artist portraits

I always enjoy crafting portraits of artists. , SAW

artist portraits

stephen austin welch director photographer sawphoto knsaw artist portrait triptych 001

farewell… darkroom

Parting with my darkroom equipment today was like pulling off a Band-Aid really - really - really slowly. Happy the equipment went to a photog excited about shooting on film and building out a darkroom. My nostalgia factor is through the roof. Somebody on Instagram said it really stirs up the olfactory memories. Ya got that right. Smell my fixer fingers.

When I was starting out on my own some twenty-something years ago, I had just left crewing in Los Angles, and was opening up my first studio in St Louis. I wanted some Mole Richardson tungsten hot lights extremely badly.

I did a couple days of freelance work with a film company that had some killer lighting equipment. At the end of the gig, I told the owner how I was opening my first studio, and I really wanted some tungsten lights - and his were ideal. I asked if he could sell me 6 of his used units (4 baby open faces, a junior open and a junior fresnel.)

He said, "no." Then he scolded me on how much these lights cost and were worth.

I went home and typed a letter on my folks IBM Selectric II.

On the blank sheet of typing paper I tapped in my new studio address on Washington Avenue.

First paragraph was about telling him that I knew exactly the street value of his lights and how much each bulb cost.

Next paragraph was about the exact value the lights would have for me; and I offered, very blatantly, what I could afford (about the price of bulbs.)

I posted the letter. They called me. Castle Films of St Louis accepted my offer.

Every studio shot in my first book was lit with those 6 lights.

I believe in paying it forward. Today I paid it back. It is my hope the photography couple in SF, building out a darkroom in their garage, feels the joy, love, inspiration, and good vibes I did with that beloved equipment.

December 7, 1995 | The Collinsville Herald

Me at my first studio in St. Louis - with one of my new lights! This photo for the local paper was taken after Boston and before San Francisco.

tv spots

KN+SAW specialize in filming lifestyle, kids, families & real emotion story telling.

Stephen Austin Welch director photographer sawphoto website directing reel

We shoot both broadcast and print campaigns. We excel at combining motion and still shoots into the same production - to save the client money. From boards & decks to creative calls & treatments, our clients always get our savvy production strategy and our clear vision of how we see it all coming together. So, whether it’s tv spots, docs, branded content, still ads, photo libraries, editorial or something in between, look us up and get in touch.

Let us tell your story!

cheers, SAW

pick your poison:

Hi there. I’m Stephen Austin Welch, a commercial director & advertising photographer. My specialties are capturing authentic lifestyle images, genuine portraits and dramatic landscapes. I also enjoy shooting intriguing interiors and graphic still lifes.
See ’em all on my websites: spots » knsaw.com & stills » sawphoto.com

We shoot tv spots & still photographs for ad agencies, creative firms, companies and magazines both locally in California and around the globe. Be it macro or micro, all productions are handled with the same care and attention to detail to create inspiring images.

For photography projects, I am represented by TidePool.

For directorial projects, we work with a select handful of brilliant Executive Producers and above-and-beyond Line Producers strategically located across the country to give our productions an insider advantage.

Call me, SAW, for the next visual story you want to tell.

We love to shoot!