one rainy day

We stood in the rain to catch the 4 Bus to church, but I think we missed it. Oh well,...God still blesses with every circumstance if we just pay a little attention to the opportunities around us :)

I had my first day out practicing with the camera and it was quite the task. Protecting the camera from getting wet, holding an umbrella, trying to focus, adjusting exposure and walking all at the same time was ....well my first challenge. All in all, I enjoyed the half hour out in the rain. Here are a few.

What do you think I did?

It MADE MY DAY!!!

Hey All,

       Once again, it's been a while hasn't it, oy ve'...  Anyways, today was a pretty interesting day today.  It started out with construction; so our building is having fire stops put in every apartment surrounding the pipes, so this morning was filled with loud annoying sounds, not a very fun experience.  Then, I did some work so a pretty slow morning, but what else is new in Hawaii :)  The fun part was when I went to the gym today, just went for my normal work out and low and behold, my favorite World Champion/ Olympic Triathlete, Andy Potts, was there!!!  Totally forgot that he was coming so that was a pleasant surprise.  I got to talk with him and got his autograph and a picture.  He had just finished the Ironman Triathlon Hawaii, yesterday!  OH MAN I MISSED IT :(  But I got to meet Andy, as well as 3 other Ironman competitors so that was pretty exciting, and it made me possible set another new goal for myself... I think one day I hope to do the Ironman competition :)  And there is another triathlon in May, so I'm hoping, by God's graces and financial provision, I'll be able to afford the equipment to train and prep for it :D  Well, that was my awesome day!  Please keep your prayers up to those of you who read this that God will PROVIDE, both in photography business, personal training and just finances in general... THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU WHO KEEP PRAYING AND READ MY BLOG!!!  Be BLESSED EVERYONE!!!

(This one was taken by my camera phone, so not as good quality, but not bad, eh? *wink)

A New Part of Life...

Well Hello All,

It has been a very, very long time since I have written and updated you all, there is almost too much to write it all down, sooo I will give you the condensed version.  I have finally moved to Hawaii and still trying to adjust and get settled in, but things are slowly picking up :)  I am a personal trainer now, ACE certified and it is going well, I just got a job here at the 24 Hr Fitness in Honolulu, it seems like I will be working with some great people :)  I am hoping to shoot weddings out here, there is no way I can move to Hawaii and not shoot a wedding out here, because HOLY COW!  What else... well lets make it like a list of things from the beginning:  I went to California and chilled with my cousins for 4 days and had a bon fire at Santa Cruz and met some GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE :), then came here and am now living in Honolulu, tore my hair out because of stresses, trying to market the photography business, looking for a personal training job, trying to start my own personal training service as well, seeing so many homeless people, encountered two prostitutes, learning to live with room mates, more business stuff, worrying about making rent, and more real world stuff...  Although there are a lot of perks to living in Hawaii, the sunsets, the beaches, the boards and the waves :) Here are some pics from my lanai... enjoy everyone and please pray that God provides opportunities for me to get some weddings here in beautiful Hawaii :)

Still trying to figure this out...

Well it's all up to God!

Hi all!!!
Well I have finally made the jump across the U.S.!!! I am officially living in Hawaii for the year of 2009-July 2010!!! This has been something that I had in my mind for sometime; but thought nothing of it for a while, just wanted to see how things went. but finally prayed about it and felt that I can really try and make an impact somehow in the type of wedding photography that is found on the island... I just pray that God gives me the strength to do so, and gives me guidance and patience... because he has clients that are waiting for me and it is in His time to present them :)
So, that is the reason why I haven't done much blogging lately... sorry folks, but now that the moving process is over, all is left is the unpacking, organizing, shopping for things that I need, applying for a second job, organize banking, contact business contacts, make new ones, market, and everything else that comes along with our glorious love and passions of art, or whatever it is that floats your boat :) Well here are some of my favorite pictures from my transition and some of the new apartment :)

Unfortunately, the pictures do not seem to be loading, if we are friends on facebook I have an album up of some of my pictures :)  I'll try and see what I can do to get the pictures up!  Thanks all for bearing with me and for all your prayers :)

1st Senior Slide Show

Hawai`i

Aloha Hawai`i

I made it! This is the beautiful apartment I'm living in for awhile and I'm very excited. As you can see there was no furniture to begin with, BUT that only means I can have some fune creating the atmosphere of my humble abode.



