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What Happens When Social Media Goes Down

Do you rely on social media platforms only for your business?

Yesterday was a day for many to take a break from social media. Unless you have a Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn or whatever else you use to communicate.

I get messages via FB Messenger and I have explained time and time again to please use my website contact page instead.

Many have used built in Messenger services for a long time now, not realizing that for us business owners, emails offer us a better archive and timeline of communication between us and our clients. And for my many clients who have my cellphone number, using that to call or text me is another more reliable way to get in touch as well.

Sure it’s easier to just click Share and choosing to use Messengers or tagging. But if yesterday was any indication of what could happen again….well there’s your answer.

Which brings me to this: if you’re a business who uses Facebook or Instagram as your only way of getting the word out about your business, may this be a lesson to you.

For years, I’ve said over and over to not rely on these social media platforms but instead use a dedicated website. Social media platforms are just one of the many tools to show the world what you do and offer. Many people do not have a Facebook or Instagram account. Therefore if that’s the only thing you use, then they cannot access your information or anything that you may be offering. I see this all the time still!

Before the pandemic, I attended networking events, and have been a guest speaker regarding the importance of good quality branding photos and having a dedicated website for businesses. I think the time has come to do a live video of this presentation.

Yes I’m a little awkward here, I’m working on my video presence LOL!

My Personal Favorite Images of 2016

As we begin 2017, I want to acknowledge all of my clients who helped make 2016 a success.  First, thank you for your business and for the opportunity to help in creating and presenting your business brand. Here’s to your continued success. For my future clients I look forward to working with you and doing the same.

Happy 2017!

These are in no particular order, just my favorites from 2016.
jkorl_by deirdre-ryan-photography

This was for a husband and wife team, they needed images for their website and branding for their new business. One is a personal trainer and the other is a therapist and life coach. Working with them beforehand, they knew what they wanted, and it ended up being an amazing environmental photoshoot! jkorl_by deirdre-ryan-photography

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Christine who is a sleep consultant, photographed in her home office and in her yard. In her home office, her true personality shone with her witty sense of humor. Click here to see the full session.

Happy Woman by Deirdre Ryan Photography

My dear friend, Roseanne, let me photograph her one day, trying out some new techniques that I wanted to try. They show off the two sides of her, both are strong women, but in different ways. Strong Woman in Black and White by Deirdre Ryan Photography

Real Estate Salesman Headshot by Deirdre Ryan Photography

A real estate salesman needed his headshot like “yesterday”. This is his second career after many years doing something else. I didn’t have time to get set up in my studio, so I did this in my living room/foyer. He loved it, and so did I, it shows his true awesome personality.

GOTR by deirdre-ryan-photography08

Our daughter ran her first 5K with Girls on the Run(GOTR), when she was in the 4th grade. They work with the girls each week to empower, embrace, and create a positive place for the girls to achieve something that they may have never done before. Here you see my husband spraying her hair purple, and then later they had facial paint and accessories to have fun with before the race. She finished, even beat her practice run time, we were so proud of her! Dr. Sarah Meanor by Deirdre Ryan Photography

My friend Dr. Sarah Meanor is a Chiropractor and hired me to photographer her and the office for her website. I love this image as she is working on a patient’s back and shoulders.

Protesters With Child At Hillary Clinton Rally Philly, PA-Deirdre Ryan Photography

The day before the 2016 Presidential Election, I was fortunate to drive down to Philadelphia, PA with some friends to see and hear President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton speak in front of Independance Hall with roughly over 30K people. We couldn’t get very close, but I did capture this image of a child singing how we were all going to Hell as sinners, etc., with an extreme “Christian” group. You see plain clothed PPD officers guarding them. I can only assume the man with her is her father. And I say it like that because as a liberal Catholic, I don’t believe God would like this at all.

ocnj by deirdre-ryan-photography354

We spent a week in Ocean City, NJ over the summer, got horrible news about a dear friend passing unexpectedly the day we were traveling down. The next day we had a wonderful photoshoot with my friend. The image above is this young lady’s first time ever flying a kite.

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Every morning in Ocean City, NJ I woke up early, got my coffee at OC Coffee Roasters on the boardwalk and read my book on the beach. This one morning, the sun and the clouds made it look “almost” like the afternoon golden hour sunset.

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The above image was for at first a dating profile, but then became a lovely collaboration for yoga and a gorgeous glam shot outside!

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Another collaboration for marketing and branding. I love this because she is sitting in a bronze statue on Princeton University campus, the colours, her expression, she is such a free spirit! Click here to see the full session.

