Meet Stephen Covarrubias | Photographer

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

Hi Stephen, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Photography has always been a passion of mine. I didn’t take it seriously until 2018, after a trip to Hawaii. Since then, I’ve taken every opportunity I could to absorb as much about photography as possible. When I am out exploring the world, I have my camera in hand and I tend to photograph whatever captures my eye. I am very intentional with my photography and I take my time and wait for the perfect conditions. I’m currently exploring the idea of starting a website and selling my images. I am still in the early steps of how I want to approach this but it’’s in the works.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had a fascination with photography. I remember my father having a camera and I always wanted to look through the viewfinder because the world looked different, even though I was present in the moment. I just loved looking at something with my own eyes and then looking through the viewfinder and noticing how things looked the same, yet different.

Throughout my life, I’ve had a camera here and there. I didn’t take photography seriously until 2018, after a trip to Hawaii with my wife. She noticed that I was taking some really nice picture with my iPhone. She ended up encouraging me to get a camera. I quickly did my research, purchased a camera and immersed myself with anything and everything related to photography.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my photography journey is patience. Standing at a location for a while and waiting for the light to be just right, or waiting for crowds to pass to photograph a popular location without many distractions takes a lot of patience. In the end, the feeling of capturing what I’ve envisioned is priceless and worth all of the strange looks and awkward standing around.

I really enjoy walking around a city or getting lost in nature and capturing my surroundings. I tend to challenge myself with different and challenging situations. When I am able to photograph what I experienced in that moment and the picture I took invokes an emotion, that right there, drives me. That “wow” reaction makes me happy and keeps me going, simply because that is what I felt the moment I took the picture.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a bit of an extrovert by nature. But if a friend is coming to town, I’d take them to Santa Monica and Malibu so that they can experience The Santa Monica Pier, beautiful beaches, stunning homes and PCH! From there, we’d stop by Sidecar Donuts and get a dozen of their delicious and fresh donuts. I’d also make sure that, during their stay, we go to Descanso Gardens, especially during the holidays or spring. Their garden is very well kept with gorgeous flowers. It’s also a nice walk and takes you away from all of the LA hustle and bustle. I love a good beer so checking out Angel City Brewery in The Arts District is a no brainer. For a bite to eat and maybe some more beer, Wurstkuche a few blocks away has traditional and a unique selection of sausages and a fantastic beer selection. We’d also spend a day exploring downtown LA. We have no option but to stop by the Grand Central Market and explore the endless options of food and treats. For a breath taking view of LA, I’d take them to Kennith Hahn Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so grateful to the general photography community including the few I follow on YouTube and social media platforms. Truth be told, I wouldn’t be following my passion if it wasn’t for my PATIENT and encouraging wife, Meaghan. Not only does she hangout with me and stand at a location for sometimes hours to get the perfect picture, but she has a great eye and a different perspective. She’ll catch something I didn’t see and it turns out better than anything I envisioned. She get’s a lot of the credit for some of my favorite pictures. She also pushes me to do my best, even though I can be a bit stubborn.

Instagram: Stephencova

Twitter: @Stephencovar

Image Credits
Stephen Covarrubias