Finally.
Des and I have been wanting to get family photos taken for quite a while, but I’m a sort of artsy snob and have had a hard time thinking of someone that I could trust to deliver exactly the vision I had in my head for the shoot.  Not that I had one initially, but when Destiny told me her idea for the shoot, I almost immediately  said, “Ryan Ray“.  I did a mentor session with Ryan a little while ago, and got to know him pretty well.  He is an amazing guy, and  he has an intense passion for creating art and revealing connection.  Ryan is about as close as I could think of to a photographer with a similar vision and passion to my own.  He agreed to shoot us, even though he doesn’t shoot families, and we could not be more happy with the results.
Destiny wanted to go all Jackson Pollock in a field. Â Five seconds after she said it, I couldn’t wait to do it. Â My mind was racing with angles and lighting. Â I have to give Ryan credit, I’m pretty sure I’m the worst client ever to shoot. Â I’m my own worst nightmare. Â I’m that client that tries to tell you how to do your job because I have my own vision for the shoot. Â It’s amazing, I found it very difficult to let go and just trust Ryan, not because of him, but my own control issues. Â He handled it beautifully. Â Here’s to you to you sir. Â You delivered everything we envisioned and more.
These are the one that I processed, head on over to Ryan’s blog to see his faves.
74 comments
David Lee - Absolutely love it!! The final piece of art is awesome, and Ryan did an incredible job capturing the love and fun you all share as a family. Definitely blessed brother!!
Ryan Ray - It was an honor bro!
Tweets that mention The Clausens. By Ryan Ray. » Poser:Image. Fashion, Lifestyle, and Destination Wedding Photographer. -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erik Clausen. Erik Clausen said: The Clausens family shoot by Ryan Ray. Blogged. http://www.iamaposer.com/?p=4193 [...]
liz - Holy crap. Best family session I’ve seen. Hands down.
Michael Smith - brill man.
Ginny Corbett - Absolutely incredible! Coolest family ever! Ryan nailed it!
Dustin Prickett - love the whole creativity and philosophy behind this, top notch dude!
ryan flynn - unbelievable.
Rick Short - this took me someplace special. Far beyond reality, somewhere deep into imagination, possibilities, hope, and … wow!
cindy buerke - your family is beautiful, i have seen you all grow up and so much in love. you are blessed.
B&W Photography Marcin Labedzki - Great family portraits!!
matthew morgan - abstract expressionism meets modern family. what a creative idea and how wonderfully shot. love it.
Aljosa - Amazing work… Fresh….Congratulations…
Lara - These are amazing! Your family is GORGEOUS.
Drew - Even smothered in paint your family is beautiful. This looks like it was a blast. Very fun idea, and I’m glad we got to see what special things that canvas was for.
Jeramie - What??? So freaking cool! Props to him for handling the pressure of shooting for you.
Andreas Holm - The best family shots I’ve ever seen!
Beautiful!
Madelynn Kenoly - You guys look amazing! Looks like you’d belong in a magazine editorial.
Josh Elliott - This is the most amazing family session I’ve ever seen. Great idea! Beautiful imagery.
Heather - incredible…completely out of the box…love it!
ken kienow - hoooly cow. you and your wife are brilliant. this is the most amazing thing.
Thanos Asfis - Yeah man ! You’ve got some really great shots there ! But what I like most is the general feeling, you can feel the warm, happy, loving mood of their family !
Cheryl - Stunning!
brett maxwell - YES! That tilt-shift shot of your wife behind your daughter is just phenomenal. I love seeing people use the greater potential of those lenses. And of course, the whole sessions is great.
Will Pateman Photography - Love the last 2 shots would deinately hang that Art on your wall..great expressions from all the family
Andrew Rozell - In the words of Jeff Newsom, those family photos are epic.
hili - it’s amazing. seeing the two processing version just show what an incredible diference your processing makes. wow .
fer juaristi - so cool bro, great family time.
Lauren (Carter) Arnquist - LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!!!!! I did Destiny’s Make up that day for this shoot and she told me all about it! I couldn’t wait to see the pictures! They turned out amazing!!!
Kayla - These are SO totally awesome! I LOVE them!
Nate Gates - Hey Erik,
What a friggin awesome idea…love it! The whole fandamily looks insanely cool.
I was perusing the Bigfolio Site and ran across your site on there…met you a couple months ago at the Jeff Newsom workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA….
Cheers…keep it real.
- Nate
Emily @ Southern Weddings - Gorgeous. The light, the fam, the photos… everything is gorgeous.
Bart P - outsanding!!! the most amazing session i’ve ever seen!! :)
Aileen@LoveandLavender - Wow! What an awesome shoot! Love love love it!
John Marchisi - Awesome, it’s a real gift to have those family memories captured… that’s what it’s all about
kristen - Absolutely incredible. This is the 3rd time looking through.
lilia - holy crap! these are beyond awesome!
