We were lucky to catch up with Veronica Stein recently and have shared our conversation below.
Veronica, appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
Since childhood I remember feeling like I didn’t fit in. My purpose didn’t feel clear, nor did I feel like I belonged in any one group. Always searching for a place, the only constant I felt was home was in art. My family encouraged my artistic eye and I felt encouraged to dig deeper.
Following my passion for the arts, I received a bachelor’s degree in photographic imaging from The Art Institute of Charleston in 2012 where I mainly focused on fashion. As I dove deeper into starting my own business in Charleston, SC; I felt disconnected in a field that was mainly superficial. There were (and still are) many pressures on social media to be flawless and edit out the everyday imperfections. Struggling with my own mind daily was crippling.
As my story unfolded I found recovery and overcame my addiction to escapism. Finally I did not feel like filling the emptiness, I began to heal. As I worked through my past, I began to attract others doing their own work. Everyday I am grateful to be able to help visually tell other humans stories and amplify their experiences.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Veronica Stein and my brand is Vibrating Visions. I am a visual artist with my sol medium in photography. I focus on empowerment sessions with humans to release their trauma through my artistic vision. I also enjoy photographing small business rebrands, destination weddings and movement artists. I pride myself in making everyone who comes in front of my lens feel their full expression of themselves.
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Veronica Stein’s journey in photography is rooted in passion for empowering others through artistic expression and capturing the natural harmony between the human body and nature. Born in Massachusetts, she now calls Asheville, NC, her home. Her chosen tools for photography are DSLR and Mirrorless Canon cameras, which she utilizes to create her captivating work.
Stein’s focus in photography revolves around empowering her subjects to release their trauma through artistic expression. Through her lens, she skillfully portrays the human body in its natural surroundings, exploring the seamless interplay and flow between the two. Her work transcends conventional boundaries and offers a unique perspective on the connection between humanity and the environment.
To hone her skills and deepen her understanding of photographic imaging, Veronica Stein pursued formal education at The Art Institute of Charleston, where she underwent extensive training. In 2012, she earned her bachelor’s degree in photographic imaging, equipping her with the knowledge and expertise to pursue her artistic vision.
Currently, Veronica Stein is a successful freelance photographer, operating her own photography business in the scenic landscape outside the Blue Ridge Mountains. This picturesque location provides her with abundant opportunities to explore and capture the essence of nature’s beauty in conjunction with the human form.
Not content with conventional photography alone, Stein is continually pushing the boundaries of her craft. She is now venturing into the world of mixed media photography in mixed media. She uses pour paint to create beautiful patterns over her original photographs printed to canvas. This innovative approach allows her to experiment with combining different elements and materials to create visually stunning and thought-provoking pieces of art.
Veronica Stein’s work stands as a testament to her dedication to empower others through her photography and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. Her artistic journey is marked by authenticity, empathy, and a deep connection with her subjects and the natural world. As she continues to explore new avenues and mediums, she undoubtedly will leave an indelible mark on the world of photography and mixed media art.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My journey as an artist has been defined by resilience, overcoming immense challenges that most people cannot fathom. I faced a battle with addiction to alcohol and hard drugs, a struggle that consumed me for many years and took away so much from my life. In those dark times, I believed that my art could only be fueled by depression and darkness, but little did I know that this belief was robbing me of the true essence of life.
I hit rock bottom, a place where many people do not return from. After hitting this low, I found support of the recovery community and I began the arduous process of rebuilding my life. It was a journey of healing and growth, where I discovered the strength within me to turn my passion for art into a meaningful career.
Today, I stand as a testament to the power of recovery and resilience. Embracing a life of sobriety, I am now a full-time artist, living a beautiful and fulfilling life that I once thought was impossible. But this journey was not without its losses; I have lost friends to the disease of addiction, which serves as a poignant reminder of the path I left behind.
My slogan, “releasing trauma through art,” is a reflection of my life experiences. I have learned that I cannot heal others, but my art can serve as a mirror, helping to illuminate the path for others to dive deeper into their own healing journeys. I aspire to share hope through my art, to show that anyone can start over, no matter how dire their circumstances may seem.
Through my story, I hope to inspire others who may be battling their own demons, showing them that there is another way to live, that they too can find the strength to overcome their challenges and pursue a life filled with purpose and creativity. My resilience is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to rise above adversity, and I am committed to using my art to spread hope, healing, and the possibility of transformation.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is the incredible joy of witnessing my dreams materialize into reality. As I’ve progressed in my career, it’s humbling to see how people have come to trust and seek out my creative styling and ideas for their photoshoots. Sometimes, I still can’t believe the level of trust and confidence they place in me, and it motivates me to continuously push the boundaries of my artistry.
Recently, I experienced two profound moments that fulfilled some of my deepest desires and dreams as an artist. The first was the realization of my vision of a floating bed in the water. It was a surreal experience to carry an inflatable mattress to a serene forest creek, where I had a stunning model gracefully lay on it while immersed in the water. Each shot I captured felt like a magical moment, and I couldn’t help but tear up with sheer happiness.
The second unforgettable experience was when I had the opportunity to work with a beautiful model and a friends horse, where we adorned the horse with a unicorn horn. It was a dream shared by all three of us—the horse owner, the model, and myself. The enchantment of that moment left us all in awe, and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotions of joy and wonder.
As an artist, being able to bring these fantasies to life and create empowering images of magical humans is a true honor and privilege. The ability to immortalize these extraordinary moments in frames fills me with a sense of fulfillment that words cannot adequately express. To know that my art has the power to evoke emotions, tell captivating stories, and preserve the magic of these experiences forever is a gratifying feeling.
My career as a creative allows me to embark on a journey of imagination, where the lines between reality and fantasy blur. I get to weave tales of beauty, empowerment, and wonder through my photography, leaving an everlasting impact on both my subjects and the audience. Seeing the joy and satisfaction on my clients’ faces as they witness their dreams come to life through my art is an incomparable reward that keeps me inspired to continue pushing my creative boundaries and making dreams a tangible reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vibratingvisions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibratingvisions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vibratingvisions
Image Credits
Vibrating visions (myself)