Capturing the uniqueness of every family story, meet Stokes Del Rio! The little things, the sweet details, your favorite family activities and adventures are all things Stokes aims to catch in your session. If you’re ready to pause time, and allow this family photographer to weave the threads of your story through stunning (and we mean stun-ning!) imagery, keep on scrolling to learn more and see more of her incredible work!
Tell us about Stokes Del Rio! How long have you been in business?
Stokes: Hi! My name is Stokes and I founded Stokes Del Rio LLC in 2021. I am a portrait and wedding photographer for families and couples boldly in love with life. Before officially forming my business, I began my photography journey in 2016.
What made you want to work with parents/families/kids/babies?
Stokes: I think it likely ties into my general philosophy, but I love listening to someone tell their greatest stories, visiting places with a sense of heritage, meeting people with the desire to create a legacy, and the idea of permanence. In short, I’m a huge fan of the little things and the sweet details that make each of us unique, because these are the things that make a story come alive. With all the excitement that comes with new parenthood and never-ending changes through family life, I feel it’s so important to cling to the small moments, because those turn into the strongest memories, from expecting parents preparing their nursery to families sending their youngest children off to college.
What is the philosophy behind your Stokes Del Rio?
Stokes: I am so deeply inspired by the passage of time. Growing up with narcolepsy, I felt like I lived the first 20 years of my life in a haze. Memories were a blur of light and sound. For a long time, I sought a way to pause the most important places and faces in my life. My mother provided me with a way to physically hold a moment in my hands and in doing so, started my passion for photography when she gifted me a camera. Driven by the core ethics of social work, I’m passionate about meeting people “where they are” (or, in non-buzzwords: unconditionally accepting people from all walks of life and at any point in their life) and then celebrating every facet of their journey. I believe that every person deserves to feel like a work of art and to have moments preserved for generations to come.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category?
Stokes: From my background in working with children and families as a camp youth director and taking my clinical knowledge of human development, I have found my identity as an artist in embracing beauty during life’s most poignant moments. I’ve always sought to champion stories of development and growth through milestones and found that approaching the creative process with the same intention and care was the perfect way to do just that.
What attracts parents to work with you?
Stokes: It’s always such an honor to work with parents. What I hear most from inquiring parents is that they’ve seen the joy and openness of honest emotion in my work, and that’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive. All I hope to ever do is to capture your moments as they are and to lift your memories up as masterpieces.
What are some cool new and innovative trends you’ve seen in your area of expertise?
Stokes: Activity portraits! Tell me what brings you together as a family. I love getting to know you through your favorite family experiences or your dream adventures! Picnic by the lake? Water balloon fight? Bubbles in the garden? Baking cookies with Grandma? Let’s talk about it! I’ll capture all the little things while you soak up the sweetness.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about Stokes Del Rio?
Stokes: I truly believe we all have stories to tell and we all have days worth celebrating. I love working with all people and to me, it’s an honor to serve people while getting to do what I love every day.
Are you ready to create lasting memories with Stokes Del Rio? Reach out to [email protected] for updated availability!
