Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Craig.
Stephanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
How did I get where I am today? A lot of patience and unbelievable emotional support. I wouldn’t be where I am today without support of my friends and family. The story of how I became a photographer started in high school. When I was a senior, a friend of mine discovered there was a tiny darkroom hidden among the halls of our high school. It hadn’t been used in years but we fought to get the key and used it as an independent study. The equipment and chemicals were out of date and we had no idea what we were doing but before I knew it, I was spending more time here than in my other classes. A darkroom is a magical place and we’re unfortunate to have so few of them around these days. Dark, quiet and dreamlike, this is where I discovered everything I love about photography. I left high school and attended Hampshire College. I love literature and thought maybe I wanted to be a teacher. Who could make a living as a photographer anyway? I needed a real job.
In my first semester, I took an Analog Photography with an amazing professor, Robert Seydel and before I knew it, I spent all my free time in the darkroom again. All the final projects became photography projects. Creating images from scenes in Anna Karenina or exploring the Philosophy of Time through photography. Thankfully, Hampshire College is a place of exploration and discovery which allowed me to do this. Desperate to make a living out of this passion, I attended Hallmark Institute of Photography and started my business just one year later. I’ll never regret it. Photography gives my life meaning. It’s a tool to connect with the world. As an introvert, this is a very powerful asset for me. Photography has given me a way to process my emotions, and work through some very difficult times. It’s opened me up to the world in unimaginable ways. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest struggle in the last six years has been staying positive and shutting out the negativity that inevitably comes from making my life and work public. Self-doubt is a constant, and comparison is unavoidable. Social media is an obsessive rabbit hole. This year, I made a challenging but conscious decision to use social media as infrequently as possible. I turned off all my notifications and now I only use it to post and check in with my closest friends and family. I stopped paying attention to likes and shares because they don’t seem to correlate with the value of my work. A strong image is not defined by the number of Instagram or Facebook likes it gets. Strong work evokes emotion and conversation. I’ve found that the less time I spend obsessing over social media, the more time I spend focusing on creating better work, learning, taking real breaks and cultivating better relationships. I feel healthier and more focused. We get lost in our phones, and breaking free from that routine has made me a much better person. I recommend taking one no-tech day a week, or even half a day. Your followers can wait.
We’d love to hear more about Stephanie Craig Photography.
Every year my business has evolved into something totally unexpected and wonderful. This year has been a whirlwind. Not only do I have a handful of an amazing wedding and portrait clients, but I opened a photography studio in May. It’s still a work in progress but I’ve loved having a space solely for my business. I get to work more intimately with my clients and hone in on my studio lighting skills. Most excitingly, I was hired by the Letters Foundation in June. For a few weeks out of three months, I got to travel all over the United States with two lovely writers, interviewing and taking portraits of people who have received help from the foundation. It’s such an incredible organization to be working for. It’s been an eye-opening experience, to say the least. The book was released in December and is available on Amazon (https://letters.foundation/
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women tend to be more approachable which comes as an advantage when you’re a photographer. Getting your subject to open up and feel comfortable around you is crucial to creating genuine images. A successful photograph does not need to be technically perfect but it does need to evoke some kind of emotion. My favorite images are often imperfect- grainy, out of focus, underexposed but they have captured something very real. Most of my favorite photographers are women. They have the strength and courage it takes to run a business while having the patience and warmth you need to be trusted to capture some of life’s most intangible and fleeting moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephaniecraigphotography.com
- Phone: 413-522-8126
- Email: stephanie@stephaniecraigphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephcraigphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniecraigphotography
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