor but also a dedicated and adaptable team player."
Alex Taylor, Tech/Software
Professional...
"I was consistently impressed by his creativity, professionalism and talent. Ryan requires very little instruction or guidance to generate creative assets that hit the mark. He is highly collaborative, he listens deeply and thinks critically. As a result, he swiftly incorporates any stakeholder feedback to his projects and follows up to deliver a work product the team is pleased with.
I would highly recommend him for any digital content creation projects, specifically video production and visual design. Additionally, he is excellent at finding creative ways to communicate technical information simply and effectively for copywriting and internal communication."
I would highly recommend him for any digital content creation projects, specifically video production and visual design. Additionally, he is excellent at finding creative ways to communicate technical information simply and effectively for copywriting and internal communication."
Jen Morrisey, Tech/Software
Visionary...
"To put it simply, Ryan is a visionary. He is able to take scenarios that are seemingly mundane and turn them into content that you need to engage with. His amazing technical skillset aside, as a coworker, you're able to tell quickly that he's a people person at heart. He is able to assume leadership and contribute to the workplace environment in a fearless way. No matter what the challenge may be, he rises to the challenge and exceeds. This is someone you want on your team."
Zahnae Aquino, Event Production
Curator...
"An absolute vibe curator"
Joel, Friend
On the Shelf in 2024.
Books:
- Visual Thinking, Rudolph Arnheim
- The Poetics of Space, Gaston Bachelard
- Why Religion?, Elaine Pagels
- Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source, Kathryn Judge
- Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, Luke Sullivan & Edward Boches
- Story or Die, Lisa Cron
- The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman
- The Modem World, Kevin Driscoll
- Cognitive Surplus, Clay Shirky
- The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron
- Custodians of the Internet, Tarleton Gillespie
- The Empathy Diaries, Sherry Turkle
- What We Talk About When We Talk About Love Raymond Carver
Podcasts & YouTube:
- Technically Human Podcast, Deb Donig
- How to Save the World Podcast, Katie Patrick
- Search Engine, PJ Vogt
- The Marrow Podcast, Josh Riebock
- Hard Fork, New York Times
- Reimagining the Internet, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure
On how to create good digital ads
On how to tell a good story, no matter the context
On how to design products that make it easy for humans to safely reach their goals
On how to recover as a blocked artist and discover your true creative voice
Journal Entries
The Lost Image
As images spew out of feeds on every side of you... how can you harness the Poetic Image - once known only to the great writers and speakers of history - in modern visual media?
What Your Company's Headshots Say About Your Business
In today's digital-first world, the importance of professional headshots cannot be overstated. Whether it's for your website, LinkedIn profiles, or other social media sites, headshots are often the first visual contact potential clients, partners, and employees have with your business.