5.10.2012

NYC. My heart.



A quick blog to say WOW... I've seen this before but I just fell in love with it all over again. Smiling at the screen for sure.

5.09.2012

Explore. Dream. Discover.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

I remember first reading this quote in a book while waiting for my smoothie at Jamba Juice back in California. I still worked in a cubicle at this point and felt that aching in my heart to get OUT and do more. Make a difference. Work long hours but be happy doing it so it didn't feel like work. I wanted to wake up every morning excited to work instead of dreading the day ahead of me. I wanted to throw myself into an unfamiliar situation to see if  it was possible to make money doing something that I loved for work but geez how scary. For years I tried so hard to ignore that ache but enough was enough...I was sick of just blogging about my unhappiness. Here I am today doing just that...everyday keeps getting better and it is super rewarding. Here are a few of my headshots...TreeHouse Weddings is expanding into the corporate world. Time to take on events & branding and I couldn't more excited about the direction of my career. Not a day goes by where I am not thankful I listened to my heart. Listen to yours...life is too short to be doing something you despise. Quit complaining....do something different. No one is going to do it for you. PS: I don't mind wearing a business suit & heels as long as I am creating something I love while wearing them;) I have a hard time staying TOO serious for too long. [Let's put on our suits & heels and connect like professionals. Find me on: Linkedin.]





5.08.2012

Red Corduroys | Dallas Opera House.

I swear being a photographer is wonderful...because everywhere I go I take mental snapshots [like THIS]. Every day I am subconsciously on the look out for something awesome to take a photo of. Today it was a bathroom mirror...cringe. But I love the way it turned out.

Today we went exploring in Dallas with an awesome musician/instructor at David Brown Music Studio. We got him some fresh photos for promotional materials and his website. What a perfect gloomy day it was...can't wait to share the photos we took. Wrapped up the day by catching up with a friend at Meddlesome Moth then going to the very top of 2 tall buildings in the Dallas Skyline and taking pictures. Gotta cross that one off my bucketlist:)

5.07.2012

My Things.

A little bit about the things I use and/ or see everyday.

Camera: my newest/old film camera. I also have a Minolta that I have worked with way more. The camera strap is my favourite. I purchased it in Seal Beach, CA at a vintage shop.

Specs: Salt Optics are by far the best. I've been big on Ray Bans in the past but nothing competes with Salt [& they're handcrafted in my home state]. I sport the Yates.

Watch: This is definitely my go to watch. I have way too many watches for my own good...Vestal & Nixon are my favourite watches to wear. My brown wood Nixon Chalet was a gift to from my awesome coworker at Hurley, professional surfer Jodi Nelson. She's rad.

Create Mug: I have no idea where this was purchased...all I know is it was a thank you gift for shooting my friend from Hurley's mothers bday. Thanks Ri! I have used this every single day from the past 4 years.

iPhone4: this helps me run my business, stay connected & take amazing photos wherever I am in the world. Follow me on instagram.

Brown Leather Journal: I always have one of these by my side for thoughts or random doodles and ideas. This one is a brand new one that I just bought from Barnes & Noble...going to start a page a day with bullet points of major things that happened on that day.

1959 Bolex Paillard 8mm Movie Camera: This bad boy showed up on my doorstep from a childhood friend who used it as a paperweight. He thought I could get better use out of it. I am taking it to the local camera shop and am planning on using it for my roadtrip to South Carolina this summer. Thanks Kevin!!

Keep It Simple bracelet: Handcrafted by my talented friend at The Lazy Leatherworker. "Keep It Simple" is one of my favourite phrases...first heard it in Vermont. I bought a sticker for my guitar case while traveling there in the Fall of 2006. It's Vermont's state motto and a great reminder to me that less is more.

The paintbrush is...just a paintbrush without a story, but it is used to created my art and I love it.

5.04.2012

Center Moriches, New York.

Hi you! I am flying to New York for my 7th consecutive year. A little backstory before I continue babbling...when I decided I was going to NY for the first time in January of 2006 I thought wow I don't even own a camera...I should buy one. Seriously guys, I didn't OWN A CAMERA?! So what did I do...I bought a "nice" one just because. I purchased my first Canon 10D body and one lens. I had no idea what I was doing and of course I did not read the manual. In fact I think it stayed in the plastic baggie until I sold that camera a couple years ago. I am big on figuring things out for myself. Little did I know that trip would change my career path. I took photos on that trip and messed around with them in Photoshop. An artist that was in charge of planning artshows for Hurley saw my photos from that trip and told me he wanted me to showcase my "work" in an artshow at a studio in Los Angeles. Blackboxx Gallery with a rooftop view or the LA skyline...so awesome right?! I was literally standing beside myself...what an amazing and random opportunity. Sidenote: One of my favourite photos from my New York City trip (Bright Red Door) Just sold to the NYLO Hotel in Dallas, TX! Talk about excitement and confirmation that I am in the right place doing something that I love. The rest is history...I worked at Hurley for 3 years and then quit to take photographs and make art full time. All of that to say...New York has a very special place in my heart. That city helped shape me and I have gone back at least once every year since that trip. 

