Gosh….Where do I start with this…
Bill is my lifelong friend. By that, I’m referring to the 22 years we’ve known each other, the 20 years that we’ve been like this (I’m crossing my fingers…wish you could see it), and the 60+ years ahead of us. When we were young, we quipped about front porch sittin’ when we’re old men. Looking at our relationship through 30-year-old eyes now, I know that this is a certainty.
Bill is one of the kindest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet. I’ve learned alot from him. And he learned alot from his Granny Jane.
Bill and I spent quite a few summer days on his grandparents’ farm in Bath County. We did a fair bit of underage driving through those fields and on the backroads. We would help out with the tobacco crop some, though looking back, I’m pretty sure we were not terribly helpful. Being from Mt. Sterling, we were clearly city boys. 
I have plenty of history with the Manley family, and as a large component of that, I have a deep respect and affection for Granny Jane. It was because of this that I was more than happy to document Jane’s 80th birthday party. I had fun catching up with everyone.
I hope you enjoy the images and can get a sense from them what a great person Jane is, though I suspect you’d really just have to meet her. Then you, too, would be just as much of a fan as I am.
Jane is a huge Elvis fan. He made a guest appearance at her party. Told you she was cool!
Jane shared some wisdom with us while she had everyone collected.
Here’s Jane with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Quite a collection, right?
Me and Granny Jane. I love this image.
My favorite.
Bill and Kelly’s son Ben. Rocks are toys, aren’t they?
Carson and Ben hi-fiving for the first time. We’re hoping they’ll grow up and be good friends.
I’ve been a busy bee the last couple weeks with some commercial projects, both editorial and advertising-related. I just wanted to share a handful of my faves. Whatcha think?
Here’s Rama Dhuwaraha, Chief Information Officer at LFUCG. He wanted something dramatic for this shot, so I tried to make good use of the perspective and architectural elements.
You know, this job has its perks. Like the day I went to photograph Tricia Clemons at BabyCakes. She sent home with me a couple of cupcakes, strawberry and cookie dough. Katie was quite glad to see me walking in after work with that little pink box. Side note? Tricia is awesome to be around. It’s no wonder that people flock to her for real honest-to-God homemade cupcakes. You can check out her site HERE.
Matt and Wes at Lift Fitness & Wellness
This has to be hands-down, one of my fave images so far this year. I was at Al’s Bar during Geeks Night Out, shooting the cover image for an upcoming issue of BG Magazine. When we were done shooting, I suggested to them that, just for fun, we should do this shot. I don’t think it will make the cover, but I think it’s pretty dang awesome.
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These are awesome! I especially love the first one. BTW, I saw that Lift photo somewhere recently, and thought it was cool. I should have known it was yours.
If you know me or read the blog often, you probably already know that my other full-time job is in real estate. I’m prone to boredom and thrive on challenges, so it does my soul good to have the variety. Often, the two worlds overlap. Like when my wedding couples go to buy their first house. Or when families I’ve sold houses to end up having life events they want documented. I love my clients, so it’s fun for me to put on the other hat and help them.
I met Hanna at a photography workshop. She’s a GREAT photographer who hasn’t been in the area long, but who is making quite an impact already. You can check out her work HERE. Hanna and her husband Dustin picked me as their realtor during the winter. They’re my kind of people. We had a lot of fun through the process, and they are now proud owners of their first house, a super-cute craftsmen style home in old south Lexington.
I brought my camera to their new house. Hanna busted out a dance move. Dustin did not. I love them.
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Ha. So typical, I’m the dork and Dustin’s the cool one. I like it that way! Thanks again for being SO FLIPPIN GREAT!
Carson and I tried on some hats at Joseph-Beth in Lexington a few weeks ago. Whatcha think? He’s in for a life time of embarrassment with me as his daddy. It’s funny now, but you just wait ’til he brings home his first girlfriend one day. Oh, it’s gonna be on like donkey-kong.
