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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
tephanie’s had the pleasure of covering Bishop TD Jakes, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Don Lemon (CNN), Tamera Mowry, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Cynthia Bailey, and La La Anthony. Her editorial credits include Monarch Magazine, New African Woman, People.com, Cosmopolitan South Africa, Essence.com, and Munaluchi. Stephanie is a lover of light, laughter, travel, movies, and her beautiful cats Bebe, Sadie, and Kayla. I’m honored to have a selection of Stephanie’s stunning photography grace the pages of our 7th Anniversary Edition. I’m equally honored to have had the opportunity to sit down with her to learn more about her life behind the lens. Stephanie and I are thrilled to share our lively conversation with you. William Jackson: Tell me a bit about your personal life. Stephanie Matthews: Well...I’m single by choice because I’m working on me right now. Although I’m 45, I have mostly grey silver hair that people seem to love. I’m known for always wearing a red lip. I’m a huge movie-goer and I use to have dreams of winning an Oscar for directing (that could still happen). Going to lunch is one of my most favorite things, and last winter I watched all seven seasons of Game of Thrones in three weeks’ time. LOL!
William: What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos? Stephanie: This is a great question, but it suggests I regret not knowing something in advance. Here’s the thing, there might have been some business things I wish I had known which could’ve saved me agony such as contracts, copyrights, and licensing, but as for photography, no there’s nothing I wish I had known. Everything I tried, every error, every wrong step, and every happy accident literally shaped my work by forcing me to dig deep and push my style to the surface.
The truth is I feel blessed to have an eye. I shoot for clients, and I shoot because it’s my work. And yes, from time to time I shoot because I’m inspired. Speaking of inspiration, what gets me going? Bold colors, big, amazing hair, flawless makeup, sheer fabrics, stunning light set-ups, wind, and movement.
William: Was there anything specific you can remember that made you want to become a photographer? Stephanie: Actually, there was a very specific reason I picked up the camera. I taught myself photography, so I could document my father in the final months of his life. He lived long enough to see my first exhibition “Simply Beautiful: A Portrait Essay of Women”. I remember he and I were walking around the show looking at the photos and he turns to me and says, “I don’t understand it, but I like it.” It was literally the greatest compliment I’ve ever received. Shortly after his death in January 2005 I left to study photography at the Maine Photographic
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Institute, the International Center of Photography, followed by an internship with celebrity photographer Matthew Jordan Smith in New York City, New York.
FLUENTIAL SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018
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William: Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path? Stephanie: I’ll answer this question two ways. In general, there are about 50 photographers who influenced me. When I started shooting I was looking at all the photographs I could find. I bought book after book, and subsequently grew a fine collection. I’d take-away a something in almost everything I saw. Images still impact me all the time.
As for specific examples of being influenced, that would be fine art photographer, Joyce Tenneson. I had the honor of studying with her and spending personal time in Maine and New York City. Her lighting, attention to detail, and her artistic voice are very specific. When I look at her images I always feel not only is she saying exactly what she wants to say, but she is also leaving room for the viewer to have an opinion. As a photographer, my desire has always been to see and expose the inner beauty of my subjects. I think; therefore, I connected with Joyce’s work. She reveals the
