Meet Stephanie Portugal: Wedding + Elopement Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Portugal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what do you want your legacy to be?
Welp, if I’m being honest, it was a lot more difficult to put this into words than I thought it would be because, dang, this is a pretty heavy question. The kind of question that left me in deep thought for hours before writing this post.

Being in the photography business for more than half my life has taught me a thing or two about people and has had a monumental impact on me. I have worked with some the happiest and saddest people i’ve ever seen in my life and it really puts a lot of things into perspective when experiencing these moments of joy and sorrow with them.

So, what do I want people to remember me for? At first, a lot of things came to mind. Some superficial, some vast. But there was only one thing that really mattered to me:

I want to be remembered for being a kind person.

Throughout life, I think we can all agree that we learned that we will never know what a stranger has been through or is presently going through. Everyone we meet is fighting some sort of battle that we know nothing about. In and out of the work field, I want to be a reason, even if it’s small, that someone feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, supported and loved. I want to be remembered not just as someone who was kind but actually BE someone who is kind. I may not always see the results of my kindness, but I know that every bit of positive energy that I contribute to this world makes it a better place for us all and I think it THAT would be such a beautiful legacy to leave behind.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been holding a camera in my right hand for as long as I can remember (2003) but started professional wedding photography in 2014. To say I have come a long way would be an understatement. I struggled so much and almost give up many times. Through the hardship of my father’s passing, the pressure from family to get a “real job”, going through a huge breakup, to my dog Olive’s passing, it was a bumpy ride. I’m here today through pure perseverance. I refused to give up because I KNEW I was supposed to do this. This was a chapter in my life that needed to be written and I felt that deep, deep down. A lesson I can say that i’ve learned from all of this goes back to that first question, to be kind. Be kind to others like it’s the only option you have. In my struggles, kindness guided me from darkness to light and I want to give that back to as many people as I possibly can. Love + Exploration’s branding is built on that as well. I don’t just photograph my clients for their special moments. I become their friend, I watch their families grow. I’m there for all the important moments and they trust me. We are kind to one another and understand each other. The respect is mutual and I wouldn’t change a single thing about that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of you reading this might already know but I run a food blog for the city of Whittier. I started it as a passion project in 2015 and it sort of took off without warning. I have a great love for my hometown and love watching small businesses thrive. You can find me on instagram — @hungryinwhittier.

A perfect day at glance would look like; breakfast at Auntie’s Cafe, because you can’t go wrong with a single thing on the menu and the ambiance there is such a treat in itself. Walk around Uptown Whittier, maybe pop into Lovell’s Records and pick up some new vinyls. Lunch would definitely be at Crooked Gaff Kitchen, fresh oysters and poke tacos, YES PLEASE! Head over to The 6740 for some delicious craft beers and maybe a baseball game on TV. Walk over to Bright Ave. and stop into Little Shed, the cutest gift + decor shop. Probably grab a candle I absolutely don’t need but desperately want then walk a few doors down for dinner at Phlight, the most delicious tapas restaurant in all of Whittier. I could eat here everyday!

If you’d like more ideas about where to eat in Whittier, head over to my page and get ready to start drooling!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this post to my dear friend, Leeba Lessin, who passed away earlier this year. Her kind heart had such an impact on me and a reason I will practice kindness and curiosity for the rest of my life. Please check out her restaurant — @AuntiesCafe in Uptown Whittier. It is still ran by her family and friends and it is absolutely amazing. From the food to the ambiance, it’s Leeba’s true legacy to us all.

Website: www.loveandexploration.com

Instagram: @loveandexploration

Other: Food blog: @hungryinwhittier Personal: @mrs.portugal