Rising Stars: Meet Stephanie Diaz of Thousand Oaks

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

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to photography started when I was a little girl. I remember asking Santa for a camera one year. Although I didn’t get it I did get a film camera later on. Once I reached high school I took a photography class and I absolutely loved it. From using a point and shoot camera to developing my own film, I knew I wanted to purse it more.

Although my path wasn’t straight and narrow that dream was put on the back burner. I wasn’t fully supported to follow my dreams which crushed me a little. I headed for college to major in business and marketing. After a few months I dropped out. It just wasn’t for me. Before I really knew what I wanted to do I always loved anything that had to do with art and creativity. I wanted to be a hairstylist or go to fashion school. None of which I was allowed to do. So I went straight into working retail.

It wasn’t till a few years later when I had my son that I purchased my first dslr camera. He was my muse. I played around with it slowly learning everything I could. I dabbled in photoshop and Lightroom. Once I got enough practice and confidence I started asking family and friends to be models. After a year I started taking clients for the holidays. At this point I still had my regular job and did photography on the weekends.

Fast forward a few years the pandemic hit and we were all stuck at home. I wasn’t working at the time and only doing photography but everything had come to a halt. That didn’t stop me. I took pictures of my boys and our life during those first few months of the pandemic. Once we got the clear that people could go out that’s when porch sessions started. Capturing families safely but from a distance.

Photography had always been my passion since I was a little girl. It was then in 2020 that I decided I would go full time and finally pursue my dream. It’s been 5 years of being full time and I have zero regrets. I now have a studio in Thousand Oaks. Shoot mirrorless with my Canon r6 and for my own pleasure shoot film on my Fuji x-m5. Never in all my years prior to going full time did I ever think I’d be where at am. It was always a dream. But it is now my reality and I am forever grateful.

I have met some of the most amazing clients and some have become close friends of mine. I get to capture such special moments in their lives and it is such an honor. In a sea of photographers I’m so grateful my clients chose me to capture those moments.

I still don’t know what my journey has in store for me being a photographer but I’m excited for whatever is to come.

Alright, 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?
It wasn’t a smooth journey getting to where I am today but I’m glad of how far I’ve come.

Without zero support behind me I’m so glad I was able to push my self with every obstacle that came my way.

From trying to figure what I wanted to do, to trying to do this while also being a mom and wife was a balancing act. But with every struggle thrown my way I’ve never would’ve been where I am today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Being a photographer I get to capture all kinds of sessions. From families, maternity, newborns, couples, grads, branding and elopements.

My favorite to capture though would definitely be families and maternity. Capturing candids moments frozen in time with my families has to be my favorite.
Studio wise I’d say branding sessions. They allow me to get creative and have fun!

In a sea of photographers it’s hard to set yourself apart from others. But if I had to pick I’d say my editing. Even though I don’t fully know yet what type of editing I shoot I feel it’s what attracts people to me. They always say I love your editing and I’m always honored because it took me sometimes to get to this style and I’m very proud of it.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
As a photographer how you put yourself out there is how people will see you. I’m very much an introvert and don’t put myself out there as much as I want to but my communications skills are amazing. Having worked in retail it gave me that confidence to talk professionally clients.

Being a mom has taught me that kids will be kids. I never expect anything bad but I know how kids are. I always tell my clients that their kids did fine because they did! I mean you should see mine trying to do WWE. To me their kids are angels!

Kindness will always go a long way.

Pricing:

• • Sessions start at $475
• • Elopements start at $1,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stephaniebelenphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniebelenphotography?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/kz3DvIZHSh