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THE VINDYS • APRIL 7, SUZIE'S

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I'm not sure what kind of magical voodoo was going on at Suzie's on Friday night, but my Vindys KILLED IT with their new tunes! Their full-length album Keep Going will be released on April 22 (Record Store Day!) and it's going to blow you away. I'll share photos from the studio in the week leading up to it. 

It's like something clicked during this show - these guys are fiercely passionate about this music and it feels like they've finally found their voice. It feels like the beginning of something huge. I'm so proud of all of them for working so hard during the recording process, and especially proud of my boss babe Jackie P for writing incredible songs and being such a badass. 

KV's Krew & MS Awareness Month

As we're in the last week of MS Awareness Month, I wanted to share a little bit about a charity that's very near and dear to my heart. KV's Krew was established in honor of Kathy Villella, who was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in July 2008. On March 10, 2014, Kathy's daughter, Nikki, was also diagnosed with MS.

Kathy's other daughter, Samantha, is a very dear friend of mine and I've gotten to know this wonderful family very well. Although they face struggles every day that I couldn't even begin to imagine, this family has an unlimited supply of love, faith, and laughter that keeps them going on even their darkest days. I started by volunteering to take photographs at their annual fundraising dinner, but my involvement with the organization has grown over the years, from helping design their website to our most recent project, filming a short documentary called A Journey of Hope.

Guests at last year's dinner, Strike Out MS, watching A Journey of Hope. A surreal experience. 

Filming this documentary has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. Showing life through Ed and Kathy's eyes was an opportunity to help others understand what it's like to live with the effects of this disease, not only for the person with the disease but his/her caretakers and family. To show the challenges they deal with on a daily basis, but also the amazing amount of hope that's a constant presence in their lives. After the first screening of A Journey of Hope at KV's Krew's 2016 fundraising dinner, Strike Out MS (baseball themed!), there was not a single dry eye in the house - mine included. It was overwhelming to see my work on a giant screen, with so many people watching, knowing I was able to help share the Villellas' story.

Sam and me. 💗

None of this would have been possible without my amazing friend Samantha. Her tireless efforts with KV's Krew have raised thousands of dollars for organizations that support MS, like the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis. She is constantly educating and raising awareness - she's always rocking her orange! - and is always ready and willing to talk to anyone who will listen about this disease. Right at this moment, she is in Washington, D.C. advocating for her mother, sister, and everyone living with MS. She is an incredible person and I am honored to call her my friend. 

I've always had a hard time finding a charity I really feel a personal connection with, but KV's Krew has given me an opportunity to be able to use my talents to truly help others. We've got even more exciting projects coming soon, so stay tuned. Until then, we'll keep fighting until we can one day find a cure for Kathy, Nikki, and all those living with MS.

Ryan, Nikki, Stef, Brent, Sam, Kathy & Ed. I love these Villellas!

KV's Krew's primary goal is to raise awareness and educate others about MS, while raising funds for donation to organizations, societies, foundations, etc. that support MS education, research, and assist MS patients. You can learn more about them here, and donate to their cause here. 

BHS National Art Honor Society

Tonight, I had the honor of speaking about my life and career in photography at the National Art Honor Society ceremony at my alma mater, Boardman High School. It was incredibly inspiring to see so many students SO passionate about art. Never lose that spark, young artists! You'll change the world someday! ✌🏻❤📷🎨 

I wanted to share my speech with you all. An excerpt:

Pirouettes

"My experience here also taught me to make mistakes, because sometimes, those mistakes turn out to be happy accidents instead. I remember one day in the darkroom, my teacher Mr. Fecik spotted an 8x10 I had just processed. It was blurry to the point where the subjects - little girls in school uniforms - were unrecognizable. I was disappointed, but he held up the image for everyone to see - i was horrified. To my surprise, Mr. Fecik simply said: This is art. He saw my photograph for what it was, not what it was supposed to be. I called this photograph Pirouettes, as it looked like dancers spinning in motion. That photograph would be the capstone of my portfolio that went on to win a Gold Key from the Scholastic Art Awards during my senior year."