2024, Wrapped!

Happy New Year, friends!

Photos L to R: Moriah Sawtelle for Diageo, Leslie Grow for IQ Bar, Justin Walker for Chili's

As 2024 comes to a close and the potential of 2025 has yet to unfold, I’m looking back with a smile and a heap of gratitude at the many creative opportunities I was given this past year. It was a year of exploring a broad range of interests that kept me inspired, excited, humbled and on my toes.

2024 was great in terms of building on my relationships with incredible brands like Tecovas and Chuy’s while also welcoming some exciting new clients into the mix, like Faherty Brand, Whataburger, Chili's, IQ Bar and a fantastic range of beverage brands, including Waterloo Sparkling Water, Topo Chico, and several of Diageo’s premium spirits.

Photo by Thomas Wolfe Northcut for Faherty Brand

I worked on two cookbooks this year and wore several hats for each. Prop styling will always be my first love, but art direction is a close second and food styling is a natural evolution of both of those loves. I'm grateful for having been given the opportunity to do all three on these two projects that couldn't have been more different. The first, was a cookbook by veteran vegan cookbook author, Brandi Doming. Next up, was the cookbook Barbacoa, by celebrated Tex-Mex barbecue master Brandon Hurtado. 

Beyond cookbooks, I expanded my portfolio to include some stunning interiors that I styled for some of the best interior designers around (Hailey Kolbe, Killy Scheer, Britt Design Group, Blair Burton, I'm looking at you!) as well as styling imagery for the lovely new home decor brand, Corador. I'm always in awe of a the work that goes into designing a breathtakingly beautiful space, so when I can take a designer’s vision and amplify it, it’s always tremendously rewarding.

Photo: Lisa Petrole for Corador

Summers in Texas can be hot, slow and never-ending, but this summer was different (minus the heat) - I art directed food packaging imagery for Amazon Fresh/Whole Foods with the talented team at Whole Foods. It was a three month's long project, and to be honest, as a lifelong freelancer, I loved the consistency of an on-going project, collaborating with a team of talented creatives. The products we shot have started rolling out across the country, so next time you're in the frozen food section, swing by, take a peek and say hello!

In late 2023, I teamed up with Food and Wine magazine to prop style a feature that hit the stands this past September (yes, print features almost always shoot a year in advance - iykyk). It was shot by the talented and always fun-to-work-with, Cedric Angeles with food styling by Olivia Caminti. It featured Fermin Nunez, the celebrated chef and figurehead of Austin’s esteemed trifecta of culinary awesomeness, Suerte, Este and Bar Toti. We had a blast documenting his epic Sunday party, “Dominguito No Te Acabes”! In a world of digital scrolling, it's always a kick to see your work in print!

Photo by Cedric Angeles for Food and Wine

This is not exactly a secret, but I loooove floral design. I designed and provided floral arrangements for a few private parties this year and would love to do more of it in 2025! I also love styling events and who better to do that with, than the incredible team at Foster ATX for the Unwell party at SXSW? It was THE event of the season - just have a look here!

And what’s the point of work without a little play? Personal projects provided the perfect outlet to let my imagination run wild and stay inspired! I collaborated on two stand-outs with two talented photographers this year. Cydney Cosetteand I created polished, otherworldly images in collaboration with Austin’s beloved designer boutique, By George and I dipped my toes into the world of fashion art-direction on a project with photographer Caitlin Leys that I also set designed and prop styled. I’m thrilled with the results of both.

                Still Life Photos by Cydney Cosette                                Model Photos by Caitlin Leys

Lastly, one of the intentions that I set for myself this year was to be a connecter, amplifier and builder of our creative community. So here I am, with my mythical megaphone, shouting out the names of these talented photographers that I had the extreme pleasure of working with this year. I wish I had room to thank each and every person who contributed to my good fortune and good times last year! Chase Daniel, Stephen Karlisch Shervin Lainez Andrea Calo, Leonid Furminsky Tobin Davies Jess Attie, Christin Rose Mackenzie Smith Wynn Myers Moriah Sawtelle, Leslie Grow, Ivan Solis, Matt Arimendez, Justin Walker Cody Guilfoyle Cydney Cosette Caitlin Leys Cathlin McCullough Nick Simonite

I hope we all have a fulfilling and flourishing 2025!

