We had the good fortune of connecting with Tommy Rhyan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tommy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has been a huge part to my career. I have lived in many states to pursue and try new parts of the media world. Each opportunity I was able to learn so many different avenues of the photography and videography world. Without risk, I would have never worked on set in the hills of LA or traveled to Poland for a TV show or even moved to Georgia to work for a YouTuber. I think risk was necessary for what I wanted to accomplish and let me have the portfolio I have today.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I first picked up a camera at the age of 19, at that time not really realizing what I was about to get myself into. My friends and I would drive around looking for abandon buildings to photograph and explore. After exploring the cities and the farm fields of Illinois, I realized just how much I enjoyed photography. I then later went to community college to get my associates and then to Northern Illinois where I got a Mass Communications degree in Media Studies. During my college career I started doing Portraits on the side to make some extra money.
After college some friends and I decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue film. I was able to get some Production Assistant opportunities but unfortunately Covid cut my time short. I came home to Illinois and started my own company where I would produce recruitment videos, wedding videos and portraits. At this time I was also an Assistant Editor for a TV Show called Family Travel with Colleen Kelly. In the beginning I handled posts for social media but would later travel with them to Country Thunder Music Festival, Poland, Ireland, and Louisiana to help produce and capture behind the scenes footage for the show.
After some time back in Illinois I decided to take a full time job in Georgia to work for YouTuber, meaning I had to put my projects on hold. We were a two man team responsible for every aspect of the production for the videos. While I was there we were able to create multiple million view videos and travel all over the south. It was an experience I will never forget. I learned so much during my time working for the channel. After putting in countless hours I realized I wanted to create more for myself. I ended up packing my bags and headed out west to Denver, CO where I now will be working freelance, doing all sorts of photography and videography!
The challenge in finding new opportunities and moving to new destinations is what keeps me busy professionally. If you are upset for not getting a client or a certain job there will always be a better opportunity out there. The path I took wasn’t normal what so ever and thats what makes it mine. Create your own path and stay in it. Don’t try and follow others, learn from theirs.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would spend a couple days in and around the city going to roof top bars and depending on the season hit a sporting event! I then would take them to Rocky Mountain National Park! It is one of my favorite spots and there are so many unique landscapes. After a day in the park I would then head towards Red Rocks Amphitheater to either see a concert for just to explore the area. After Red Rocks I would then hit the slopes for the next couple days! Theres so much to do in and around denver you can’t go wrong!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Theres a lot of people in my life who have inspired me in the photography world but if it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t be where I am today. They’ve always believed and supported my endeavors. With helping me move to different states to even reaching out to future clients. They are always there giving me advice and wanting me to become the best version of myself.
My close friends and family have also played a role in my career, letting me use them as subjects in photos and videos. Sharing my work to others on social media and in person, it means the world to me. Knowing that I have such a great support system behind me allows me to take even more risk.
When it comes to the media world, I grew up watching and learning from the greats like Jimmy Chin and Casey Neistat. The more adventurous film makers and photographers are who I gravitate towards. Watching their videos and seeing their photos inspire me to this day. The work they had to put in to get where there are has also encouraged me to take the risk to travel so much and live in different places.
Website: https://tommyrhyan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommy.rhyan/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tommy.Rhyan.Productions
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrsSeLboyfNBwgbbjO-dkQ
Other: https://www.instagram.com/tommy.rhyan.productions/
Image Credits
Photo 1- Ashley Ridgley Smith