Meet Sean-Michael Ryan | Photographer

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

Hi Sean-Michael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I knew pretty early on in life that the traditional 9-5 corporate lifestyle wasn’t for me. I love the feeling of freedom and being in full control of the scale of my growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up, I was primarily raised by my mother, along with my sister, Lia. My dad was an awesome father and a terrific dad who gave me great life advice, such as “Always do the hardest part first, then everything else is all down hill.” My grandparents would raise us and give my mother a. break every Summer. It was there that I learned peace, tranquility, tender love, and care, as well the initial start to photographing subjects. I was born in California, but my grandparents live in North Ridgeville, Ohio where they owned a decently sized family home and several acres of land that peaked my fascination and sent my imagination crazy. My grandfather would introduce me to the utilization of many different tools, and I soon found that the camera held my interest the most. He would let me use his camera to photograph the deer, the birds, the leaves on trees, squirrels chipmunks, and blades of grass in the backyard. I truly saw the beauty in everything, and I still do…

I faced a lot of challenges that definitely caused delays in my journey. I’ve had corporate jobs that tried to kill my creativity, I’ve been broke, I’ve experienced the passing of people close to me, I’ve had to spend time away from friends and family to focus on my mental state while I clung to my values as an entrepreneur, and it was during the Covid Pandemic that I found the courage to officially break free and bet on my own success outside of working a corporate job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a tour guide is one of my favorite past-time hobbies, when given the opportunity. My favorite places to visit are, Westfield Century City, where I dine & drink at Javier’s check out some clothes at some of the retailers and check out a film typically presented in Dolby Atmos at the AMC Theater; The Grove, Downtown Culver City, Elysian Park for some views of the city, and Santa Monica Promenade.

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?
First, I believe I just have to dedicate any success I have in my field to my grandfather, and honestly my entire immediate family from my grandmother and sister to my mom and dad, who all did their part in fueling me with an abundant mindset full of creativity. My grandfather however, was instrumental in helping to shape me into the man I am today. He motivated me to pick up the camera and inspired me with his hunger for life, and the mindfulness to capture life’s beauty in the moments that matter.

I would also be amiss if I didn’t mention my friends and mentors who also inspired who I am today, from my childhood friend Jarred Bernstein, to a friend I also consider one of my first mentors in Film, Theodore Hyppolite. I lastly have to give a special shout out to to my amazingly beautiful girlfriend, Rose Marie Lewis, she saw me while I was still finding myself..

Website: shotbyseanmichaelryan.com

Instagram: @goldn_charmr

Linkedin: linkedin.com/seanmichaelryan

Facebook: facebook.com/seanmichaelryan

Image Credits
Armani Greer, Deanna Pak