Live AMA with Ryan Ditch

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

Quote

What got you into photography?

Big love Asteryx thanks for joining! I've always been a creative person so when I stopped DJ'n professionally I needed a new hobby. My wife knew I loved documenting our travels with my iPhone so she bought me a Sony a6000 and the rest is history.

[avmil]

When you shoot for a corporate client, how much is your vision versus the client's vision?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

What’s you favorite lens or focal length for that signature Ryan style. ?

24mm definitely! It's wide enough to capture a large scene, but gives that slight compression that a 16mm doesn't.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

When you shoot for a corporate client, how much is your vision versus the client's vision?

Great question and I think it's important to first understand your client. Are they the type that is hiring you simply to hit a shutter or share on your socials? Or, are they the type that is hiring you because you're an artist.

[miar]

What have you found is the best way to market yourself and your work?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

When you shoot for a corporate client, how much is your vision versus the client's vision?

I typically don't take on clients that don't give me creative freedom. If they want me to show up to studio or have this non-forgiving brief I usually pass. I always have a vision for commercial work and if the client isn't into exploring that it's best they find another photographer.

[alpha-jessica-a]

Question from socials: Why did you switch to Sony?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

What have you found is the best way to market yourself and your work?

This might sound strange or unexpected, but I believe it is the community you surround yourself with. Inbound marketing is a way of getting organic your work/personality to work for you and there is no better way than having a large loving community.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

What have you found is the best way to market yourself and your work?

Surround yourself with a community that challenges you, lifts you up, and understands that if we all win, than we all win.

[miar]

What have you found is the best way to market yourself and your work?

I love that sentiment!

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

Question from socials: Why did you switch to Sony?

I was a long time Canon user, but their cameras just work working for me anymore. At the time they had just released their mirrorless system which is great, however Sony was proven in my opinion. Plus, 99% of the people I shot with used Sony so this was a win when needing batteries or borrowing lenses.

[BKM]

How do you stay consistent with your social media management/posting?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How do you stay consistent with your social media management/posting?

I treat is like a full time job which it is. I think sometimes we forget that fact that this is part of our business so I always put that first. I try to post 5-6 days a week on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram and now Threads and have done so for 6 or 7 years.

[sowil]

How do you make a clean image without too many distractions?

[miar]

How much editing do you typically do?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How do you stay consistent with your social media management/posting?

Consistency is key in anything we do. It's true for your photography style and it's true for your work ethic. I know we don't all have time to shoot around the world on the daily, so try to take as many photos as you can when you do shoot so you have content to last you. Also, share photos more than once.

[emism]

How do you stay consistent with your social media management/posting?

Follow up question to this - do you do all of your social media posting yourself? Have you ever had someone handle this for you and if not, why not?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How do you make a clean image without too many distractions?

Ah this is a great question. I use a tripod about 99% of the time which once allows me to compose my shot. It also allows me to combine multiple images to get the cleanest final product as possible.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How do you make a clean image without too many distractions?

I once combined over 50 images of the Milano di Duomo to take out all the tourists as they moved around. So I was left with a single woman walking through an empty square.

[alpha-jessica-a]

Question from socials: What's your favorite time of day to shoot?

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How much editing do you typically do?

There are few ways to answer this so I'll give some different perspectives. I typically edit in bunches so I'll sit down and edit as many images as I can in the time I have. I edit 3 or 4 days a week I'd say so a good amount. How long I spend on an image varies, some are easier to edit based on conditions.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How much editing do you typically do?

A typical edit takes me 30 minutes or so. Then I let it sit for a few days and come back to it just to make sure I am seeing it correctly.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

How do you stay consistent with your social media management/posting?

I do all of my own socials. I typically post at 7:30am Pacific on all channels and have my post created before hand. I use the Preview app from Meta to plan out my grid and then Notes on my iPhone to type out my comment and hashtags.

[Ryan Ditch Photo]

Question from socials: What's your favorite time of day to shoot?

Golden hour without a doubt. Strangely sunset is my least favorite to photograph, but favorite to watch. I enjoy images with 2 or 3 colors so sunset images can be a bit chaotic for me. I also love blue hour as well so golden hour and blue hour.

[avmil]

Can you walk through how you focus bracket?