STHPhotography is owned and operated by Sloan Thomas Howard

In 1991, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts at the State University of New York at Purchase majoring in sculpture & photography. I excelled and enjoyed both, however, photography has always been my first love. By graduation I had already worked photo lab and wedding photography jobs and moved to assisting successful commercial photographers with Fortune 500 clients. My primary motivation was my desire to become a commercial photographer.

For three or so years I had a very busy schedule, working long days, seven days a week with every major photographer in the area and with every new photo gadget on the market. By nature, I learned quickly, adsorbing many fresh, cutting-edge techniques and styles. Working for many photographers helped me to grow and mature as a photographer, learning how to respect clients and understand which photo equipment would best suit me as a freelance photography. Learning the job took many long hours but I loved it!

As time passed and I grew apart from the assisting jobs, I began to develop my own client base. Expressing my opions and style was becoming more of a passion. I knew it was time to start working for myself. Booking jobs with local clients was a little awkward because of the overlapping connections I had with my previous employers and clients. Over time, my previous employers became my peers. There was enough room for one more photographer in the world. My new clients included just about every business in town. My big break came when one of the photographers for a large local publishing company moved. I was able to step into her role. The company had a studio full of equipment that I I could use, however, I still needed my own equipment. One of my first assignments for them was to shoot a "how-to" book in upstate New York. I would earn about as much as a good set of lights would cost, so just before I left I broke out the American Express and ordered my lights. I planned to shoot the job, come home, invoice it and get paid before my bill came. That's just how it worked out, and now I had lights. For a few years to follow I did just that; I worked for equipment and assisted to pay the bills.

Suddenly it was the mid 90's, I had not assisted in years, my studio was full of equipment and I had new daughter. That year, one of my clients had a thousand page catalog to produce. Opportunity knocked and it was a chance to become one of the digital photography pioneers. I leaped head first into buying one of the first digital cameras -- a hefty $30,000. I knew the catalog shoot would pay for it, and I would learn the technical side of digital photography. Luckily, with an American Express card and a precommitment from the client, we were able to create one of the first ever all-digital catalogs.. Digital photography helped me become a well- rounded photographer. Now with today's technology, quality has become so advanced that there is no real reason to shoot film any longer.

It's 2004 and I am taking advantage of another new technology; the Internet. Many things keep changing in this industry, such as styles, equipment and procedures, but many remain the same for me; things such as work ethic, high standards and my valued relationships with clients. As a photographer, I value what I learned a long time ago and that I look forward to my future of meeting new people, starting new projects, acquiring new equipment, learning new things and doing a great job!

Sincerely,
Sloan Howard