OKAY, SO A BUNCH OF STUFF.

Just as a forewarning, this blog may be a long one, 'cause I have a lot of stuff to talk about.

1) Fridays make me happy.

2) I just got accepted in the WPJA, specifically, the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. I know that doesn't sound mind-blowing or anything, but it's a fantastic association for wedding photographers who specialize in fine art photojournalism, and it's by invite only and last week I got an e-mail saying I've been invited to join! A lot of other wedding photographers I really admire and respect are part of the WPJA, and it's an honor to be a part of the same caliber of photojournalists as them. And to any visitors who are checking out my work because of a WPJA referral, welcome!



3) While in France last month, Girlfriend and I traveled with some really good friends from Fresno, Chelsea and Eldon. The rumor was that Eldon had bought a ring and was planning to ask a particular important question while in Paris sometime. So one night while enjoying some wine and dinner at an awesome little Parisian restaurant by the hotel, Girlfriend made a terrible face at me while I was taking pictures of passing Parisians, indicating that something was about to go down. This picture was taken right before the one below, which is one of those truly emotional moments that makes me thankful to be a photographer:



I've shot plenty of weddings, and I've shot a lot of engagement sessions, but I've never had the opportunity to photograph an actual proposal, and at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I must say it was an incredibly special, magical event. So Chelsea and Eldon, congratulations! When I have some time to process the rest of the Europe pictures I'll be sure to have a separate little section for the proposal.

4. On Tuesday I quit my job.

5. Wait...what? Okay, so here's a little backstory to the life of Ryan Jones.

I love photography, and have felt that way for a few years now. But it was a hobby and never anything I could realistically make a living at. Plus, when I first started I was afraid of photographing people, so I pretty much stuck to taking pictures of trees (that was the first photo I ever took), my dogs, and assorted, random crap. Along the way I started taking pictures of friends, eventual girlfriends, and finally, my first "wedding" in July 2006 for my friend Rayan, who already had paid a real photographer, but wanted a few candids of her and her girls getting ready. I liked it, and it was fun, but all the while I still had a full time corporate job with Longs Drugs.

After Ian and Aubrey's wedding in February 2007, I slowly started getting more inquiries about weddings, and fast forward to today and my one-time hobby has put me in a place where I can do what I love and make a living doing it. So on Tuesday, after five years of employment with Longs, I quit my job and will be officially, a full-time professional photographer starting July 2008. I'm so incredibly thankful for all the people who have trusted in me to shoot for them over the past year, and all the people that have hired me for weddings I have yet to shoot. It's that confidence in my work that has led me to Tuesday's decision, and it's that confidence that will keep me doing this for a long time. I've met so many good people who started out as clients but ended up as friends, and being in that position to interact with so many genuinely good people day to day is a big reason why I feel like this is the right job for me.

6. That being said, the issue of location has come up while figuring out how I'm going to make this happen. So, also in July 2008, I will be relocating back to Fresno (who would have thought?!) and establishing a studio in the Fall/Winter 2008. A lot of my work is back in the Central Valley and it just makes sense to be based out of there instead of having to drive between LA and Fresno every single weekend. There are already some fantastic creative photographers in Fresno (Mariano Friginal and DJ of La Bella Vita Photography, just to name a couple), but the Central Valley is a big place, and I'd like to help fill the need for more creative imagery that Central California could really benefit from.

7. I told you that was going to be a lot, but I'M SO DAMN HAPPY about my decision, and I'm even more excited to make photography my career. Once again, thanks to everyone for your support; it is much appreciated. But I can't make a post like this and not celebrate with some photos, so here are a few more I've pulled from the Europe trip. Enjoy!

Bern, Switzerland.


Paris Metro




How's that for a terrifyingly intense look?