Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Wallace.
Hi Steven, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got started with photography when I was a pretty young kid. I saw my mom and my grandmother with their cameras always documenting life and I wanted to join in. I can’t imagine how much my parents spent on film and developing all the pictures I took, but they never once made me feel bad about it.
After I graduated high school, I took some time off to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. I bought an older manual 35mm SLR camera and got a part-time job working at a photo lab and camera store. The first time I got to develop and print my own rolls of film, I was completely hooked. I knew I wanted to learn everything I could about this art form and after two years, I enrolled in art school to earn my BFA in photography.
While I was still in school and working at the camera store, I started second shooting weddings with my friend Tim Harman and fell in love with it. I started shooting weddings and portraits on side and eventually took the plunge to go full time into photography in summer of 2012.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There’s always been ups and downs for sure. Getting things rolling and building a base of clients and referrals was one of the most daunting things at the beginning. The wedding and portrait photo field is really based on connections and relationships and those things don’t just happen overnight. I put a lot of pressure on myself for having times when I wasn’t booking steady work.
Looking back now, those are some of the times that really made me stop and consider why I’m doing what I’m doing and where I wanted to focus with it. I think that’s something that’s incredibly valuable for anyone, especially in a creative field. Being forced to ask myself over and over again what drives me to photograph people and the important moments and people in their lives has made me fall in love with it all over again.
Obviously, the last couple of years navigating the pandemic have been a struggle in a lot of ways. I also became a dad two and a half years ago. We’ve been really fortunate that I’ve been able to stay home with our son while my wife works her 9-5, but that’s also made me have to re-evaluate where I want to go with my photography and what I want to focus on. I’m actually in the process of now changing things up and am seriously excited about the direction I’m heading in.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer specializing in portraits, weddings, and elopements. I also have a huge passion for exploring in nature and landscape photography.
Something that I’m known for is the love I have for analog photography. All of my landscape and personal work and a big part of my client work is shot on film.
I connect with making photos on film more than any other tool. It has a look and feels that just can’t be matched. The physical, tangible nature of it is so refreshing (I could really nerd out about how each frame of film is forever changed by the particles of light and how beautiful that is, but I’ll hold back for now).
There’s an excitement that goes all the way from loading a fresh roll through seeing the finished developed images. I only have a limited number of shots per roll and no LCD screen which means I have to slow down, trust what I’m shooting, and get to stay focused on my subject. Shooting films for clients has made me an even better digital photographer.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
That helps me do my best in life? Haha, not really. Most of the podcasts I listen to are silly distractions, which can be really good for getting out of my head and focusing.
Contact Info:
- Email: steven@stevenwallacephoto.com
- Website: https://www.stevenwallacephoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenwallacephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenwallacephoto
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenwphoto
Image Credits
The photo of me was taken by Jordana Dale.
