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After having such an awesome time shooting their engagements down in Newport last year, I was excited to spend some time shooting for Ani and Reed at Copper River and People’s Church. Not only are they some of the kindest and sweetest people I’ve had the opportunity of shooting, they’ve become friends and a couple I’m lucky to have met. And not to mention their friends and families were just as awesome, so it made my day fun from start to finish. Ani and Reed, thank you, truly. Enjoy the blog!

Also a big thanks to Mr. Michael L’Heureux for helping me out with some extra coverage for this wedding.

I recently had the awesome pleasure of heading out to Maui to shoot for Jason and Amanda. Only bringing their immediate family, it was as small and intimate as you could get, and with a 8am ceremony time we worked with some of the most beautiful morning light I’ve ever seen. The wedding was at the Sugarman Estate; an absolutely beautiful home just south of Wailea, and then afterwards we just walked the beaches for some portraits and finished the day off with some seafood and pool time. So I’d like to send a huge thanks to Jason, Amanda and both of their awesome families for bringing me along to shoot for a couple days in paradise. Enjoy the images!

I had such a good time teaching my first workshop earlier this year, I’ve decided to open up a summer workshop for next month! This workshop will be open to all types of photographers – wedding, portrait, kids and music photographers, with experience levels ranging from hobbyist to aspiring pro. Even if you’re a longtime pro and need a kick in the butt, you’re welcome to enroll as well. The one requirement is that you own a DSLR and know your basic functions (shutter speed, ISO, f/stops and aperture). Even though much (if not all) I’ll be talking about can be applied to even the casual point-and-shooter, it’ll help to have a camera you have more control over.

This is what the workshop will be:

– How to shoot with available light at any time of the day
– How to compose and more importantly, how to NOT compose
– How to take a good picture in-camera and not rely on editing
– Learning through image critiques (gentle, but honest)
– Question and Answer session

We won’t be spending a whole lot of time on post-processing; my focus is to teach you how to be a good photographer, not a good digital artist. Class space is limited, so act early and get your spot for $75 off the normal price as well. The class will be given at my new studio and gallery in the Iron Bird Lofts, so we’ll be exploring some cool parts of downtown Fresno. Shoot me an e-mail at ryan@ryancjonesphoto.com to reserve your spot.

Saturday, July 23, 2011. 1pm-6pm. $300 early registration, $375 after July 7.

And here’s a few words from past participants:

Hi! Just want to say I took so, so much information from your workshop. It was so awesome. I feel like I have a whole new perspective now. Thank You! I was blown away by your work and how much I learned from just looking at your images. Also, I’m terrified of sunlight, but I’m going to babystep my way into it now. I feel like I have a better understanding of how to use it. Anyway, best decision ever to take your workshop!
-Christy DeLeon

Leaving Ryan’s class I had this awesome sense of exhilaration, I immediately had to put my new set of tools to the test. I came away with a new understanding of the core basics of creating beautiful images. Ryan has broken the process down into easy to understand methods to use when shooting a scene. The tools explained in his course eliminate the frustration I experience when I create. It feels like I have more freedom in knowing if what I’m seeing in the frame will be pleasing or not and it gives me a sense of direction and flow. The methodology is far above the basic technical skills of just being able to use an SLR properly and it falls into the realm of learning how to release your creative energy in a way that is successful. Thanks Ryan!
-Jonah Pauline

I definitely felt like it was worth the investment. You went over everything I learned in one semester of photo in college in just a few hours plus a few new things. It really motivated me, and now I look at my photo’s a lot more closer when I am editing. I really enjoying the critiquing part of the class and just being able to meet and talk with other people who love and enjoy photo also. I thought it was the perfect size class, not to many people or to few. I think you did a great job and would definitely sign up again! Can’t think of a bad thing to say about the class.
-Katie Nisbett

Trying to get back on track with blogging, and thought I’d jump into with Aly and Gary’s engagement pictures at the Tobin James Winery in Paso Robles, CA. This one’s a little different though because Aly is my first cousin, and I’ll be shooting her wedding this weekend to my new soon-to-be cousin, Gary. I gotta say, they’re an awesome couple even if they weren’t related to me, but the fact that they’re family makes me even happier to see people in such obvious love. Their affection for each other is so palpable, it just can’t help but make you smile.So, Aly, I’m so happy you found someone to appreciate you, and Gary, welcome to the family. See you soon!

Another blast from the past, this time with my senior prom date from 11 years ago, Melissa! If I had enough time to dig through old pics and embarrass myself I’d post one, but too bad, no time. Melissa and Mark will be getting married up north later this year, but happened to be in town so I gave them a nice tour of downtown, and then finished off over at Fresno State during golden hour. Hope you guys like the pics, enjoy!

You may recognize Stacy from her sister Niki’s wedding, either because Stacy was in the pics or because Stacy and Niki look so much alike you may think I posted more pics from Niki’s wedding. But no, these are pics from Stacy and Sean’s small but fun wedding at Quail Lakes in Clovis. As always, Stacy and her family know how to get down and have a good time, so I just hope I’m around for all their family weddings. Enjoy the pics amigos!

Every time I go to San Francisco to shoot I fall in love with the city more and more, and this time with Wendy and Adam proved it yet again. Starting off in Mountain View where they first met, we grabbed some sushi and then walked around, followed by a quick trip out to the city for some beautiful late afternoon night. I’ll be shooting Wendy and Adam’s wedding later this month at the beautiful Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, which was one of my favorite venues to shoot at last year, so I can’t wait to go back. Hope you guys like the pics, see you soon!

After falling in love with Tahoe in 2009 with Dustin and Trisha’s wedding, I was beyond excited to go back late last year for Rori and Tony’s beautiful wedding at Plumpjack’s. I met Rori back a few years ago at my good friends Derek and Annie’s wedding, far before I even picked up a camera for the first time. So I was delighted when I heard that she and Tony would be getting married (in Tahoe, of all places, too). Even though we got a little rained on, it was still an awesome day, and the clouds even made for some sweet pictures. And there was a bagpiper, which should really be at any party. So here we go, one of my favorite weddings of the year with Rori and Tony. Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy the post!

p.s. Come visit me in Fresno!

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