Stephen Young
Photographer, Filmmaker,
& Google’s Original 360° Tour Creator
Hi, I’m Stephen Young. In 2007 as a weekend guest at a friend and real estate developer’s mountainside retreat, I overheard our host say that he was planning to hire a professional to photograph his vacation home and property. I thought that sounded cool. Armed with only a pocket camera I hiked the area and captured images that astounded my friend who later became my first architecture and interiors photography client. That weekend hike and random conversation led to my new career as a professional photographer and filmmaker.
A few years later I moved to New Orleans and received a phone call from Google. The world’s 4th largest company had seen my portfolio and invited me to become their first business interiors photographer in Louisiana. Within a year I was recognized by Google as one of its top-10 business photographers worldwide.
I believe most people want to feel. We want to feel attractive or beautiful or handsome and we want to feel connected with other people. But for most of us it’s not easy. So I created HandsomeHotels™
When I travel and stay in well-appointed, thoughtfully designed hotels in fascinating destinations I find myself energized by rest and good food and attention to wellness. I engage with interesting people while I’m experiencing the unique property and the culture of the destination - often making lifetime friends from all over the world. And I’ve crafted a fulfilling career around capturing these people, places, and experiences with my photography in the world’s most HandsomeHotels™ and Destinations.
With my photos and films, my hotel clients book more guests and those guests arrive excited about the experience they know they are going to receive.
Let’s have a conversation about your Handsome place and the beautiful people with whom you want to share it.
Stephen Young, Photographer + Filmmaker
jstephenyoung@gmail.com
(504) 534-5877
(Photograph by Ryne Anderson)
Ryne Anderson
Pro Filmmaker
Hi, I’m Ryne Anderson. As recent as 2011 you might have seen me holding a stethoscope or a set of blueprints instead of the camera which I’ve come to love. That’s because I was a college student deciding between a career of either medicine or engineering. I was like so many students making a lifelong choice based entirely on what I thought would please other people instead of what would make me happy. I was at a crossroads in life and was about to go down a path that really wasn’t the person I truly am.
Then I went on a trip with my family to the Smithsonian Museum that changed my life. There was an exhibition of the winners of a national photography contest. I was amazed by the life experiences of all the people around the world who had been involved. I bought the book based on the exhibition and was in awe of everyone’s adventures. Each winning image was explained in detail. I was holding in my hands a treasure map of the life I knew I wanted to live.
When I returned home I changed my course curriculum and have never looked back. I enrolled in film school and started taking on independent projects. Helping other people tell their stories through the lens of my cameras is what I love doing every day.
Ryne Anderson, Filmmaker