Meet Rikki Ramsey of Ventura, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rikki Ramsey.

Hi Rikki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been the person documenting everything. I got a video camera for Christmas in 11th grade and basically became the unofficial group historian for me and my girlfriends. I still have a bag full of tapes from back then. I’ve always loved capturing moments and turning them into something you can relive. Let’s just say I’m very glad I went to high school before social media was a thing… those videos definitely don’t need to see the light of day.

That kind of naturally led me into social media management, where I was working for a local photographer. I primarily filmed behind the scenes and created aesthetic “highlight videos” of her shoots. After about eight months, I realized this could be something bigger, so I started offering the same service to other photographers and small businesses. I created an Instagram page, Rikki Films Things, to showcase that work.

Things picked up pretty quickly. A couple months in, I realized that if I wanted to fully support my clients, I should probably learn how to actually shoot photos too, not just film content. So I bought an old used camera off eBay and taught myself everything through YouTube and TikTok.

After a few months of practicing, I finally felt ready to test it out. I had a friend come over just for fun, no pressure, just to try. And the second I started taking her photos, I knew. It was one of those immediate, gut feelings. This is it. This is what I’m meant to do.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, it has been a pretty smooth road. That being said, smooth does not mean EASY. It has been incredibly labor intensive and a lot of work. I shoot and experiment constantly, and for probably the entire first year of being in business I was shooting for free, just learning, testing things out, making mistakes, and figuring out how to fix them.

I think a big part of why it has not felt overly difficult is because I genuinely love what I do. I have always had the desire to keep going and to keep learning, so I have not really viewed challenges as setbacks. It has been more about having patience with myself and not expecting to be somewhere that, realistically, I have not earned yet.

I think that mindset has made the process feel less like a struggle and more like growth.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer specializing in colorful, eccentric, slightly offbeat portrait work. I also do a lot of brand photography, but not in a cookie cutter way. My work is very intentional and personality driven, and I focus on creating visuals that actually feel like the brand, not something that looks like everyone else’s.

What I’m most proud of is how true I’ve stayed to my aesthetic. The colors, the concepts, the overall vibe you see across my work are genuinely what I’m drawn to. I’ve never tried to mold myself into what I thought would sell or fit into a certain trend. Everything I put out is a direct reflection of what I like creatively.

I’ve really trusted that the right clients would find me. Instead of chasing work that doesn’t align, I’ve built my business around people who connect with my style. I know my work isn’t for everyone, and I’m okay with that. I think that’s what sets me apart. I haven’t compromised who I am creatively , and that’s something I take a lot of pride in.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is to be kind, be helpful, and lead with a generous mindset. If you know how to do something and someone wants to learn, teach them. There is more than enough to go around, and the clients that are meant for you will find you. The person who books me might not book someone else and vice versa. It’s not a competition.

I’ve also learned that it just feels better to move through this industry that way. Being collaborative, being supportive, and being open with what you know creates a completely different experience, not just for others but for yourself too.

I’ve been really lucky to have people help me when I was starting out. They answered questions that felt so simple I was almost embarrassed to ask, and they did it with kindness. That stuck with me.

Photography is such a gift, and being able to share that knowledge with someone else or help them grow creatively is really exciting to me. Watching someone else’s confidence and artistry develop is just as rewarding as creating the work yourself.

That’s probably my biggest lesson. Be helpful, be kind, and don’t treat it like a competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rikkifilmsthings.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikki_films_things

Image Credits
Rikki Ramsey
Rikki Films Things