Ryan Bumgarner - REALTOR and Photographer

With a background in photography, Documentary Studies and Anthropology, I have learned photographic techniques and concepts through various projects, graduate education and continue to explore the artistic sensibility and the technological advances surrounding the photographic world. 

After photographing 100's of weddings in the Asheville and surrounding area, I have crafted my techniques and philosophy to provide couples with the best experience possible.  I support ALL love and welcome anyone to hire me as their photographer.

I am a lover of nature and travel. I maintain physical and mental excellence through daily workout and meditation. Hiking, biking, playing disc golf and surf fishing are hobbies I feel very passionate about. I love my family and feel blessed to have them in my life. Photography is my life! 

EDUCATION
• M.A. - Photography/Documentary Studies (Western Carolina University)
• B.A. - Cultural Anthropology and Art History (Appalachian State University)

EXPERIENCE
• Ryan Bumgarner Photography - Owner/Operator (since 2001)
• eXp Realty - Current Brokerage
• Coldwell Banker Advantage - Realtor since 2021
• Seventy-Two dpi, LLC. - Web Developer/Graphic Artist
• Wake Forest University - Field Technician (Contract Archaeologist)
• Museum of Anthropology (WFU) -  Curator
• Asheville Art Museum - Visitor Service Coordinator

PUBLICATIONS
Wedding Wire, theKnot, Southern Bride, NC Wedding Pages, WNC Home and Garden, Soirees Southern Events, Martha Stewart Weddings, HGTV Dream Home Giveaway, and many more!

The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte North Carolina gave me the opportunity to document some of North Carolina's finest potteries and it was at this point I knew photography would be my profession. Six months later I had documented over thirty potteries and had photographed over 7000 pieces of pottery in the permanent collection. Since then I have photographed 100's of weddings and have had the opportunity to work with some of the finest businesses in Western North Carolina. I have also performed documentary work for the Anthropology Dept. of Wake Forest University, the Asheville Art Museum, and the NC Democratic Party (shadowed Bill Clinton for 4 hours!)

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on camera is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
— Aaron Siskind