Hello, my name is Josh Ritchie, a freelance photographer who works with editorial, marketing, and advertising clients to bring their visual needs to life. This is where I’ll be sharing recent work, talking about behind-the-scenes moments from assignments, and giving some insights into my life working on visual storytelling.

I’d love the chance to work together, so please reach out.

How Quickly We Forget

I live 15 minutes from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. My daughters are in the same school district. Our favorite playground is across the street from where the massacre happened. We are a part of the community and see the effects firsthand. 

I had the opportunity to photograph some of the families and survivors of that horrible day. I met each of them in the space they felt most comfortable in. The conversations we had started off with the typical pleasantries but quickly turned emotional. I set my cameras down and listened. Allowing the emotions to flow felt important and necessary. As painful as the stories were, feeling the story guided me to the photos. Each person I spoke with told me how this experience had made them stronger and more defiant in the face of hatred. Those were the photos I attempted to create. It affected me deeply. 

Now Florida may be passing a law that allows for constitutional carry. This would mean you would no longer need a permit to carry a weapon on your person. It would also remove the training required to carry a concealed weapon. Have we forgotten already? I know Sarah Lerner (clockwise from left), Patrick Petty, Andrew Pollack, and Ivy Schamis have not forgotten.

I know Jeff Foster (above), who helped students organize their protests following the massacre, hasn't forgotten. I will never forget hearing their stories. Hearing about teachers stepping over the bodies of their students as they were escorted out by police. Hearing about how parents found out their child would never return home. Hearing about the anger a brother has over never being able to see his sister again. I only hope the images dignify their pain.

I know that I got chills when standing in the bedroom turned shrine of Nicholas Dworet, one of the victims of the shooting. His room was basically as he had left it. His parents added the Valentine's Day presents Nick received from his girlfriend on the morning of his death and some photos from his memorial service but the rest remained untouched. Seeing Nick's school work, his writings about wanting to become an Olympic swimmer, and the items his girlfriend handcrafted for him gave me goosebumps. 

My pain will never match theirs, but I know I will never forget.

I’m based in South Florida, and I love working in my backyard, but I do travel well. To see more of my work visits my website. To find out how I can help fulfill your visual needs shoot me an email or give me a call.