Listen, when I say I was excited for this event, I mean I was entirely unable to focus on anything else the week leading up to it. I worked in the Service industry for many years as a server and bartender, so this was my own special kind of nerd out. I was always fascinated by the marketing science behind many of the menu, décor, and music decisions, but I never imagined there were entire events dedicated to the details. It makes sense that there are organizations that honor industry leaders in various categories, but it’s not something I was ever privy to even as a manager. Turns out, I was just the wrong kind of manager!
Read MoreI like to think of myself as a collector of connections. It’s an accurate way to describe the joy I get from meeting new people, and it’s a lot less threatening than saying I’m a “collector of people.” Win/win, right? There’s just something about feeling the spark of something new and exciting the first few minutes after an introduction, and it was especially strong with Dany. He and his family had met me at a local coffeehouse to talk through some photography possibilities, and his passion for his work and the people he serves was evident within the first few minutes of conversation.
Read MoreEmpowering one another as we work towards a more inclusive culture is the bread and butter of Steph Grant Studios, so it’s no surprise that our immediate response when Lauren asked us to capture their annual summit again was, "YES!" The cherry on top this time around was getting to know each member of the leadership team prior to the summit during their Executive Portraits and then spending some one-on-one time with most of the attendees during their headshots.
Read MoreMost of you are aware of my love for storytelling. The purpose of me photographing Nike Women’s Marathon was to capture reactions. To deliver images that had emotion. This is the first year that Nike was implementing jumbotrons into the marathons in the United States. These jumbotrons would be synced with the timing mats that each runner would cross over along their race. The timing mat would register their RFID chip in their bib and trigger the jumbtron to display a personalize encouraging message. Can you imagine after having no energy and feeling like you want to give up…you’re at mile 21 and your name pops up?
Read MoreThis wedding event is a photographer’s dream. Everywhere you turn there is a magical scene from a movie. Massive wedding cakes and wedding ring shaped ice sculptures to elegant wedding gowns and decorations. I for one am a big fan of intimate elopements and micro weddings but this event always makes me appreciate the planning that goes into orchestrating such an elaborate event and what it takes to pull off a seamless event. Check out my time photographing the Special Event in 2016 as well.
Read MoreOne of the questions I get the most is, “What do you love the most about what you do?” Whether that’s in passing conversation or in interviews, it always seems to come up and I always have the same answer… “Connection.” It’s one thing to take a picture, but it’s another to take a picture that tells someone’s story at a glance. It requires a sometimes unexpected amount of vulnerability from the photographer and the client, and the connections we create as a result are absolutely priceless.
Read MoreI am a queer artist, educator, and activist, and I create immersive installations that take the form of video projection, sound, blown glass, and neon. I am a second generation glass artist, my mother is a stained glass artist, and I identify as a feminist. My projects address issues of sexism, queer culture, protest, and telepresence. Currently, I am focused on the power of words, language, and cultural biases as those topics relate to gender politics, birth, and queerness in a contemporary and historical context.
Read MoreHi, I’m Steph Grant! My pronouns are She/Her. I currently reside in Dallas, TX but am originally from Huntington Beach, CA. I’m all about human rights, making others feel included, LGBTQ+ elopements, and my chihuahua, Rusty. I’m constantly learning whilst taking others along for the adventure, especially with my religious deconstruction process. That’s the very summed up version…it’s packaged a little more nicely in this video about my story. Here’s a little bit more…
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