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Ave

A character study of a huge personality in a tiny person. My daughter continues to inspire me daily. I can't wait to see where life takes her! She's a born entertainer, and a sweet soul.

fleeting look | julie wheat

Graceful. Fleeting. Julie was a figure model in St. Louis. She was a welcome subject of mine for several years, and always professional. These images are some of my earliest work in the studio, and represent a time of great experimentation and study. Lit with a single Profoto in a large softbox, Julie's skin appears porcelain. I shot her against black seamless paper, then added the subtle blue and texture in Photoshop. Sometimes one light is all it takes.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer

place of legends | monument valley

Tim Kotthoff. You've seen him here before. I've written about his extraordinary gifts as a video editor, a mentor, and a teacher. In May of 2011, we took to the road on a quest to conquer The American West with cameras. Maybe it was the mountain air, or maybe the ghosts of legends like John Ford, Henry Fonda, and John Wayne who walked here before us, but in the midst of the desert, most notably in Monument Valley, I watched this man come of age as a photographer. And he has the work to prove it. His black and white prints hang gracefully throughout the halls and offices of a St. Louis marketing agency, and they bring an epic element to the space. This shot most successfully communicates the triumph and grandeur I witnessed out there. We're going back. Soon.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer + Cinematographer

the gem

On a recent location scout for a music video with none other than the legendary, Gary Winchester, we came across an abandoned movie theater that looked promising for what we had in mind. Not wanting to miss an oportunity for some great images, Gary jumped out on a mission to find a way inside. It wasn't long before this "Here's Johnny" moment presented itself, and I fired one frame from the car. Obviously, he was pleased with his success, and the images that resulted were as epic as that grin!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer + Cinematographer

bridget + justin


I recently had the chance to pull off an engagement shoot on location for an old friend. We shot at a winery in St. Gen, where they are to be married this September. Bridget and Justin were great to work with, and we came away with some memorable images. Thanks to you both for sweating with me, and being great sports about it!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer

the cracken | apple stl

Meet Eric McCracken. A genuine genius, a born leader, and a lover of hugs. This guy holds it down at the Apple Store, Galleria. You'll find him blazing a wizardry path behind the Genius Bar there. His role? None other than Lead Genius, AKA, Shot Caller. Really though, his sincerity and ability to empathize with a customer is unparalleled, and he's always willing to lend a helping hand. They're lucky to have him.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

my wife | puerto rico


In 2009, Holly and I were fortunate enough to take our first trip to Puerto Rico together. It was a vacation I'll never forget. It was her very first visit to the ocean, and my first time in Puerto Rico, we both had an amazing week. We stayed in a hotel called the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza and I highly recommend it.  The hotel's lobby was featured in Ocean's Eleven when several scenes with Brad Pitt and George Clooney were filmed there. We spent the majority of our time on the beach and shopping in Old San Juan, but the hotel was always an oasis to retreat to in the evenings. I fell more in love with the girl who would become my wife in rural surfer towns along the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.  It was then I knew I wanted to spend my life with her. We were married in 2010, and journeyed back for our honeymoon.

The image on the left is straight out of my camera, and the one on the right was edited using NIK's Snapseed. It's software that saves a professional photographer time when working to create vintage looks like this one. It's available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Give it a shot.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

macy + jeremy

These two people are awesome. I've had the pleasure of calling them colleagues at Apple for several years now, and it's been cool getting to know them. Macy and Jeremy are both incredibly creative people, and it's been interesting to watch them evolve and become entrepreneurs recently. They own a wedding videography business named Rue de la Vie. Check them out for all your wedding and save the date video needs! Having shot my wedding, I can personally recommend their services. They are professional, and they do a phenomenal job capturing your big day! They even offer Blu-Ray output! Thanks to you both for letting me be a part of your day, and I wish you all the best in your journey together!

For these shots, we placed the red sofa in an alley behind their home in Soulard. The ivy happened to be covering a nearby building, and I liked the texture it provided. We lit both shots with one light and a large octabank. The light was powered by a Vagabond II.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

new york, usa

On the road to New York, I shot several images of the many farms I passed. They seemed to come one after another for miles. I didn't expect to do much with the images, but as I browsed through them, this idea came to mind. I looked through some documentaries on Netflix a couple days before, and I guess they inspired me. I wanted to pair the documentary's cover art, what I saw on the road to NY, and the birth of my son. As of right now, there isn't a plan for an acompanying film...they're just mock posters. If time allows, I may try to shoot a short film around the idea, but regardless, I enjoyed making them!

The first poster is much taller than the images I usually publish. It may be easier to view by pressing Command - (Mac) or Ctrl - (PC), if you're so inclined.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer + Cinematographer

holly

My first studio was located on the top floor of the Pierce Arrow building in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis. Stark white walls, white concrete floors and an eastern wall consisting of industrial windows about 8 ft x 12 ft. My brother and I spent three days painting the ceiling matte black and the natural light was incredible. I miss that space.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer