Questions

(and hopefully some answers)

I get questions frequently about the types of photographs I shoot, the equipment I recommend, my availability for projects, and how much I charge. I’ll do my best to answer some of the questions you have. Question not covered here? Just Ask!

Location, Availability & Cost

Questions & answers about my availability, service area, and what I charge

  • I'm located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    My office and studio space is located at 707 Michigan Street NE.

    I also work out of my studio just north of Grand Rapids, in Rockford.

  • Yes, I am.

    I maintain an active schedule, but I am available for freelance work. If you’d like to work with me, please connect with me! I’d love to hear from you!!

  • This is one of the questions I get a lot, and unfortunately the answer is always the same - it depends.

    While I do have set hourly, half day and day rates, these rates change by project type and my availability. Every project I work on is unique and comes with its own unique set of challenges, so pricing can vary.

    My recommendation - contact me with an accurate idea of the type of budget you’d be working with. By discussing budget first, not only are we saving each other precious time, but it helps me get an idea of when I can work you into my shooting schedule.

  • My general service area is West Michigan, as I’m based in Grand Rapids.

    While I may be based in Grand Rapids, I’ve been fortunate to shoot all over the world - from South America to East Africa, Europe and the Middle East. I’m no stranger to traveling for photography and film projects.

    Lately, I frequently shoot in Boston, Chicago, and New York City, and know the areas well..

Type of Photography I shoot

The type of photography projects I shoot, don’t shoot, and my stance on inclusivity

  • I specialize in commercial photography, focusing on product and portrait work. For product photography, I create clean, minimalistic images in a studio setting with seamless backdrops and professional lighting—perfect for showcasing your brand’s products in the best light. For portraits, I prefer a more lifestyle approach, using natural settings and lighting to create authentic, empowering images. Whether it’s helping a small business grow their brand or capturing a meaningful portrait, I tailor every shoot to reflect my client’s unique story and vision.

  • Yes, but on a limited basis.

    I squeeze in a few senior sessions every year, along with my commercial photography.

    Contact me

    If you’d like to shoot your senior photos with me, please connect with the studio..

  • No, I do not shoot weddings.

    My business excels in other areas of photography, and I prefer to work with commercial and corporate clients, and leave weddings to wedding photographers. For wedding photography, you’d be in better hands with a photographer who concentrates on and shoots weddings, and only weddings.

  • I’ve been getting more interest in this lately, so..

    I’ve seen increased interest in doing beginner and intermediate photography workshops, so I’ll have to put something together. If you’re interested, drop me a note on the contact page! Stay in touch with our Facebook page to get the latest details.

  • It’s quite simple - I love people. All people. Period.

    I am proud to be a completely inclusive photographer.

    As a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, I firmly believe that ALL people deserve equal respect, and love. My company and I are LGBTQ+ inclusive, and always will be.

Photography Gear Questions

Photography and video gear related questions. Have another? Ask me!

  • Now this one I get a LOT. It’s impossible to answer.

    I shoot Sony and Canon mirrorless cameras, and have a long history with Nikon. This question really depends on what type of photography you want to shoot, what your budget is, and what your plans are with photography down the road.

    Simply, if you have budget for it, both Sony and Canon have mirrorless systems that I use daily and would recommend.

    Pro tip - you’re better off going with a camera body that has less “bells & whistles” and spend the extra money on quality lenses. A camera is only as good as the lens you’re shooting through.

    My current camera lineup and camera bodies I recommend.

  • I strongly recommend LED.

    I’ve been photographing a long time. Way back when, I used strobes for photos. You know the kind, they go “pop” and the lights all flash in unison.

    After strobes came halogens. Unlike strobes, halogen lights were always on, which was good, and bad. Good in that you could see the effect of moving the light before taking the shot, but bad because they pump out some serious heat. A couple of these in a smaller room and things get warm quickly.

    Finally, LED lights, which I use almost exclusively. They generate virtually no heat, are excellent for shooting video, and the temperature (color) of the light is adjustable.

    Most of my lighting equipment is made by Aputure. More information about the lights I use and recommend.

For a fairly up-to-date listing of a lot of my camera and lighting gear, check out the Gear pages.

More About Me

Just a little more about me

  • I’m grateful to get asked this one all the time!

    To me, being asked if “you’re hiring” means something.

    Being asked about hiring means I’m putting quality work out there that’s getting noticed. It means I’m treating people right, and clients are satisfied with the work I do. To me, being asked about hiring is such a huge compliment, so if you’re here seeking employment with me, thank you.

