My Background
Born & raised in Oakland, CA, I attended UC Davis and completed BA degrees in English Composition & Developmental Psychology. I spent several years after graduation as a Corporate Communications Consultant, then as a Director of Teen Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, as President & Commissioner of the San Francisco National Adult Baseball Association (a 501c7 NPO) and as an Independent Event Producer.
In 2012 I set out to find my true path and began working in secondary education. I spent the next 9.5 years as an Athletic Director and Coach at a public charter high school in San Francisco, CA, where I worked to build an athletics program that would provide an invaluable addition to a well-rounded education and that would help student-athletes, families and the broader school community to flourish and thrive.
Having completed all of my short, mid and longterm goals, I moved on to an independent school in Oakland where I serve as Associate Athletic Director, a Coach and as a contract photographer. I shoot athletics as part of my regular work but also shoot various other campus and community events for the communications, development, alumni relations departments. I contribute to the yearbook as well as a photographer, a guest lecturer on best practices for photography and as a mentor to their young photographers.
I earned a Master’s in Education from the Intercollegiate Athletics Leadership program at the University of Washington in June of 2023 and was a Faculty Merit Award recipient for academic excellence and contribution to the learning experience of the cohort.
Photography is a passion that runs deep in three generations of my family, passed on from my maternal grandparents and to my mother & my uncles and then on to my sister and to me. In April of 2018, I started @stephenflynnphotography, turning what had been a lifelong passion and hobby into a business and second job.
My Identity as a Photographer
I am not a photographer who specializes in one specific genre, as I highly value diversity in all areas of my life. Shooting across multiple genres helps me to improve my craft across the board, it is a unique creative expression of who I am, it enables me to support people and organizations whose values align with my own and I feel that I learn, I take lessons and skills from each space that help me to improve in each of the others. In the end, staying aligned with my purpose, reflecting the beauty I see in people & improving as a photographer is what’s most important to me.
I care deeply about social justice and about serving causes and organizations that work towards equity and equality and towards making the world a more welcoming, peaceful and abundant place for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, their race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, politic, gender or sexuality.
My Current Goals are…
To align all of my work and business interactions with core values of integrity, justice, mindfulness, growth and family.
To continue to improve and expand upon my technical expertise and execution.
For folks to see beauty in my work, to see the authenticity & exquisite power in the people whom I photograph and to really feel the energy of a specific person, of people, of a place, time or event.
For each subject to see even more beauty in themselves than they did before and to feel that I’ve captured a truly authentic expression of who they truly are.
For each subject to be and feel empowered and to know that their photo can help to amplify their voice and to spread their message (even if it’s ‘just about self love’).
To help social causes and movements through my photo work.
To continue be a vocal and outspoken advocate for better consent practices between photographers and their subjects.
To spend time helping and mentoring other photographers, in gratitude for those who’ve helped me along my path and to pay it forward as well.
And I really want people to look at all of the work I do in my hometown & to say to themselves, “this really does feel like Oakland.”
TESTIMONIALS
PETER S.
"Beyond the outstanding, top notch professional product that Stephen delivers to Maui Powerhouse Gym, he is kind, very personable, beyond patient, and very easy to work with. He does an exemplary job delivering excellent photographs from sessions with people who are uneasy having their picture taken. From that one week of work, Stephen provides us with enough high quality professional content to carry our social media web presence for the entire year, if not more. I have used his work to rebrand our gym, to advertise on social media and the in-house television channel, as well as in professional print media. Everybody at MPHG knows when it’s almost time for one of Stephen’s visits to Maui; they start asking me about scheduling shoots with him about three months before he arrives! We are so grateful for Stephen Flynn! He is are a dear part of our team and we cannot imagine having anybody else on board. TEN STARS WOULD RECOMMEND!!”
SEVINA S.
“I’ve been shooting yoga photography with Stephen for several years now. Not only does he scout and pick amazing locations for us and plan out all of the logistics for our shoots together but he brings incredible enthusiasm, patience and a yogic approach to this work that I just haven’t seen from anyone else in the genre. He can deliver at or above the industry standard for quality but he also adds his own creativity & fresh style, stretching the boundaries of what I see out there from most yoga models and photographers. Working with him is super fun & easy and he’s ultimately respectful of my body, my energy and my practice. I trust him completely to give me hands-on adjustments for really challenging poses. Since I started posting our work together, I’ve more than quadrupled my social media following and I’ve gained a few ambassadorships and paid modeling gigs as well. I think he’s the best yoga photographer in the Bay Area, hands down.”
JESSE B.
