rcjonesphotography

NEW BLOG!

2008-11-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

That's right, I'm out of here. I'm finally heading over to a full-functioning blog I'm quite proud of. Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds with:

rcjonesphotographyblog.com

I'd like to thank a couple people for helping me out with this: My good buddy and professional misanthrope Conlan Spangler for editing my bio and anything else with words and sentences. He's quite funny and an incredible writer and editor. Also, you should hire him.

Irma over at the fantastic web development team, Fresnerds, did an awesome job at cleaning up the code and making the blog look pretty. I know as much RSS code as I know about women, so without Irma's help I would've been completely and absolutely clueless. You should probably hire her too.

This will be my very last post on this blog and everything from now on will be posted on the new one. I have a brand new engagement session waiting to be checked out, so take a trip over and I'll see you there!

OUCH

2008-11-02T17:39:00.000-08:00

For those of you still with your appendixes, consider yourselves lucky. Friday I started having a little stomach ache that turned into full-blown fetal position agony in the matter of hours. Yesterday I had to get an appendectomy and I'm feeling a little worn out. I'll be taking it easy the next couple days, so if you need to get ahold of me give me a call at 559.593.5073 since I won't be sitting upright too much. Muchos gracias to all awesome friends and clients for your patience.

WEDDING: RENEA + BOBBY

2008-10-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

Renea & Bobby's wedding was just an incredible time all the way around; from the awesome clouds and great light we had to amazing reception at Engelmann Cellars. I had the pleasure of working with a number of great people, including the lovely Sheri and Nadia from Star Events, Peggy David for video, and my talented buddy Craig Kohlruss as my 2nd shooter. I got really lucky to score Craig for the day; he's an incredible photojournalist for The Fresno Bee and is venturing into the world of wedding photojournalism. I brought him along for the day and he got some sweeeeet shots; a few of his are in the slideshow and one below.

Renea and Bobby are some of the sweetest and most genuine people I've had the pleasure of working with, and I'm super excited I got the chance to be there for them. So enjoy the pics, and next week come back for some really, really big news. Lots of awesome stuff has been happening over here , so I'll be sure to let everyone know what's going on here in the next couple days.

One of my favs of the day.

I love this one Craig got.

SOME UPDATES

2008-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

So I know I've kinda been a bad blogger, I've just been so busy so I'm trying to play catch up. Here are a couple from the last week or so, including a couple awesome engagements and a couple awesomer weddings. Enjoy the previews, but first, let's be Facebook friends.

A couple from yesterday's wedding with Ashli and Nick up at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger. I love this moment as Ashli's dad was walking her down the aisle.

The radiant Renea and Bobby at Engelmann Cellars.

My little trip with Vanessa & Patrick to the Fresno Fair where lots of fun things happened, and by "fun things" I mean "eating corn dogs and vowing never to go on the Vomitron or whatever that damned ride is called ever again." Full story to come later.

Lastly but not leastly, today's rendezvous with Katie & Josh up into Yosemite Valley. It was really just breathtaking how beautiful it is up there.

PORTRAITS: HMEIDAN FAMILY

2008-10-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

This was an extra special session for me because I've know the Hmeidan family for just about ten years now. Rayan and I have been friends since junior high and Nadeen and my sister have been friends for a long time as well. AND...Rayan and Eric's wedding was my very first exposure to wedding photography. Just over two years ago she asked me to take some pictures at her wedding even though they already hired someone else, and that's where I found out wedding photography could be a lot different than what I thought. Anyway, many thanks to the Hmeidan family for asking me to do their family portraits, and I hope you guys like them as much as I do. Enjoy!

My favorite of the day.

WEDDING: SHANNON & JEFF

2008-10-07T17:14:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago I took a nice scenic stroll up the 99 to Merced to shoot for Shannon and Jeff at a quaint, old Presbyterian church. They are genuinely some of the kindest, nicest people I've had the chance to shoot for, so I'm really excited about these. The light inside the church was pretty incredible. So here we go, enjoy one of my favorite weddings I've shot to date, and Shannon and Jeff: you're a wonderful couple and thank you for trusting in me to shoot for you. Enjoy!

Nervous? Anxious? Excited? Scared? All of the above?

One of my favorite first look photos of all time.

Aubrey! Ian & Aubrey got married last February and was my first "real" wedding...so MANY thanks goes out to Ian and the lovely Aubrey for referring me to Shannon and Jeff.

The pastor stepped out for a quick prayer minutes before the ceremony started.

WEDDING: JACQUELINE & MARK

2008-09-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

You may remember Jacqueline and Mark from their fantastic Napa engagement session a couple months ago. Their wedding was a traditional Vietnamese ceremony in the morning and an American ceremony in the afternoon, so this slideshow will go something like this: getting ready-ceremony-getting ready-ceremony-reception with a lot of awesome sprinkled in there too. This was my very first multi-ceremony wedding, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Both Jacqueline and Mark's friends and families were amazing people to work with (and Calvin fans!) so I'm very thankful I was given the opportunity to shoot for them.

Lastly, many thanks to the talented Mike DeWeese of Mike Ds Photography who has a handful of shots in the slideshow and one below in my favorites. Thanks Mike!

Enjoy the pics!

There was some crazy light shining through the window and I really like how it makes Jacqueline's veil pop.

How adorable is this?! This is one of Mike's shots.

Maybe one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. This was right after they were announced and walked back up the aisle and had a quick moment to themselves before being congratulated by the bridal party. I love it.

To our amazement, Jacqueline's dad quickly ran away soon after the Father/Daughter dance started as we wondered "ummmm...what just happened?" but then he grabbed a mic and started singing to her for the rest of the song. It was a great moment and of the best of the night.

This is Mark's dad, and he's twice my age and officially is in twice as good shape as I am in. Maybe three times. And a better dancer.

And for you photography nerds out of there, here's a shot taken near the end of the night at ISO6400 with the new D700.

EMILY

2008-09-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a few teasers from an incredible shoot with Emily to help build her modeling portfolio. If you can believe it (I couldn't), this is her first time getting official modeling portraits, so I think we have a natural on our hands. And for the record, almost no photoshopping went into her eyes. Those are real, my friends. More coming soon...

HI JACQUELINE

2008-09-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a little preview of Jacqueline and Mark's Berkeley wedding last week. It was awesome.

2ND SHOOTING WITH MARIANO

2008-09-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of being the 2nd shooter for my buddy and supremely talented photographer, Mariano Friginal. We headed up to Sacramento to shoot for Suneel and Sky, whose ceremony, families, and culture were really just amazing. This was my very first Indian wedding and I hope it's not my last; the colors were just absolutely amazing. Mariano put up his full slideshow on his blog, which can be seen here: Suneel & Sky. So of course, MANY thanks to Mariano for bringing me along, it was an awesome chance to shoot with such a talented guy and work with a great couple. Enjoy!

Here's a shot with a really cool set up by Mariano.

And here he is: The man. The Myth. The Mariano, rocking Blue Steel.

ENGAGEMENTS: MELINDA & CHRIS

2008-09-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

I've been so excited to post these up for over a week now, and now that I'm back from Jacqueline & Mark's gorgeous Berkeley wedding at the Claremont I have some time to catch up on the blogging. But seriously, these are some of my favorite engagements I've done so far. The blue sky, the golden hour, the sunset, the trees...everything was really working in our favor (except for the scorching heat). But I'm glad we braved the heat for a while because I'm quite proud of these. Although I won't be shooting their wedding, I'm so glad I got the chance to work with Melinda and Chris; they are quite the fantastic couple. Enjoy, my friends.

I reallllly like this ring shot.

HI MELINDA

2008-09-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I had a killer e-session with the stunning Melinda and Chris. Here's just a preview of the slideshow to come later this week, but I am exciiiited about this one. Also, Melinda is the owner of Dede's Decor here in Fresno and makes some pretty incredible wedding cakes. So for those of you brides who need some cake goodness, check her out at the above-linked website. Until next time my friends, enjoy the teaser...

