Ray S. Rivera

(HE/HIM)

With a queer, Asian American lens, I am a storyteller who has been working behind the camera for more than a decade. I have an unobtrusive, candid, documentarian approach to my photography and focus on stories of pride, community, and authenticity.

Building a foundation of patient observation, my first exposure to camera capture was as a street photographer using black-and-white film. I then developed my technical skills as a commercial photographer for a production company depicting imaginative stories and characters. Within my eight years there, I also explored video and audio as a dynamic storytelling complement to photography stills, and eventually shot all external campaigns and internal productions as their resident Creative Art Director.

Since 2020, I pivoted to serving my local communities as an event photographer and videographer to commemorate their unique moments of confidence, joy, passion, and love.

Like a ray of sun, I am committed to providing the warmest camera capture services with bright ideas and gold standards, all delivered at the speed of delight.

Résumé

Photographer & Filmmaker

May 2021 – Current | Chicago, IL

  • Operates a one-man videography and photography business that has partnered with award-winning design studios to produce content for brands like Mars Candy, Gillette, Arm & Hammer, and McDonald’s.

  • Partnered with several nonprofit organizations to use the mediums of photography and videography to document the stories of Chicago’s community leaders, laborers, storytellers, artists, performers, and families, with a focus on queer and/or Asian American identities.

Creative Director

Legendary Escape Games
Plainfield, IL

Sep 2016 – May 2021

 

  • Devised cohesive storytelling themes and production design that guided Legendary’s team of 5 lead creators for 12+ escape room experiences, including Best In Show 2018 for Legendary Camp Lokankee Double Feature: Stabbin Cabin + The Witching Hour at Transworld’s Escape Room City national conference.

  • Lead brainstorming sessions to develop 100+ dynamic, modular puzzles with an emphasis on team building for 12+ escape room experiences.

  • Shot footage, edited, and animated 100+ videos for diegetic special effects, marketing, interviews, and tutorials for 12+ full experiences using Adobe Premiere Pro/After Effects.

  • Authored/designed layout of 100+ pages of storytelling documents using Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop.

  • Produced promotional content for marketing as a B2B company such as video, brochures, presentations, and merchandise, resulting in the contracts of 50+ clients around the world, including the top 5 largest deals in the Legendary’s history.

  • Presented the training sessions for 50+ clients on the company’s products.

  • Revamped the brand identity, design guidelines, and marketing campaigns of Legendary's 2 flagship locations, including enhanced branding, social content, layout, mockups, presentations, print material, and signage.

Art Director

Basement of the Dead: Haunted Attraction
Aurora, IL

Sep 2013 – Mar 2021

 

  • Conceptualized trendsetting promotional content and designed 500+ assets for digital, print, and social media channels, resulting in increased web traffic for online ticket sales by 125% annually.

  • Devised 12+ marketing campaigns that led to increased guest attendance by 120% annually.

  • Presented actor training sessions with a focus on branding for the cast of 90+ actors/performers. Under my direction, the cast was awarded Top 13 Cast/Crews in the Halloween themed attractions industry.

  • Developed the brand identity that solidified Basement of the Dead's global presence as America’s Scariest Haunted House as well as recognition from Buzzfeed as #1 Scariest Haunted House in the world.

Art Director

Disturbia Haunted Attraction
Downers Grove, IL

Aug 2020 – Apr 2021

  • Created the marketing campaigns and style guidelines for 2 seasonal events.

  • Designed 50+ assets/content for digital, print, and social media channels.

  • Spearheaded production of all photo/video content from pre-production to post-production, including conceptualization, principal photography, image manipulation, color correction, editing, sound, and motion graphics.

Education

Associate in Art

College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Jun 2020 - May 2021

GPA 4.0 & Academic High Honors

Photography + Theater

Elgin Community College | Elgin, Illinois | Sep 2012 - May 2015

Computer Science

Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | Sep 2011 - May 2012

Art Shows

Elgin Community College: Art Show
First Place in Photography - “Your Mom”

Elgin Community College: Big Print Show

Dragonfly Gallery: Art in Action: How Artists Helped Illinois End Money Bond (2024)