Let me be honest. I’m not exactly Sporty Spice. I’ve been trying to pay attention to UK men’s basketball for the last several years, but I just couldn’t get into it. This season however? Haven’t missed watching a game. It’s a perfect storm of positive energy. The talent, the coaching, the fanfare, the story—it’s hard not to stare.
UK’s PR department asked me to come out and document in my own style the events surrounding the record-breaking live broadcast of ESPN’s College GameDay. I knew it was going to be a cool gig, but I had no idea what I was in for.
Completely ovewhelming. Electric. For 4 hours, I raced around trying my best to capture the spirit of the events. I hope you’ll love looking at these images, but trust me—You just had to be there. Thanks, Kelley B!
When Coach Cal talks, everybody listens. Love that guy!
Awhhh, yeah! Who’s that guy?! Thanks to Paul Hooper for grabbing this crazy shot of me.
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LOVE them!!! Thanks again for the PR Gal photo with Jodie!!!
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Nothing compares to the spirit of the Big Blue Nation! These photos make me sad that I had to miss it:(
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Love it! I’m so excited we made it on your blog!
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Oh, I LOVE it!!! Great captures and lucky you!!
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I love these pictures! This day was one of the best days EVER! Your pictures capture the energy so well!
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Great pictures! You will remember that day for the rest of your life.
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Love it! Shaun - glad to see the sport bug bite! I knew it was in you, bro!!! Great shots - as always - and it is indeed an electric year!
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LOVE THESE! I was so excited when I saw you on the court that day; I knew something amazing was about to happen! Man, I was right. I love the Shaun take on UK basketball. You have managed to take, like, a zillion years of history and give it a fresh spin. YOU ROCK!
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Very cool shots, Mr. Ring. Looks like you embraced the openness of the assignment. Found my way to your site through John Rice and enjoy your stuff.
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How can I get one of these? I am in the 4th one!
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Love, love these pics! Great job!
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Too cool! You’re one lucky guy. I feel like I was there.
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That is awesome! You really captured the event. I got chills again just looking through your photos. Love the one of Cal talking and holding the ESPN guy in rapt attention.
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Love these!
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hey shaun i just found your website your pics are great!!! i really love the game day pics!! great job
Once the holidays have passed and there’s a bit of free time in my schedule, it’s always fun to spend a couple snowy winter days reflecting on the previous year’s images. After combing through the 4,000 images that I used for wedding highlights slideshows in 2009, I got things narrowed down to one slideshow with 200-ish images.
Could I ask a HUGE favor from each of you? Here in a few weeks, I’ll be hanging some HUGE prints (6′x4′?) inside of Simply Love Studio’s new space downtown Lexington (at the corner of Main and Broadway). My problem? I have NO CLUE which three images I want to print. Would you mind watching this Best of 2009 slideshow and pick out your favorite one or two images? When people walk into Simply Love for their one-stop-shop wedding planning, I reeeeally want to make a good impression and I’m hoping that you can help me pick images that will resonate quickly and powerfully with folks. Beyond just being pretty, I think it’s important that the images embody my style as a photographer—warm, clean, real, timeless, emotional, human images.
When the slideshow is finished, you can browse through the gallery and jot down the number. Leave your favorites in the comment section below, or feel free to hit me up directly by email, facebook or whatever. Thank you! I really appreciate any help that you can give. Bye!
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I like 103, 56, 19. I think the attention to detail and how the photo makes everything in the pictures beautiful. Not just the subject!
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I love the shot of the pipes!!!
Young bride by herself, hair up, strapless dress on antique green sofa.
In front of house with ivy hedge, Bride leaning back with laughter. He is bearded and she has black frame glasses.
I hate to recommend a pic of just a cake, since you don’t do cakes. But the one with the green ribbons, on the silver tray and the Lily on top is gorgeous!!!