No, Melinda is not really Charlize Theron (but you could've fooled me in this pic).

SENIORS: CHELSEA

2008-08-26T13:37:00.001-07:00

As the school year has begun as of yesterday, senior season has officially started, and this session with Chelsea was quite the way to start! And for those seniors out there that want to get their shots done early, email me at ryan@rcjonesphotography.com to beat the senior rush in 2009. Chelsea, you were a pleasure to work with, and I hope you enjoy the pics!

How's this for some gorgeous eyes?!

And a special thanks to Chelsea's mom for being a fantastic assistant and providing the awesome reflector work in these next few shots!

HI CHELSEA

2008-08-22T14:26:00.001-07:00

Last week I had my first senior of the year and spent the morning with Chelsea walking through some fields and hanging out in a loading dock. I'll be out of town this weekend helping out my buddy Mariano with a wedding up north, but I wanted to throw a couple shots up of Chelsea's awesome session before I headed out. Next week I'll put up the full slideshow. Enjoy!

PORTRAITS: CARSON

2008-08-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

I'd like to welcome my new buddy, Carson, to the fans of RCJones. Carson is a special little dude for a number of reasons. Number 1, he's awesome. Number 2, Matt and Danielle (Carson's mom and dad) are some of my best friends. Number 3, their wedding was my second one I ever shot and now they're parents. That's just cool. So, Carson, I'd like to introduce you to the world. The world, Carson. It's a pleasure. Enjoy the pics.

Uncle Conlan wearing Carson's sweet French guy hat.

ENGAGEMENTS: CARA + JERRY

2008-08-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well it's been one day since I've said that I love my job, but my session with Cara and Jerry warrants me saying it again, so: I love what I do. This is an especially cool e-session for me because I got to work with my Dad, who, with my Mom have supported me since I started shooting rocks and trees. But my Dad is kind of a big deal at the Fresno Air National Guard base, and Jerry is an air traffic controller at the airport. So when I first met with Cara and Jerry to chat about wedding photography, I brought up the idea of heading to the base if it was OK with my Dad, and sure enough it worked out and I must say we got some really awesome shots. And I think it's safe to say this is my first and last engagement session with a missile in the picture.

Afterwards we picked up their two dogs and walked around in the nice, pleasant Fresno 108 degree heat, where we all became dehydrated. So we finished the day off by stopping in the library to cool down, then proceeded to enjoy a couple cold beers (not at the library). But seriously, Cara and Jerry are two of the nicest, most genuine people I've had the chance to work with, and I'm excited to have the honor of shooting their wedding next May. Enjoy the pics you guys. I hope you like them as much as I do...

AGWPJA + PUBLISHED

2008-08-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a good day. Every quarter the WPJA holds international image contests to their members, and last quarter I submitted a few of my images to my first contest and yesterday I found out a couple of them placed in the top 20! In the "Kids (being kids)" category, this image at Dorothy and Zach's wedding placed 12th:

And this one at Rebecca and Aaron's got 13th in the reception category:

So to my clients past and present who let me do what I love to do, thank you. Next quarter I'll be entering some more images and hopefully I'll crack the Top Ten, but I have some serious competition...check out all the incredible images on the AGWPJA site (Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photo Journalist Association).

Next up, yesterday I got an odd looking package in the mail and when I opened it I was pleasantly surprised to see it was a book from a South Korean publisher who decided to use one of my Matador pictures in it. A couple months ago I agreed to let them use the image for their book, but completely forgot about it since this last month has kept my head in a whirlwind from moving and organizing my life in Fresno. The book is entitled "In Praise of Athletic Beauty" and has a bunch of great images from photographers from around the world. I don't know what any of it says because it was only published and sold in South Korea, but it has unusual (in a cool way) and artistic images of athletics. Here it is:

And here's the original in full, dramatic color:

I can't thank everyone enough who supports me and my work; it's appreciated much more than you will know. Have a great weekend, and come back next week for more big news (hint: magazine covers). Next up, Cara and Jerry's engagement slideshow that will rock your world.

-Ryan

HI CARA

2008-08-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be out of the office all day Monday, but before I go I wanted to share a quick little preview of Cara and Jerry's awesome engagements from the Fresno Air National Guard Base. Full slideshow to come later this week, but enjoy!

WEDDING: SARAH & MIKE

2008-08-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I took a quick little trip down to Orange County to help shoot for the talented Jennifer Disney. So this one won't have a slideshow, but here's a bunch of my favorites from the day. Mucho Thanks to Jennifer for bringing me along; I had an awesome time and Sarah & Mike were a great couple to work with as well. Enjoy!

ENGAGEMENTS: JACQUELINE & MARK

2008-08-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I made a fun weekend trip up to Napa to hang out with/drink/meet for the first time Jacqueline and Mark, who are already some of my favorite people. Let's face it: taking pictures can be awkward. You have a guy with a couple huge cameras in your face telling you to act naturally and then make out. So to alleviate some of that awkwardness, the three of us met for the first time for a nice wine-filled lunch to act as a primer for the photo shoot, and we continued that mentality throughout the rest of the day by going to three more wineries after that. It's always fun to hit it off with a couple right off the bat 'cause it just makes the day go by that much smoother, and Jacqueline and Mark are a perfect example of that. So if it looks like they were having a good time in the pictures, they were! But maybe that had something to do with the wine.

Anyway, many thanks to Jacqueline and Mark for trusting me to be their wedding photographer. You guys are a great couple and a real blast to hang out with. Enjoy the pics...

I love the way these images came out from this set. This was the actual winery where Mark proposed, so you could definitely feel the love in the air.

WEDDING: JENNIFER AND MATT

2008-07-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

Jen came to me almost two years ago when I was still a rookie with wedding photography, saying she and Matt were going to be getting married and some time in the not too distant future. A few months go by and I hear back from her again and Matt did the deed and the date was set. Fast forward to right now, and Jen and Matt are two very good friends of mine, and one of the coolest couples I've had ever had the chance to shoot for. They took a chance on me when I was just starting out, and that's something I'm very thankful for. So Jen and Matt: Thank you. Seriously. I'll even be friends with you despite the fact it was 110 that day too. I like you guys that much. Enjoy!

The reception was at an absolutely gorgeous private residence.

I'm drawn to pictures of smoke. I don't know why.

HI JEN

2008-07-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

Little sneak peak. Much more to come shortly...

ENGAGEMENTS: COURTNEY & AARON

2008-07-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

This session with Courtney and Aaron was a two-part adventure at the Getty and the Santa Monica Pier, where they got attacked by a wave, took pictures by the Santa Monica bubble man, and watched Aaron eat his first corn dog in his life. I really don't see how that's possible, but he's a cool guy so I'll let it slide. Courtney's family has been family friends for years and she and Aaron went to school with my sister, but unfortunately I was already booked for their wedding date so we opted for these instead. (The talented Dani Mac will be shooting their wedding.) With the sweet colors of the Getty and the golden hour goodness of Santa Monica, I'm super excited for these shots. Enjoy!

The attack.

The bubbles.

WEDDING: JENNIFER AND CHAD

2008-07-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

When I first met Jenn and Chad I walked away thinking a couple things: 1) they're two of the most easy-going, relaxed people I've ever met and I knew their wedding would be awesome, and 2) Jennifer looked really familiar, but I couldn't recall where from. Fast forward to the day of the wedding: we're walking around, taking pre-ceremony bridal pictures with her girls in the dirt/mini forest, Jenn's feet got a little dirty. We all headed back to the getting-ready room and one of her bridesmaid were washing her feet off and Jenn said "it feels like I'm back at St. Helen's {Catholic school]",

To which I responded, "That's weird. I went to St. Helen's too."

"When'd you go there?" she asked.

"First and second grade."

"Me too, but I went all nine years."

"When'd you graduate high school?" I asked.

"2000."

"Holy freakin' crap. We were in the same kindergarten class."

So prior to meeting Jenn and Chad, the last time I saw her was when I was six, and my big plan was to find my old yearbook and post the pictures of us in this blog, but finding a 20 year old yearbook was a little more difficult than I anticipated. Being a photographer, and knowing everyone needs photos at one time or another, it's been interesting to see the people I meet/re-meet while doing this, and it's always fun to reconnect to people from my past. But anyway, Jenn and Chad's friends were just as cool and easy-going as they were, and I had an awesome time getting to know everyone. I hope you guys like the photos. Enjoy!

ENGAGEMENTS: ELI & JAMIE

2008-07-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Muchos gracias to Eli and Jamie, who've been super patient with me geting back on track with the whole move, but here are the much anticipated images from our awesome session around St. John's Cathedral in Fresno. Although Eli and Jamie won't be getting married there, all of us liked the idea of mixing the coolness of old Catholic churches with the coolness of Downtown Fresno and its urban loveliness. I'm really excited with how these turned out, so sit back and enjoy the goodness of Eli and Jamie set to a little Coldplay.

ENGAGEMENTS: DEJA & ROMEO

2008-07-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

First off, Deja and Romeo officially win the "coolest name" contest for RCJones Photography. But here's a fun little slideshow from a our afternoon a couple weeks ago where we drove around avoiding cops in private orchards. They love camping, the river and pretty much anything involving the outdoors, so they really wanted to do some cool outdoors stuff, and I'm really happy with what we got. Ending the day off in the river was a nice little cool-down too. All I have to say is their wedding may be one of the biggest parties the west coast has ever seen. They know how to have fun and they like good beer (thanks for my Guinesses last night!) Enjoy!

ENGAGEMENTS: RENEA & BOBBY (AND JOHN)

2008-07-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

After Renea & Bobby's initial apprehension about doing this engagement session, I convinced them this was just going to be a fun time with a camera and this ended up being one of my favorite engagements recently. Their awesome little John gave everyone the energy we all needed to get through the hot day of pictures and we closed the day off with some of my favorite golden hour pics I've shot in a while. Seriously, that light is just amazing! But here's the slideshow and some of my favs from the day. Bobby, Renea, and John: thanks for spending your afternoon with me and being so easy-going with these; you're an amazing couple (plus John) and I'm honored to shoot for you. Enjoy!

My personal favorite of the day.

WEDDING: REBECCA & AARON

2008-07-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca and Aaron last year and instantly had one of those connections with them where I knew we'd end up being good friends well after the wedding. They are a beautiful couple inside and out, and I really had an awesome time getting to know them. Both of their families and all their friends welcomed and treated me like a friend and not just a photographer, which is always a nice little bonus on a busy day of wedding photography. So here we go, without further ado, is Rebecca and Aaron's gorgeous Holland Park West wedding.

And many thanks yet again to Bob and Bonnie from TNT DJ & Video, who are just awesome professionals who really know how to make a party fun. And Bonnie helped me with my bags in the rain for formals, so thanks Bonnie!

Click below to watch slideshow...

WEDDING: REBEKAH AND JOHN

2008-06-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Rebekah and John came to me a few months ago off a referral from my good friends Aaron and Marnie (Marnie is John's sister...thanks guys!), and one of the first things I found out was that John was a Fresno firefighter. Now, most people have jobs and some people like their jobs while other people don't like their jobs. The thing about John is that firefighting is who he is, and talking to someone with such passion about what they do is really inspiring. He's brought Rebekah into that world and they're both as passionate about it as any two people could be. Given I'm at a place where I absolutely LOVE what I do, I respect the hell out of people that feel the same and do what they love.

John was able to arrange for a historical firetruck to drive us around and take pictures for a little while between the ceremony and the reception, so we got some realllly cool shots with the truck and the bridal party, and a bunch more with just Rebekah and John. Many thanks to Rebekah and John for trusting me with your wedding photography; you guys have quickly become good friends of mine, and when I get back to Fresno next week we're getting beers at Grogg's. Enjoy!

Click below for slideshow:

HI REBEKAH

2008-06-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

Since I know you're watching the blog all day, here's a little teaser for you. Full slideshow tonight, then Rebecca & Aaron on Wednesday, then engagements galore. Enjoy.

ALIVE

2008-06-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick little update and my reasons for not blogging as much as I would like right now: Life is nuts right now, but in a good way. I'm officially in Southern California for one more week, then hellooooo Fresno! I just got a new computer and have been migrating data over for 3 days. And what really sucks, my internet was down for 4 days (and is still technically down; this is just a work around). Like my previous non-Batman post said, I have about 10 projects I gotta post (and that I'm really excited to post, so this is killing me), and I'll get to them as soon as my computer issues are finally resolved. To reward you for your patience, here are a couple portraits and a couple wedding shots from my lovely Rebecca (and Rebekah) brides. Be back soon with many updates...

Finn: Part 2

My good friend Natalie and her awesome bro Miguel. They're dancers (really good ones) and wanted some cool brother/sister portraits for their mom's birthday

Yet another sexy portrait of Rebecca & Aaron. That cool door frame thing was just hanging out by a bunch of trash, waiting to be photographed.

And lastly, a custom thank you image for Rebekah & John. You may not see it, but look a little closer.

ONE MONTH AWAY

2008-06-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

Who else is as excited as I am?

ENGAGEMENTS PREVIEW

2008-06-15T22:10:00.001-07:00

Here are some teasers from some engagements I shot last week for a bunch of awesome people:

Deja & Romeo

Eli & Jamie

Bobby, Renea, and John (John's the little one)

Many, many more updates to come shortly, so come back soon...

Also, a late but not forgotten Happy Father's Day wish to all you dads out there, and of course to my own Dad, who is the most supportive and influential person in my life. Thanks for everything, pops. Have a great week everyone!

Ryan

JENNIFER AND CHAD: PREVIEW

2008-06-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

I've had one hell of a busy past couple weeks, so I apologize for being a bad blogger, but here's a couple from Jennifer and Chad's wedding last weekend. Amazing couple, great friends, and good times by all. I have about 10 projects I have to blog in the upcoming weeks, and I have a funny feeling they're all going to rock your world.

The guys lining up moments before the ceremony.

OKAY, SO A BUNCH OF STUFF.

2008-05-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

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?

REBECCA AND REBEKAH

2008-05-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

So last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting my first double header, and both of the lovely brides were named Rebecca (and Rebekah). Below are a couple quick favs I pulled out of the bunch for now, but suffice it to say both slideshows will be pretty awesome.

And a big announcement is coming shortly!

Rebecca and Aaron...

Rebekah and John after taking a quick stop for beer and shots at Groggs.

WEDDING: DOROTHY & ZACH

2008-05-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

So here's a little story about Dorothy and Zach's wedding day, as it really sums up how they are (which is: great): We did the First Look and it was just fantastic. Dorothy looked stunning, Zach was clearly impressed with his gorgeous soon-to-be wife, and I got some great pictures of the whole thing. I just hung back with my zoom and let the magic happen naturally. We then took some creative portraits on a big beautiful hill (see below), then went into an orchard area for some more shots. It was just the three of us and everything was going smoothly, and Dorothy and Zach were relaxed and happy and in love and life was good.

Since no bridesmaids, friends, or moms were with us, Zach was left with the honors of helping Dorothy with her dress (which was beautiful), and doing a remarkably good job at it. We finished with the location and went to go shoot somewhere else, so we got walking and Dorothy started saying "Zach, you're doing a great job with holding my dre..." but before she coould even finish the sentence, we hear a RRIIIIIIPPPPPP and look down to see a nice long portion of the dress hanging out by Zach's foot.

