My journey as a photographer began right out of college. Sometimes you just hit it, and fortuitously for me, I did. Though I wasn’t formally trained in photography, photography had been my passion starting with photographing my friends in college, the streets of New York City, and the cultural events of the time.

An art director friend suggested that I look at some fashion magazines to see how those images were shot, and inspired by what I saw, I knew that if I studied those images, I could replicate them in my own style. I borrowed some clothing from young designers and boutiques and went out into the country side with a group of friends to take pictures. That became my training, as I quickly learned what worked and what didn’t. Model agencies liked my work and sent me models, and I was off and running.

Within months I had a portfolio and after showing my photos to some fashion editors in New York City, I got my first professional job shooting for GQ Magazine. Over the next year, I continued to evolve and to develop my style. After a few more fashion magazines saw my work and hired me, I “caught on” and a career as a fashion photographer was launched.

While living in New York, I shot for and was published in magazines: GQ, Harpers Bazaar, Seventeen Magazine, French Vogue, Town & Country, Modern Brides, The New York Times Magazine and advertising campaigns for beauty clients such as Revlon, Almay, Estee Lauder, and Chanel. For the sake of adventure and to broaden my experience, I moved to Paris, France and spent 7 years shooting for fashion clients including French Vogue, L'Officiel, and others, as well as retail store campaigns.

I now live in Birchrunville, Pennsylvania, one hour north of Philadelphia. I shoot for a variety of local clients, as well as regular clients in NYC, CT and Philadelphia and in many different styles based on what is needed: company headshots, individual and family portraits, real estate properties, and artist/modeling portfolios.

When we work together, you will experience being in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. I will coach you to feel good and look good. The result is a headshot or portrait that is authentic and engaging. You will receive artistic and creative images that best capture you in the style that meets your need.

Realtors will love the dynamic images putting their properties in the best light possible through the eye of an artist..

I also create photo art using digital tools as another way to expand both the nature of photography and my creative expression. Link on the home page.

A friend asked me why I dated my photographs from the 70s and 80s, since they are timeless. I picked images that were not linked to an ad or a client of that time. These for me are timeless, vintage even, and I'm not hiding that fact. I am happy to share that part of my journey as an artist.

These images represent my intentions and sensibilities at that time as I evolved, and I love that I was driven mostly by my love of beauty, a certain innocence, my intuition, limited technical know how, and the desire of the self-taught to figure out how to do it, to express my vision. It was exciting. Who I am is also who I was. I am in many ways a different person now. I love what I did then, and it was my art, though at the time, I was so deeply "in it", that I didn't fully grasp the import of what I had chosen to do. I see it now.

The dates honor my life then and my subjects' generosity. What set me apart and what still does is that I was intent on photographing feelings, even with models just doing their jobs. I insisted that they feel something, and mostly they made their best efforts. In that way they were actors in my movie. I believe that in a real way, a conscious and intentional photographer is always making self portraits.

The results are reflections of the photographer's inner world. So what I was feeling was part of what is revealed in the photo. The photograph then is collaboration between what I was feeling in the moment, and how it was received by the person and reflected back. I am still working and want potential photo clients and buyers of my art to know that who I am as an artist and photographer is deeply informed by who I was, with 5 decades of experience and a deep love of art and people.

Contact:

email: photo@steveladner.com..................mobile: 917-584-4503