-Stephanie

Ask a Photo Stylist: Styling Consultations for Photographers, Stylists and Brands

This offering is perfect for commercial, editorial and e-commerce stylists, photographers - and even brands, who need clarity, guidance and support regarding stylists and the business of styling. Because I have decades of experience styling each niche, I can consult on prop styling, food styling, wardrobe and interiors styling.

Ways I can help photographers:

• I can help you build the prop/set build portion of your estimate (prop budget, how many days you need a stylist for prep, shoot and wrap days, etc)

• Explain what it’s like to work with a stylist and how to get the most out of working with one

• If you decide to not use a stylist, what you need to know to *think like a stylist*

• What to have in your own styling kit

• Art Direction consultation (what props to get for a specific shoot - moodboard help, etc)

• How to convince your client they need to hire a stylist (even on a tight budget)

Ways I can help stylists:

• Deciding on your rate

• Styling kit essentials

• Do I need an agent?

• How to get an agent

• What to include in a proposal 

• How to generate more work

• How do I attract my dream clients?

• How do I handle slow or non-paying clients? 

• Should I have a contract? 

• Suggestions on where to source props and materials

• Tips and tricks of the trade for styling specific items 

• How to handle clients if sh*t hits the fan

• Creative brainstorming

• What would you do in ___(fill in the blank)___ situation?

• Ask me anything related to prop, food, wardrobe or interiors styling

Ways I can help brands:

• Brainstorm creative ideas for upcoming shoots

• Help with prop needs and prop budget

• I can suggest photographers and other crew members compatible with your aesthetic and budget

• Explain benefits of working with a stylist

Investment: $99 for 30 minutes

Food and Prop Styling for Garden and Gun

I was honored to get to food and prop style this cover for one of my favorite magazines, Garden and Gun, last spring with photographer LeAnn Mueller. Garden and Gun’s Photo Editor, Margaret Houston sent me these sketches and it was really fun to bring it to life. The featured barbecue was from Austin’s own La Barbecue and even as a life-long vegetarian, I had a blast creating the perfect #meatstack.

It was also the first shoot that I worked on in which I was able to source props from my new business venture, The Proppe Shoppe. Check out those surfaces and that perfect little blue metal plate! Currently, The Proppe Shoppe is only on Instagram. Head over there to check us out!

I'm Co-Teaching a Photography and Styling Workshop...

… and it’s called Product to Picture: Branded Content Creation for Creative Entrepreneurs

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I want to invite you to a really exciting event that I am teaching with Meg Mulloy.   On September 28th, in Central Austin, join us for our very first photography and styling workshop! In it, you will learn how to photograph and style products like a boss! You’ll learn photography techniques, how to come up with a shot list, how to brainstorm and shop for props and how to pull it all together to style magazine worthy photos. We’ll have 100s of props available for you to pull from.

Breakfast and lunch will be served.

Location TBA in Central Austin. Class size limited to 10.

All participants will be entered to win a professional styling kit valued at $100.

What you'll learn:

• Lighting concepts and techniques

• Styling concepts and techniques

•Where to find inspiration and how to use it

• Shot lists: why you need one and how to create one

• How to select props and backdrops

What you'll leave with:

• 5 - 20 images for your website and social media

• Stephanie's resource guide for prop shopping

• Meg's resource guide for DIY lighting gear

• A booklet filled with everything you learned + discounts to the stuff you need

to shoot and style like a pro

• A broader circle of creative connections

• The confidence to know YOU GOT THIS! .

