May got away from me in that slippery, half-lazy, half-chaotic way time sometimes does. So here we are, early June, and I’m poking my head up to say hello. April and May were quietly consumed by many weekends in New Jersey, helping my mom pack up the home I grew up in and move into a nearby apartment. It was emotional in the ways you’d expect: empty drawers, boxes, and a basement full of old school projects and forgotten 4x6 glossy memories. The suburbs are always nice, unexpectedly peaceful and good for mining the inspiration I tapped into as a teenager. Streetlights strobing, the bones of a construction site silhouetted in moonlight and wet night's fog, a crashed car parked on the street. I find myself moved by the in-between-ness of it all. The quiet. The not-quite-then and not-yet-now.
Since my last note to y’all, I’ve done a couple of shoots I’m really proud of. I’ll share more soon, but it’s been refreshing to shoot without the fog of platform / social media expectations hanging over me. Just pure collaboration, light, texture, weird little moments — the good stuff!
Also: I’m having a very big sale right now on a selection of my Polaroids. These are 1/1 unique pieces, taken on set during photoshoots — little spontaneous time capsules that look absolutely incredible framed. I’m selling them unframed for $75 each, or buy 3 and get one free. There are still plenty available on my site, and I’d urge you to take a look — I don’t see myself keeping them priced this low for much longer. Would love to get them into homes where they can live full, adored lives.
That said, I’ll be losing access to my home studio for July and August (new roommate incoming), so if you see me schlepping gear across town or popping up in strange corners for shoots, know it’s all part of the fun. Honestly, I’m excited. The forced shift in setting might just spark something unexpected, and I’m here for that kind of creative detour.
In very exciting news: I have a piece in the Queer Conscience 2025 show at The Image Flow in San Anselmo, CA. The opening reception is Saturday, June 14 from 5–7PM, and if you’re in the Bay Area, please come on out. Bring a friend. Bring two. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful show, and I’m honored to be in the company of so many bold, sharp, thoughtful artists.
And speaking of brilliant company, Analog Forever Zine just published a list of “20 LGBTQIA+ Photographers You Need to Know in 2025,” curated by the wonderful Nathan Lomas (who also curates Queer Conscience), and I was floored to be included. The full feature is so worth a read — there’s a lot of talent in that lineup, and I highly recommend spending time with everyone’s work. Grateful to be a small part of that conversation.
Art book: Incredible photographs from Ewen Spencer. The potential blurring of lines between documentation and commercial work — it’s super interesting to me. A pre-planned set house party with the cast of Skins UK S1. I think these photographs were used as promo material for the show. And now (years later) here’s the book with unseen images, and more imagery from this party shoot.
Watching: Currently re-watching The O.C. from the beginning. It remains an absolutely incredible show.
Inspiration: A recent trip to Coney Island, one of my favorite places in this city. Went to the museum there, which was chock full of incredible sign painting, and ride design. Coney is severely endangered at the moment, with developers circling, attempting to put in a giant mega casino. This would be a complete disaster. Please take a moment to sign the petition. Keep an eye out for future town halls, etc. We need to show up and stop a treasured neighborhood from being eviscerated.
In terms of other things I found deeply inspiring in the past month, I was recently floored to learn that per his wishes, contents from David Lynch’s studios/homes/etc. would be placed up for auction. The item that caught my attention, only because of the absolutely fitting Lynchian mystery:
Listening: I leave you with this playlist (via Apple Music again). This is my soundtrack for the impending summer. I’m currently braced for impact, waiting for humidity to hit me like a ton of bricks. May these songs soundtrack your solitary nighttime walks down a city street, or (if you’re lucky enough to be in the ‘burbs), through the woods at dusk.
Well anyway — happy Pride month. Enjoy yourself. That’s all for now. Thanks for sticking around… truly. If you made it this far, gold star for you.
Lots of love in leather & life,
Steven
P.S. If you’re someone with access to interesting, strange, or overlooked shoot locations in/around NY and wouldn’t mind me and a camera poking around, do reach out. My summer’s about to get very location-scout-heavy.