Nate Ryan ’10 has established himself as a photographer able to bring out the best in people.
As a studio art and geology student, he was the chief photographer for The Carletonian and The Lens, in addition to serving as chief student photographer for the sports information and media relations offices. The portraits he created for his senior show featured the work of bicycle mechanics and posed them in heroic positions, in contrast to the chaos of the repair shops surrounding them.
He has continued to evolve his nuanced attention to the human experience in the 15 years since graduation—focusing on portrait and documentary lifestyle photography during his 10 years as staff photographer at Minnesota Public Radio’s 89.3 The Current, and in his independent work with numerous commercial and editorial clients. In the past few years alone, he has photographed the Minnesota Vikings star player Justin Jefferson for ESPN and MN Governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and worked with publications such as The New York Times and Forbes, and commercial clients such as MLS team Minnesota United FC and General Mills. Ryan is also an active participant in the professional photography community, holding membership in the American Society of Media Photographers, and the American Photographic Artists. His images and videos are consistently awarded, most notably by the nationally recognized American Photography annual and Communication Arts.
Ryan works with creative and highly visible subjects, and makes them feel at ease, especially in high-pressure situations. He has been reassuring, confident, and professional in every instance. It is those human touches that help connect him to people and make him one of the most in-demand photographers in Minnesota. He has been able to shine a light on emerging musical talent in Minnesota and have it travel across the globe to the point where the most ardent consumers of Ryan’s work are not in Minnesota, but Brazil, India, and the U.K. He uses his talent to elevate and celebrate the music of Minnesota, all while showcasing a breadth of human achievements, experiences, and pursuits.