Meet Ryan Jones of SoFlo Photography© in Boca Raton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Jones.

Ryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a native Floridian and Iraq War veteran. I was born in Boynton Beach and I served in the United States Army for 8 years as an Apache Helicopter Crew chief. I enlisted in the US Army in September of 2003. I received orders to Fort Jackson, SC for Basic Training. After which, I received orders to attend the US Army Aviation Logistics School in Fort Eustis, VA where I graduated at the top of my class as the Distinguished Graduate. I then received my orders for assignment to my first duty station. I was assigned to 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, KY. I was with the 101st for 9 months before my unit received orders to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was deployed for the entire year of 2005. After returning home from my first tour of combat, I received Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and was subsequently assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as Fort Riley, KS. I was stateside for one year before I received my second deployment order which read a daunting “minimum 455 days boots-on-ground or until mission complete.” Well, I didn’t get to go home for nearly a year and a half. By the time I got home, I only had 10 months left in service. In 2009 I separated for the US Army with an Honorable Discharge and entered the Army Reserve for 2 more years.

I have had an incredibly tough time transitioning back to civilian life after nearly two and half years in combat operations. I do suffer from service related conditions: Major depressive disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Life has not been easy. After a few years went by, I discovered my passion as a photographer. I inherited my grandfather’s Nikon DSLR and started taking pictures which was when I realized that I had finally found the way to rediscover the beauty in the world and that was through my lens. I also realized that it was through my camera that I was only able to show people the world that I see. The world through my lens. Photography has been a very positive addition to my life. I do not consider myself a professional photographer by any means, but a man with an eye for photography. I really only do occasional freelance work and that has mainly been achieved via though my Instagram account as I do not advertise or promote myself or my business, but upload my favorite shots to Instagram.

I was featured on WPTV one afternoon for an aerial video I captured over the intracoastal waterway of a family of manatees including a couple juveniles. ABC Action News Now in Tampa emailed me that same day and asked for permission to air my video.

In closing. I discovered that photography was my key to serenity and with that came a sense of accomplishment. It has helped me immensely as war has a tendency of “jading” a man. I see beauty absolutely everywhere now whereas before I had difficulty finding it anywhere. My friends and family all tell me that I have a wonderful gift. I am curious to see where this road leads me as time goes on…

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Major depressive episodes and PTSD are always nipping at my heels as I move though life. It never gets easier, but I’ve better learned to cope with my conditions through trial and tribulation. It has been a rocky road of incredible ups and the most terrible, deep, dark lows. Such is life though.

I have tried to go back to college twice since I’ve been out of the service and I have had to withdrawal each time due to my service-connected disabilities. Life is difficult as a disabled veteran. It’s just a matter of learning to live around what we suffer. Survival is the easy part, but learning how to live again has proven elusive and quite difficult…

We’d love to hear more about your business.
SoFlo Photopgraphy is what I decided to brand myself as because I am a native South Floridian after all and at the time, I was venturing all around South FL rediscovering the beauty of the place I’ve called home my entire life. As soon as I set off looking for the natural beauty of the place I call home, I found it…EVERYWHERE. That’s when my “photography therapy” really started to work. I started sharing my photographs on social media and the reviews I was receiving from my friends and family made me feel great. They always tell me that I have a gift and that I should keep doing it and maybe make a business out of my hobby. I have received a number of jobs just from people stumbling on my social media accounts…including the City of West Palm Beach and a couple construction companies.

I also do aerial photography with my drone. Which is popular in reality and construction. In a nutshell, I offer just about any photographic service including, but not limited to: aerial stills and video; landscape, architecture and human photography. My equipment: Nikon D80, DJI Phantom 3 and my trusty computer

What were you like growing up?
I was always a bit introverted and a bit troubled. I had a good childhood, but familial depression staked its claim in me. I’ve always been spontaneous, mechanically inclined, and as curious as a cat about EVERYTHING. I have always craved to know just how everything works. What makes people tick, etc. I have always had a keen attention to detail too. I was an awkward kid… I wanted to be a fighter jet pilot when I was a boy having always dreamed of being a soldier.

Contact Info:

• Address: 23166 SW 60th Way
  Boca Raton, FL 33428-2037
• Phone: 5612899468
• Email: sofloaerial17@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/soflo_aerial
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sofloaerial
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/SoFloAerial17

Image Credit:
Ryan Jones

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