Canoeing on Crosswicks Creek-Photo by Deirdre Ryan Photography

We went canoeing on the Delaware River and Crosswicks Creek with our daughter’s 2nd grade teacher. I love how the light hits them both, so peaceful as we were rowing back. Male Natural Light Headshot-img_8632deirdre-ryan-photography4

I shot these headshots during a workshop and I just love how they turned out. All natural lighting, indoors, and working with these gentleman turned into great images, and I can work anywhere. Male Natural Light Headshot-deirdre-ryan-photography6

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie came to my hometown and did his town hall meeting. He was there to discuss his Fairness Formula to NJEA teachers, staff, residents of Bordentown, and those from other towns. I love this because it shows how he sometimes talks to people, there was another person who asked hard questions that he didn’t seem to like either. But when he talks, he asks for no interruptions.

Delaware Canal,Olympus OM-D E-M5 MARK II,PA,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Photography www.deirdreryanphotography.com,autumn,fall,foliage,mirrorless camera,path,trees,The day after the Presidential Election, I was really feeling down and depressed. I’m still not okay, but that day I went for a walk shot some images…. The woman just happened to be jogging right past me and I found it perfect. Reminding me that we need to move, and make a difference in our own ways to get things done.
Bordentown Township,Great Dane,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,autumn,dog portrait,fall,golden hour,puppy,sunset,I was bored one day, and needed to get out of the house. I did a model call on Facebook, and my clients gave me a call to photograph their new puppy. I had done their portraits before with all three of their Great Danes when they had their oldest, but unfortunately he passed away. They knew that his day was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier…I used two kinds of lighting with each image. The first, I adore the look George was giving his owner in the golden sunset light. In the second, I used 2 lights and in post I Photoshopped the leash out of the image, it gives him a regal look.
Bordentown Township,Great Dane,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,autumn,dog portrait,fall,golden hour,puppy,sunset,
Bordentown,Ghostbuster's ECTO - 1 Car,NJ,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Photography www.deirdreryanphotography.com,Randy Now's Man Cave,summertime,My dear friend Randy brought one of the Ghostbuster’s ECTO – 1 that was used in the new movie that came out over the summer.
cinematic headshot,outdoor headshot,on location headshot,business portrait,Tucker Distinctive Kitchens,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Photography,I love the look of the these headshots that I did in the park for my fellow networking business colleagues.  They are bright, pleasing and make my clients look amazing. Click here to see the full post!
IMG_4695.jpgOur daughter is a Junior Girl Scout and every year, she and many other troops as well as Boy Scouts from all over, come together to place flags on the graves of veterans at the Brigadier General  William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ. The image below is with my father, her grandfather, a Ret. Lt. Col. Army.
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Deirdre Ryan Commercia and Editorial Photography,MLK,Martin Luther King Celebration,NJ,NJPAC,New jersey Perfoming Arts Center,Newark,www.deirdreryanphotography.com,

My clients, NJPAC, invited me to photograph their Martin Luther King event. I had been there before for their Kwanzaa event, and each time I’m there, I have such a good time! The energy of the choir director for the children’s choir is amazing.Killer Triple Bill Concert-randynowmanthedoughboys2016deirdre-ryan-photography158Randy Now brings a lot of great acts and musicians to our area. This was the Killer Triple Bill Concert at the Performing Arts Center in Bordentown, NJ. Here you see The Doughboys, Jet Weston and His Atomic Ranch Hands and The Sharkskins. I get my rock photo influences from the 60’s and 70’s and I like to work this into my work.
Killer Triple Bill Concert-jetwestonandhisatomicranchhandsdeirdre-ryan-photography80 Killer Triple Bill Concert-The Sharkskins-August 13 2016,Bordentown,NJ,Performing Arts Theater,Photo By Deirdre Ryan Photography www.deirdreryanphotography.com,Randy Now's Man Cave presents,The Sharkskins,local,rock and roll,

1950's,Bordentown City,Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,NJ,Phoenix Rising Clothing Store,pin up. teaser,props,retro,studio lighting,www.deirdreryanphotography.com,

These in yellow I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph these beautiful women in pin up genre, it was full of playing dress up with the clothes, makeup and hair. This was in a local store in my town and I hope to do this again as it was a lot of fun and the women all enjoyed themselves.  1950's,Bordentown City,Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,NJ,Phoenix Rising Clothing Store,pin up. teaser,props,retro,studio lighting,www.deirdreryanphotography.com, 1950's,Bordentown City,Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,NJ,Phoenix Rising Clothing Store,pin up. teaser,props,retro,studio lighting,www.deirdreryanphotography.com, 1950's,Bordentown City,Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,NJ,Phoenix Rising Clothing Store,pin up. teaser,props,retro,studio lighting,www.deirdreryanphotography.com, 1950's,Bordentown City,Deirdre Ryan Editoral and Commercial Photography,NJ,Phoenix Rising Clothing Store,pin up. teaser,props,retro,studio lighting,www.deirdreryanphotography.com,

My daughter photographed by me, Deirdre Ryan Photography in Asbury Park, NJ.

We went to Asbury Park, NJ with friends and I was able to get this shot of our daughter <3  She is my world!