    While I’m not currently “hiring” in the traditional sense, I encourage creatives that are interested in working with me to connect with me, drop me a line, send your portfolio and stay in touch.

    The easiest way to connect is through one of my Social Media links, or simply use the contact form on the Contact Page.

    Also, see below.

  • I’m big enough to service my corporate clients, and small enough for a very personal experience.

    I’m small and nimble enough to provide cost-effective personal service to my clients. I’m big enough to handle larger, more complex projects that require multiple photographers and/or crew, able to meet deadlines and exceed the quality expected by even the most demanding commercial clients.

    I maintain a very small group of creatives from which to pull from depending on photography job type and scale. Headshots and Portraits, Architecture, Drone Photography and Products, having the right creative behind the camera is critical.

    Most often, for smaller shoots, it’s usually just me, Ryan Velting, showing up to photograph. For larger shoots, I’ll have a second and sometimes third camera operator with me, along with crew to help set up and move lighting equipment, make changes to set, and direct talent in front of the camera.

  • While I don’t offer online booking through my website, you’re welcome to reach out to me using the contact form.

    Every photography project I take on is as unique as the client behind it, and I believe it’s essential to start with a conversation—whether by phone or email—to truly understand your goals and vision. Photography is a personal and collaborative process, and I find that an online booking system feels too impersonal for the level of care and customization I bring to each project.

    Let’s connect and tailor something just for you!

Prints, Photoshop, Timing, Delivery

Will I “photoshop” you, photo delivery and print ordering questions

  • Absolutely! I’ve made it easy to order prints, and work with some of the nation’s best photo printers!

    Through my client portal, I’ve made it simple to proof, share, select favorites, make notes and order prints.

    I work with a few of the best commercial photo printers in the United States, ensuring the highest quality prints that’ll last for decades.

  • I’m just as excited for you to see your prints as you are!

    Depending on the type of shoot you had, I finish with editing within 2-3 weeks, but often sooner. In the rare case there is a change to that, I’ll communicate that with you up front, before your shoot.

  • After we shoot, the studio will provide you a password to your online proofing gallery. Only you and whomever you give the password to will have access to your photos. The proofing gallery will allow you to save your favorites, mark the photos that aren’t, and share. You’ll also be able to make notes on each image. For instance, you may really like an image, but would like it cropped differently.

    From the gallery, depending on the arrangement, you can download social sharing optimized images, digital images, and even order prints.

    If you are ordering physical prints of your photos, they usually arrive 1-2 weeks from the time your print order is placed. These arrive directly to you from the printer.

  • Well, this just got awkward..

    I have an incredibly long history with Photoshop and other cutting-edge image editing tools. I certainly have the ability to thin your face, thicken your hair, and remove moles, among other “Photoshop tricks”.

    However, with the camera and lighting techniques I use, I find this rarely necessary.

    Yes, I’ll go through each image and remove blemishes such as acne, bruises and scrapes. I’ll perform a very lite “retouch” of each image, but typically don’t go much further. I want you to look like you, and I’ll work with you during the shoot to make you look your very best.

  • My policy has been to not provide full-resolution images.

    There are several reasons for this, but here are the 2 main ones:

    QUALITY CONTROL
    Part of the process of creating something my clients can be proud of and enjoy for decades, and that I can be proud of, comes down to the print.

    I’ll spare you the complexities of the printing process, but it involves a relationship between the photographer and the printer, typically involving color-matched screens, test prints, color spaces, calibrations, and (in my case) many many prints ordered over the years.

    I know what to expect, and what my client will receive - a beautifully color-balanced print, printed on archival quality acid-free paper that will last for decades.

    PRICING
    The way I price photo jobs takes into account the likelihood of the client ordering prints. The amount of time and effort I pour into my photography projects would surprise most people - with over 80% of my time going into retouching, editing, and making my clients look their absolute best. By keeping session fees reasonable and building a little profit into printing gives me an opportunity to service more clients, and gives clients the flexibility of ordering prints on their time frame.

  • Nope, I don’t, because the magic happens in the edit.

    Raw, unedited images are something I generally do not provide to clients.

    Not only are raw files not usable to most people (because of the file type my cameras generate), the end product when working with me is a collection of carefully selected and edited photos. The time spent photographing only accounts for 10-20% of the time I spend making your images look great.

    During editing, I pour an enormous amount of time into the details.