Meet Ryan Hartford | Media Creator @ Ecliptic Media

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Hartford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
In my career, I’ve never taken a risk.
I saw taking no action was more risky than the potential ‘risk’. In the vein of taking risks though, I think planning and preparation will ensure a successful path. When I first started, I would torture myself the day before the shoot. I would lock myself in a quiet room and play out scenarios in my head because I didn’t know how to prepare. Was I supposed to watch endless YouTube videos? Was I supposed to practice photography techniques from sun up to sun down?

I was hired on my first big shoot by Amazon photographing the Amazon Scout. Months earlier I was photographing kids birthday parties. I felt like it was a big moment, but I just downplayed it in my mind and just made sure I had the right equipment needed on the day. I had to create concepts on the spot, so it was very fast paced and exciting. My preparation has come a long way since that shoot three years ago.

When I considered leaving my dream job at Showtime for photography, I was reminded of the risks daily by family and friends who were concerned of the lack of consistent income and health insurance. In my head, the only risk I saw was living a life of few accomplishments. Looking into the future and retiring from my college dream job, Showtime, with several short films and a few festival awards, that was scarier than any career risk I could have taken.

I left Showtime with a few self-imposed caveats though, I sent out the intention to only work with the best people with good hearts – which I relatively stuck to. I only make my income through photography and video – so no Ubering. And, that I would do everything possible to encourage my clients success and make that a priority over my own.

These principles shaped my attitude and energy which naturally lead to more exciting projects. It’s taken about four years of owning my business to achieve the same income I did at Showtime. But the accomplishments I’ve had within the same amount of time, I’ve been published by global publications, directed television commercials, and photographed celebrities at poker tournaments to private jets.

The amount I’ve accomplished I attribute to pushing myself to be the person I would look up to if I were someone else. I’ve just trusted my instincts, followed my principles, treated people with respect and kindness and have tried to run a respectable business. In doing that, my path has not been a very risky one.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I hit a crossroad at Showtime. I was passing people (and celebrities) in the halls that were much more successful than I was, and more successful than I could have been working there. So when I decided to leave and start my journey, it was a pretty easy decision.
I knew the path would be difficult though-beans, rice and ramen-not together, but those were staples of my diet when I started my business. I just had this idea that there was no way I could fail if I kept working hard at it and kept pushing my photography gigs along. I suppose that’s a naïve approach as I’ve seen others over the years that have worked hard as well in this field and had to course correct and do something else.

It felt like chiseling the David statue, progress came but slowly, but I did see a stark contrast in my works’ improvement over time. I had a few consistent clients that stuck around each month and my income from that helped me scrape together rent and bills the first few years. I was taking photos for Fender or Amazon and barely making my rent and bills. Or flying to Vegas with celebrities and the following week staring at my computer in hopes of a new client email.

About three years into my journey, I landed at a solar company doing media for them on a monthly basis. It’s been a dream. They give me a lot of creative freedom to make videos for them. Our first of a series of commercials was just released, it centers around the concept of “Dracula doesn’t like the sun, but our customers do”.

And I’m starting to see more clients excited to put me on monthly retainer for revolving content, which is a dream scenario for any working creative. My work week is always fun, one day I may be on a roof overlooking DTLA while solar is being installed and the next I may be in a studio photographing a musicians cover album and the next on the NBC lot renting costumes for a music video. I work often, but it’s always satisfying. And in many ways, my life now is exactly how I dreamed it to be when I was a child, except maybe with fewer Ferraris.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I take everyone to the Griffith Observatory that visits. Hands down my favorite place to go to. It’s such an iconic Los Angeles place.
If I can get on it, I love going to the NBC backlot and showing off the sets. There is a special energy and magic to film sets. I took my best friend to the Paramount backlot when he was here, and we tried on the props and stuff in the wardrobe room. It was hilarious. We also went to see Conan, which is on the WB lot, I highly recommend that.

Solvang is a fun day trip from LA or the black sands in San Luis Obispo. There are seals there. If you do go up that direction, make sure to make a pit stop at the Madonna Inn. Some weird stuff goes on there… but it’s worth checking out.

My favorite burger place is Stout off the Third Street Promenade, I highly recommend it and the Santa Monica Pier is fun while you’re there as well. If you go, you can park for free throughout the metro stops, so you can look for a good place on that route and take the metro, which may help save a few dollars and spend more time down there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandma DeGraw is so important to me. She has a great sense of humor. She took care of me when my mom died when I was two. When I was a child and long distance phone calls cost money, she got a (800) number to pay for the calls so I could call when I needed to talk to her. She has macular degeneration now, which means she has monthly shots in her eyes. Anytime I even consider complaining, I think about how tough she is.
My uncle Alan is always there for me with great advice. We have very similar senses of humor. He is the most professional person I know and has lead me to be more methodical in my own business. He has a great heart and leads with example, which I strive to embody as well.

I was fortunate enough Tyler Barth was one of the first people who hired me when starting my business. He taught me so much about relationships and communication. He is a truly special person and I respect him so much.

Dan Dunn hired me to do media for his solar company, Harness. We quickly became good friends. He encourages the best out of everyone and holds himself to the same high standard. I’ve learned a ton from him as a fellow creative. I respect what he has built with his solar company as well as with his music venture. He is a man of great character.

And people I don’t know personally, Frank Abagnale, who taught me I could be anything I wanted to be, as long as I was confident enough to belong there. And Damien Chazelle, I’m inspired by La La Land. I’ve seen that movie at least ten times if not more and love it more each time I watch it. It really speaks to the core of me.

Website: EclipticMediaPhoto.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclipticphoto/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhartford/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNGTN6VgDoV_8U_ff6gd2jw

Image Credits
Feature Photos: Beto Vargas & Joe Salling