All the groomsmen in front of brown building. They’re wearing pale green ties/ [or] couple pics later brides dress hanging in front of oriental umbrellas
Bride and her side of party in front of brick building. Dark dresses with red roses.
Bride coming down isle with Dad. He has white hair, her dress is strapless. Church has pale yellow wall in background.
BW pic, wedding in open church [I think] cross in background. Party has heads slightly bowed.
Little boy and girl walking holding hands. Bride and grooms in background.
Couple on small walking bridge holding hands.
Not sure it would work for your add space but I love the american gothic pose!!! Ok I’m not sure who picked the shots with these two [your idea's or their's] but I love almost every one! First Am Gothic, then the elevator kiss, now the wedding party in pairs outside!
Anyway, hope this helps you out bro! Great work as always!
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Ahhh…I found the numbers for these photos! lol.
photo pick #1, the Father is image 4,
photo pick #2, the Couple is image 220,
photo pick #3, the Children is image 43.
I hope this helps even thought his is email response #3 today. I told you 3 is my favorite number….Mike
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178,183,218,225,237, 263,14,22,41,47,57, 70, 77, 85, 90,120, 131, 129, 126, 137,153, 175, 168
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I LOVE #25…it’s like in the movie 27 Dresses when her favorite part is looking at the groom when the bride walks in. He looks so happy
They are all amazing though. I also love the shots of shoes, lipstick, cakes…stand alone accessories. You do awesome work!
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4, 40, 70, 84, 110, 153
Seriously dude, do you only accept jobs if the people are beautiful? There are a ton of great shots there. The kid mesmerized by the cake is probably my favorite though.
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135, 145 & 259 - all are beautiful shots!
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Hi Shaun,
I do not envy you trying to narrow these down! You have a ton of ‘wow’ images!
These were some of my favorites that shriek ‘Shaun Ring’ to me:
9, 35, 47, 49, 68, 77, 79, 95, 104, 129, 131, 135, 175, 191, 210, 229, 230, 234, 237, 242 and 259
=]
Good Luck! I can’t wait to see what you choose!!!
Kellie
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It was so hard to choose!! They are all very very very good pictures! I have it narrowed down to these:
#47 is awesome!
#210 is awesome!
#163 I love love love!
#245 is aboslutely priceless (I think my fav)
I also love #3, #43, #205 & #226And by the way, where were you when I got married??? And why didn’t I know about your amazing skills???
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Ok, SO many awesome ones to choose from! I jotted down 17, 39, 49, 54, 76, 85, 88, 90, 127.
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Hi Shaun! We are so honored to be included in some of your “faves”!
Here are our choices (biased as they may be): 40, 135, and 263.
And, in the name of modesty here are our “fair faves”: 4, 243 and 135 Ok, so there are a million more that we love. What if you just bought a warehouse, printed them all, and started your own “gallery”. It’s brilliant….and soooooooo cost effective!
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
J and B
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I guess I think if the place is called “Simply Love,” you should have photos that reflect that emotion.
I like: 22, 33, 67, 77, 118, (I just LOVE 137), 147
All of the shots of cakes and shoes and peripherals are AWESOME but brides want to know you can make them look beautiful and capture the emotion of their special day. Just sayin . . .
Also, my daughter got engaged today (surprised by her beau a day early). . . if I can get her to come home to KY, can we work a deal??
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I love your work. Here are my faves:
16
49
65
81
110
153
206
213
242
262
264
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OMG! You know I LOVE all of your pictures….some of my faves are #135,40,61,126,163,175,249,263,183
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12,41,51,79,90,110,135,150,254,
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The shot near the beginning with the dad/grandfather crying and the bride to the right. Made me cry for a split second!
March 11th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Awesome bro, Simply fantastic. Love the shot of the letter and, obviously, the first high five.
March 11th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
love this post. it is so sweet, and i can tell you have a lot of love for the family. I love the one of her outside that you said was your fav, and the one of the letter. You did a great job with this!