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Ryan Sarakul • Commercial Photographer/Corporate Media Director

@ryan.sarakul

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📍 oakland, ca
📷 owner / photographer • @imx.studio_
©️ founder / media director • @crmgroup.io
🏮 dancer • @izakayasquad

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2 months ago

Today, I am breaking my silence.
Read these if you will, it doesn’t matter to me if you don’t.
This one is for me.
Before I can share my successes 2024, I must release the weight I’ve carried for too long—silently navigating the hardest year of my life. As the world celebrates victories and milestones, I feel called to share not my triumphs, but the losses that shaped them and the lessons they left behind.
Even now, I suffer. Life will never be the same, but I must move forward.

My happiness and kindness was not innate, it was earned and developed.

In 2023 & 2024, I said goodbye to my two dogs, Yuki and Kuma—my beloved boys. Kuma’s passing was my first experience of watching life slip away, and Yuki’s was even harder—a heartbreaking moment that replayed in my mind night after night. Their loss felt like losing pieces of my heart.
Not long after, I lost my brother Patrick. Diagnosed with rare cancer, he fought bravely for years. When his condition worsened, I became his caregiver, balancing sleepless nights at the hospital and a relentless work schedule.

I prayed for miracles, but on April 4, 2024, he left us. He didn’t want us to see him suffer, so he asked us to leave that night. It was his final act of love—protecting us from the pain of goodbye.

These losses broke me, but they also built me. Patrick taught me to live with purpose, to let go of naivety, and to fight for my dreams. He reminded me of the value of family, real friendships, and self-worth. He showed me how to release what no longer serves me, to stop worrying about what others think, and to move on with strength and clarity.

If you’ve experienced loss, know this: It’s okay to grieve, but don’t let it stop you from living. Honor those you’ve lost by cherishing the life you still have. Hold your loved ones tighter. Chase your dreams harder. And never forget—today is a gift.
If my story touches even one person, if it inspires you to hold your loved ones closer and find light even in pain, then this vulnerability is worth it. Loss is inevitable, but we can honor it by living a life they would be proud of. 
Stay kind, live & love.
Happy New Year- Patrick, Kuma, and Yuki. Rest in Paradise. taken in 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷. by @ryan.sarakul

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2 years ago

I don’t understand why he was kicking me out🤷‍♂️ by @ryan.sarakul

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8 months ago

CJ RΞY

Just a kid who had a dream and never stop chasing it. 💯 Blessed to be able to work with @ryan.sarakul @imx.studio_ and he absolutely cooked on these 😮‍💨

👟: @staray.official
🎵: @keltheartist

#clean #photos #bape #CJRey by @ryan.sarakul

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2 months ago

The best photos aren’t planned, they’re discovered.

This was my very first time shooting in Taiwan, and it quickly became one of those experiences that reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.

Working with @taco.h was such a refreshing experience. An incredibly talented dancer, effortlessly fashionable, and one of the most genuine people I’ve met. Your creativity encouraged me to break away from my usual style and lean into something darker, moodier, and full of movement with shutter drag.

And a huge shoutout to @kevin_5416789 . You had never assisted on a photoshoot before, but you showed up ready to learn and absolutely exceeded every expectation. Having someone willing to jump in and help made this vision possible.
Also shoutout to @shhh.room for welcoming us and being a host for creatives all over the world.
To both of you—thank you for your trust, your energy, and for making my first creative experience in Taiwan one I’ll never forget.

Here’s to more stories, more risks, and more moments that can’t be recreated. 🇹🇼📸✨ taken in Taipei, Taiwan by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

Stepping outside your comfort zone is where the best work usually happens.

First trip to Taipei and somehow ended up creating one of my favorite sets of the year.

Tien’s style, creativity, and background in dance pushed me to shoot differently and break away from the usual look. We kept it simple, worked with what we had, and had fun creating.

Big thanks to Tien for the trust and inspiration, and shoutout to @kevin_5416789 for helping with lighting and absolutely killing it.

Definitely a set I’ll be looking back on for a long time.

📍 @shhh.room , Taipei, Taiwan taken in Taipei, Taiwan by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

photoshoot in Taipei, Taiwan featuring @taco.h at @shhh.room taken in Taipei, Taiwan by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

This is why I still love creating.

Getting in the studio with @wondhurland and experimenting with moody red lighting reminded me that the best shoots happen when there's no pressure to follow trends, only the freedom to create.

I'm incredibly thankful to Alice for trusting me as her photographer.
She has been one of my biggest supporters since | first started, always believing in my work and showing up to create. Having a friend who genuinely supports your growth and is always down to bring new ideas to life is something I never take for granted. Grateful for every opportunity we get to create together. taken in IMX Studio by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

36. No longer get carded. Thanks @ryan.sarakul for the shots. 🙏

📸: @imx.studio_ @ryan.sarakul by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

Sometimes inspiration comes from stepping away from the camera.

After visiting the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris, I came home inspired to create something that felt a little different-more moody, more intentional, and more focused on the emotion that different shades of color can evoke. Instead of chasing perfection, I wanted to experiment and simply create.

Huge thank you to Alice Hur for trusting my vision and bringing this concept to life. You've always been someone who's supported me as a photographer since the beginning, and I'm incredibly grateful to have a friend who's always down to create together.

Really proud of how this set turned out. Which slide is your favorite? taken in IMX Studio by @ryan.sarakul

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3 months ago

If you know her, you already know. 🛼

Second photo set with Hirari Watanabe. One of the most talented viral rollerblading dancers out there, and one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. So happy to finally share these photos 🫡 taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @ryan.sarakul

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4 months ago

Talent gets you noticed. Authenticity makes you unforgettable.

Working with Hirari Watanabe in Las Vegas was an absolute pleasure. She’s an incredibly talented professional dancer and skater, but what stood out even more was how genuine, kind, and grounded she is.

Grateful for the opportunity to create together. Looking forward to the next one! taken in Las Vegas, Nevada by @ryan.sarakul

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4 months ago