Ryan Castaneda is a Los Angeles-based portrait photographer with over 13 years of experience, specializing in branding and professional headshots. His approach goes beyond just taking photos—it’s about shaping light and storytelling to create portraits that are both powerful and timeless.

Ryan works with entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals to craft images that align with their brand and communicate their story with intention. Through a deep understanding of light and composition, he ensures every portrait reflects confidence, authenticity, and purpose. Whether you need a headshot or a full suite of branding images, Ryan is dedicated to helping you present your best self with portraits that leave a lasting impact.

After years of working with full-frame cameras, I realized that image quality needed to take center stage in delivering the best for my clients. In 2020, I made the leap into medium format photography, investing in the Fujifilm GFX 100—a powerhouse with a 102MP sensor, stunning dynamic range, and incredible color depth that brings out every detail with unmatched clarity. This camera has become my weapon of choice, allowing me to create portraits that are not just images, but works of art.

For lighting, I rely on the Profoto system, ensuring precision and consistency whether I’m working in the studio or on location. However, when it comes to my headshot lineup, I’ve embraced LED lighting panels for their ability to provide a natural, continuous light source, perfect for crafting a refined and polished look. Every piece of gear I use is chosen with intention—to deliver portraits that are striking, professional, and timeless.

When I first picked up a camera, I had no idea it would become my path out of a quarter-life crisis. Growing up, I struggled with dyslexia, making school a constant challenge, and later battled vertigo, which took away my ability to play sports—something I excelled at. These setbacks left me feeling lost. But despite the frustrations and the desire to give up, photography found me and became my new way to shine. It gave me a sense of purpose I had been missing and became the lens through which I could process the world around me.

Throughout this journey, my faith in Christ has been my anchor. During times of doubt and uncertainty, it was my belief in God’s plan for me that kept me moving forward. I clung to 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This scripture reminded me that fear doesn’t come from Him, and that within me was the strength to continue, even when the path felt uncertain. That faith now drives my work as a photographer, giving me the confidence to create and share my story through my art.

As we embark on this journey together, I’m humbled and honored that you’re trusting me to be a part of redefining your brand. I believe that branding portraits have the power to tell a story, not just about your business, but about the positive influence you aim to have in the world. My goal is to capture your essence in a way that reflects that impact, allowing you to inspire and connect with others on a deeper level.

In working together, I hope we can both contribute to something greater than ourselves. I want this process to be about more than just photography—it’s about spreading positive influence and giving back to the world. By helping you elevate your brand, I believe we can both be a net positive in the lives we touch, leaving a lasting legacy that goes beyond the images we create.