Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Dietrich.
Stephen , please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started with film back in high school. It was the class everyone wanted to take because it gave you an excuse to get outside and wander around while everyone else was in class. I went through the basics of framing and developing, I ended up buying a Canon film SLR from a pawn shop and just started casually wondering the streets of Portland snapping whatever I found interesting. I did a few small local fashion shows and concert events during an internship at a Portland alternative radio station. I continued to learn through trial and error, but as the costs of buying film and developing was one of the first things to get cut from a starving student’s budget. With no real Photography program in college, I studied Advertising instead. I hung up my SLR for a digital point and shoot.
It wasn’t until recently with the ability to share images socially, that I started to get a lot of attention and praise from my creative peers. This gave me the motivation to get back into doing what I was so passionate once before. I bought new gear and with a new mindset and intention, I began to expose myself to new techniques, styles, and types of photography. I have been grateful enough that my profession has given me many opportunities from my photography to grow through published editorials and events.
Has it been a smooth road?
For sure there were struggles. In the beginning, finances were always an issue. It’s not easy dropping serious coin on equipment and having it only be a “hobby” or for fun. Once you’re in a place financially where you are able to actually invest in yourself, those sort of justifications are a lot easier and just comes with time.
Also, self-doubt is the dream killer. You always wonder if your good enough and “will I stand out from the rest” but the world is big enough for everyone and their dreams so you just got to go for it and do what makes you happy.
What is the most difficult part of what you do?
Starting the business is the hardest part! It’s really exciting but also scary to take that first step in pursuing your dream career.
What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
I think success is when your work is getting noticed and you get to choose the types projects to work on. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and “wanted” in one way or another and I think success is just an extension of that. Not to mention having a full client schedule that includes traveling to new locations to take more photos!
So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
My plans for the future are to keep building up myself as an artist in addition to a lot more travel photography from places like Iceland, Nepal, Peru and Southeast Asia.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.stephenddietrich.com/
- Phone: 310-795-4799
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen_delfierro_dietrich/
- Other: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134591433@N08/albums
