We recently connected with Stacie A Buhler and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stacie A thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When I was 23 years old, I had been doing wedding photography in my home state of Utah for a little over a year. I was making good money, but I was becoming less and less fulfilled by the wedding work. Personally, I had been doing two shoots a week to improve my photography. I would find a model in my area on Instagram and go take their portrait at a cool location. One of my mentors saw this work and said, ‘Well, why aren’t you doing more of this fashion stuff?’ I had never seen that what I might be doing was ‘fashion photography’. I loved fashion, I loved reading fashion magazines, and looking up designers on Vogue Runway. I never had thought about pursuing fashion photography as a career. I thought about it and decided that could be a really cool and exciting challenge. I asked my mentor how one pursues fashion photography as a career—she said if it were her, she’d buy a plane ticket to Paris for fashion week and take photos of celebrities to tag on Instagram. So without much thought, I found a deal for a roundtrip flight to Paris for fashion week. I invited Facebook friends and found myself touching down in Paris with two buddies. I had done no research into fashion week and how it operated. I decided to try and find out where things were happening on Twitter, and super fans of fashion sure enough were letting the world know where the fashion shows were. Those few days changed the trajectory of my life. I snuck into shows, did some street style photography, and actually ended up getting invited to document a new designer, Coralie Marabelle, with her debut runway presentation. From then on, I was a fashion photographer. I packed my bags a few months later, sold everything, and moved to New York. Going to Paris that week was probably one of the best risks I’ve ever taken in my life.

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?

I’ve dedicated years to honing my craft in the fashion capitals of Los Angeles and New York, navigating a path filled with challenges and triumphs. As someone who thrives on perseverance, I’ve carved my own niche in the industry through sheer determination and unwavering commitment to my goals.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed brands such as Savage X Fenty by Rihanna, B&H Photo, IMG Models, and many others that I’ve long admired. My work, spanning editorial, portrait, and street style photography, has graced the pages of 50+ prestigious publications worldwide, including Vogue Russia, L’Officiel, Paper Magazine, Nylon, and WWD. Hailing from a small town in Utah with no connections, I refused to let any obstacle deter me from pursuing my passion.

Art has always been my compass, evolving from oil painting to photography and videography. Inspired by the likes of Henri Matisse, Van Gogh, Irving Penn, Tim Walker, and the cinema of Hitchcock, Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and The Cohen Brothers, I discovered the profound impact of film and photography as art forms. While navigating the pressures of the social media landscape and the demands of hustle culture, I realized the importance of reconnecting with my artistic roots.

Taking a step back to rediscover my creative inspiration, I’ve immersed myself in film, painting, books, music, and podcasts, seeking to infuse my work with authenticity and more significant meaning. As I embark on new ventures such as screenplay writing and video direction, I’m inspired by fellow artists and committed to amplifying my artistic voice. With each project, I strive to produce my most impactful work yet, fueled by a relentless passion for storytelling and a dedication to artistic integrity

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In the realm of art, the adage ‘there are no rules’ rings true, yet in my journey with photography, I found myself imposing my own limitations (For example, I thought a “good photo” must have a straight horizon line). Believing in the necessity of rigid guidelines, I confined my creativity to self-imposed regulations, stifling my growth and innovation. However, a pivotal moment in my career where I took some time off, prompted a shift in perspective, as I embraced the freedom to break free from these constraints I put on photoghraphy. Letting go of these self-imposed rules unleashed a newfound creativity and revitalized my artistic expression. To aspiring photographers, I urge you: abandon the notion of rules, for in artistry, true liberation lies in boundless exploration.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I’ve been selling my artwork as NFTs since 2021, and it’s been a rewarding journey connecting with fellow photographers and artists in the NFT community. Through Twitter Spaces or X.com Spaces, I host audio chat rooms where artists come together to share insights, get critique on our work, and inspire each other. NFTs offer a unique opportunity to sell both physical and digital copies of your art, akin to the transition from DVDs to digital libraries. Beyond the financial success I’ve achieved, the highlight has been forming meaningful connections with artists worldwide. Continuing to sell NFTs and host chat rooms, I’ve had the honor of having my work collected by Keith Grossman, former president of Time magazine, my work has been shown on the billboards of time square, and I’ve expanded my network globally. It’s been one of the best networking experiences, and such a joy to make friends from all walks of life. If you’re interested in NFTs, feel free to connect with me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stacieabuhler.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stacieabuhler
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacieabuhler/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacieabuhler