Story & Lesson Highlights with Jared Rygg

We recently had the chance to connect with Jared Rygg and have shared our conversation below.

Jared, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
There were so many draws for me to leave the medical field and start a photography business—for me, the obvious ones are centered around being an artistic person. From drawing up the graphics for my own branding, to painting forty-foot murals in the city I’ve grown up in— getting to transform something I love in into ‘work,’ really builds a sense of pride. But the most meaningful reason for this career choice is my desire to just be a good dad. When I talk to other people about what I do, one of the biggest misconceptions I hear is the downside of working nights and weekends. But what they’re forgetting is that I’m largely home for the day-to-day moments that matter—school drop-offs, ‘Donuts with Dad’ on Friday mornings, inspiring my kids to love adventure the way I do and to pursue the things they feel passionately about. Consider me among the group of dads working to break generational cycles and set the new standard for what it truly means to be a present and impactful parent.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I get to photograph weddings and couples all over the world and at the core of what I do is a documentary-style approach, rooted in truth. My job isn’t to stage your love— it’s to witness it, capture it and deliver it back to you exactly as it happened. Every ounce of that grit, elegance and emotion still fully intact. My style is honest, intentional and true-to-color. I didn’t leave a career in the medical field to do this work “someone else’s way”, there is so much value in staying clear of the trends. I’m here to provide timeless imagery that still hits deeply, years down the road.
My non-invasive approach allows me to be a sense of calm on your big day— the professional you can trust and probably the guy dancing right alongside you by the end of the night. After years in the industry, I’ve learned how to move seamlessly through every kind of wedding day— from high-end destination weddings to intimate and unfiltered celebrations, I’m here to preserve the day exactly as it was and tell your story beautifully. Your day, your way.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
One person in particular that I reference often is Tracy McGrady. Yes, the retired NBA star who scored 13 points in 33 seconds to catapult the Rockets to winning a game against the Spurs. I quote this specific story all the time in my personal life (and with business) as a reminder that anything can happen— even when it feels like the odds are stacked against you. The amount of work put in to even get to that stage, the tireless repetition and polished skillset required to perform at that level—an absolute dedication to the craft and the poise to perfectly execute, despite the pressure of a moment like that. I grew up with sports ingrained into my everyday life and it is still surprising to me how many parallels there can be between sports and running a business like mine. For me, I know the pressure of shooting someone’s big day and I fully understand there is no room for error. The athlete in me accepts that pressure as excitement as I know undoubtedly that I’ve put in the hours to become an expert at what I do. I’ve prepared and prepared again, I watch my own work back as if it was game film and in my 7 years of business, I’ve never stopped wanting the ball in my hands in the final seconds. I want to be the best at this. The work speaks for itself in each story I get to tell and I am very prideful of that.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
When I first started my business, admittedly, I used to think there was one tried-and-trued way to shoot weddings. That a rinse-and-repeat formula would ensure I hit everything on the Pinterest board shot list and check every box for “What Makes a Wedding.” But, with more years of experience, and a genuine desire to master the use of some of the highest quality camera equipment, I’ve adapted my train of thought to embracing that one person’s wedding is not going to look like another person’s wedding. And, even more importantly, I’m not going to manufacture or over-edit someone’s wedding photos so that they fit perfectly into the hues of my social media feed—my style speaks for itself. It’s not about me and my social media marketing—it’s about my couples and truly valuing the nuance ways they show their love. Present day, I’m confident I can capture authentic wedding day moments without interrupting a couple to have them start, stop and redo whatever pure moment they just lived, and I know the photos will be as true to their day as possible. Spending the necessary hours planning with my couples, grabbing drinks and hearing their stories, shooting engagement photos—the hours “in the lab” prior to the wedding day, allow for me to integrate my workflow into the day seamlessly.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Currently, my pride-piece is working on a short film I’ve been sitting on for a year or so. I’m inspired by cinema in every form and almost always have a movie on in the background as I’m editing wedding galleries. This year, I started a second business called LoveCvlt where I’ve teamed up with a videographer to offer couples photo and video packages from two long-time industry professionals who just feel like they should have been invited to the wedding anyways. Separate from our work in the wedding industry, we both are passionate about building out these stories we can’t seem to get out of our heads— having a business partner to share that passion ( that doesn’t make much sense to anyone else) with, inspires me to keep improving every day.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
This career takes me to the most remote and beautiful locations, usually at the best times of day—sunrise and sunset. I’m all for scouting locations that offer my couples’ privacy as I’m capturing intimate moments, and I will venture off the beaten path to find that for them. When I do, the quiet stillness out in nature, set against an awe-dropping background is the best equation for peace. Dramatic canyons, dense forests, powerful waterfalls—you can’t not feel an overwhelming sense of calm. I try to remember to take a minute during each session and truly take in the view, the weather, the smells of vibrant life around us and just appreciate that this gets to be what I do for work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JaredCRygg.com
• Instagram: @JCRyggPhoto