Happy Holidays from Ryan May Studios!

Wishing you a joyful & healthy Holiday Season and New Year!

This is a popular time of year for couples to deepen their commitment to one another. So to all the newly engaged folks out there, congratulations! 

2013 promises to be an exciting year for Ryan May Studios. Stay tuned for news and updates as they happen. You can also follow me on Twitter or Like my Facebook page!

Surprise Proposal: Haidy & Chris

Wow! What a day! It all started a couple weeks ago when Chris contacted me about his idea for a surprise proposal to his lovely girlfriend Haidy. I could tell from his email how excited he was to bring his grand plan to fruition. He had already figured out where he wanted to propose (the Palace of Fine Arts), the timing and position he expected to bring Haidy into the rotunda, how their family and friends would be waiting in the wings (unbeknownst to her), and even some ideas for shots. In fact he told me on the phone that it was his longtime dream to propose to his future fiancee at the Palace's rotunda, so a planner and a romantic! The amount of thought that Chris put into his proposal for Haidy is incredible.

The only thing Chris couldn't plan for was the weather, which was cold and wet. Once we arrived and  connected with Chris and Haidy's friends and family, we all huddled, shivering under the vaulted rotunda. It wasn't much protection from the elements but we took what we could get. Everyone was really excited to witness the proposal and, in small part, to get back into the warmth of the nearby Exploratorium where they could wait while we finished shooting. You see it was cold. And wet, did I mention wet? It was cold and wet.

Don't think for a second, though, a little bad weather would stop anything. Mostly because everybody had come up from Southern California that morning so it wasn't an option (that's right, Chris made this all come together from several hundred miles away). Gloomy weather is no match for love. So he popped the question, I took the pictures, and here are few of them as a little teaser. 

Chris and Haidy, thank you so much for allowing me to capture this special moment. Your love for each other is clear to all of those around you, and I wish you the best of luck with wedding plans and for the rest of your life together.

Hold on folks, there's two more after the jump. Don't miss out!

Allison & Safa: A Cliff House Reception

Allison & Safa had quite a few legs on their matrimonial journey. The two reside in New York however Allison is from California and Safa from Turkey. So they did the only thing that really made sense, have a ceremony in New York and Turkey with a final appearance in California. As such, they were through with ceremonies and went with a lovely reception at San Francisco's beautiful Cliff House.

It was a beautiful day which is a blessing in itself. For those of you not from around these here parts the ocean-side of San Francisco is commonly socked in with fog. From a photographer's standpoint this makes for lots of beautiful, soft light but the tradeoff is a flat grey sky. As it stood we had blue skies, a cheerful crowd, and great time!

Enjoy the rest of the set!

Maternity Photos - Misty & Chris

I had the pleasure of taking photos of Misty and Chris, who are expecting their first child in January. We had a lot of fun at Land's End, a beautiful and relatively quiet scenic area in San Francisco. You can sense Misty and Chris's love for each other in these photos - they are going to be great parents! Thank you, Misty and Chris, for allowing me to document this exciting time in your life. Check out some of my favorite images below and after the jump.

A Winter Wonderland Portrait Special!

For a limited time I will be doing portraits in the snow! The snow-clad mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe will make an incredible backdrop for your winter portrait session! Whether it's as an individual, family, couple, or an engagement - take advantage of this amazing opportunity and fantastic location!

Available dates are Friday, December 7th through Sunday, December 9th. Book now as availability is limited!

Mariana & Snehil: Brazilian Hindu Wedding

I had the pleasure of photographing Mariana and Snehil's gorgeous ceremony recently and it was wonderful! The ceremony was quite elaborate but relaxed at the same time. The ceremony took about an hour and a half and everyone was free to move about to get a drink, have an hors d'oeuvre, or mingle. It created a nice flow to the event and everybody had a great time. Have a look and enjoy!

Iceland

My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Iceland. What a beautiful country rich in history, culture, and geography. We spent about a third of our time in the capital, Reykjavik, and the rest driving around the west and south of the country. It was spectacular scenery and, because of the summer season, there was light 24 hours a day so lots of great opportunities to shoot!

After the jump you will be able to see some of the landscapes (mostly) that I caught. Enjoy!

Tedhak Siten: Javanese Ground Touching Ceremony

Tedhak Siten is a Javanese ground touching ceremony for babies symbolizing their connection to the Earth and the (hopeful) bestowal of admirable qualities. I had the pleasure of shooting baby Sohna's Tedhak Siten when she was 8 months old. The ceremony took place on lovely Vashon Island in Seattle's Puget Sound where Maeg and Krus were living and raising Sohna at the time.

Father and daughter

Traditionally this ceremony is held when the baby is 245 days old which is 7 months of the 35 day Javanese calendar. It is a joyous occasion which is celebrated by family and friends. Sohna's ceremony was held outside on a beautiful summer day.