<p>Hi everyone! Today I’m talking with Bay Area photographer Ryan Shaver, who shoots exclusively on Polaroid. We get into how he built a business around instant film, what makes the medium so different to work with, and how he’s carved out a unique spot in the industry.</p><p><br></p><p>Meet Ryan: </p><p> </p><p>Ryan Shaver is a Polaroid photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area who stands out in the professional photography world for shooting exclusively on Polaroid. After completing his graduate research paper, <em>Predictive Processing for Artificial Intelligence &amp; Cognition</em>, Ryan leaned fully into instant film as a way to preserve memories with honesty and imperfection.</p><p>In 2022, he bet that people would eventually grow tired of the overly polished look of AI-generated imagery and crave something real. He went all in on a niche few pursue due to its high costs and challenges, landing his first client within a year. Since 2023, Ryan has photographed weddings, portraits, and major corporate events — including a recent donors event at the Exploratorium — and now also serves as the Creative Director for Siempre Golden clothing brand.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Ryan:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Corporate Holiday Party Season is coming up, and Ryan is still taking bookings!</p><p>The first ten people to book a wedding package next year, if they drop the code &quot;SUMMER&quot;, will get 10% the total negotiated package price.</p><p><br></p><p>Website: ⁠<a href="https://shaver.film/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">shaver.film</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shaver.film/">⁠@shaver.film</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Me:</strong></p><p>Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!</p><p><a href="https://summerschool.myflodesk.com/dttnafljk9">⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠</a></p><p>Show Notes: <a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/summer-school-show-notes/km2x2r3pz8xjhbf-mg9xe-zlp4f-efxsw-62r7z-8r3k2-2ak5f-8244f-sbs8d-2ayz2-e3srt-cs5l2-ex4fx-6z2t5-3l432-rrc5a-8zc48-gzfrc-jr69z-gcrfk-saml6-rlbpg-jhfpp-z5sgs-9rayy-6tp6y">⁠the-summerschool.com⁠</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/summergrace.photo/">⁠@summergrace.photo⁠</a>  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_summerschool/">⁠@the_summerschool⁠</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Shop My Products:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/membership">⁠<strong>Become a Member of Summer School</strong>⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/presets">⁠<strong>My Summer Grace x G-Presets</strong>⁠</a> <a href="https://www.gpresets.com/product/summer-grace-presets/">⁠ (⁠</a>discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)</p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/pricing-guide">⁠<strong>My Pricing Guide</strong></a></p>

Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

Summer Grace

The Magic of Instant Film: Professional Polaroid Photography with Ryan Shaver

NOV 11, 202536 MIN
Summer School - A Photography + Creative Podcast

The Magic of Instant Film: Professional Polaroid Photography with Ryan Shaver

NOV 11, 202536 MIN

Description

<p>Hi everyone! Today I’m talking with Bay Area photographer Ryan Shaver, who shoots exclusively on Polaroid. We get into how he built a business around instant film, what makes the medium so different to work with, and how he’s carved out a unique spot in the industry.</p><p><br></p><p>Meet Ryan: </p><p> </p><p>Ryan Shaver is a Polaroid photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area who stands out in the professional photography world for shooting exclusively on Polaroid. After completing his graduate research paper, <em>Predictive Processing for Artificial Intelligence &amp; Cognition</em>, Ryan leaned fully into instant film as a way to preserve memories with honesty and imperfection.</p><p>In 2022, he bet that people would eventually grow tired of the overly polished look of AI-generated imagery and crave something real. He went all in on a niche few pursue due to its high costs and challenges, landing his first client within a year. Since 2023, Ryan has photographed weddings, portraits, and major corporate events — including a recent donors event at the Exploratorium — and now also serves as the Creative Director for Siempre Golden clothing brand.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Ryan:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Corporate Holiday Party Season is coming up, and Ryan is still taking bookings!</p><p>The first ten people to book a wedding package next year, if they drop the code &quot;SUMMER&quot;, will get 10% the total negotiated package price.</p><p><br></p><p>Website: ⁠<a href="https://shaver.film/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">shaver.film</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shaver.film/">⁠@shaver.film</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Me:</strong></p><p>Subscribe to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!</p><p><a href="https://summerschool.myflodesk.com/dttnafljk9">⁠SUBSCRIBE HERE⁠</a></p><p>Show Notes: <a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/summer-school-show-notes/km2x2r3pz8xjhbf-mg9xe-zlp4f-efxsw-62r7z-8r3k2-2ak5f-8244f-sbs8d-2ayz2-e3srt-cs5l2-ex4fx-6z2t5-3l432-rrc5a-8zc48-gzfrc-jr69z-gcrfk-saml6-rlbpg-jhfpp-z5sgs-9rayy-6tp6y">⁠the-summerschool.com⁠</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/summergrace.photo/">⁠@summergrace.photo⁠</a>  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_summerschool/">⁠@the_summerschool⁠</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Shop My Products:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/membership">⁠<strong>Become a Member of Summer School</strong>⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/presets">⁠<strong>My Summer Grace x G-Presets</strong>⁠</a> <a href="https://www.gpresets.com/product/summer-grace-presets/">⁠ (⁠</a>discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)</p><p><a href="https://www.the-summerschool.com/pricing-guide">⁠<strong>My Pricing Guide</strong></a></p>