#103 Unapologetic. Inspiring. Steph Grant. LGBT Photographer

This is the story of photographer Steph Grant, told - sometimes chaotically - by Steph Grant. We had so much fun talking to Steph! She is a dear friend of Christy’s and we are sure you are going to fall in love with her. She is passionate, driven, endlessly energetic, compassionate and she seeks connection and expression in everything she touches. Steph shoots weddings (mostly lesbian) literally all over the world and her images tell a story of the wedding day, and the bigger love story of the couple. In this episode, we dive right in and swim all over! Steph’s nonprofit ‘Promote Love’ is growing exponentially and we’re here for it! Big Takeaways Steph’s press blurb: As an out lesbian photographer my primary focus is to make you feel comfortable so that your personalities and love are captured in every wedding photograph. I love every second of my job. I have worked very hard to be exactly where I am…and that is right here in this moment with you. My goal is to get to know your love story & to tell it with my images. I want to make you smile, cry and laugh at the memories that might have been forgotten in those 8 hours. It’s so rewarding to have people say that they felt like they were actually there attending the weddings that I have shot. They can feel the love and happiness in those moments. In the summer of 2013, I photographed the first lesbian Indian wedding in the USA. I am proud to say it was love story that changed the hearts and minds of many around the world. Steph has taken the opportunity to share her story about coming out and living truthfully when raised in a religious family...she followed her dreams, but her path wasn’t easy. Once she became a successful photographer (feeling like it was overnight…), she realized that what she was REALLY good at wat storytelling. And that in order to tell the stories of others...the inspiring, amazing, beautiful love stories...she had to tell her own story. That process, of finding herself and learning to love herself, ultimately became Promote Love Movement. And now - because she is a crazy person - Steph runs the non-profit AND two successful photography businesses. Check out the links on this one, y’all! You won’t regret it. Steph, Christy, and Michelle talk about what marriage means to them, why ‘gay weddings’ are still a thing vs just ‘weddings’, a great bridal jumpsuit (link!), charity work, and how Steph’s career came to be. There’s advice, a little stream of consciousness, some real heart and we all had so much fun. Can’t wait to hear what all our listeners think! Links we referenced Steph’s photography site: http://www.stephgrantphotography.com/blog/ www.Stephgrant.com Wedding that catapulted Steph into BIG status: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/20/steph-grant-lesbian-indian-wedding_n_3624326.html Steph’s nonprofit site: http://www.promotelovemovement.com Steph’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsteph/ Bridal jumpsuit (dreamy!) : https://www.blackhalo.com/the-jumpsuit/jumpsuits/antoinette-jumpsuit We’re gonna be at this wedding event! - www.modernloveevent.com The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is... Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez. Edited by Veronica Gruba Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook. Easy to get in touch with. Email us at [email protected] or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices