WPPI 2020 was my first major photography conference I have ever attended and surely I am regretting not having gone sooner!! SERIOUSLY!! For the past 10+ years of practicing the craft, I looked up to photographers like Joe McNally, Joel Grimes, Lara Jade, Lindsay Adler, Jerry Ghionis followed by new sources of inspiration like Brooke Shaden, John Gress, Chris Knight, Chris Orwig, Gary Hughes and Pye Jirsa. Well, they were ALL THERE!! I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe how much their physical presence would mean to me. Going to WPPI allowed me to meet all of my idols!

WPPI 2020: What is WPPI?

For those of you who have never heard of this conference before, it’s short for Wedding and Portrait Photography International. This year it was held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV on February 23 - 27. Next year it will be held March 7 - 11 at Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas and I certainly can’t wait for it.

“For five days each year, wedding, event and portrait photographers and videographers come together in Las Vegas to be inspired. Be a part of this remarkable community – evolve your aesthetic, gain invaluable strategies to grow your business, connect with friends, be dazzled by stories from industry icons and create lasting memories.” Source: wppiexpo.com

Side note: A word to the coordinators and producers of WPPI, Mandalay Bay was an excellent place to have it. It was super convenient to other hotels and has a direct connection (either by tram or through-hotel-passage ways) from Luxor and Excalibur which I happened to stay at.

Hotel Suggestion

To those wanting to attend in the future, look for hotels that have food credits. Almost every hotel, if not all, charges a “resort fee” and not every hotel provides a meal credit. However, at Excalibur, they provide their guests with a $15 food credit which I happily used at Vagabond Restaurant inside the hotel. They also have a variety of food options inside such as Pizza Hut, Bucca, Popeyes (and yes I tried their spicy chicken sandwich for the first time and the hype is REAL), Dick’s Restaurant, and my favorite dessert spot—DQ!

CLASSES and PHOTOWALKS

At WPPI, they have a variety of breakout classes which include free ones (Platform) and add-on’s (for extra $$). Being that it was my first experience to attend, I wanted to see if I could get the most out of just the Platform classes and my conclusion was HELL YES! Next year, I will try the Summit Class for sure because it just looked amazing just by looking at the Instagram posts of those that attended. Here is a link to the various class options and schedules from this year.

Below: Chloe Ramirez, Sacramento Native and Nikon Ambassador | Photographing the Feeling, Emotive Couples

For more behind the scenes, check out my Instagram stories @RyanAngelStudio.

ALSO, I HAVE A NEW WEBSITE—RYANANGELMEZA.COM

John Kabateck | State Director | NFIB - National Federation of Independent Business | Outtakes for Comstock Magazine - November Issue

If you’re looking to create digital content (photography or video) for your organization or business, please send your inquiry to Info@RyanAngelStudio.com.

Also, check out my new website at RyanAngelMeza.com

Jonathan Porteus | CEO WellSpace Health

If you’re looking to create digital content (photography or video) for your organization or business, please send your inquiry to Info@RyanAngelStudio.com.

Also, check out my new website at RyanAngelMeza.com

Brian King | Chancellor for Los Rios Community College | Comstock Magazine - August 2019

If you’re looking to create digital content (photography or video) for your organization or business, please send your inquiry to Info@RyanAngelStudio.com.

Also, check out my new website at RyanAngelMeza.com

Shawn Tillman | Economic Development Manager for City of Lincoln, CA | Outtakes for Comstock Magazine, April Issue

If you’re looking to create digital content (photography or video) for your organization or business, please send your inquiry to Info@RyanAngelStudio.com.

Also, check out my new website at RyanAngelMeza.com

Recent published work for The Wall Street Journal | January 22, 2019 [online], January 23, 2019 [print]. Super excited to work with @WSJ again and ecstatic to finally meet and photograph Shasta Smith from The Vintage Monkey located in downtown Sacramento.

Online article.

Recent published work for Sacramento Magazine - February 2019 issue featuring Janelle Hanchett and family. She is the author of “I’m Just Happy To Be Here” and successful blogger of Renegade Mothering.

Here is a recent project I got to work on for Jen who was looking for visuals to use on her business websites and social media. These are just a few samples from our session together.

Gear: Nikon D800, Nikon 35 1.4, Profoto B2

© Ryan Angel Studio/ Ryan Angel Meza 2018 | Sacramento, CA

Talent: Sarah Davis | Sacramento, CA | © Ryan Angel Studio

Recent published work with The Wall Street Journal featuring Sacramento nurses Dian Baker (left) and Barbara Quinn (right).

Studio Test with Manny | Scout Models | San Francisco, CA

Need some fresh headshots for your portfolio, book us by visiting our website. 

Excited to introduce our new studio backdrop for headshots!

Reserve your headshot today by heading to our website. 

Testing out the Hasselblad 500 cm. Scanned with Epson v800. Sacramento, CA. | © Ryan Angel Studio

Recent Published Work | Sacramento Magazine February 2018 | © Ryan Angel Studio 2018

Above: The black and white images are 4x5 film scans.

Camera: Large Format (4x5)  Film: Ilford HP5 400

Dia De Los Muertos | Day of the Dead | Sacramento, CA    October 28, 2017

www.RyanAngelStudio.com

northern california exploration (travel photography)

I'm currently shooting with a 4x5 film camera and these are some digital images shot during my exploration. I will scan my film negatives soon and post them on here when I get a chance. 

Check out some of my other landscape photography here. 

ACTOR: shelby elder | sacramento, ca

What a delight it was to photograph Shelby! I am super excited about this gal's future! She is currently taking acting lessons locally and because of the time she's put into her craft, you can definitely see the confidence in her eyes. She hopes to one day star in tv shows like the Gilmore Girls, Shameless, This is Us and of course Grey's Anatomy (duuuuh)!! 

If you're looking to build your portfolio for modeling/acting, let us help you create the best images!! If you're new to modeling and consider yourself timid, we can coach you throughout the process. Fill out our CONTACT page for booking and information. 

ACTOR/MODEL: BEN CHAIMONGKOL | BAY AREA

This past weekend I photographed Ben for his second round of talent (actor) headshots. I told him to bring his A-game and boy did he!! I think a lot of his new-found-confidence is from taking acting classes using the Meisner technique at the Meisner Technique Studio in the Bay Area. As a matter of fact, this is something I preach and recommend highly to all talent, both actors and models, because it really elevates your confidence and smoothness being in front of the camera. 

If you're looking to build your portfolio for modeling/acting, let us help you create the best images!! If you're new to modeling and consider yourself timid, we can coach you throughout the process. Fill out our CONTACT page for booking and information. 

ACTOR/MODEL: RYAN | SACRAMENTO, CA

This is Ryan's second headshot session with us within a month of each other! Why does he come to us for his headshots--REPEATED RESULTS!!! He is actively auditioning and traveling to Los Angeles for networking opportunities. This is what the modeling and acting industry demands--consistency, persistence and investment in yourself. 

If you're looking to build your portfolio for modeling/acting, let us help you create the best images!! If you're new to modeling and consider yourself timid, we can coach you throughout the process. Fill out our CONTACT page for booking and information. 

MODEL: TRINITY | HONOLULU, HAWAII

What a small world! Trinity so happens to be a Sacramento native. She recently moved to Hawaii from Sacramento with her boyfriend who is currently stationed in Hawaii for coastguard training. It's easy to take note that no matter where you point the camera in Hawaii, you have either a picturesque backdrop or something really "interesting" like the big-hanging undies shown in the first two images.  

If you're looking to build your portfolio for modeling/acting, let us help you create the best images!! If you're new to modeling and consider yourself timid, we can coach you throughout the process. Fill out our CONTACT page for booking and information. 

model: Paige | Honolulu, Hawaii

During my trip in Hawaii, I took advantage of the beautiful skies and seas and of course Paige's ocean-blue-eyes!! 

