Monthly:May 2018

Stonetree Creative Building

An Introduction to Stonetree

Matt May 8, 2018

Business 0

A lot of folks questioned my sanity when I said I wanted to start a second company. Believe me, there are days I question it as well!

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stonetreecreative

Wear big hats and fill them with amazing memories

Wear big hats and fill them with amazing memories of a life well lived.

I just cannot get enough of this shot of @grapeape

I just cannot get enough of this shot of @grapeape_insta on her bike. Rad people are rad.

Sometimes you just find a person with a smile that

Sometimes you just find a person with a smile that brightens a room no matter where they are. Heather of the @goodfoodstorebethel is one of those people. You can’t help but to be happy around her. That is an incredible gift. #comeasyouare

“If photographers are responsible for creating o

“If photographers are responsible for creating or reflecting an image of women in society, then, I must say, there is only one way for the future, and this is to define women as strong and independent. This should be the responsibility of photographers today: to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection.”
—Peter Lindbergh

A heartfelt thanks to @coolidgea28 for taking part in my “Come As You Are” project.

Brian (@the_woke_career_coach) is an old friend an

Brian (@the_woke_career_coach) is an old friend and incredible human. He drove several hours from another state to come to the studio, and I had the pleasure of helping him create some personal branding images. For that I am so thankful. Now more than ever, it's the perfect time to show the world who you really are.

GEAR:
@fujifilmx_us X-T4, 35mm f/2
Flashpoint XPLOR600 w 39” @elinchrom_ltd Rotalux deep octa

#portrait #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #studio #studioportrait #makeportraits #mainephotographer #photostudio #maine #personalbranding #faceyourfears #blackandwhite

Part of being able to do what I do in the studio i

Part of being able to do what I do in the studio is because of constant work at trying to master the nuances of light. After a full day of work, I decided to start playing with lighting setups. This is a single strobe in a 39" Rotalux deep octa, feathered, slightly angled toward me at camera right and half flagged. Black vflat camera left. Backdrop is exterior grade home insulation.
@fujifilmx_us Fuji X-T4, 35mm, f2, 1/160, ISO 80

[I posted this in a private group yesterday, but f

[I posted this in a private group yesterday, but felt like I should share it here as well]⁠⠀
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I feel like a certain vulnerability needs to be expressed, so here goes.⁠⠀
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For as long as I can remember I have despised the body I am in. I can remember being ridiculed and embarrassed about myself as far back as 4 or 5 years old. I was fat-shamed most of my life, made fun of, and because of that have had some serious body dysmorphia in adulthood.⁠⠀
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I am NEVER photographed without a shirt on, and rarely let myself be seen by anyone except by the women in my relationships, and even then, I still feel shame. I have significant fear about being in front of the camera, but every image of me chips away at that.⁠⠀
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Intellectually, I know that this is all in my head, and that I could be a lot worse at 46, but the fact is, these old hang-ups still remain.⁠⠀
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I've learned to be gentle with myself over the past few years, giving all those different parts of me some space, untangling the emotions, and rebuilding myself into a much better version. Will I have a six-pack someday? Highly doubtful :-) but that's not what defines me. How I treat myself and other people is.⁠⠀
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So this morning, as I walked into my studio wearing 5 layers of clothing (it snowed here in Maine last night), a voice in my head kept screaming "it's time to be free" so without giving it thought, I took off my shirt and started taking self-portraits.⁠⠀
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If you know me, my jean jacket is basically part of me and that remained on as a talisman...something that would let me get through this moment. So here are 5 shots from about an hour ago.⁠⠀
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No, I'm not naked, topless, or even showing much skin, but the EMOTION behind my making these images was a HUGE step forward for me. I treated myself like I treat my clients, and I felt beautiful. To me, this is growth.⁠⠀
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I say all that solely to say this:⁠⠀
Love who you are.⁠⠀
Right in this moment.⁠⠀
Forget about your money issues, your business, your family, the news, and everything else that is causing you doubt, anxiety, or feeling like you are not enough.⁠⠀
You are perfect exactly as you are.⁠⠀
Be free.⁠⠀
Be compassionate.⁠⠀
Just be.

"Living In My Head" ⁠ ⁠ Self-portraits, for me

"Living In My Head" ⁠
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Self-portraits, for me, mark moments in time. ⁠
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Much like a journal, I can read my expressions in the images and recall exactly what I was thinking. ⁠
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Self-portraits help me to remember my growth, or lack thereof, my failures, and my successes. ⁠
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I could explain what they mean, but I'd rather have you listen to the story they tell you about you.⁠
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#theportraitmasters #infinitecolorpanel

The answers to the pain, the doubt, and the sadnes

The answers to the pain, the doubt, and the sadness are out there. I promise. Just let the Universe do what it does. You’ve got this.