A little nervous, Zach picked up the slice of dress, and I joked that "at least your photographer showed up". Under most circumstances I would've assumed that Dorothy would've started balling and screaming and punching Zach in the throat, but what did she do? She laughed. Zach picked up the dress and Dorothy just smiled. No freaking out, no yelling, no crying. She calmly walked over to her bridesmaids and said "well, I think we need some thread" and just chuckled. I was in awe.

So needless to say, I was working with a truly relaxed and amazing couple in an amazing location, and really just had a wonderful time shooting. Dorothy and Zach, you guys are awesome, and it was an honor to shoot for you, and I'm happy to call you guys my friends now. Enjoy the pics everyone...Happy Wednesday.

One of my favorite shots of the day.

BONJOUR

2008-05-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

And after a much-needed but hardly-relaxing vacation, I'm back from France and I'm still speechless going through all the pictures that were taken over the past week. If you're a photographer and have the chance to go to Europe, please go! Even though I took a few thousand pictures, there's still about a million that I didn't take. And being a big history dork it was incredible to visit these places that all had such a big impact on the Western civilization. So anyway, I'll be working on these shots over the next couple weeks, but here's a few for now. Next up later this week, Dorothy and Zach's beautiful wedding in the surprisingly gorgeous Lindsay, CA. Enjoy the little preview, and if you've called or e-mailed over the last week, I'm starting to return all your messages today. Thanks for your patience!

Notre Dame - 3 shot panorama

One of Notre Dame's famous stained-glass windows.

Baguettes with guys named Pierre.

2008-05-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

That's right my friends, I'm off to Paris. I'm taking a much-needed vacation to the City of Light with my lovely little lady for the next 10 days and will have little to no access to both my phone and e-mail. So keep those e-mails and phone calls coming; my responses will just be a little delayed. As one would expect, I'll be taking MANY, many pictures of the next week and a half, so my travels will be well-documented. Expect one hell of a slideshow when I get back!

Have a wonderful week back here in the States; I'll say hi to the Moulin Rouge for you all.'

-Ryan

ENGAGEMENTS: JENNIFER & MATT (PART 2)

2008-05-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

These awesome people may look familiar from our drunken session at Wilson Creen Winery in October. Jen asked me if we could do an engagement session part 2 at the Olvera Street Celebration, to which I replied: margaritas. Which means yes. We walked around downtown for a bit, and even stumbled into Union Station where I found a cool old guy reading stuff and had to put him in a picture somehow. Jen and Matt, seriously, you guys are a blast to hang out with and I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. Also, muchos gracias to my good buddy Derek for assisting throughout the day.

NEW BLOG!

2008-04-27T23:55:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the new and improved RCJones Photography blog! I added a menu bar and a new search function, making it easier to find all the photos around here. My main site has more of a white, simple feel to it, so I wanted to give my blog the same vibe. So any comments on the navigability and new look will be greatly appreciated; any feedback would be great. If you're a blog stalker or haven't introduced yourself this is the perfect time to say hi; it's always nice to see who's out there checking out my stuff.

Well I had a busy weekend shooting Dorothy and Zach's BEAUTIFUL wedding in Lindsay, and I'll be putting up a few shots in the next day or two of that. Also, a couple weeks ago I had the chance to do some shooting with the lovely and incredibly talented Jennifer Disney. Now I'm not the kind of guy to throw a bunch of pictures of myself on my site, but Jen got a pretty cool shot experimenting with off-camera flash, and I just happened to be the subject for the day (sorry we couldn't get a better model Jen!). Not to mention, I dig my shirt (courtesy of The Laundry Room). Enjoy the new layout and be on the lookout for a bunch of new posts this week before I go to Paris on Friday (more on that soon)!

ENGAGEMENTS: ASHLI & NICK

2008-04-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Boy am I excited for these! Ashli and I met up for the first time a couple months ago, and instantly we had the same photography ideas for engagements and the wedding. We both loved the idea of doing a sexy night shoot, so here they are, complete with dark alley lighting and really cool walls. Enjoy!

Ashli's license plate. Nick's last name is Lopez. (duh.)

WEDDING: AMY & BOBBY

2008-04-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I really lucked out when I met Amy & Bobby. Not only are they some of the coolest, most genuine people I've met while shooting weddings, they're people I can easily call my friends. It's couples like this that make me truly lucky to work as a wedding photographer. They have incredible friends and amazing familes, and I had a truly great time shooting for them. So I won't say much else because the images speak for themselves, but enjoy the slideshow!

Also, many thanks to the very talented Aaryn James, yet again, for assisting me throughout the day, and also to everybody at TNT DJ & Video for making it super easy for me to shoot and who did an awesome job with the DJ and video responsibilities. Thanks guys!

From the rehearsal dinner...

This is what a real groomsman looks like.

ALONG CAME THE NIGHT.

2008-04-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

A couple from Ashli & Nick's absolutely awesome session last night. More coming this week, but I just couldn't help myself. I LOVE the moody atmosphere of back alley lighting...

PERSONAL: SAN FRANCISCO

2008-04-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I headed up north for some work and met up with some friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon. We walked around and didn't do a typical San Francisco day, so there's no pictures of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Pier 39, etc., just bums, skyscrapers, and a whole lot of big blue sky.

On the left is Justin. I live in LA, he lives in Fresno, and we ran into each on a random street in San Francisco. It was odd. The guy in the right wearing a man purse is Raf, and I've known him since the 2nd grade. He's almost got me arrested exactly 4 times in the last 15 years.

You should all know Conlan for a couple different reasons: 1) He's the guy in this picture, 2) He's hilarious, 3) He's one of my best friends, which means he should be one of your best friends.

I'll give someone a $10 iTunes gift card if they can figure out what this shot is. Here's a hint: you won't figure it out.

ENGAGEMENTS: JENNIFER & CHAD

2008-04-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've figured out how to embed slideshows into the blog itself now, so just click the little play button on the image below and watch the goodness flow with delight. What? Anyway, Jennifer and Chad are two of the coolest, most relaxed people I've ever met, and when they said they wanted to do some cool urban shots in the Tower District I got a little excited because the last time I shot there for Kelly's seniors I made a mental note of cool places for engagements. And they chose the intro theme from Juno for their song, which is cool and laid back and quirky, and it matches them perfectly. So enjoy the show, and be on the lookout for many more bloggings by yours truly. Happy slideshowing.

* Edit: I used the word "cool" four times in that post. That's ridiculous. Someone buy me a thesaurus.

AMY & BOBBY, AND HAPPY MONDAY.

2008-03-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

This was one of those weddings that really made me thankful to be a wedding photographer. The Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite was absolutely beautiful, and everyone I had the pleasure of meeting over the weekend was just awesome. Great families, great friends, lots of drinks, and lots of loooooooove. But I'm sifting through the many, many, many pictures I took, and this one stuck out because finding cool existing lighting makes me happy.

But come back and check out the blog over the next couple weeks! Lots of blogging, including: San Francisco day trip, Jennifer & Chad's engagements in Fresno's Tower District, Steve & Katey's Santa Barbara wedding slideshow, a cool parking lot, Yosemite snow, and some more Bobby & Amy goodness. Happy Monday folks.

WEDDING PREVIEW: STEVE & KATEY

2008-03-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

I've been a bad blogger and have to post a whole bunch over the next week, but I really wanted to get some of Steve & Katey's shots on here for now. Suffice it to say that I'm REALLY excited about these because 1) Steve and Katey are just awesome 2) I've known Steve for a million years and it's cool to be a part of a good friend's wedding 3) Santa Barbara was beautiful and it made the colors pop, and everyone who knows my work knows I have a bizarre fascination with color. So anyway, enjoy these for now, but be on the lookout for the slideshow soon. RCJones Photography hearts Steve and Katey.