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Fail Jewelry Petra Collection S/S 2019

Fail Jewelry is a gorgeous collection of delicate, but not fussy, handmade jewelry designed by Christine Fail here in Austin, Texas. Christine wanted the images in this look book to have soft-colored neutral hues with little pops of forest green. This was a fun one to gather textures and surfaces for. We sourced colored papers, natural wood blocks and frosted glass in various shapes and sizes and then we played all day. I’m really pleased with the dreamy, softness these images convey, but they still have an edge. Kind of like Fail Jewelry. I styled the set and jewelry and the talented Sarah Frankie Linder shot it.

I Love Texas Photo

A few weeks ago, I was featured on I Love Texas Photo’s website. It was a nice way to showcase my work and gain exposure to a wider audience of photo lovin’ Texans. I had to write a bio, which is always slightly nerve-wracking, but I think I’m getting better at it. I wish the article would have credited each of the incredibly talented photographers who captured each photo I styled, but there was no real place to do that. So Phil Kline, Gina Weathersby, Buff Strickland, Caitlin Trimble, Molly Culver, Brooke Shanesy and Marlene Rounds, kudos to you all for bringing out the best in my styling. I really am so fortunate to get to work with such talent.

To take a look at the whole feature, go here: http://www.ilovetexasphoto.com/stephanie-bohn/

Money Magazine Shoot

At the end of July, I went up to Frisco, Texas with the awesome team from Money Magazine. Our assignment was to shoot the front of a home, one that I had location scouted the week before, to feature on the cover of their annual 50 Best Places to Live Issue. That’s right folks, Frisco, Texas is the #1 place to live in America, according to Money Magazine.

I brought in hanging ferns and flower boxes, and tons more plants + throw pillows and lots of lifestyle elements. The photographer, Joe Schmelzer, shot - and I styled - a straight on, front of the house and yard version, with the homeowner’s yellow lab and son traipsing across the well-manicured lawn. Next, we shot a tighter version of just the porch. The photo editor, Sarina Finklestein, suggested that my dog, Curtis, who was hanging out with us that day, get into his doggie bed and chill out on the porch. So about two shots in, with a sixth sense that all dogs are born with, Curtis perked up and bolted off of his doggie bed, just as the fern, hanging right above his head, came crashing down on top of where he had been laying! I figured his chances of making it onto the cover were fairly low, what with his short-lived time on set, but I was super excited when Sarina emailed me a couple weeks later and told me that they were choosing the version with Curtis on the cover! In other words, Curtis nailed it! Proud mama moment over here when I heard that.

So - if you happen to see a copy out in the wild, let me know. I grabbed what I could at Barnes and Noble, but Curtis has some hard core fans still waiting for their signed copy!

Curtis makes his cover debut! And notice the sweet dove bird on the back railing. She had laid her eggs in the potted planter on the back railing and she wouldn’t leave our set, although she seemed VERY concerned.

Left to Right: Nora Schneider, Sarina Finklestein, Joe Schmelzer, Stephanie Bohn, William Philpott, Daniel Huffman

Sugar Sweet Food Styling with Phil Kline

Phil Kline is this awesome photographer I know here in Austin. We have worked on several shoots together since I moved here. He's mostly assisting and kicking ass and working his way up, and when I saw his Instagram page and the stuff he was shooting, I glimpsed that this guy really knows what he's doing when it comes to conceptual still life photography (which is my favorite!). So I called him up. We had coffee. We concepted some ideas. Inspiration screen shot texts were sent back and forth. Ideas formed. Studio time was booked. And then we spent a day buried in Little Debbie Fancy Cakes and Sno-Balls. For our very first go at it together, I'm super happy with how these turned out. I see a lot more of these fun, graphic shoots in our future, so brace yourself for future collaborative color explosions.

There were enough trashy treats to put a toddler in a sugar coma.

Omg. Phil's sweet girl, Blu, hung out with us for part of the day and she is so unbelievably well trained. She doesn't even THINK about eating ANYTHING that she's not supposed to. As exemplified HERE...

Sorry, sweet Blu! That's way too much sugar for you. 

This set was super fun to demolish the day after!

Not my hand...

...it belongs to my 10 year old.

SMAAAASH!!!!!