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Ask anyone who knows me, I love cars! And lucky for me, we have an annual car show right here in Bordentown, NJ and I get to volunteer for it!

Lisa Traugott-She's Losing It-Egg Whites International By Deirdre Ryan Editorial & Commercial Photography - NJ, PA, NY

This is my dear and one of my best friends, Lisa. We have known each other since HS, she was a Freshman, I was a Sophomore and now lives in Austin, TX. She was in town for barely 2 days, but made time to see friends. We took a few moments for a fun shoot, this was right before a bikini body competition, and I had to spray her with a lot of bug spray LOL!

St. Patrick's Day 5K Race Bordentown, NJ Deirdre Ryan Portrait & Editorial Photography - NJ, PA, NY

The Bordentown Board Of Education asked me to photograph their Annual St. Patrick’s 5K Run. I love this because it shows my friend helping his daughter with her shoelaces right before the race is about to begin.

Stephanie Breedlove giving a lecture in 2016 for NAWBO-NYC Chapter by Deirdre Ryan Headshot & Portrait Photography - NJ, PA, NY

I was invited to photograph the NAWBO-NYC Chapter’s 3 Hour Boot-Camp-Full Morning To Grow Your Business at the Microsoft Building in NYC and they had a fabulous guest speaker, Stephanie Breedlove. She had just sold her company care.com and hearing her speak as a woman entrepenuer was inspiring. Grand Opening of Princeton's Pinot's Palette Photo by Deirdre Ryan Photography

This last image was for my first clients of last year, Pinot’s Palette of Princeton. They had their Grand Opening, and I was invited to photograph the event.

Photographing An Image For A Book

Sometimes my clients are friends or my clients most often become dear friends and this is the case here. Dolores and I met while networking during a W.I.N.(Women Interested in Networking) meetings. These were monthly meetings held at Villa Mannino’s in Bordentown, NJ on Route 130. A huge group of women would gather to meet, network, and eat lunch. It was started by Teri Petry and it was my first real introduction to getting up and explaining who I was, and what I was about in front of sometimes 80-100 people. I was very nervous, and scared. No judgement, we helped each other out, I had to have a 20 second elevator pitch and Teri had a question that was fun like, what is your favorite dessert or if you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go and you had to answer it with one thing or place.

This is where Dolores and I met and we hit it off from there, she was one of my first headshot, business clients and we fast became friends 😀

As time moved on, she met Francine Parham, introduced me, and we hit it off as well. I photographed them both and for their projects and events. They have both written and completed their book titled: The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide.

The UltimateCareerPocketGuidePhotoByDeirdreRyanPhotography

What this book is about is to help those who need to get through networking, your goals, and not just for the workplace. I see this for many in their personal and career goals, their own businesses, their current job and within the job market. I highly recommend this book!

Francine is from the corporate world and has vast experience and knowledge and Dolores is a consultant and development coach. The two have put their heads together and come up with this amazing book to help many people.

I photographed the image for their book at Jester’s Cafe, right here in Bordentown, NJ. Natural light, no assistants, no bounces or fill. I’m literally just standing in one of their large windows, using my Canon Mark 5D III and the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 lens and the Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L lens. I know the owners, the food is great and it was the perfect time of the day to do this.

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I call these, “The World’s Worst Spy.”Dolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotography Dolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotographyDolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotographyDolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotographyDolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotographyDolores DeGiacomo Founder/President of Power Up!™ Consulting; Speaker, Co-author Ultimate Career Pocket Guide and FrancineParham-Professional Speaker I Creator of Career Pocket Guides™I Co-Author, The Ultimate Career Pocket Guide PhotobyDeirdreRyanPhotography

Afterwards, we ordered lunch, did some formal headshots at my house.

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We laughed and had a great time, but most importantly, I understood and wanted to make sure that the focus was about what they wanted with a twist. I helped to come up with a location and suggested some ideas, and went from there. I have ideas to go further with them with hair, makeup, and more.

What I did for Dolores and Francine is help them with their branding, how they wanted to be seen on the cover for their target clients. Professional woman, talking over lunch, being casual, but serious about what it is that they’re doing. This is how they talk to other professionals. It could be anything that they are chatting about. As you can see on their websites, the images of themselves, I have photographed, is what they have envisioned and I have more ideas for them.

Here are questions to ask for yourself:

Where are you headed? Who needs to see you? What is it that you are doing? What’s next on the horizon for your business or company? Do you have a team of experts to help you visually? Can they insure that your images and presence are of the caliber that agencies and publications can expect of you? Can your images be printed for high end marketing and packaging?

If you’re ready for this step for your business, company or corporation, contact me. This is what I do, listen, make suggestions, help present my clients to their clients in the best light possible. Make sure that you and your brand look cohesive and flawless.

Click on the red Chat Now Button that pops up and let’s get started!

Click here to see an event I photographed at Jimmy Choos in SoHo, NYC with Francine and Dolores.