“Stephen’s work is really incredible. If you are looking for somebody who can really capture the core of what you’re doing, the beauty and the heart that you’re bringing to your event, Stephen is totally your man. He shot almost all of the Sacred Kitchen events that I’ve done over the last two years and the thing that continually blows me away is that the story of the event and the hearts of the people and the experience that we wanted to create, that was there [during the event] is captured in photo. Whether it’s a football game [for my 11 year old son], a really sweet party or a heartfelt fundraising event- if you want somebody who will just absolutely nail it, who sinks into the background and nobody will notice is there but can completely, elegantly, professionally document your event, I’d love to send you to Stephen. He’s awesome.”
NATRIECE S.
“You are a phenomenal photographer and a stellar person. I love the vibe you brought and just being in community with you feels amazing. Please don’t be a stranger to the space and if anyone ever feels so inclined as to question your technical expertise -in both understanding the tenderness and executing the shooting of us melinated folks- I’ll gladly and proudly tell them to anti up the check. It’s not all about money but such passion and vision deserves to be celebrated. You did the damn thing in all of these photos. I struggle with letting anyone take my picture but your results look as beautiful as I feel and see myself every day I wake up in this skin…. We don’t always realize the impact or reach of our work but you truly went more than skin deep. That’s me being hella transparent because what you did that night was hella dope.”
ROBERT S.
“I experienced Stephen as someone who brings his very essence and incredible passion to his craft. He has a very real ability to create a deep and safe space for his subjects and for groups that he then captures and which becomes palpable and visceral when you see his work. The space that he created for our group and its individuals ended up really capturing the essence of who we are...and he captured it masterfully.. It's a gift that most photographers I've worked with don't have. Stephen was a blessing to have at our retreat and we want him to come back for sure."
JOSHUA H.
"The photos [Stephen] took of so many intimate moments at our men’s retreat were done with such care that he was able to capture the tender souls of our group without ever interrupting the delicate emotional processes they were undergoing! Thanks to his artistry, we not only have gorgeous promotional shots for our marketing, but we were able to offer beautiful gifts to our guests as touchstones to their experience and reflections of their courage and vulnerability. And when Stephen is in “portrait mode,” he has such a warmth and approval from behind the camera, that his subjects can’t help but feel and look beautiful. Seeing myself through his lens has not only given me countless valuable personal and professional pictures—it has alleviated some of my own self-perpetuated stigmas about being “unphotogenic.” I am so grateful for this man’s genius, his tenderness, and his awe inspiring work ethic as a photographer. "
JANET T.
"I had the pleasure of working with Stephen Flynn when he attended and took extraordinary photos during an event I was coordinating for Soul Shoppe. Stephen has a keen eye that captured the essence of the good will and enthusiasm that was overflowing throughout the event. He was flexible, engaging and blended right in. I was so pleased by his photos that I will contact him for all my future events. You will not be disappointed if you hire Stephen to capture your event. He is a gem.”
PETER R.
"[Stephen] captures vulnerable moments while making himself virtually invisible and creating delightful moments out of nothing. He has a keen aesthetic sense and technical skill, which show in the consistently stellar quality of his work. Under all of this is a V-12 engine of love and integrity that he lives and radiates, which ineffably bring out the best and most authentic versions of everyone in the room. This is the piece that can't be faked, and all of these pieces together are the magic of Stephen Flynn."
TARA H.
“I’m at an excellent Halloween party, having goofy amounts of fun. There is a photographer here, the brilliantly talented Stephen Flynn. I watch him take photos all night, impressed with the way his affirming friendliness puts everyone at ease. Some of my friends start out tightly controlled in front of the camera but Stephen has this way of gently encouraging each person so that they loosen up, become their authentic selves, reveal something to his camera that rings like truth.”
DYNAMIC PHOTO BOOTH SUBJECT
VICKI A.
"[Soul Shoppe] recently had an interactive fundraising event and Stephen captured the evening perfectly. His photographs clearly tell the story of our evening which was filled with warmth, positive energy, connection and fun! Stephen can capture the beauty in each moment and does it with such thoughtfulness and care. I highly recommend Stephen Flynn Photography for your next event!"
JANEL M.
“Stephen has taken beautiful photos of me around the East Bay Area for my business. He is fun, flexible and professional. I’m so glad he exists.”
ALTON S.
“This is one of my favorite photos ever taken of me. It shows truly how I FEEL about GAIA! @stephenflynnphotography man, thank you for your eye in capturing individual identity! WOW… You are the EYE OF THE CAMERA. When you are in your flow, the pictures talk!!!”
NATURE LOVER, REIKI MASTER, YOGA INSTRUCTOR, SPIRITUAL FITNESS