🔥 EMPIRE TEACHER FEATURE 🔥
Introducing Ryan
Studio Photographer & Videographer
@ryanpatrickphotography
Ryan is the creative eye behind much of the imagery you see at Empire, capturing movement, presence, and the quiet power that lives inside our dancers and community. His work is deeply rooted in storytelling, documenting not just how things look, but how they feel.
Born in Martinborough and shaped by the landscapes of the Wairarapa, Ryan’s creative journey began early through art, painting, and photography, before evolving into music studies at university. Music remains a constant influence in his work, informing the rhythm, emotion, and timing that define his visual style.
After university, Ryan found his way back to photography while travelling the world, working in the wine industry by day, playing music by night, and documenting people and places through his lens. That connection to people and their stories has never left his work.
Ryan has a unique ability to bring out power, beauty, and poise, creating images that reflect what’s already there when someone feels seen, grounded, and connected. This sensitivity is what makes his work so beautifully aligned with dance and performance.
Alongside capturing live performances, showcases, and studio moments, Ryan also works closely with our teachers, teams, and individual dancers, helping them learn how to confidently connect with the camera and express themselves through the lens. This coaching element is a key part of how we support our dancers to grow in confidence on and off the stage.
Alongside his work at Empire Studios, Ryan is also the official photographer for SABA Ballet, and works across fashion, dance, and event photography throughout Aotearoa and internationally.
At Empire, Ryan plays a vital role in how we tell our story, documenting movement, emotion, and transformation as they unfold.
We’re incredibly grateful to have his eye, care, and artistry woven into the Empire story.
✨ Power. Beauty. Poise. ✨
#dancephotography #videographer #teacherfeature #empirestudiosnz