One of my favorite Guys pics ever? Yes.

The videographer was posing Steve & Katey for this one, but the way this little girl was watching them made for a really cool shot.

Yeah, so I was kinda trying a little Last Supper theme on this one.

BEHIND THE SCENES: MEGHAN & ROB

2008-03-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

So I'm not the kind of guy to plaster pictures of myself up on my own blog, but my talented buddy Chance James of DC Photography came along with me to Meghan and Rob's engagement session, and he got some rather interesting setup shots of me doing my thing. Since I've never seen myself in action it was a little surprising to see how much I lie on the ground, make goofy faces, and pretty much just look like a moron, but you can't say I don't have fun. So here are some of Chance's shots: his on the left and my final image on the right. And for the record, I was completely unaware my t-shirt had weird pills on the back when I bought it. But thanks once again to Chance, Meghan & Rob, and the beautiful Fresno blossoms for making this a great shoot. Enjoy!

*

I must agree with Chance's caption here. And of course by "agree" I really mean, "yikes". Thank you, Chance.

ENGAGEMENTS: MEGHAN & ROB

2008-03-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Click here for slideshow:

Referring back to my earlier post this week, the blossoms in Fresno right now are just amazing and I'm really glad Meghan and Rob suggested the idea. We had a nice little morning strolling around, finding cool places to shoot, and we definitely succeeded. There were a couple times I kinda almost ran into stuff with my car because I saw some sweet blossoms on the ground or a really cool tree. But anything to get the shot, right? Anyway, Meghan and Rob, you guys are awesome and made the day go so easy because of how cool and relaxed you were about everything! So thanks for your patience and dealing with me and my not so traditional ideas.

An extra special thanks to the talented Mr. Chance James of DC Photography for coming along and helping out with the session. Chance got some great shots and even got some cool behind-the-scenes photos I'll post tomorrow. And in case you're wondering where Chance sounds familiar, you may remember him as half of the amazing Dominique and Chance duo. More on that later. Enjoy the show..

IS THIS THE BEST VIDEO I'VE SEEN ALL YEAR?

2008-03-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Yes. Yes, it is.

What's up with that creepy glove scene? Yikes.

BLOSSOMS, AND WHY FRESNO ISN'T TERRIBLE.

2008-03-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend I headed back home yet again for Meghan and Rob's engagements, and it was the perfect time to shoot outdoors. The weather was gorgeous and everything was in bloom, so I had a great time walking around and finding all these beautiful landscapes to put Meghan and Rob in. Here's one of my favorites for now, but the slideshow will be coming soon. Good luck finding something like this in LA:

And don't forget, check out the new website at rcjonesphotography.com!

NEW WEBSITE!

2008-03-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

Clicke here to enter website: RCJones Photography.

Alright, so I'm VERY excited to officially announce my new site! I've been working on it for a couple weeks now and it's finally up and running with slideshows, easier navigability, and full screen hi-resolution images for all categories. I've expanded my portfolio much beyond what the site had in the past, and now have dedicated portfolios for music, engagements, kids, and landscapes, along with personal projects. Also, many thanks to the team at Neon Sky for all their help with the design and launch of the site, as I couldn't be more pleased with how it's turned out. And don't be strangers, everyone! I'd love to get your feedback on the new site and let me know if everything is working properly and looking good. Drop me an e-mail, leave me a comment, give me a call. I'd love to hear from you.

And wedding season has officially begun! I just got back from Santa Barbara shooting Steve and Katey's absolutely beautiful wedding yesterday, and here's a couple shots for now. More to come shortly...

I JUST BOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR $11.

2008-02-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

Wait....whaa?

I saw this on a geeky tech-nerd website, and for $1 per letter you can buy any word, and that word will forever be defined with the website you provide. So for example, I paid 11 bucks for "photography" on The Big Word Project so now anyone who clicks on or looks up "photography" on that website will eternally be directed to rcjonesphotography.com. I think that's neat. And by the way, the site is in the middle of an exciting update and will be launched within a week. Lots of great, new stuff happening over here, and once everything is set in place I'll be making an official post about with all the details.

Kinda dorky, kinda weird, but definitely kinda cool too. And plus, $11 for some fun viral marketing? Sign me up.

ENGAGEMENTS: REBEKAH & JOHN

2008-02-25T20:22:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

If you were to ask how excited I've been to post this engagement session, my answer would be "super mega [excited]". Ever since John came up with the idea to head to the old Downtown Fresno firehouse to do their engagements, I've been thinking of how I can combine the intensity of firefighting with the intimacy of an engagement session. Thankfully, both Rebekah and John were incredibly easy to work with and let me extrapolate my crazy ideas into something really cool. But I really must give credit where credit is due, and John was the one who had the idea for the shot of them two overlooking the city, which I think is one of my favorite engagement shots to date. So to Rebekah and John, I hope you guys had as much fun as I did, and thank you so much for trusting in me to photograph your big day. To everyone else, enjoy the show. It's a good one.

Look at those eyes!

ENGAGEMENTS: SHANNON & JEFF

2008-02-24T21:24:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

This is my first engagement session of the year after a much needed wedding break over winter, and it was a great way to start off the busy 2008 wedding season! I met Shannon last year, who was Aubrey's maid of honor (of the awesome Ian & Aubrey wedding) and heard back from her in September, when Jeff proposed to her in beautiful Lake Tahoe (good job Jeff). Shannon said they wanted some more rural pictures with country-ish backgrounds, and I knew just the spot because I actually shot there a couple years ago when I first started photography and thought it'd be a cool place to come back to. Back when I first started I was attracted to big, dark, trees, and have kind of forgotten about photographing them, but when I saw the tree in this photo shoot I remembered how cool old trees really are. But I digress...

Jeff & Shannon, you guys were an absolute pleasure to work with, and I hope you enjoy the images. See you in September!

INTRODUCING: FINN

2008-02-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

Most awesome baby portrait ever? Probably. Click here for slideshow:

Last week I had the chance to shoot brand new baby boy, Finnegan Bruce, who is a whopping three weeks old. If all babies are as fun as this little guy, I really may have to start shooting more portraits for little ones, because I had a blast interacting with him. Our session was wedged between food and nap times, so I was able to get some fun shots of Finn chowing down and sleeping it off. The slideshow's song is Ben Taylor's "Nothing I Can Do", which actually about his mom, so I felt the sweet song was fitting. [Sidenote: Ben Taylor is James Taylor and Carly Simon's lovechild, and Ben's voice is eerily similar to his dad's]. To Melissa and Brett: thanks for bringing me along to take these first photos of Finn for you; I'm honored. Enjoy!

MIKE VITALE

2008-02-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend I had the chance to shoot for über-talented Orange County singer-songwriter Mike Vitale. I met Mike back in my Jungkshen days and we played a bunch of shows together in Fullerton, and every time I saw him I got a baby-bit jealous of how ridiculously good he is. So for those of you in Orange County, check out Mike's myspace to get tour dates and head out and support this guy. He's good, and he's going somewhere.

THE U.S.S. SIGMA

2008-02-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

This week was the annual PMA (Photo Marketing Association) trade show in Vegas, something I went to in '07 but just couldn't pull it this year. This is where all the cool new toys come out that I'll be spending the rest of my year wasting my money on. This one, however, I probably won't be making the plunge quite yet. This is a real lens, no joke. It's a Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 that weighs 35 FREAKIN' POUNDS.

And in case you're wondering, that's a camera on the right side of the lens -- a full-sized, SLR digital camera. I don't think the price has officially been announced but I've seen numbers ranging from $15-20,000, which is slightly less than I paid for my Honda. Nice.