If you're looking to build your portfolio for modeling/acting, let us help you create the best images!! If you're new to modeling and consider yourself timid, we can coach you throughout the process. Fill out our CONTACT page for booking and information. 

Tabisola Wedding | Honolulu, Hawaii

It was a privilege to be able to photograph Cheryl and Structin's beautiful wedding in Honolulu, Hawaii in July. A beautiful couple! A beautiful family!! Joined together in the presence of God, family, and friends!! 

If you have a destination wedding and/or planning on getting hitched in 2017/2018 and still haven't found a photographer, we are currently accepting limited wedding sessions this year. Rates start at $4,000 for 8 hours of coverage. Send us an e-mail today at Info@RyanAngelStudio.com (Subject: Weddings). 

Above: Here is a recent project I did for realtor Ron Ortez. He wanted to showcase the house he was selling using video to really highlight the upgraded features as well as the characteristics of a grand space to entertain. 

Keep a close eye on this talented model, actor, stunt-actor, and fitness competitor--Ryan Rasberry. Images are from his recent headshot session with RyanAngelstudio.com. Check back for more sample headshots from his session. Subscribe to our blog for new content notifications. 

"LIFE INSIDE A TIME CAPSULE" (WALL STREET JOURNAL)

Recent published work for Wall Street Journal. (Click on the <- green link for the official article.)  For video, work can be seen from Time: 00:00 to 00:34. 

I recently traveled to Weaverville, California to photograph Robin Miller's newly purchased home. It was said that the home was built around the trees but interesting enough (you'll see in the gallery) it seems as though the trees begin to grow around the house. The home features old-school intercom systems, hidden closets, original oven, shaggy carpets and a bomb shelter!?! 

Product Photography - Test and Ad Mock Up

A behind the scenes look of my new space that I'm working in to photograph wine bottles for a local winery. So stoked to be working with them and I look forward to creating the rest of their content for their website and social media. 

If you have a business and need a fresh look for your website and/or social media, please e-mail us at RyanAngelStudio@gmail.com.

[Sacramento Magazine | February 2017]

For this assignment, I wanted to capture the "fun-ness" of Melissa Uroff, so I used vibrant and bold colors to match her personality. 

For the January issue of Sacramento Magazine, I was able to meet and photograph the talented artist, Micah Crandall-Bear. Most of the time, the talent I'm photographing are usually busy and only have 15-30 minutes to shoot, however, for this shoot I was able to just relax and shoot in a variety of spaces that Micah had in his home. He definitely has great taste in furniture and decor which allowed for a beautiful lifestyle portrait. 

Gear: Canon 5d Mark II, Canon 580 EXii (balanced with natural light), Westcott Apollo Octobox

As an editorial photographer, it is without any doubt you will come across a well-diverse group of individuals--from small-business owners to top executives. For the November (2016) issue of Sacramento Magazine, I photographed individuals in our Capitol Region that had great influence on the top topic of 2016--"Will marijuana be legal in California?" 

niccolo de luca  | townsend public affairs

Gear: Nikon D800, Tokina 16-28 (2.8), Canon 580 EXii speedlight (bounce flash)

In October (2016), I worked an assignment for Sacramento Magazine that allowed me the awesome opportunity to meet some big name artists in our community and they all were recently commissioned to create art for the new Golden 1 Center (Sacramento King's Arena). The artists include Bryan Valenzuela, Gale Hart, and (RCAF) Royal Chicano Air Force. 

bryan valenzuela | GOLDEN 1 ARENA ARTIST

Gear: Nikon D800, Tokina 16-28 (2.8), Canon 580 EXii speedlight with Westcott Apollo Octobox

gale hart | golden 1 arena artist

Gear: Canon 5dMarkII, Canon 24-105, Canon 580 EXii speedlight with Westcott Apollo Octobox