Open House Scheduled for 5 – 7 pm on Thursday, May 21
Commercial and editorial photographer Richard Steinberger will officially open the doors to a new portrait studio on Sturgeon Bay’s west side at 59 S. Madison Avenue in between T. Simon Jewelers and Zoerb’s Paint Store. The public is welcome to stop in for refreshments, a tour of the new facility and a drawing for a free portrait session. Steinberger is eager for the Door Community to experience his studio, which he says will provide a unique perspective on portraiture.
Richard Steinberger Photography
While he will offer traditional portraits and on-location sessions, as well as studio and location photography for commercial clients, his signature offering is the studio’s “white room.”
“In this studio space, I invite customers to express themselves rather than formally posing for the shot,” he explains. “I’m interested in photography as storytelling. I want to capture people’s personalities and relationships rather than one static moment in time. It’s really about interaction, wanting the viewer to feel the vibrancy of life, laughter and love rather than frozen smiles.”
“I believe this type of portraiture is unique to Door County and to Northeast Wisconsin,” he continues. “It’s fresh.”
Although the portrait studio is a new venture for Steinberger, he is not new to the photography business. He has been a commercial photographer for more than 15 years, a business owner for seven and a photography buff since he was a child. Steinberger was born and raised in Eschweiler, Germany, an industrial city near the borders to Belgium and the Netherlands. At age 17, armed with “just a duffel bag and $50,” he moved to the United States, where he completed high school in Huntington, West Virginia, before moving to Florida and enrolling in Daytona State College’s photography program.
After more than 10 years of working with the state’s top studio and on-location photographers, Steinberger moved to Sturgeon Bay, where he founded his own commercial and editorial photography company in 2002. Specializing in the travel/leisure, hotel/resort, marine and architectural markets, he is nationally recognized for his work with prominent brands that include Meridian Yachts, Hilton, Marriott, Christie’s Great Estates and Sotheby’s International Realty. His editorial photography has appeared in Smart Money, Sailing, Voyaging and Lakeland Boating magazines.
Over the years, Steinberger also has pursued his passion for fine art, particularly in the world’s wild places – from U.S. and Canadian national parks to the South Pacific islands. His work appeared in a solo exhibition titled “Uncommon Exposure” at the Fairfield Art Center and in a recent group show at the Miller Art Museum, both in Sturgeon Bay.
“My mission in commercial work, editorial photography and fine art has always been to present a familiar subject in an unusual way,” Steinberger says. “That’s my goal for portraiture as well – I want to offer a new, different perspective.”
Richard Steinberger Photography will offer nontraditional and traditional portraiture, commercial/advertising studio photography and on-location photo sessions. Steinberger says he will be happy to photograph pets as well.
“As long as it fits through the door and is somewhat housebroken, it’s welcome,” he says with a laugh.
The studio is open by appointment. For more information, call 920.818.0742, send email to richard@steinbergerphoto.com or visit www.steinbergerphoto.com.