Ben Godkin - Pure Awesome! So much fun!
LaKaye Mbah - What a fantastic idea! Very inspirational.
Dean G - What an incredible session. The light, compositions, expressions, its all perfect.
Julia Wade - that is just epic …. incredible shoot
Stephie - Ummm…..AMAZING! Makes me looks a family photos differently. I LOVE this idea. :) Beautiful captures.
Taylor - Very inspiring! What an amazing shoot. Thank you for sharing the idea!
Ninie - wOw…an amazing shooting! love everything…
Katie - Impeccable.
meg duerksen - i want to be in your family.
this is amazing!!!
Jennifer Johnson - Incredible!!! Love the idea and the pictures!!! So original…truly amazing!!!!
Natalie Young - seriously the sweetest thing…ever
Melissa Ferrell - WOW… looks like sooooo much FUN! Thanks for the idea! You’re awesome! Now would you want to come over here in the mountains of West Virginia and take ours? LOL
hearttypat - The light is perfect! And you have a perfect little family there as well!
Kristen Driscoll - Fantastic. Love the use of light!
Alina Koval - this is the most amazing family photoshoot i have ever seen. absolutly incredible!
Kelly - This family looked liked they were having a lot of fun!!! Great work!!!
Look forward to seeing more….
Tracy - i would so love to do a non traditional family pic like this i think stepping out of the box would be soo cool
Jamie W - Genius idea! My kids would go nuts for this. I don’t think we could quite pull off the total ROCK STAR look that your family does, but we would have tons of fun. Gorgeous pics!
Danya Jimenez - I loved the concept and the second to last picture is amazing!
Brooke Anderson - Your family is absolutely beautiful! And this shoot is exactly something I would love to do.
Lillian Hoyt - Just saw a link to this from pinterest. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Vanessa - I would totally love this sort of photo shoot for my family. i have 6 boys and this would be a perfect type scene for us.
great photos
Laurel - This is honestly the best series of photos I have ever seen.
Stacy - The best ever! I love love love it!
Tricia - Love, Love, Love this idea….what kind of paint did you use?
Marvelous Monday! | SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington - [...] Credit: Covered in Paint, Family in the Water, Diamonds, Boy Up Front, Silhouettes, The Lowe Family News, Family on the [...]
Planning for a Family Photo | Fab Fam Five - [...] inspiration for your family photo? Check out more pictures from this awesome family photo shoot here. [...]
Planning for a Family Photo | FabFamFive - [...] inspiration for your family photo? Check out more pictures from this awesome family photo shoot here. [...]
Sweet Memories - OMG!!! Great idea and the shoots are incredible
And the family is absolutely beautiful!
What’s Lifestyle Portraiture? | Sarah Laurel Photographic - [...] sights together, playing at the beach with tots, or a ‘Themed’ location shoot. See (Ryan Ray‘s wonderful Themed shoot. ) A ‘special’ Family Day out, visiting relatives, a [...]
devon - awesome job! I am amazed!
Stephanie M - epic
Tanya - Amazing!!
sharon elizabeth - LOVE LOVE LOVE
Rachel Hammond-Valencia - I love this idea.
Jessica Rider Sirman - LOVE!
Brianne Birman - I saw this awhile ago it is super cool! We are hopefully going to be doing a similar shoot next month but on the beach :)
Aubryana Loralee Marshall - This is absolutely stunning!! <3
Tasha Brandon - I need to find a photographer that can do this for my family!
Tarah Naomi Sloan - Wonderful idea and great shots! I am going to have to try this in the future! =)
Tarah Sloan Photography - Wonderful idea and some great shots! I am going to have to do this in the future! Family love, plus paint, PLUS the golden hour, makes for amazing photos! <3
Haeli Glover - What kind of paint did you guys use?
10 ideas de fotos sin ñoñeces con la family « eltarrodeideas - [...] puedes ver el reportaje aquí [...]
Alysia Cerene - SO Fabulous — I LOVE it! =D
Pamela Stewart Bradley - LOVE this, such a great idea; the emotion, love, closeness and fun of this family is captured in every shot. Great work!
Barbara Sarto Nickerson - Unique…Refreshing
Mila Morrison Carney - I have few words but am completely inspired! I have a shoot with a family of 7, all boys, and i think I’ve just found the direction that will capture their heart, style, and character! Brilliantly done! I love the body shot composition and contrast of bad@$$ against nature! Brilliantly done!
Katie - This is incredible…I LOVE this family photo shoot concept idea so much! I’m a painter and my boys love art-making. We often paint together. This would be a perfect way to capture our family. The photos are amazing and your family is beautiful!
Eva Lyn Tarigan - Ctar ctarrr!!!!
Pictures of Aruba - Now that is what I call original!
Shelia Kay Breeding Ball - Love!
Caroline Benoit - tout simplement le style de séance sue j’adorerai realiser <3