This is the marvelous view from the lanai (balcony) of the Pacific Ocean, Honolulu and a hill peak called Punchbowl.



We can take our bikes or a really long walk to the beach, but just in case we would prefer to stay home and chill. It is O-SO-WONDERFUL to come home to a salt water pool that is always the perfect temperature, hang out with a few people or just wind down for the day. This is the view of the pool from the 23rd floor.



From our apartment, Hawai`i by night is a lovely sight to see.



Steven is arriving at the end of this month and things around the apartment are coming together nicely. More exciting photos to come and stories to tell!

I am really.....and I mean Really.... Thankful.

What a BEAUTIFUL CITY!!!

Okay, well that was quick wasn't it, so let me just say that I had a FANTASTIC DAY (8/26/08)!!!  I went to Chicago with a really great person, and got to use my new 5D and I can not think of a more beautiful site to introduce my new camera to :)  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves... ENJOY EVERYONE!!!

       

Cont...

Ladies and Gentlemen!!!

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!  I've joined the ranks... I Finally, by God's grace, bought a Canon 5D and loving it!  It is such a great camera I just had to tell you fine folks about it... So, know let the praying begin for some business :)

Thank you all for listening... This has been a public announcement from Steven Ryne Photography, you may now go back to your regularly scheduled program, be sure to check back frequently for more updates :)

FREE TO SUCCEED!!!

Hello all,

LOOK!!  2 DAYS in a row, haha what'd ya know I'm improving ;)  So I thought I'd give you a little more on how awesome the Free to Succeed tour/ conference really was!!!  So if you know me, at all, I have a tendency to run late, however for this (regardless of the insane traffic) I got there at exactly 6pm and I MADE IT, A WOO HOO!!! 

 

So first up was David Jay...

He opened up with a great presentation on Workflow, and how to minimize the time we as photographers spend in front of the computer, like I'm doing right now ;), and more with our clients and behind the camera... cause lets face it; that's why most of us became photographers; right?  I obviously wont go into too much detail cause, well I don't want to give DJ's presentation for him, if I'm not on the payroll ;)  (just kidding)  

2nd to bat was the magnificent Jasmine Star...

I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation; it wasn't so much on the technical aspects of photography or editing... but it was more on the personal aspect of photography and how to construct your label through searching your soul, because when we as small business owners provide a service, we should think of our clients as people and not profit margins... so if your clients can find a connection between themselves and you... well then you'll be pretty successful :)  And in order to be successful; you better know WHO YOU ARE!!!

And anchoring the relay; was David Jay, yet again...

Finishing off the conference was DJ talking about lightroom 2.0 and comparatively I have 1.1 and just from the presentation, 2.0 is much more efficient and has way cooler gadgets :)  He also discussed the benefits of applying your uniqueness to your business in the aspects of your website, relationships to your clients and prospective clients and how to separate yourself from the rest; by being YOURSELF!

(Wow... I actually look like I'm learning, pst... I'm really sleeping :)  JUST KIDDING!)

I really found this conference applicable to my life and where the business is at right now, it has caused me to revamp the way I carry my workflow and where I really need to make some changes... I am excited to apply what I have learned from this conference and where God will take the business once focuses are shifted and changes have been made.

(Absolutely fantastic people...)

A PRAYER:

Thank you God for the many, MANY, blessings you have placed in my life... I thank you for my family and my friends who have helped me begin this NEW area of my life (you all know who you are); thank you for showing me and  continually showing me the man that I am becoming. Lord as I embark on more business endeavors and continually putting myself into this company, I pray that YOU be with me always, help me to realize WHO I AM more and more each day, and let YOUR KINGDOM be furthered through the prosperity of this business, and let my life show YOUR presence in everything that I do... in your precious and HOLY NAME I PRAY... AMEN...

THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING MY BLOG, I APPRECIATE THE LOVE :)

(A special thanks to KENNY KIM for letting me use his photos, thanks bro!)

Woweee...

