From Boherbue to Copenhagen: The Journey of Caroline Ryan, Photographer and Brand Consultant
Caroline Ryan’s story is one of ambition, creativity, and a deep appreciation for design. Born and raised in a thatched cottage in the quaint village of Boherbue in north Cork, Ireland, Ryan’s journey has taken her from the rolling hills of Ireland to the bustling canals of Copenhagen, where she now lives and works as a photographer and brand consultant.Her home, an early 18th-century converted cargo warehouse in Christianshavn, is nestled in one of Copenhagen’s most vibrant neighborhoods, known for its hip cafe culture and picturesque canals. Notably, Danish supermodel helena Christensen resides nearby, adding a touch of glamour to the area.
Ryan’s passion for the fashion industry was evident early on. She pursued international fashion promotion at The Manchester Metropolitan University, where she honed her skills in content creation, styling, photography, and art direction. Her career took off during her placement year in 2018 when she interned with Wolford in Austria. Impressed by her talent, Wolford hired her as their social media editor, a role she continued remotely from Manchester during her studies and for six months post-graduation.
In 2019,Ryan joined Mytheresa,a leading German online luxury fashion marketplace,in Munich. Reflecting on her role, she explains, “Fashion promotion involves content creation, styling, photography, art direction – everything other than making clothes.” Her time in munich was formative, but it was her move to Copenhagen in February 2020 that truly shaped her career and personal life.
“It’s like Disneyland compared to Munich,” Ryan says of Copenhagen. “Danes are like kittens compared to Munich, where people will not shy away from telling you what to do. Moving here immediately resonated with me.”
In 2020, Ryan joined Malene Birger, a renowned Danish label, as social media manager. She later transitioned to the role of creative content manager during the rebranding of By Malene Birger. “I wasn’t that passionate initially about social media,” she admits. “You need to have a visual and analytical mind and be able to write. You need all these things in one, but at Malene Birger, I grew to like it.”
Today, Ryan works remotely for the Swedish brand Rodebjer, traveling to Stockholm once a month. She combines this role with freelance photography and brand consulting,working with clients such as Malene Birger,Remain Birger Christensen,and Birrot,a Korean-Danish brand set to showcase at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Ryan’s approach to photography is refreshingly modern. “I shoot everything on an iPhone,” she says. “We mix ‘lookbook’ campaign imagery with more realistic social media.The campaign images get hundreds of likes, but the iPhone images always do better with thousands of likes. That helps to grow the brand quite a lot and seems to engage people more.”
Living in Copenhagen has its quirks. Ryan shares her apartment with her partner, Simon Brody, a music therapist. She notes,“In Copenhagen,when you pay your rental deposit,you know that at the end of your lease,they will subtract the cost of repainting and re-sanding the floorboards,so it comes out of your deposit.”
While she adores the city, Ryan finds the Danish language challenging. “I am not super proud of not being able to speak Danish,” she admits. “It took a while to distinguish between Swedish and Danish.” Despite this, she has formed meaningful connections with locals. “Danish people have a reputation for being colder and a little bit difficult, but I have had amazing conversations with people here. Their humor is quite dry, similar to ours, and the fashion industry is very international.”
Ryan also appreciates Denmark’s emphasis on work-life balance. “In Denmark, there is a lot of respect for free time. You can have a full day after the office,” she says. “Danes have a global level of appreciation of design, and no one is trying to do better than anyone else.”
Her sister, Deborah, a TU culinary arts graduate, has also made Copenhagen her home. Deborah works as a food photographer,host,and founder of the Copenhagen Cookbook Club while pursuing a master’s degree at Copenhagen University.
Ryan’s love for Copenhagen is evident, though she admits, “I don’t want to be doing the Danish winter in February when you know there are another two months of it.”
Key Highlights of Caroline Ryan’s Journey
Table of Contents
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Early Life | Grew up in Boherbue, north Cork, ireland. |
| Education | Studied international fashion promotion at The Manchester Metropolitan University. |
| Career Milestones | Interned with Wolford, worked at Mytheresa, and joined Malene Birger.|
| Current Role | Works remotely for Rodebjer and freelances as a photographer and brand consultant.|
| Living in Copenhagen | Resides in Christianshavn, a vibrant neighborhood with a strong design culture.|
| Personal Insights | Loves Copenhagen’s work-life balance but finds the Danish language challenging. |
Caroline Ryan’s journey is a testament to the power of passion and adaptability. From her roots in Ireland to her thriving career in Copenhagen, she continues to inspire with her creativity and dedication to the fashion and design industries.
explore more about Caroline ryan’s work on her Instagram or connect with her on LinkedIn.
From Boherbue to Copenhagen: A Conversation with Caroline Ryan on fashion, photography, and Life in Denmark
Caroline Ryan’s journey from the quaint village of Boherbue in Ireland to the vibrant streets of Copenhagen is a story of ambition, creativity, and a deep love for design. as a photographer and brand consultant, Ryan has carved out a unique niche in the fashion industry, blending her Irish roots with the cosmopolitan energy of Denmark. In this exclusive interview, Senior Editor of World Today News, Sarah Thompson, sits down with ryan to discuss her career, her life in Copenhagen, and her insights into the ever-evolving world of fashion and social media.
Early Life and Education: From Boherbue to Manchester
Career Milestones: From Wolford to Malene Birger
Life in Copenhagen: Work-Life Balance and Danish Culture
Fun Fact: caroline lives in Christianshavn, a neighborhood known for its canals and vibrant culture. Danish supermodel Helena Christensen is one of her neighbors!
