School Specialty proudly sponsors local graduation coverage, transforming more than classrooms- through our people, our passion, and our purpose by impacting education around the world from our own backyard.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of stories looking at local photographers as their businesses boom during the prom, graduation, and wedding seasons.
MANSFIELD — Creativity is weaved into Ryan Clever’s DNA.
“I’ve always been creative,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s just taken on different forms.”
As a child, the Mansfield Christian graduate of 2013 enjoyed making his own toys and drawing.
“A lot of the things I used to play with growing up were kind of my own creation of just a bunch of different things,” he said.
Now he plays guitar, mainly electric, for the worship team at Heartland Church.
Photography came into the picture about a year ago. He’s received guidance from his girlfriend, Alisha Cobb, who’s had about five years of experience taking photos.
“It’s been a joint project, which has been helpful,” he said.
When he got his camera, he hit the ground running, getting tips from lynda.com.
“I quickly started picking up basic stuff on there,” he said.
He’s been able to learn more at Tog Loft, a professional photography studio, where he has taken classes on portraiture and lighting and has had the chance to do some shooting. During his first week at Tog Loft, he received a volunteering opportunity to take photos of the Spherion Mid Ohio 13ER.
“Tog Loft has been a big help as far as getting the boat out of the harbor in a way,” he said.
His favorite part of the photography process is tough to pinpoint, he said. However, he’s come to enjoy editing.
“I’ve discovered I can do different things and really make a picture more of my own with the way I edit it,” he said. “That’s when I kind of see what’s in my head come to life more so and I can really put my stamp on it.”
He photographed a coworker’s high school senior pictures and did the head shots for his church’s website, he said.
“Now I’m trying to do more stuff with the local music scene,” he said.
Ryan Clever of Clever Photography can be reached at 419-520-7058. Visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ryancleverphotography/or www.cleverphotography.com.
