Today we’d like to introduce you to Parker Stewart.
Hi Parker, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came to Savannah in 2011 to attend SCAD and receive a degree in Photography. It’s been my passion for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fortunate enough to know from a young age that it’s what I wanted to do with my life. Since then It’s been my goal to have my days and my life revolve around photography.
After I graduated from SCAD, I spent a summer in Maine working as a printer at a photo workshop and was printing for the workshop attendees and other artists in the area, this inspired me to return to Savannah and open a fine art digital printing studio.
I also work as a freelance photographer, teach photography workshops, and sell my own fine artwork. The studio has been in operation since the fall of 2015 and every year we grow a little more. My clients include SCAD, the Jepson Museum, and Laney Contemporary, among many others.
I’ve decided to place my roots in Savannah because I love this city so much. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful place in the world. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a nurturing and creative community. So much has changed in the past 11 years I’ve been in Savannah.
I’m excited to see where it takes us all next. When I’m not at my studio or photographing the coastal Georgia landscapes you can find me fishing, sailing, spending time with friends and my soon-to-be wife, Anna Ottum, and of course, playing with our dog Miller.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, owning and operating your own small business is never easy.
When the pandemic happened most of my freelance photography work dried up, however, my printing studio became busier than ever as a lot of my clients around the country were selling more art online than in previous years.
I’ve found it important to go with the flow and when an opportunity presents itself, take it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist, I am most drawn to unique landscapes and social landscapes. I consider the social landscape of Savannah an incredibly interesting subject.
The first solo exhibition of my photographs was a body of work I made in the Starland District over an 8 year period, documenting its beauty and the constant changes that the neighborhood was having due to gentrification. Most recently I’ve been working on two bodies of work. One centers around the Savannah River and documents the landscape, people, and small towns along the river between Augusta and Savannah.
The other is a collection of black and white landscapes documenting the entire coast of Georgia. I specialize in the landscape, I prefer to print and display my work quite large. I spend many years traveling all over the country and world shooting landscape photographs before realizing I should really be focused on Savannah and capturing the beauty of this area.
What are your plans for the future?
My printing studio, Parker Stewart Studio, will continue to scale, always looking for new clients and new opportunities.
I plan on having two exhibitions in the coming years. One will be focused on my large-scale photographs of the coastal Georgia landscape and the other will happen when I self-publish a book of photographs for the body of work I’m making along the Savannah River.
I’m looking forward to continuing these projects and sharing them with you all!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.parkerstewartphotography.com
- Instagram: @parker_stewart_
- Other: www.parkerstewartstudio.com
Image Credits
Parker Stewart