Photo: Dave Bullock/Wired

NEW DVD

2008-01-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

So this is kinda exciting. For months I've been searching for the perfect way to present my wedding images on DVD, and I'm pretty sure I found exactly what I wanted. It's a full blown professional DVD case that's borderline indestructible. It's technically called a SuperDVD, and comes in a clear, high quality casing that's custom designed with images from your wedding. This is the first one I designed for Cathy & Nick's wedding getaway to Peter Island, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Any thoughts?

PRO: PART 2

2008-01-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

A few more from Pro's Hollywood shoot.

PERSONAL: HOLLYWOOD

2008-01-20T20:58:00.000-08:00

So this week I finally had the chance to walk around my neighborhood and check out what's around here. My walking dates were my roomie Shane and his girlfriend Nikki, who were both quite patient with my attempts to stroll around with my camera like a buggy tourist and look like an idiot on Sunset just to get some cool shots, all while delaying our dinner. I found cool colors, awesome walls, interesting people; overall it's just a really photographically rich area around here. Much more to come. Enjoy, amigos.

And p.s. Go see There Will be Blood. It's kinda amazing.

Trek stop #1: The elevator with really cool lighting.

WEDDING: CATHY & NICK

2008-01-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

Cathy & Nick, it was an honor to shoot for you guys. I know I've said thank you a few million times, but one more will suffice: thank you, really. There's a few more photos in this slideshow than I normally put up, but I just had a lot to choose from. Enjoy.

INTRODUCING: STANLEY.

2008-01-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

With Hobbes-like intensity, Stanley knows how to enjoy a weekend.

Stanley is the new addition to my sister and her roommate's household, and despite his cute demeanor and innocent look, he isn't nearly as innocuous as he seems.

I need your help.

2008-01-13T20:29:00.001-08:00

It has recently come to my attention that my new format may not appear very good on some computers. Specifically, the new images and logo look a little pixelated. So let's play a little game to start off the week, and the game will go something like this: introduce yourself! Let me know who's reading out the there in RCJ Photo land. Second part of the game: give me a little indication if my blog is looking OK on your screen. Part three: Anything else you want to add.

So there we go, pretty simple, and thanks in advance to anyone who helps me out with a little feedback. I'd like to know that the images I display are showing up as nice as they look on my screen, coughBUYAPPLEcough. Next up, Cathy & Nick's BVI slideshow...

A few more for Cathy.

2008-01-11T08:29:00.001-08:00

Peter Island, BVI. More to follow very soon...

The boat back to the plane. Sadness.

PRO: PART 1

2008-01-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Kanye, you've got some competition buddy. This weekend I had the awesome chance to shoot for up and coming hip hop artist, Pro. We took a little stroll in my new neighborhood and found some cool locations and had ourselves a fun shoot. Seriously though, this guy is legit, and can rhyme with the best of them. You can check him out on at MySpace, and listen to my personal favorite, "Can't Help". Keep an eye for more photos soon.

And for those interested in the lighting I used for this shoot, just go here: Strobist. It's incredible what you can do with a couple flashes.

Call me a nerd, I don't care.

2008-01-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

I think this has the potential to be the best Batman movie ever made.

Unseen Favorites of 2007 and a fun little update

2008-01-02T23:32:00.001-08:00

So despite my absence over the past month, things have been quite busy over here in Ryan Jones photo land (and non-photo land). Number one: I moved! I am no longer in the Inland abyss that is Rancho Cucamonga, but am now residing in the heart of all that is the entertainment world: Hollywood. Located right off Santa Monica Blvd., I am already scouting out some primo locations for artistic portraits and adventurous engagement couples in my new neighborhood. So for those of you interested in doing some creative location shooting in LA/Hollywood in 2008, send me a note and we'll chat.

Number two and most importantly, I've been catching up on end of the year projects. As I sift through my work over the past year, I'm amazed at the friends I've made and all the awesome people I've had the chance to meet and shoot for. I started off 2007 shooting my first official wedding for Ian & Aubrey in February and ended it off with Nick & Cathy's November destination wedding in the British Virgin Islands, and I couldn't have progressed without the support and trust from all of my incredible clients/friends clients this year. So to everyone who has recommended me and continue to do so, I am grateful and blessed to know you all, and genuinely thank you for your faith in my work.

There's no better way to start off the new year with some of my unpublished favorites from last year, a new logo, and a new blogging format. Enjoy the photos, and to those couples I'm shooting for this year already, watch out! I've got a funny feeling 2008 will fly by...

-Ryan

Here you go Cathy, another little tease for you...

The awesome Romeros dealing with my non-conventional posing.

I think I already posted this one of Steve and Katey, but I still love it. And p.s.: Steve got picked up by the Patriots a few weeks ago. That's right, those Patriots. Undefeated.

The always-gorgeous Aubrey.

Central High School: After School Program skate club.

Dorothy and Zach enjoying the view.

I know Shane will kill me for posting this one, but it's worth it. I love this shot.

Katie: cross-processed and beautiful as ever.

Riverside's Turn of Fate.

Some downtown Fresno action for Rebecca & Aaron.

After our semi-drunk engagement photo/ wine tasting excursion to Wilson Creek with Jen & Matt.

Jennifer & Aaron: sepia toned goodness.

Nick & Cathy's first kiss.

Bobby & Amy: Winners of the "Let's do something different" award. Hollywood.

Lindsay & Brett in the jungle. Or Woodward Park. Whatever.

Marjorie & Albert's incredible Santa Cruz wedding on the bluffs.

Last but not least, Dom & Chance having some fun in the fields. Starring: The Watermelon.

ATTENTION WEDDING CLIENTS

2007-12-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

I recently switched companies for my print order fulfillment, so please visit the new site at: http://rcjonesphotography.instaproofs.com/ to view your wedding. This is just for weddings shot in the last couple months, and you will still need to input your event code . This site is much easier to navigate through and even includes slideshows, so it's definitely an upgrade from the last one. My official site will be updated within the week for the "Clients" login, but for now you can access the new login here. Thanks to everyone who I've met, shot for, and become friends with this past year; it's because of you all I'm where I'm at now. Once again, the new login is:

New Client Login

Thanks,
-Ryan

Family Portraits: The Romeros

2007-12-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

Here's some of my favorites from a fun portrait session with the Romero family! Snow Creek Park + cool family = awesome pictures. So to you lurking families checking out my site: there's just a few more weeks before Christmas and I'm still booking! Contact me at ryan@rcjonesphotography.com for more details. Enjoy!

Like a couple newlyweds!

Wedding Slideshow: Jennifer & Aaron

2007-11-28T17:09:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

Yet again I'm stuck with the difficult task of sifting through too many good photos for this slideshow! This was my first wedding at both People's Church in Fresno and Tornino's, and I was really lucky to have such good lighting at both locations, and I'm especially happy with the reception shots. And Jenn's house had this super sweet skylight that dropped some really cool light on the shoes and dress getting ready pictures. But Aaron & Jen, it was an honor to be a part of your wedding, and enjoy the show! (And I heard James Taylor at your reception, so I chose this one; it's one of my favorites and I can't help but just smile whenever I hear it).

And now, some of my favorites...

Sweet light.

This is probably one of my favorite getting ready bride photos I've taken.

The look on Aaron's face in this is priceless.

Awesome.

Wedding Preview: Cathy and Nick

2007-11-25T16:24:00.000-08:00

By incredibly popular demand I've pulled out a few of my favorites so far from Cathy and Nick's destination wedding to the British Virgin Islands. This is really just a tiny preview, but more will be on the way. Next up, Aaron and Jennifer's wedding...

Yes, this is real.

Wedding Slideshow: Dominique and Chance

2007-11-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

Let me say one thing right off the bat: this wedding lived up to its expectation, and some. Dom and Chance's engagements have been some of my most popular photos by both clients and friends of mine, so a lot of people have been looking forward to this wedding for quite some time. It could be that they're just ridiculously good looking and have single-handedly mastered the art of "not smiling supermodel" shots, or that both are so photogenic it's just unfair. It could also be that they have a special kind of connection between each other and a photograph proves it. But either way, over the past few months I've become good friends with both Dom and Chance, and it was an absolute honor to be able to capture their wedding.

This slideshow started out with a LOT of images, and I had to narrow it down quite a bit, but and I think I was able to get a good mix of shots in there. Below are a few of my favorites including one of my favorite photo compilations of all time with the jail line-up shots. Anyway, thanks to Dom and Chance for everything, especially by trusting in me and my not so traditional ways of photographing a wedding; but as you guys can see, I think it paid off. Also, mega huge thanks to the talented Aaryn James for helping me out and 2nd shooting with me. And oh yeah, that's a freakin' trolley in those pics. They rented a Clovis trolley for the bridal party from the ceremony to the reception. How cool is that?! But no more words, just photos:

St. James Episcopal Church in Fresno. Old and dark = cool:

I super duper like this one a lot for some reason.

Pay attention to this shot when it's paired next to the guy's garter toss in the slideshow. It really is hilarious.

Engagement: Dorothy and Zach

2007-11-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

Other than it being a couple thousand degrees a few weeks before Thanksgiving, this was an awesome shoot with Dorothy and Zach. We did a little fishing, a little back alley brick wall goodness, a little driving around town, and got some pretty cool stuff everywhere we went. And to all you couples out there lurking in RCJones Blog land that are thinking about booking me for your engagements, I LOVE it when I'm able to capture what you guys enjoy doing as a couple, like fishing with Dorothy and Zach, and because of it I'm really happy with how those shots came out. So anyway, I had a great time with you guys and I hope you enjoy the photos! Next up on the blog is the long-awaited wedding of Dominique & Chance...

And here's a sweet little photo my buddy and 2nd shooter Nate took. With this kind of stuff he'll be putting me out of a job pretty soon. Thanks for your help, Nate, like always:

And some of my personal favorites from the day...

Peter Island, BVI

2007-11-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

I'm about to get on a ferry to head back to California (boo), but here is a panoramic shot of the view from my room. Seriously, I WORKED here this week. It's a panoramic composite of 5 shots and about 180 degrees and looks kinda wimpy at 500 pixels wide, but leave me a comment if you'd like a bigger one for your desktop (it looks really cool full screen). This is one out of many, many, many photos taken this week, so keep checking back for the insane amount of updates. I'd like to multiply "thank you" times infinity to Nick and Cathy for bringing me along. It was truly amazing. Enjoy!

And I'm off!

2007-11-13T12:39:00.000-08:00

Well kids, in a few hours I'll be out of here and on my way to the British Virgin Islands to photograph Nick and Cathy's wedding in the amazing St. Thomas! Unfortunately it looks like I won't be able to post any updates while I'm gone (unless I sell my cameras to pay for the wireless charges), but as soon as I get back it'll be updates galore with weddings for Dominique & Chance, Jen and Aaron, Cathy and Nick, engagements with Dorothy and Zach, and even some fun family portraits (I've been busy).

I'll have a margarita for you all. Have a great week!

-Ryan

p.s. Yes, I'll be wearing that hat for most of the week.

Wedding Slideshow: Katie & Nick

2007-11-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Click here for slideshow:

This was one of those shoots where I just kept laughing as I was editing because of all the great expressions by just about everyone. Katie and Nick's wedding was pretty much just one huge party with a bunch of their friends and a lot of beer, which naturally led to a bunch of really fun and definitely awesome shots throughout the day. And by the way, this was a pumpkin-themed wedding, so riddled throughout the slideshow are pictures of pumpkins of all sizes. The main picture up top was one of a series of about 7 images after Katie and Nick were announced husband and wife that really summed up the day. They were one of the happiest couples I've ever seen walking down the aisle after the announcement, and then was greeted by their bridal party for a toast shortly afterwards (see picture below). Enjoy the shots you guys, and thanks for letting me join in on the party when I was done shooting! You're an awesome couple and I'm honored to have been your photographer!

Shenanigans in the bridal party. Easily one of my favorite shots from the day.

Wedding Slideshow: Marjorie & Albert

2007-11-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

Click here to view slideshow:

This slideshow just makes me want to dance, and let me say this right now: I can't dance. I can move around in the same spot in somewhat coherent rhythm, but I can't dance, and I just want to when I hear this song -- "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire. And it's really a perfectly picked song (good job Albert!) because it fit the mood of the night perfectly. Everyone was dancing, drinking, and really just having a good time, so I put a few more dancing pictures in this slideshow than I normally do. I just couldn't help myself. Enjoy the photos Marjorie and Albert, and here I go again trying to groove...

Woohoo!

2007-11-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well here it is: my first publishing! California Weds magazine contacted me to do a feature article on the always lovely Shane and Jacqui and how they met, got engaged, got married, and lived happily ever after. Many thanks to Sara Medina at the magazine for writing such a great article on such a great couple! Here's some shots of the copy I just received, but go out and pick up a copy and check out the article complete with big, sexy photos by yours truly. Enjoy!

Engagement Slideshow: Brett & Lindsay

2007-10-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

Click here for slideshow:

This was a cool session for me for a couple reasons: 1) Brett and I have been friends since high school, and back in the days of wanting to be rock stars we shared duties as the guitarists of Jungkshen. Since the band broke up a couple years ago we've stayed good friends, so when he asked me to shoot his engagements with Lindsay I was excited to be able to do it for them. And they're both insanely good-looking, so all I really had to do was point the camera in their general direction and they'd turn out great.

Reason #2: "On Your Side" by Magnet is the song that Brett chose, and is one of my top 3 favorite songs of all time, so naturally, I really like this slideshow. Brett and Lins, you guys are an awesome couple and I'm really happy for you two. Thanks again and I hope you guys enjoy the photos!

Engagement: Aaron & Rebecca

2007-10-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

Click here for slideshow:

Almost immediately after I gave my obligatory "go stand over there and look natural" speech to Aaron and Rebecca, they relaxed and it was almost as if I wasn't even there. Except when I told them I'd put Rage Against the Machine in their slideshow. But they were such a genuinely fun, down to earth couple, and really made for a great session. After we were finished with the famous Avenue 12 American flag barn, we headed over to downtown Fresno and then to some vineyards, so we got quite the range for the day! But I was put in charge of choosing a song (I hope you guys like it?!!?) and I picked the Weepies' "Simple Life", which is one of my favorite songs of one of my favorite bands, and I really think it fits Aaron and Rebecca well. So here's the slideshow from last weekend with a couple of my favorites. It was awesome hanging out with you guys for the morning, and I hope you enjoy the show!!

Engagement: Matt & Jen

2007-10-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

Click here for slideshow:

And I'm back!!! After a solid two weeks of straight shooting I've now gotta catch up a little on the photo blogging, but I have an awesome slideshow to start us off right from my engagement session with Jen and Matt last week. We took a lazy Sunday afternoon stroll over to Wilson Creek Winery and South Coast Winery in Temecula's beautiful wine country, where we had a great session capped off with some wine tasting! And for the record, Wilson Creek's almond Champagne is officially the best alcoholic drink ever created, period. I could've finished off a couple bottles of that sweet stuff, but I don't think that would've been a very productive photo shoot.

But it's so awesome to see a couple with such natural chemistry between each other, and you can easily see it in this photo below of Matt laughing, which is easily one of my favorites from any of my engagements. Jen and Matt, you fun-lovin' winos (kidding!), enjoy the show!

