Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Stephenson.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve been a globetrotter since birth.
My parents were hippies – on a quest to live an unconventional life, away from responsibilities, expectations, and a society where they didn’t fit in – pretty much a life that was polar opposites of the conventional and predictable lives their parents lived.
My mom and dad lived in an RV, leaving behind secure jobs on a quest to find happiness. My dad played the barrel organ in the streets – a surprisingly profitable one-man show while my mom – an incredibly creative and beautiful woman painted murals in the streets. Their adventures all across Europe somehow landed them in the Pyrenees – the snow-covered mountains on the border of France and Spain – where I was born.
Not long after I was born, my family was off to yet a new adventure and made their way to Portugal, where they bought a piece of land, turned it into a profitable business, and enabled me to have the best childhood one could ever dream of – exploring underwater ruins, swimming alongside sea snakes, picking the freshest olives and grapes right off trees and bushes, climbing pine trees and enjoying the simple life – away from materialism and expectations.
But when I was six years old, my world as I knew it changed drastically – my mother wanted to move back to Germany, and I had to adjust to a life completely different from everything I’d known so far. I wasn’t used to living in an apartment and only seeing my dad on the weekends. I struggled with finding my place and whenever I thought I had accustomed to the new situation we ended up moving to another city.
My desire to see new places, meet new people, and my willingness to just up and leave for the next adventure is a blessing and a curse but eventually, it would lead me to where I am today.
Ever since I can remember, I felt that memories were slipping through my fingers and I just had to find a way to hold on to meaningful situations and people in my life – I think this feeling has greatly influenced my decision to become a photographer. I wanted to be able to hold on to my memories while also helping others to hold on to theirs.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I got married at 23 years old and moved to the States when I was 25.
I struggled with finding friends and only having my husband to confide in. Needless to say – it put a ton of stress on our relationship, adding kids to the mix, and moving six times in ten years definitely hasn’t made it easy to establish a place that feels like home.
Aside from that – I was craving a feeling of accomplishment – I wanted to be more than “just” a mom and wife. But building a successful photography business isn’t easy – add moving and starting from scratch over and over and it’s nearly impossible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in authentic storytelling. I’m not afraid of the raw and unglamorous sides of any story. Anyone can take a pretty photo, but I strive to capture the essence of who people truly are, their sacrifices, the love they have for those around them, and what moves them.
When I work with couples and families, I’m not afraid to let them see the real me, being vulnerable and honest, and letting them get to know me personally. I interact as a storyteller that takes away all expectations and makes room for stories and situations to unfold naturally.
I personally hate having my photos taken because there is an expectation to perform. I dislike inauthenticity and I strive to tell real stories of real people.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m incredibly camera-shy!
The second someone points a camera at me, I feel under pressure to perform – to look pretty or flash my best fake smile – it makes me so uncomfortable that I make a grimace or drop to the floor and hide.
I believe the reason why I have become so good at capturing genuine portraits of people is that I know just how uncomfortable it is to perform for the camera and I don’t want anyone I work with to ever feel this way.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@rebeccas-photography.com
- Website: https://www.rebeccas-photography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccastephensonphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaStephensonPhotography/
Image Credits
Rebecca Stephenson Photography
