Meet Stephanie Acosta of Nea’s Photography in Inland Empire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Acosta.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I knew that I always wanted to create something beautiful but never understood what my calling was. My mom always said that at a young age she would find me running around the house with my fingers in a shape of a rectangle over my eyes and saying “pish” as if it was the sound of a shutter. Little did my mom know, this was going to be the start of what I call my heart and soul. Right after high school I was given the opportunity to work as an intern for a production company in Los Angeles as an executive assistant. One day while on set of their client’s photoshoot I noticed that the photographer on set had left their camera on a table (which is a big no no in the industry) and I thought “Hey why not”. I started to take pictures of anything that was going on around me. I didn’t know what I was doing to be honest but I was having fun and to be honest I was going to delete the files from the memory card but that’s when I heard my name and left the camera where I found it.

The next day my boss calls me into his office and asks if I had touched the photographer’s camera. My heart just stopped and I felt like I was going to just pass out. Well to my surprise instead of being told to pack up my stuff and turn in my badge I was complimented on the images I took. That’s where the adventure began!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This road that I am on, everything was just perfect from the start and I never had any problems along the way! … I wish I could read that statement without laughing but on a serious note, I sometimes did wish it was that easy. If I could speak to my younger self, I would tell her not to listen to anyone else other than her heart. After discovering my love for photography in college, I decided that Canon was the way to go since everyone in the industry uses it so I of course had to use it too. Well a year into my college studies I started to feel a sharp pain in my wrist and decided to go to the doctors. Sadly, my doctor said “Either you stop photography or you find a lighter camera”. I was truly devastated because I finally found what God had led me to and now I must give it up? Luckily my mentor mentioned to me about Sony and I was hooked all over again and that little girl who would run around saying “pish” was happy again. Little did I know that was going to be the start of yet another struggle to make a name for myself. Throughout the years I was told that I would never make it into this industry, that all I would be is a cheap photographer because of the gear I used. I remember one time, while photographing a wedding the videographer looked at me and in front of my client said “oh you’re a hobbist” I replied “I’m sorry what?” and he replied “Well with that gear you can’t be a real photographer” I just smiled and said “Thank you for your observation, but I have to finish this” and I got back to work. Like any artist it killed me to hear that artists in this industry belittled me in a way that I have never felt before. I remember crying so many nights because I truly felt like maybe I wasn’t cut out to be in this industry that just maybe I need to give up this dream.

For a time, I did stop working on my craft because I started to believe what people would say. But again, I felt that calling pulling at my heart and I knew I needed to do this, I needed to get back up and continue to push forward. I didn’t know why, but I knew I couldn’t let my younger self down. She was screaming to click that shutter button again and I wasn’t going to give up on her.

Once I started to open my heart up again to what I knew I needed to do, I started to discover so much love and support. I meet so many amazing and talented artists in the photography industry that truly let me learn from them and I can’t thank them enough for not only taking me under their wing but becoming such dear friends of mine.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Nea’s Photography – what should we know?Photography is just one component, forget about all the business aspects that takes to run a business, what I do is specialize in moments. In the emotions behind my brides when they first put on their wedding dress to that final moment when my grooms see their true love walking down the aisle who will soon become their forever love. That is what I specialize in when I photograph my client’s weddings. I’m truly blessed to say my job isn’t just being able to push a button, it is being able to freeze a moment in time. I’m a firm believer that my brides are not just my brides but are dear friends to me. To this date I keep in touch with so many of my brides and I’m truly happy to hear about all their new milestones they reach in life. My brides become my dear friends because they know that I am always there for them when they need me.

The number one lesson I have learned in this career is to never stop learning and never stop giving your whole heart. Because you will never know when that one image may be the last.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Giving from the heart is the most important characteristic and learning that you are valuable no matter what level you are in your field. Also, being able to surround yourself with positive and loving people.

I wouldn’t be the person I am if it wasn’t for the love and continued support from my mother who has been my biggest supporter in my career. From buying my first camera to cheering me on when I have my days of doubt. Life wouldn’t be the same without you mom there by my side. As well as my love who has taught me to be strong that you must keep pushing yourself and to never forget to laugh even when the odds are against you. It’s there in your eyes that I truly see how much you believe in me and in our future. Thank you babe!.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neasphotography.com
• Email: neacosta@neasphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/neasphotography_
• Facebook: facebook.com/neasphotography

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