Wedding Preview: Marjorie & Albert

2007-10-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

This was my first Santa Cruz wedding, and I sure hope it's not my last! Last weekend I made a little trip to the always beautiful Santa Cruz to shoot for Marjorie and Albert, whose ceremony was on the bluffs overlooking the ocean at La Selva Beach, so needless to say, it was beyond gorgeous. We then headed back to the reception where everyone proceeded to eat, drink, and be merry. And dance...a lot. Which was awesome. And on a personal note, when I shoot weddings I'm typically in such a "get the shot" mentality I don't have the opportunity to get emotional, but the Mother/Son dance with Albert and his Mom was so genuinely touching it made me want to sneak away and call my own Mom (hi Mom!). I didn't, but it was a very special moment I'm glad I was able to capture. So here are some of my favorites for now, and be on the lookout for a slideshow in the very near future. Enjoy the photos, Marj and Albert, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to shoot for you guys! You were both so easy and great to work with, and the pictures prove it. Enjoy!

Engagement Slideshow: Bobby and Amy

2007-10-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

And here's the slideshow for Bobby and Amy, along with a great song recommendation! Once again, thank you guys for choosing me for the wedding, it's an honor! Enjoy the show..

Portraits: Dylan & Ava

2007-10-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

Haven't done any kids portraits in a while, but here's a few of my favs from a recent shoot with the always-adorable Dylan and Ava! Seriously though, how cute is she?!:

Wedding Slideshow: Shane & Jacqui

2007-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

And here it finally is! A slideshow of an amazing couple set to a little Coldplay; could there be anything better? Nope, I don't think so.

Engagement Preview: Bobby and Amy

2007-09-30T21:46:00.001-07:00

Yet again I am stuck with the inability to just choose a couple shots from this session; I really like way too many of them! This was hands-down one of the most eventful sessions I've been apart of, all thanks to the wonderful recommendation of Amy and Bobby to go to Hollywood/Downtown LA for their engagements. Walking around the city for the day, we were able to catch some cool locations on Sunset, the Hollywood walk of fame, the Walt Disney Music Hall, and the lovely LA skyline, not to mention some of the most colorful textured walls anywhere. We experienced everything from dirty diapers, stray potatoes, rude 12 year old kids, some scary guy who kinda wanted to steal my camera, broken zippers (zipers, technically), and a bunch of other awesome stuff that would've never happened anywhere else. So for that, Bobby and Amy, thank you.

I'd always like to thank you for thinking that standing in front of the "Why Did I Get Married" poster was as hilarious and awesome as I did. It's easily one of my favorite engagement photos...ever. So anyway, here are more than few of my favorite shots from this weekend's session. Bobby and Amy, you guys are such a great couple and I had a super fun time shooting for you. I'm looking forward to the big day next year even more now, but until then...enjoy the shots!

p.s. Slideshow is on its way..

Wedding Preview: Shane & Jacqui

2007-09-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some previews from the much-anticipated wedding of the awesome Shane & Jacqui! This was honestly one of the best weddings/shoots I've been apart of, so thank you Shane and Jacqui for trusting me with your big day and being ridiculously good-looking. Both of you. Seriously, you guys look amazing together. There's a bit more photos in this preview than I normally put up, but I really couldn't choose just a few. Enjoy the shots, and the slideshow is on its way..

Engagement: Nick & Cathy

2007-09-20T19:13:00.001-07:00

Click picture below for slideshow:

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shooting some engagements for Nick and Cathy in the always lovely San Diego. It was my first trip to Balboa Park and the ridiculously good Mexican place with the amazing tacos off Adams. Nick and Cathy - thanks for being such a great couple to work with and being so open to my strange ideas for interesting shots. And remember I'm still free the 17th! (winkwink). Enjoy the show!

Senior Portraits '08: Kelly

2007-09-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

Click picture below for slideshow:

Last weekend I took a nice little stroll with Kelly around the Tower District and shot her seniors for her, complete with Me-N-Ed's, left turns, and multiple amazingly well-executed public wardrobe changes. Thanks to my lovely assistant, The Little One, for lugging my stuff around for me even though she weighs roughly more than a sack of potatoes. Kelly - I had a great time with you, and I hope you enjoy the show!

Personal: Pine Flat Weekend

2007-09-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

I don't normally post up personal pictures, but I think this situation is okay. One of my best buddies Troy is in Iraq now, but two weekends ago we sent him off by renting a houseboat for the weekend and hanging out with all our good friends. Here are a few of the photos from the weekend, and you can check out the whole slideshow here if you're interested. And it has cool music, so yes, you are interested. Enjoy the shots, and we miss you Troy.

Engagement Slideshow: Shane & Jacqui

2007-07-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

This engagement served as three big firsts for me: 1. My first shoot with my new camera (sweet) 2. My first photo shoot at the beach, and 3. (and most important) My first engagement session at the location where the couple actually got engaged. I've always assumed that there would be some crazy cool nostalgia between the couple if that were to happen, and my assumption proved to be true.

This weekend I went with Shane and Jacqui to the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, and had one of the most fun photo shoots I've been a part of so far. We walked up and down the beach where Shane proposed to Jackie and wrote "will you marry me" in the sand (awwwwwww) and then did some more shots back in Rancho Cucamonga at night. Shane & Jacqui, it was awesome hanging out with you guys for the day, and I'm truly honored to be able to shoot for your wedding. Enjoy the slideshow!

p.s. Thanks to Mr. Shane Call for being my assistant for the day and making horribly unattractive faces while I try to take a picture of him.

Engagement Slideshow: Nick & Katie

2007-07-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

Nick & Katie - you guys were a blast to shoot with! The Jack Johnson song choice really fits the mood of the shots and shows how comfortable you guys are together. Enjoy the show, and is that a funny looking duck over there?

Engagement Slideshow: Aaron & Jennifer

2007-07-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

And here we go! Jen and Aaron's slideshow from our casual stroll through downtown Fresno and a little Woodward action. Great song choice too. Enjoy!

Engagement Slideshow: Chance & Dominique

2007-07-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

Chance & Dominique: you guys are awesome. It's just that simple. Enjoy the show...

Engagement: Aaron & Jennifer

2007-07-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

And here we are: the third and final preview from last weekend's busy weekend of engagement photography. This one is for Aaron & Jennifer, who are fellow Clovis High Alums (go Cougars!) Going for the traditional/candid hybrid we found some great places in downtown-ish Fresno to shoot and then headed over to Woodward Park for some greenery, 'cause who would of thought that grass and fields are dead in the middle of a Fresno summer? Well, apparently, me. I'm pretty sure I forgot how ridiculous summers are in the Central Valley. But the shots turned out awesome and I'm really excited to get the rest of these finished! Aaron and Jennifer: thanks for your patience in dealing with my gimpyness, and Nate and Kara: thanks for helping me out yet again because of my gimpyness. Enjoy...

And lastly, the obligatory parents photo:

Engagement: Nick & Katie

2007-07-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

And yet another awesome engagement session from last weekend, this time with Nick & Katie at the Japanese Gardens. We had a great time walking around, taking pictures, and laughing at imaginary ducks. Once again, this is just a preview of the slideshow to come this week, but I'm happy with what we're working with! Nick & Katie, you guys were a blast to hang out with, and I'm pumped for October! Enjoy the photos...

Engagement: Chance & Dominique

2007-07-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was able to shoot for Chance & Dominique - quite possibly the only couple in America that can put The Beckhams to shame. We had somewhat of a road trip afternoon, going from the urban grunge of downtown Fresno to the whispy fields of Sanger, but was able to get some incredible shots because of how photogenic they both were. Chance and Dominique - thank you for letting me shoot for you guys! I'm now even more excited for the wedding. Here's just a preview of the slideshow to come, but enjoy the show...

And a VERY SPECIAL thanks goes out to the talented Aaryn James for helping me out with finding cool angles, lugging my gear, and just being overall awesome. Aaryn - you rock. Thank you.

Slideshow: Justin & Kim

2007-07-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

Finally, the slideshow from Justin & Kim's wedding! Click on the image to check it out. Enjoy the show...