Andy Ryan brings his creative vision and deep-rooted experience in photography to his role at Komodo, a leading social media and influencer business.
With over 15 years at the forefront of social media and content creation, Andy has played a pivotal part in helping brands craft compelling stories across digital platforms.
Since he launched Komodo in 2017 with three friends, he has led the production of numerous international content shoots, overseeing large-scale campaigns for cinema and TV, for brands such as ASOS, TUI and Samsonite. From breathtaking mountain ranges shooting campaigns for Crystal Ski Holidays, to underwater scenes in Asia working with the Thailand Tourism Board his work spans some of the world’s most unique locations.
Andy is a highly accomplished freelance sports, lifestyle, and travel photographer. Prior to Komodo, Andy’s career skyrocketed as he became the official Team GB Olympic photographer at three separate Games, capturing iconic moments on a global stage.
We caught up with Andy Ryan for the latest edition of our ‘My London’ interview series.
Favourite neighbourhood:
Soho – It encapsulates what’s so great about London; the history, the food, the bars and the endless characters!
Favourite place for brunch:
Utter Waffle in Herne Hill – these guys know how to do a brunch like no other! Savoury waffles with unreal coffee. If you haven’t tried it yet, you need to.
Best coffee in London:
The Gentlemen Baristas – a handful of boutique coffee shops across London. Old school and unbeatable.
Favourite gallery or museum:
Photographer’s Gallery on Ramillies Street. Always a good variety of exhibitions on from some of the world’s best photographers. Great spot to drop in, away from the hectic Oxford Street, get inspired and grab a coffee too!
Tell us a secret:
I’ve starred in a cinema ad! On a recent campaign shoot for our client Crystal Ski Holidays one of the cast was struggling with a small injury on our final shoot-day, so I threw on his snow suit and goggles and took to the slopes for a few final shots. The campaign was a huge success and made it to the silver screen; featuring in cinemas and on TV across the UK! I make a very brief appearance in the ad, but it was a great example of having to think on our feet and always be versatile with our roles when we are on shoots!
Favourite place to shop:
Shoreditch; always brimming with awesome creatives. Has a handful of great independent men’s shops and some local market pop-ups too.
Favourite place to find inspiration:
Up in the sky! Sitting on a plane, flying to somewhere exciting, with no distractions. I’m lucky enough to fly quite often for work, and it never gets old. Nothing gets my creative juices flowing quite like it.
I like to think that we are pushing the boundaries when it comes to helping our clients discover new destinations for their trips and activations. Earlier in the year we were in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, helping Penhaligon’s launch their fragrance, AlUla. It was a unique opportunity and one that we developed with local partners, respecting the history, traditions and natural environment of this very special place.
Best London destination for a date:
Richmond in West London – a nice long walk through the park and along the river, stopping for a pint or two along the way, ending in town eating at Scott’s or Bingham Riverhouse which as the name implies has an amazing view over the river that remains timeless.
Favourite park:
Battersea Park; right on the riverfront with lots of sports, cafes and local pubs to choose from.
Favourite food market:
Borough Market – just a stone’s throw from our Komodo office, it’s both a blessing and a curse having one of the world’s best food markets as your local lunch spot. Great for the tastebuds, terrible for the wallet!
Your sanctuary in the city:
Tate Modern – 10 floors of galleries, creative spaces, cafes, restaurants and even viewpoints across the city. It’s always free entry and is a great space to get away from the hustle and bustle and get lost exploring for an hour or two.
What inspires you?
Our team at Komodo! Getting to work with such a talented, creative and fun-loving team is something I never take for granted. No two days are ever the same at a social agency like ours, and the way the team collaborates week in week out to tackle each new challenge is a joy to be a part of.
This season I’m loving…
The launch of the Christmas ad campaigns! Every brand competing to stand out at the busiest time of the year, always breeds creativity and fresh ideas. Our mantra at Komodo is ‘Never Do Normal’ so we work closely with our clients to embrace this Christmas challenge every year. It’s not just about that one big launch moment, but how you manage to retain that excitement and buzz for the eight weeks run up to the big day.
