Born in the greater Chicago area in 1979, Schude moved to California in 1997, migrating up and down the coast before settling in Los Angeles. He has made a name for himself among emerging photographers, and those in the business respect him for his knack for controlling lighting, props, models, environments — and for his ability to tell a cinematic story with just one frame. “My background spans everything from shooting natural light, street photos in black and white film, to the staged tableau that you will see [above]. The goal of each photo is to create a narrative which has a specific concept, but also allows the viewer to develop their own story.” – Ryan Schude