Ryan DeVoll Photography

Work Wednesday: Refocusing Your Foundation

Wed. June 5, 2013

For the past month my head has been all over the place and I’ll be honest, it’s been all about how I run this business of mine.

For the past few months I’ve been doing something that I swore that I would never do. As hard as it would be for me especially as a small business owner to never do. When I started my studio I heard from two very good friends Justin & Mary that they don’t accept every single client that they receive. They’re wedding photographers, they love to photograph love and they wont do anything less because they wont love it. And if a photographer doesn’t love it then the photographs wont turn out great…trust me. They learned this early on in their business structure and tried to tell me about it. I listened and thought I would follow but when a good friend of mine needed photos for his event or for their birthday, I would jump on it and say yes.

I’m mentioning events specifically because for me that’s something that I don’t want to be photographing. I love weddings, portraits, and people. Events for me are a little repetitive when it comes to photographing them. Like I said, if the photographer doesn’t love it, the photos are going to show it.

The good news is, is that there are people out there who love to photograph events and do it brilliantly. I always tell anybody who requests me that if I can’t do it, or if I don’t feel like we’re the perfect match that I’ll do my best to find somebody who is. I mean that too.

So I’m going to take this time to tell you that I’m refocusing on my foundation of my studio. Providing the best personal experience for my clients out there because they deserve nothing less…This is the thing I’ve been struggling with: To just say NO sometimes. Today that all changes. It’ll provide my clients with a better experience and be a better experience for me as a business owner.

What are you doing for your studio now that you’d like to share?

The RDP Promo Video

Tue. June 4, 2013

Back when the weather was freezing and the trees were bare, I had this crazy idea to create a promo video with my buddy Brian. Brian wanted to get into more video work and I wanted a video to add to my website and to promote the business that I’ve set here to create. To tell everybody about the most important part to my business. A few months later we’re here to finally show you our creation together.

I hope you all enjoy it. This is a HUGE step for me and I’m Sooooo happy with the outcome! The video came out spectacular!

Special thanks to Brian, his mom (for sneaking us into an awesome location) and Chelsea for doing some of the video work!

Share it with your friends and family and let them know about your favorite photographer!

Ryan Devoll Photography from Brian Keith Media on Vimeo.

Kayley Hoddick - June 4, 2013 - 7:10 pm

perfect! I love it!

Senior Portrait 2013 Contest Winner: Victoria Oliveira

Mon. June 3, 2013

Today marks the winner of the first annual Senior Portrait Contest!

I had the amazing privilege to photograph so many seniors this past year. They were all incredibly awesome, talented and so fun to photograph! Each of them are definitely my friends for life.

Now that they are on their way to the next chapter in their life a little bit of celebrating is definitely in effect. For one senior in particular, today is her special day….

Congratulations to Victoria Oliveira! The winner of our first annual contest!

Victoria and I have known each other all the way back to middle school. She’s grown up since then and has become such a successful young adult. She’s had one heck of a week! Friday was her prom where she looked incredible and absolutely stunning, and then yesterday she competed in the 2013 Tough Muder where she was covered in dirt and mud. In her words she went from beauty to beast.

Victoria, congratulations. Your friends and family liked your photographs to hope that you would win because you deserve nothing less. You completed 4 years of high school and just recently completed one of the toughest competitions out there! Congratulations!

Victoria can now choose to have any of the following prizes:

- A rockstar,fashion on location/editorial session with friends by Ryan

- A 16×20 mounted print of her favorite photo from her Senior Session

- A Family Portrait session with Ryan

- A link to her Senior Portrait session where she will be able to download all of her final images!

- Graduation Party photo coverage with a link to download all the images!

Victoria, you’re awesome! I can’t wait to see you again!

Ryan (:

Victoria Oliveira - June 3, 2013 - 8:16 pm

Aw, thanks so much Ryan <3.

John Saurette - June 3, 2013 - 8:55 pm

Smart, beautiful, and one tough mudder. Lol. Congrats Vicky!

Tracy Duarte - June 4, 2013 - 1:25 am

Congrats Victoria, you are always a “beauty” – so proud of you!

Jody Soares - June 4, 2013 - 3:00 am

I am so proud of you! You are a beautiful young woman, with so much to offer to this world. You are truly the definition of beauty. <3 you

Margaret A Gannon Cunha - June 4, 2013 - 3:04 am

Congratulations, Victoria! the pictures are beautiful…. and no mud on these…. <3

Studio Headshot Session: Steven

Sat. June 1, 2013

Steven and I have known each other for a little over 8 months now and boy is he an awesome guy! We’ve spent loads of time together and it’s been nothing but fun and laughter! When Steven told me that he wanted a new head shot done specificity by me I was honestly honored.

To be honest head shots are really near and dear to me. Their something that I want to make sure I do perfectly because I’m also an artists myself. I wanted this photo to reflect Steven as person and as an artist. When he told me his vision of something “spooky, and evil” I was even more excited because it’s something that I don’t usually do too often.

Here’s just a few portraits of our session. We had such a great time. I hope you enjoy them!
Shout out to Hannah for making Steven’s hair awesome! Click here to view her awesome foodie website!

Ryan (:

Memorial Day weekend

Tue. May 28, 2013

This past week has been one heck of a ride. Literally.

First off, let me tell you a little backstory:

I got my first ever car back about 2-3 years ago from a used car dealership in my small town. It was a 1998 Kia Sephia in pretty good shape. It lasted me about a year. One day while heading home from Hallmark it decided to fall apart. Since I needed a car during school I had to pay about $1,500 to fix it. (I think the mechanic stiffed me just a bit. I’m such a sucker) At that point I decided that I was done with that damn car. I only paid about $2,000 for the car and I’m sinking $1,500 more into. I don’t think so! From that moment on I decided that if I broke down again I would start looking for a brand new car. I wasn’t going to let the BeatMobil destroy me (haha! That’s what I called it!)

Just this past weekend you could only imagine what happened. Sunday I got out of church, headed home with a friend and got back into the car and BAM it doesn’t start! No noise, no nothing! I gave my mom a call and she came over with the jumping cables and I was able to get her started. I drove to Walmart and grabbed some stuff and then went back home no problem! I headed back out to pick another friend up and, guess what! It happened again. We did the same process and it started. After 3 times of getting jumps while I was in the gas station it finally decided to hit the bed.

R.I.P The Kia BeatMobil

I made it my plan to go out on Memorial Day and see what kind of deals the dealerships would have. In the past they would give me crazy quotes of down-payments and monthly payments, along with me needing a co-signer. When Ron at Hyundai said I wouldn’t need any of that, I was a little skeptical. Who would of thought that a few hours later I would walk away with a brand new 2013 Hyundai Accent? Goodbye BeatMobil and hello no headaches! This car is so me! I love it! The fact that I have POWER locks and POWER windows is probably one of my favorite features. Not to mention the almost 40 MPG it gets! Chelsea (my good friend) said that its the little things that count! Boy it sure is!

So how was my weekend you ask? Well let’s just say that it was fun. I’ve always wanted a brand new car and I told my whole family (who’s credit isn’t all that great) that I would do it with their help or without their help and I did just that. People doubted me but I sure proved them wrong! So never give up and always keep fighting.

Now tell me about your Memorial Day weekend!