Smoking Class to First Class: How Photographer Ryan Miller Found His Way to the Championship Tour

Some people have travel hacks, others have travel wisdom and experience. Ryan Miller is the latter.

The legendary photographer, widely known by his social media moniker @badboyryry, has hit every CT event on tour for over a decade, shooting for the WSL and a roster of top brands. In the process, he's racked up an incredible portfolio of iconic images, hard-won business knowledge, travel stories, and — yes — miles, points, and status. He regularly posts the backstory behind his first-class upgrades and elite lounge experiences, but it wasn't always this way.

"I used to travel the world in smoking class and sleep in $3 a night hotels," he says, laughing at his younger self. He had an aunt who worked for Vogue, and that early glimpse of photography as a real career stuck with him. He went on to earn two degrees with the intention of becoming a documentary photographer, spending serious time in Haiti shooting black and white film. Although he was into surfing from a young age, the surf world wasn't the plan. Years laters, when the opportunity appeared, he confidently walked through the door and hasn't looked back since.

His latest set of images comes to us from Western Australia, and he's now on the Gold Coast where the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro is currently underway. It was there in the mid-2000s that he first got seriously pulled into surf photography, thanks to an old friend, Gabe Kling, who helped him get his start.

"It wasn't long before I was shooting with guys like Jordy and Julian during the Nike era — I quickly met everyone," he says. "But I like to joke that it was my wife that bullied me into surf photography. We were at home in Jersey and one day she said, 'I'm going to the Gold Coast for three months.' After that, it wasn't long before shooting surfing became a big priority."

The timing was good. "In the magazine era, I did a lot of travel stuff blended with QS and CT events. Post-magazines, I focused on the CT. Working with all the top surfers was the best career move." He admits that Instagram caught him by surprise, at first, "I was still posting photos of myself in speedos as friends and peers started getting major brand deals. I realized that it was for real and I needed to hustle to stay on top of it all."

That focus clearly paid off. A decade-plus on tour creates more than a portfolio (although his is insane), it gives you a front-row seat to how the industry works. Whether with brands or athletes, his network runs deep and his relationships extend well beyond the water's edge. Funny enough, we didn't even start our call talking about surfing, rather, financial strategy.

"There's some weird taboo with men and finance — we don't talk about it," he says. "We don't naturally help each other like women help each other." Miller has been working to change that, at least in his corner of the surf world. He's open about discussing investing with a group that includes some notable names.

"I don't like Airbnbs — I like real estate development and long-term rentals. But we all have our own trading styles. Shane Dorian and I are the older ones in the group, and the younger guys, like John and Nate Florence, have different approaches. Those two are wildly smart — once they dive into something, they learn a lot."

It's a side of professional surf culture, or sports in general, that rarely makes it into the highlight reels. Contrary to popular belief, being a professional athlete (nor photographer of pro athletes) doesn't mean you're set for life. As Ry puts it, "If you don't stay sharp and evolve, you're going to wither up and die."

Given his career to this point, it's safe to say that Bad Boy is here to stay.