Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Orebaugh.
Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been into art and drawing and things like that ever since I was a kid; but it wasn’t until going to college that I picked up a camera and found my passion for photography. My college roommate gave me my first film camera and told me to go play with it; that was five years ago, Since then I’ve never stopped shooting and pursuing literally every creative avenue I can get my hands on. Walking around with a camera made the world feel new and exciting, I loved trying to capture things I found interesting. My fun little hobby quickly turned into an obsession, and soon enough I was shooting every day for as long as I possibly could; documenting the people, places, and things around me. As I gained more confidence, I started to hone in on shooting on the streets, capturing the beauty in the mundane that I was so fascinated with. I eventually started working at a film lab; which was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me (Shoutout Dunwoody Photo). I was exposed to so many incredible creatives working all over the US and better yet, getting to learn from them.
I was given some amazing opportunities to do post-processing for some world-renowned photographers, TV shows, musicians, etc. It was at this point that I started freelancing as a photographer and graphic designer on my own. At the same time, I was studying art direction at SCAD and ended up getting my BFA in advertising and branding and started working in production and art direction at a few agencies. I really felt like I found a medium that I could express myself in through film and photography, there’s something about using a camera that just feels natural to me. Drawing and painting always felt forced, and I wasn’t good at either of them, so it really was kind of amazing to find something that felt right. My love of photography/videography really has become an incredible asset in my art director toolbelt in the professional world. I’ve been able to work for brands like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Voya Financial, NASA, and more all because I was able to understand both ends of the creative process, from concept to execution.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been relatively smooth sailing for me. There were a lot of late nights, stressful days, and uncertainty when pursuing my creative dreams. I always felt that my work wasn’t good enough and “Why would they choose me?” now I’ve now realized that I have unique skills and perspectives that are valuable for brands. I think one of the biggest challenges for me has been getting out of my own way. Like most creative people, I’m my biggest critic so learning to just do something and stop worrying about being perfect has really helped me step out of my comfort zones.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an art director and photographer, but I dabble in a little bit of everything, video production, 3D modeling/animation, graphic design, illustration, etc. I’m known for my art direction and commercial photography, and I’ve been honing my craft at agencies for about two years. I’ve been able to get published in a few publications, and I was shortlisted for Cannes Future Lions in 2022. I don’t really have a specialty, I love to work on everything, at my core, I’m a storyteller. I love connecting with people and helping to tell the stories that they carry around with them. In personal artistic practice, I’m mainly a street photographer. Documenting everyday life on the street is fascinating to me, I love finding the beauty in the mundane, looking for light, and connecting with the people that I photograph. I think what sets me apart from others is my passion and genuine curiosity for the world and people. I love nothing more than getting to sit down with somebody and hear their story, listen to what they have to say, what do they think about life, etc. I feel like this core belief is one of the main guiding principles for everything I do, professionally or otherwise.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I think the best piece of advice I can give is to ask questions. You won’t look stupid, you’ll learn. I think I was so worried about looking dumb, and that hindered me at the beginning of my career, but being a creative is being a forever student. The industry is changing constantly, and so you have to be up on trends, technology, etc. I learned so many things by asking for help or just by asking what something does.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ryanorebaugh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanorebaugh_/
Image Credits
Dalton Rice (Pistakio Shoot)
