Meet Rasy Ran | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rasy Ran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rasy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk has definitively shaped who I am. The freelance career path I chose is very volatile, so there’s always this small layer of uncertainty that keeps me on my toes. In the push for improvement, I try to constantly explore ideas with new clients and push creatively to see their reaction. That’s when I realize risk isn’t only personal, but a two-way street that needs to be reciprocated and explained through a thought process. Other times it just happens in spur of the moment. In my personal life it’s more mitigated and the choices are safer because the current economic times upended all we knew about security and stability. So it has shifted my workflow to be diligent and to always seek a purpose. Sometimes I do treat risk like a numbers game to feel like I can get ahead of the curve, but also have to force myself to look past that and just stop thinking and just do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started off photographing automotive at car meets. Then I branched into portraiture and eventually weddings and events. My style tends to gravitate towards the naturalistic side, and I do use other tools like artificial lighting when necessary. I’m typically a straight shooter, meaning no compositing since it was instilled from my photojournalism past. I’m most proud that I can continue freelance photography today after ten plus years having never worked full-time or even part-time anywhere else. It wasn’t easy, especially when you see yourself in the red at the beginning with startup costs. I had to remind myself that photographic services are a luxury in today’s age. To bring on and commission a photographer should feel like a luxurious experience. That principal thought can also apply to every other creative professional. The lesson took me too long to realize, and cut out those who didn’t see the value in a creative professional’s rate. I want the world to understand that even though I’ve been photographing for a long time, it never feels easy or secure. We all never know the full stories what happens in the background and it’s more than just a glamorous, curated news feed. To my past, present and future clients: don’t be afraid to ask me harder questions or make suggestions, valid critique has helped shaped myself as an artist overall.

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.
The Dallas Arts District to begin. It’s minutes within the diverse art galleries on Dragon Street, and cap the artistic visit with the Dallas Contemporary which is typically more of a physical experience with their walk-through displays. Then take a drive to sandwich hag for some delicious banh mi sandwiches and park in the middle of Deep Ellum, find a couple chairs and people watch. In fact, I can think of no other better spot to people watch than in that section of Dallas. The Twilite Lounge on Elm makes for a great chill atmosphere for drinks when they aren’t hosting live music acts. A stroll through Swiss Avenue, Dallas’ first historic district, features many homes that encapsulates the early 1900s and feels like a bubble of what life looked like back then. It’s well maintained, beautiful and makes for a serene experience. Being an avid gamer, I would have to bring the friend to Cidercade Dallas, which is an arcade and cider company that sells a variety of hard ciders.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, my wife Rochelle who has been my guide, mentor, partner and assistant this whole ride. She has seen the ups and downs, and the beacon for the times I have been lost during the years. Danny Fulgencio who gave me the chance to absorb and display local stories through editorial work at Advocate Magazine. Susan Huston who runs a fantastic modeling workshop and lends her experiences to young girls on self-care and emboldening self-worth I help photograph. Jennifer Tsay and Rachel Wasserman for giving me the opportunity to hone and craft beautiful portraits through Shoott, Inc. Darin Schnabel of RM Sotheby’s, Beck Diefenbach of Bring a Trailer, and Jakob Greisen of Bonhams for allowing me to continue my first love in photography: automotive. Lastly, my old college newspaper The Shorthorn that instilled a deadline work ethic with attention to detail.

Website: www.rasyran.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasyranphoto/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasy-ran-60822991/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RasyRanPhotography

Image Credits
Cars: RM Sotheby’s People: Rasy Ran Photography