Anyway, I just booked my flight yesterday for my 2012 trip BUT this trip to New York will be different. The first part of the trip will take place an hour and a half from the city. I am staying in a house on the beach and the trip will mainly involve lighthouses, beaches, antiquing, volunteering at an organic farm, wineries, small towns and bluffs! I am staying with the owner/designer of R.E.D. ....of course we have never met but we feel like life long friends for some reason. I am so happy to be working with her and her company. Her work is fantastic. I am not big on wearing jewelry everyday but I would proudly wear her work any day, it's just that good. Take a look around her site and support her craft. The ideas/locations for this shoot blow my mind. Let me paint a picture of what I will be working with: 

Couple #1: Louie and Phelan. Organic Farm. Greenhouses. Dirt. Bandanas, dusty faces, working in the field as the sun comes up over the tomato plants. Leather necklaces, ID tags and tank tops. 

Couple #2: Nazma and Amanda. Nazma is from the Caribbean and Amanda is very boho chic. Shot at the beach. Bikinis and cuttoffs...feet hanging off dock, sandy hands. Close shots of necklaces with bare, sunkissed shoulders and wet hair.

Couple #3: Jana and Sam. They will be wearing finer jewelry from the collection...they will be travelers. Old school suitcases, hitchhiking. Harmonicas and guitar cases. Telephone poles and a highway that stretches into the horizon. Dusky skies. Sepia Light. 

Then on the last leg of the trip I take the train to Penn Station and have a musician/lifestyle shoot booked in the city. A full couple days of getting lost in my favourite place. SO AMPED FOR THIS.

Currently listening to: Alone by Heart.

An update & a song.



"I can feel your heart beating closer than the poison of my pride."

Oh dang...I am loving this song so much right now. Also, I wanted to update you on my blog post with the 5 goals I am working on since the Womens Food Service Forum Conference I shot a couple weeks ago. Here were my goals to get done by the end of May:


1. Post an iPhone photo daily to my blog & a small story behind the image [DONE SO FAR]

2. Redesign & relaunch both of my brand websites within the month. [working on it, but it's going on happen!]

3. Drink 8 cups of water daily [weird this is the hardest one for me...but I can definitely say I am drinking more than I usually do.]

4. Go to the gym at LEAST 3 times a week. [HECK YEAH!! And on top of that my new hobby, mountain biking.]

5. Book 3 shoots in NYC. [2 of 3 booked and it's only May 4th!]

5.03.2012

Pretty Filthy.

I think I have found myself a new hobby....tried a new trail today and wow it was incredible. For once, I felt like I was in the mountains somewhere in Colorado and NOT in Arlington, TX. It smelled so good outside. The mosquitos had a small feast on my body...repellant must be purchased.

Next time I am taking my phone on the trail and getting some good shots of these rides we are doing. Might be going again on Sunday and Wednesday. I would definitely encourage all 2 of my readers haha to try new things....if you hate it at least you know to move onto something else. That rush you get when you're doing something that is unfamiliar is indescribable. I love watching people in their element and some of these bikers are super intense. We were pretty intense ourselves...even lost a pedal off one of the bikes. Try something new soon and tell me about it!!! Goodnight world.

Currently listening to: I Can't Hold Back by Survivor.

5.02.2012

Thistle Farms. Ghana. Nashville. Stories.


Hi friends! This post is about a life changing organization I got to work with while I was in Nashville, TN called Thistle Farms. Thistle Farms is a social enterprise of Magdalene, which is a residential program for women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets. You know sometimes you just have those experiences that totally catch you off guard and you feel like you are right where you are supposed to be...well, that sums up my day spent with the women at Thistle Farms. Keep in mind, most of the time when I travel I go solo...just me and my camera. I like to get lost and meet people. So I made my way to their manufacturing facility in Nashville and had no idea what I was in for...but I was so excited to document the stories of these women and learn about the products that they've created [image on the left is a shot I took of a product I watched them create and package while I was there.] I was greeted right a way with a huge hug and "are you steph...the photographer?! I got my hair done for today!" And just like that I was in....lost in this amazing adventure. If you know me well...I don't cry very often. Let's just say I cried like a baby while sitting down with 2 of these women and hearing their stories. We cried together and hugged each other. Life is about connection. I had a "ah ha!" moment while sitting on that couch....I never EVER would've been sitting there listening to these amazing women tell me what they've been through and how proud they are of what they make if I had been sitting in a cubicle. It was a friday at 2pm...I am so happy I was far from what used to be comfortable and familiar. I am in the unknown everyday and it keeps me on my toes. Can't wait to share more about my entire Nashville trip soon! I left that day with a bag full of wonderful products, candles, a handmade journal, a happy heart and a bracelet I wear everyday that was made by women in Ghana. What an amazing creative trip. Follow Thistle Farms on Twitter. 
Currently listening to: 38 Special- Second Chance.

5.01.2012

Bingo in Arlington, TX.

So I'm really trying to stick to my goal to post a photo everyday for 30 days on my blog with a quick story. Today I pulled over to get this shot....mostly because it reminded me of someone.

Sometimes I make adventure lists with important people in my life....on my last adventure list "play bingo with old people" was high on that list. Haven't done it just yet but tomorrow is a fresh day. Here are a few other things that were on that list that need to be accomplished sooner than later:

1. Ride in a hot air balloon.
2. Learn how to be a glass blower.
3. Shooting range.
4. Learn how to make pottery.
5. Volunteer more in Dallas.

Currently listening to: the Carpenters- Touch Me When We're Dancing