NOT ANOTHER UPDATE! ⁠⠀
Well, yeah, kinda.⁠⠀
But I've got a great offer for you: ⁠⠀
Book now for a session in the future after all this craziness, and I'll throw in a complimentary image credit worth $275.⁠⠀
Take care of yourself, and those you love.⁠⠀
Stay safe!⁠⠀
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One of my most recent images from a session that s

One of my most recent images from a session that started as a "Come As You Are" shoot, and developed into a marathon 6-hour creative extravaganza spanning conceptual work, boudoir, and many styles in between. Nora gave me her trust and allowed me to push her well outside of her comfort zone. This was one of the final shots of the day. There are no words to thank her for what she gives me time and again.⁠
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A simple one light setup with a 39" Rotalux deep octa feathered camera right and a vlfat camera left.⁠
My sincerest thanks to Felix Kunze (@felixkunze) for his guidance, and to Richard Wood (@richardwoodphoto) for his insights to painterly style images. ⁠
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MUSE: @noraspect⁠
MAKEUP: @amandas.trademark⁠
RETOUCHING: @stonetreecreative⁠ using the @infinitecolorpanel by @solsticeretouch⁠
TECH: @canonusa EOSR with 50mmRF 1.2, Flashpoint AD600⁠
SETTINGS: 1/200s, f/1.6, ISO 100⁠
BACKDROP: handpainted by @stonetreecreative⁠

I'm on the road at the moment with my good friend

I'm on the road at the moment with my good friend @michigantrainer as we drive his RVs back north from Arizona. Staying at an RV park in Texola, OK, last night, there was an abandoned gas station on the next property. The sunset was an explosion of pinks and purples so I took the last few moments of daylight to capture a portrait or two while Erik enjoyed a stogie. ⁠⠀
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It felt good to be present and just capture the moment. Enjoy life as it is, every minute.⁠⠀
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#portrait #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #makeportraits #mainephotographer #maleportrait #canon5D3 #50mm

At times, we all hide from something. We mask. We

At times, we all hide from something. We mask. We act. We shove the struggle down so deep that we forget that it’s ok to just be ourselves, flaws and all. You are enough, exactly as you are, and the world is better with you in it.
Muse: @noraspect
Inspired by the incredible artwork of @dianeportwood

“Be a woman of confidence, not cockiness. Know

“Be a woman of confidence, not cockiness.
Know your boundaries, set no limits.
Speak your kindness and turn your back to conformed groups.
The only way to be a woman of change in this world, is to walk what you talk and set your own soul free first.”
—Nikki Rowe

Chantal (@cparadis), an amazing photographer here

Chantal (@cparadis), an amazing photographer here in Maine, wanted to be part of the "Come As You Are" project. I absolutely love it when photographers allow me to capture them. It's an incredible honor to be trusted in that way.⁠
Chantal's smile lights up a room, but she wanted something a bit more dramatic, so we created this image. Doesn't she look phenomenal? ⁠
I can already picture it on the wall here in the studio, and can't thank her enough for coming in!⁠
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Beauty is simple. Just be yourself. ⠀ ⠀ Muse:

Beauty is simple. Just be yourself. ⠀
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Muse: Amanda @coolidgea28⠀
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#portrait #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #studio #studioportrait #makeportraits #mainephotographer #photostudio #maine #comeasyouare #project #faceyourfears

Sheer. ⠀ ⠀ Muse: @noraspect @sp_films⠀ Hair/

Sheer. ⠀
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Muse: @noraspect @sp_films⠀
Hair/Makeup: @amandas.trademark⠀
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#portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #studio #studioportrait #makeportraits #mainephotographer #photostudio #maine #theportraitmasters #fashion #beauty #boudoir #glamour #faceyourfears

While I love winter, I’m really looking forward

While I love winter, I’m really looking forward to some warmer weather and shooting more outdoor sessions.
Muse: @dianaphair

#portrait #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #makeportraits #mainephotographer #maine

Brian came in for his Come As You Are session this

Brian came in for his Come As You Are session this morning, and I was really excited to have him in the studio. We've been friends for years, and even realized we were unknowingly managing competing bars and nightclubs in Boston in the mid-to-late 90s. Now we live in the same tiny ski town in Maine. He's as real as it gets and while he ALWAYS has a smile on his face, I wanted to capture a few moments that were a bit more serious. Everyone has an infinite number of facets to their personality, and an infinite number of stories. What will you show to the world?⁠
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If you want to get involved in this project, just head to stontreecreative.com and sign up!⁠
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#portrait #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #photooftheday #photographer #creative #studio #studioportrait #makeportraits #mainephotographer #photostudio #maine #comeasyouare #project #faceyourfears

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