Stephen is a wonderful photographer in a world saturated with wonderful photographers. What separates Stephen from the pack are several things: his willingness to listen to what the client wants; his ability to deliver the goods; and to do so on time. Aside from that, he’s obviously talented at answering questions about the technical aspects of photography in language that we can all understand—I know because I’ve questioned him to the point of distraction, and still his patience perseveres in every situation. He brings to his work integrity too, and you can trust him at every turn. (A real professional in every sense of the word, and an artist as well when it’s time to be an artist.)
I can’t imagine a better experience than working with Mr. Ironside.

— Sidney Burris, Former Director
Fulbright College Honors Program, University of Arkansas

“Stephen Ironside is quick and unobtrusive in getting his photos, and he brings a fresh, creative eye to shoots that pays off in unexpected ways. For example, when documenting honors student research on a local farm, Stephen got some great shots of the chickens, which ended up on the cover of our magazine, A+. His work is so good that it tends to be “evergreen” in our catalog; I use it again and again, for different contexts. Highly recommended!”

— Kendall Curlle, Director of Communications
University of Arkansas Honors College

“Stephen’s work continually exceeds expectations. He has proven a tremendous asset to our team, always delivering high quality images in a timely manner. He employs a keen, artistic eye to deliver upon multiple goals during each of our shoots. His versatile images have a way of successfully capturing our museum spaces with movement and energy, while highlighting architectural features. Aside from his technical aptitude, Stephen’s reliability and attentiveness make him so easy to work with. Without hesitation, I would recommend him to anyone looking for a photographer who exudes both professionalism and artistic acumen.”

— Monica Guarnaschelli, Brand Marketing Manage
21C Museum Hotels

“It’s comforting to know I can communicate my photo needs to Stephen and he’ll take it from there. He consistently produces beautiful, top-notch photography on time and in line with my request, while still adding his creative touch to improve the image from what I might have originally pictured. He satisfies my requests, then goes a step further, which I always appreciate.”

— Amanda Cothren, Editor
Edible Ozarkansas Magazine

“Anyone seeking a reliable, talented, committed photographer would be lucky to work with Stephen Ironside. He has the ability to appropriately fade into the background when it will help him capture the best spontaneity, but he also has the skill and demeanor to direct a shoot when guidance is needed for specific results. Stephen is amiable, a good listener, dependable and possesses a fantastic eye--everything needed for an excellent outcome.”

— Kelly Syer, Director of Marketing
Butterfield Trail Village

“I've worked with Stephen for both personal and professional photo shoots, ranging from family portraiture to event photography, from non-profit board photos to marketing shoots. He's even worked with one of my nonprofit's events (The Spark Foundation's Fayetteville Firefighters' Hero Half Marathon) to do a promo shoot involving actual fire! Not only are his final shots amazing (great attention to detail/composition -- you can tell he spends as much if not more time editing post-shoot), it is always a joy to work with him. He's organized, creative, personable -- ready to work with a specific need a person or company might have or take the lead and create an absolutely compelling visual story. I highly recommend working with Stephen for any of your photography needs.”

— Melissa Caffrey, Former Executive Director
The Spark Foundation

“Stephen is a driven and committed photographer. He was a student when I first met him. I was a photojournalism instructor at the University of Arkansas and he reached out to ask my opinion about some images that he was interested in submitting to a photography competition. I always encouraged students to participate in competitions, so I was impressed that he was soliciting feedback for this purpose. Stephen later enrolled in my class where he excelled at assignments, provided creative input, and inspired his fellow students. He went on to develop a successful photography business and has an impressive list of clientele, and an extensive network of colleagues in the field. Stephen and I continue to work together on photography related projects. For years we have collaborated in organizing charitable portraiture projects in Northwest Arkansas where we arrange to have volunteer photographers provide portraits to the underserved. He realizes the potential the medium has for the underserved and is committed to giving back to the community. Anyone that is in the market for a photographic solution would do well to consider Stephen.”

— Eric Gorder, Professor of Photojournalism (Ret.)
University of Arkansas

“In a time when everyone owns a smartphone and the lifespan of a photo on social media is ten minutes, Stephen’s work serves as the perfect example of why you should invest in professional photography for your business or organization. From trail runs to product shots, Stephen has a talent that needs no direction. His ability to capture the perfect combination of art, nature, and subject, as well as the professionalism in which he handles delivery and packaging up the final product make him the first and only person I recommend in the area.”

— Ali Williams, Former Community and Marketing Manager
Pack Rat Outdoor Center

Here’s the big (but still incomplete) list: