Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Loco.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I originally came to South Florida from San Diego in 2011 to do video work. I never planned on becoming a photographer. However, thanks to the access I had with athletes, I decided to take photos for fun while on breaks from filming. Eventually, that led to me doing half video and half photo work. Soon that turned into just photography. It went from something I never planned on doing to becoming the only thing I can see myself doing. Whether it’s fights, portraits, or some random photo project I invent in my head, I’m the happiest with a camera in my hand.
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?
I left my full-time job to travel around Europe for a few months, and then I moved to Vegas to be with my then-girlfriend/now-wife. Looking back, it was a pretty silly thing to do, leaving a guaranteed paycheck to do nothing for a few months and then moving to a new city to be a freelance photographer. Luckily, I had a solid network from previous jobs, so I made the transition in Vegas as well as I possibly could. Besides that, the first few months of the pandemic was very rough, as absolutely everything shut down photo-wise for me, so I just sat on my couch waiting for the world to open up again.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a sports and portrait photographer. I’m probably best known for my work in combat sports, as well as my portraits featuring MMA athletes and pro wrestlers. A good amount of pro wrestlers live in Florida, so that makes it a bit easier to find subjects to work with.
I try to convey a sense of emotion and truth in my portraits, which I hope the viewer is able to see.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think most people would be surprised to find out how boring I am. If I am not taking photos, then I am watching a documentary or drinking coffee while having a conversation with my dog about her day. I partied more than enough when I was younger, so I’m very happy to be asleep before 10 on a Friday night.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ryanloco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryanloco
Image Credits
Ryan Loco