Hello all,

Ok, so I am absolutely terrible at the whole blogging bit... I am sorry to all of you who read my stuff... unless you've given up :(  Well, I hope you haven't, but anywho... so there has been a lot of things going on in my life lately;  I am officially 23 yrs old now (HOLY COW!!!)  Also, I am really trying to get a better grasp on owning a business and with all these new things going on in my life it is very, Very, VERY!  difficult trying to develop a work flow, so again I want to apologize to all of those who may be waiting to hear from me :(  

On a brighter note... yesterday I got to attend my 1st photography conference, IT WAS AMAZING!!!  I had the privilege of finally meeting the infamous David Jay... I think he is a photographer? ;)  Just kidding :)  and the absolute privilege of meeting Jasmine Starr, who is FANTASTIC!!  Along with those two I got to meet a whole lot of wonderful people and other photographers and I learned so much about how to better my business :)  I also have just recently bought show it web and am trying to figure out the last step of publishing the slideshows, so hopefully once I do that I will be putting up some slideshows on the blog and be able to keep updating you all about what's new.  

Oh yeah... if anyone can help me out in publishing the slideshows from show it that'd be greatly appreciated :)  Hope you all are doing well, and please keep checking in, I promise to work on my BLOGGING SKILLS!!!  :)

I'm so blessed by friendships.

Rob and I went to Chicago. It was his first time to fly from California to Chicago. So, of course, I had to show him "The Bean" in Millennium Park. Personally, I have been downtown numerous time but I never get bored with it.

There was so much that has happened so far. One sweet road trip this summer was to Nashville, Tennessee where Sarah introduced us to Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles. Rebecca and Rob found a new favorite flavor - Pineapple with Chile. Yes, it is yummy! We also found out that Las Paletas is going to be on the show "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" which I'll have to tune into that night and claim. "Hey, I was there!"

On top of all this fun, I got together with my good ol' roommates, Steph, Sharon and Melanie, from Judson University. It was the first time since we graduated that all of us were able to meet and catch up. Sharon is showing off some stellar shades from Charlotte Russe. B-)

As for today, I feel calm and contemplative. I enjoyed a great day out with the Barlow Family celebrating Andrew's Gradutaion party at Oakwood Park in Winfield, Illinois. I'm so blessed to have all these friends and family.

-Jennifer

A Good day :P

Hello all, 

So just a little schpeel on how the day was today... Church was great as always, and the message was good, afterwards, got the chance to go celebrate a good buddies high school graduation... Congrats Andrew!!!  It was good times, lots of good people there and I got to play a whole bunch of SOCCER, and YOU KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING!!!  Kicking it was fun but definitely played all of that bare foot :) :( good and bad, you know... good cause die hards can play bare foot, but bad cause now my feet are so red and sore, and if you know me, redness is not something you can see on my skin very easily ;)  Overall the day was a good one... getting some stuff ready for my first FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT TOMORROW!!!  WOO HOO, I am also going to get to style them and their kids so, good stuff :)  Alright well, just thought I'd let you all know how the day went :)  But be sure to check back, and I'll tell you about the photo shoot soon enough, BE BLESSED EVERYONE!!!  :)

This is a shot of us playing soccer, THAT'S RIGHT PEOPLE!!  THIS IS HOW WE DO!!! ;) (THIS PHOTO WAS NOT EDITED IN ANYWAY, THE PLAYERS, ACTIONS, AND ENVIRONMENT ARE ALL REAL, AND WE REALLY ARE THAT GOOD... and I can fly)  ;)

And this is me after I scored my 5th goal in the game... what... what... that really is me ;)

* Just a little humor people :)

What a Day it was!!! :)

Well Hello EVERYONE,

Well the events that occur in this blog are a little dated back, so I apologize, but life is moving along swimmingly... if that is a word. Anyways, I had one of the best days of my life in a good long while. It started out with my first senior pictures shoot, and it went really well, got to meet some really great people, and after looking over the finished products, the pictures turned out great :) After that, I had the privilege of attending a very good friend's birthday party, Sarah Barlow, at a really fancy Japanese inspired restaurant. The food was splendiferous... haha you like that word ;) and the company was even better, the table was graced with a delicious array of foods and seated encompassing this table was some of the most delightful and stunning young women found in the greater Chicago land area, because each one of them "looks FANTASTIC!!!" as I quoted to them semi-bashfully, probably because I've never addressed that many women at once :) Anywho I had the absolute honor of meeting and sitting next to three very exceptional young women, who happen to have their own band, I think their called "The Barlow Girls"... of course at the time I didn't know that and asked them "So... how do you guys know Sarah?" as the entire table looked at me as if they all simultaneously said "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!" The one sitting next to me, Lauren, said "um we're related" and I said "OH, that's cool..." and then

Sarah: Um they have a band...
Me: Oh really? That's exciting
Sarah: Yeah... um... have you heard of The Barlow Girls?

