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Maker

nashville | before the stage

On a recent road trip to Nashville, my brother and I spent some time on Music Row. The street musicians captured my interest and I hope to shoot a collection of their sub-culture in the near future. Subtle scenes of hopeful musicians littered every corner and alley. This one is a favorite.

Ryan Walters | Central New York Photographer

brother

This is my brother. He accompanied me on a recent portrait project and stood in for my test shot. I'm not able to publish the images we captured just yet, but I'm excited about this project! A book should result from it in the coming months. Thanks for your help, man!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer

tim kotthoff | editor extraordinaire

This is Tim Kotthoff. He's a man of many talents and one of the most talented and knowledgable editors I've ever worked with. I'm privileged to call him a friend! Tim's the kind of editor that can take an otherwise uninspiring mess of footage, sprinkle his magic editor dust on it, and deliver you something that will leave you asking yourself if you really shot it. His dedication to his craft is unmatched, and I've witnessed him continually learn and hone his ability over the years. His passion keeps him sharp as a tack, and his gentle way of directing a project brings the best out of everyone involved. I look forward to our next great adventure!

Cheers, sir.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Photographer + Cinematographer

jeff white

This is Jeff White. A Fox 2 cameraman, and an avid Apple fan, Jeff and I met when he set out to learn Final Cut Pro. We met at the Apple Store, West County, and soon began talking shop about photography. We spent several months working in Aperture together, and I showed Jeff my blog and the portraits I had been shooting. He started following the blog, and it only seemed fitting to add him to the project. Maybe we can add a few of your colleagues, as well! Thanks for your interest, and I'm looking forward to our next shoot!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

melissa | apple stl

Melissa Walters. She's a ray of sunshine if ever there was one. At the Apple Store, St. Louis Galleria, she works behind the scenes to keep the Genius team running smooth and ensure customers stay well taken care of. She's also my baby sister, and I love her dearly! Melissa is a lover of natural things, and she possesses a beautiful old soul. Thanks so much for lending me some time to capture your spirit, sis!! I love the happiness in her eyes in this shot!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

skip | apple stl

This is Bob Kester, aka "Skip".  Bob is one of a kind!  He's an incredible leader and has a charisma that is infectious.  He's one of the classiest fellas I've ever known, and he balances his role as a leader with grace.  Apple is truly blessed to have a man like "Skip", as many of his colleagues affectionately refer to him as.  Carry on. sir.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

kate

This is Kate. I met her when I had my second studio in St. louis, back in 2008. We put out a call for models for an upcoming shoot, and she showed up with an impressive resumé, including Rams Cheerleader. She was great to work with!

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer

street preacher

This is Neal Thompson. I was driving home through Kirkwood, MO this morning, and he caught my eye. Neal was walking down the middle of the street, dressed in white from head to toe, and carrying what looked to be a Moses staff. I had to stop and hear his story. He referred to himself as a street preacher and told me he'd walked 19,000 miles across this country. There was kindness in his voice, and joy in his eyes, even as he told me of losing his entire family, being kicked out of twenty cities, asked to leave Catholic churches, and arrested three times due to his faith. His kids won't speak to him, and his wife left him because they think he's crazy.  Well Neal, maybe you are crazy...but then again, maybe not, who am I to say. In the ten or fifteen minutes I knew Neal on the street, I know one thing for certain; Neal is a man who believes whole heartedly in something, without any doubt, and without apology, and he's happy to tell anyone who will listen. I found that refreshing and inspiring. As I left him, he shouted after me, "I'll pray for you, my brother, and I'll pray for your loved ones, too".  So to the Street Preacher, thanks for an interesting conversation, and thanks for letting me photograph you.


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martin j. (boomer) bergin

A cowboy, a poet, an actor, and a saddle maker, Martin J. "Boomer" Bergin is the first and only real cowboy I've ever had the opportunity to photograph.  Mr.Bergin is one of the last true American Cowboys, and he's full of incredible stories.  A saddle maker by trade, he's lived and worked out of his home in St. Louis, MO since 1975, after having grown up in West Texas and New Mexico.  He's handmade and sold his saddles to working cowboys in eleven countries, and produces around fifteen per year. Talking with this man feels like talking to a legend that stepped straight out of a John Wayne (Boomer's self-confessed hero) western.  Myself and a friend spent a little more than an hour with him in his saddle shop, and learned a great deal.  An actor, working with Robert Duvall, Tom Selek, and Sam Elliot, a writer and performer of cowboy poetry, and a collector of pipes, boot knives, and six-shooters, Martin is truly one of a kind.  He represents a breed of man that's long since been lost in this country.  He's performed his poetry on the Today Show, Johnny Carson, and for President Clinton himself.  Thanks for an interesting evening and for welcoming us into your home, sir.

 

Click the title for more portraits of Mr. Bergin.

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chas | apple stl

A Specialist at the Apple Store, West County, and often the life of the conversation, Chas is the kind of guy that can always put a smile on my face. The guy is as good as they get. After seeing some of my recent work, Chas asked me to do a portrait of him in a similar style. I was stoked and jumped at the opportunity. For this shot, we decided the easiest thing to do was photograph him after work. We set up, shot, and tore down in about 30 minutes.

Ryan Walters  |  St. Louis Portrait + Commercial Photographer