Stuart Tracte 11/20/23 Stuart Tracte 11/20/23

Exchanging Energy | Diana Maybrook | November 20, 2023

A perfect example of when two people collaborate and magic happens.

In the world of photography, some collaborations are just meant to be. This was exactly the case with my recent shoot with Diana Maybrook. After months of playing tag, trying to sync our schedules, we finally managed to come together for a project that was a fusion of our mutual admiration for each other's creative energies.

From the get-go, Diana and I were on the same wavelength about what we wanted to achieve – something that was both classy and sexy, a visual narrative that spoke to our shared artistic vision. One of the things that stood out in our planning discussions was our conversation about reciprocity. It's not often you find someone who not only understands but also perfectly echoes your sentiments on such a fundamental aspect of collaborative art.

Working with Diana was a dream; she was completely in tune with the vibe and intent of the project. Her ability to give and match my energy made the entire process not just easy but truly enjoyable. It's this kind of synergy that turns a good shoot into something extraordinary.

We moved through the shoot with a fluidity that only comes when two creative minds are in perfect harmony. Diana's professionalism and natural flair in front of the camera, combined with a shared commitment to our vision, allowed us to create something truly special. Every frame we shot was a testament to what can be achieved when mutual respect and creativity collide.

Looking back at the images we captured, I can confidently say we aced the assignment. The photos are more than just visually appealing; they are a representation of artistic collaboration at its finest. This shoot with Diana was a reminder of what makes photography so fulfilling for me – the chance to create, to connect, and to bring shared visions to life.

I wish all my collaborations could echo the experience I had with Diana. When both parties are giving and matching energy in a creative space, the results are not just satisfying but also deeply rewarding. It's shoots like these that keep the passion for my craft burning bright.

Here's to more such collaborations, to the magic of reciprocity, and to the unending joy of creating art for art's sake.

(click photos to enlarge)

Stuart Tracte 6/6/23 Stuart Tracte 6/6/23

Tara, Pandas, Great Vibes, Oh My! | @taraleightyler | May 29, 2014 (revisited)

I always revisit this shoot with Tara when I can’t navigate through the difficulty of reconciling my passions and the commerce of professional photography.

It’s May 2014, I’ve been photographing nightlife and people for about 6 months, to some level of success, and things are looking pretty damn fantastic. I’m still working 60+ hours a week at Ogilvy, AND doing all of this photography. I can’t remember exactly how it came up, but my friend W. Kamau Bell’s manager, Kerry, somehow had or had access to a panda costume. I don’t remember the exact inspiration for even asking, but somehow I wound up with this panda costume, sitting in my apartment.
”Anyone wanna shoot with a panda costume?!”
The response was almost immediate. Tara was in. While the details of how it all happened are a bit of a blur, the energy and vibe that day is one that I return to in my head over and over again.

I’ve been going through some kind of creative struggle lately…. What is my style? How can I reconcile my passion and my commerce. Without fail, my mind returns to this day. Tara and I made something together…. so much fun. Not for Instagram. Not for the likes. Not for anyone or anything other than us and for the sheer joy of making something. A pure energy of absurdity & fun. The rest was autopilot. We did a total of three shoots, and the others were similar in vibe (coming soon!) yet Tara always has & will always have a place in my heart and mind because of how fantastic this experience was.

THIS is the kind of work I want to do. There is so much beauty here…. but more importantly, there is a positivity. There’s fun. Nobody is taking anything too seriously, and you can feel it.

Hit me up if you can get together with me and just not give a shit what happens. Hit me up if you won’t worry that every shot has to be serious, or every angle perfect. Hit me up if you can smile, or act a fool, and still feel handsome or beautiful.

These 40 images are either re-edits (the original color palate I used was a bit more blue/gray) or edits of images I had overlooked the first time I went through them. Thank you, Tara. We’re way overdue for another care-free photoshoot!

Stuart Tracte 2/3/23 Stuart Tracte 2/3/23

Ridiculousness with Raven | Raven Riley | February 3, 2023

Get out there. Be stupid. Have fun.

I hadn’t seen Raven in YEARS. We had a brief shoot that went super well, and the vibes were fantastic. Sometimes you make new friends when you shoot. This was one of those times.

Then the world fell apart for a brief two years. It changed so many of us in so many ways. One goal of mine this year is to be prolific. To get back to getting out of the house and shooting for the love of it, not just the business. I knew this would be a sexy shoot, but when I arrived, we just started laughing and coming up with the silliest of ideas. So… join us, as we go from serious/sexy to silly/stupid. I promise… there will be more whimsical shoots like this in the future! (Be sure to browse through for the GIFs!)