- A silence hovers over the table as if someone turned us all on MUTE
- What seemed like 1 min later... actually 3-4 seconds...

Me: OHH!!! So you three are The Barlow Girls, ok well it's NICE TO MEET YOU!! :)

- A laughter fills the table, which then fills the RESTAURANT [Sarah, you know that laugh was yours ;) - just kidding]

Following that AWESOME (sarcastic undertone) display of Rico Suaveness in meeting 3 amazing women for the first time... wait a go Steeeeve :( The night was a blast, from inside jokes, to strolling down memory lane, and making jokes about photos of other countries with Lauren, (good stuff, I'm telling you we should really try for that cable night show, haha) The night was an overall success and one of the best I have ever had in a really long time. God has a great way of speaking to you when you least expect it, giving you rest when it is much needed, watching over you and always seeing you through the difficult stuff every form, reminding you that friends are blessings too, and introducing you to more GREAT people who just add to those blessings :)

The images are from my first Senior shoot with a great friend and client, thanks Gianna it was such a good shoot and you were GREAT, hope you Enjoy them, and don't forget to COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, ONE... BY... ONE ;) Be BLESSED EVERY + 1 ;)

More of My First Senior Shoot :)

Here are more from Gianna's Senior Shoot :)

Check it Out!

Hey everybody!

Our website is up and running so check it out! We hope you are just as excited about this as we are-- woo hoo!! :)

Steven Ryne Photography


Hope all of you have had an amazing day!
Sarah

NASHVILLE, TN!!!

Hello folks!!! Well I am really trying to get into this blogging thing, it's new for me so I have a hard time remembering to update it and I apologize to all of you who look forward to hearing from me :) So here are some of my newest events, I recently just got back from Nashville, TN "YA'LL" with my older sister and her boyfriend and my cousin... we went down to visit my younger sister Sarah and just hang out! It was such a good time, I had originally planned to take advantage of Nashville's beautiful scenery and rustic atmosphere and do a photo shoot, but scheduling with the models ended up not working out as well as I had planned to make a long story short... so I didn't get to do any fashion shoot at all, I was really bummed but after much debating with God, He just told me to trust in Him and that His timing is PERFECT!!! So as hard as it is for someone with a creative vision and the means to make that creative vision come to life, then put that on lay away for the time being is a very difficult thing to do! I just have to keep praying that God will bring things to pass :)

Other than that, the trip went very well, Sarah took us to this place called Las Paletas, which sells the best popsicles you will ever have, I highly recommend that if you are in Nashville, TN you should go and try some. Along with eating a popsicle once every day, literally, we did a whole bunch of other stuff, we went to Centennial Park, went out to eat at a bunch of different and tasty southern restaurants, and we went LINE DANCING!!! hahaha now I'm southern!

Now on to the 4TH OF JULY!!! Very interesting experience the 4th of July in the SOUTH, let me tell you, not the same as up here at all!!! We went to Downtown Nashville to see the fireworks and that city gets so CROWDED, ridiculously CROWDED!! I can't remember a time where we weren't shoulder to shoulder with people being herded into one direction, life cattle... ANYWHO!!! We went down to the Cumberland River to watch the Nashville Symphony Orchestra play on a boat and the fireworks shot off behind them!! It was really cool, and it is said that Nashville has the 3rd best fireworks display in the country next to New York and Washington DC and you know what... THEY ARE RIGHT!!! Overall, the trip as a whole was good, and a God really just showed me alot!!!

Well folks, I'll be adding another one, shortly!!! Take care everyone and God bless!!!

Congratulations Andrew!!

Hi all!!  Again sorry about the delay but these are some senior pictures of a buddy of mine, Andrew Barlow, just graduated from high school and I got to tag along with his sister Sarah and some other photographer friends to shoot his senior pictures.  Take a look and feel free to leave some comments; we appreciate the support... and I'm going to say it, ENJOY!!  ;)

Andrea and Gordon's Wedding

Holy Cow folks!!!  I'm so sorry to any viewers out there who have been waiting for me to put up some of my latest work but life has been busy still trying to build this company... any who, these are some pictures of a wedding where I was a second shooter for Sarah Barlow and one of her interns Cait.  The wedding was absolutely stunning and it took place at the Naperville Riva.  Congratulations to Andrea and Gordon again and for the rest of you, please; ENJOY!!!