A DECADE OF NEW YORK.

Last night I was on the phone with a buddy of mine from LA. We were talking about all things photography, running a business and you know…the olden days. Taylor was one of the artists in my very first art shows on a rooftop in Los Angeles. I remember it like it was just yesterday. Then it hit me. That was 10 years ago this month! In January of 2006 I would go to New York City for the first time ever. In January 2016 I would purchase my very first camera (the Canon 10d). I got it the day before I left, tossed the manual aside and took that thing everywhere with me. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and a good amount of my picture were blurry, but I didn’t care. I was documenting my trip.

After that trip I became obsessed with documenting everything. Little did I know that exactly 4 years later I would quit my corporate job and start my own business as a photographer. Sure, I’ve hit those low points and I’ve hit them pretty hard at times, but somehow I always bounced back. There was some sort of determination that grew inside of me each day. Giving up just felt… wrong. At the time I had no idea where this came from, but I always knew there was something I was working towards. I just didn’t know what, yet.

Just 3 years later I would take a giant leap in my career and follow my heart. Best decision to date. I started marketing myself as an LGBTQ photographer and haven’t looked back since. This morning I read an article that said, “In order to be happy, you must build a lifestyle around being true to yourself. If you’re true to yourself, good things will follow.”

You have to be willing to put yourself out there over, and over, and over. Create your own rules. Do something totally unexpected. I will always remember that first trip to NYC. My eyes were opened to new possibilities in 2006 and 2007. It was then that I fell in love with traveling and with people. I said “hi!” to as many strangers as I could, and took so many pictures. I was unstoppable. I have been to NYC every year since then, and every time it’s like seeing it for the first time. The great thing is we can view every day like that. There is always something new to see, and always someone new to meet.

Take those moments and hold them tight in your hands. One day we’ll look back and a decade will have passed by in a blink of an eye. Thank you for your love and for supporting me on this adventure. You keep me going! And now a few picture from NYC over the years and if you want to see behind the scenes from my NY adventures check out the hashtag #StephSeesNYC