Meet Stuey Bowers

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stuey Bowers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stuey below.

Stuey, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Waking up excited everyday to get footage is what gives me a sense of purpose. I combined my love of photography/videography, surfing, and traveling to really inspire myself and others through my work. I love being able to show a different perspective that others are not used to seeing.

My journey really began with my love for surfing. The ocean has always been my sanctuary, and being out there gives me a sense of freedom and joy. Over time, I realized that I wanted to capture and share that experience with others.

I discovered drone videography and photography as a way to capture some of these special moments. This added a whole new dimension to my storytelling, allowing me to capture views of the coastline and the thrill of surfing from angles I never imagined. It’s exhilarating to blend my love for the ocean with the art of filmmaking. Personally as a surfer, I also know that people love getting footage of themselves; to use either on social media or to critique their own form. I soon picked up my Sony camera, and this allowed me to freeze some incredible moments on the water in a different way. Instead of aerial shots, I’ve been able to get some amazing still shots that show the chaos of the ocean, but the skill and tranquility of the surfers.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I recently moved to Oahu, Hawaii to pursue my dreams of being a big wave surf photographer. Never in a million years would I think I could have my own photography business, Stueys Drones LLC, and travel the world. I have always loved taking photos, especially when I am lucky enough to travel to different countries. This is my way of story telling and sharing the culture and experiences I was getting to witness. I chose to sell everything I have back home and take a leap of faith to live the starving artist life out here in Hawaii. It is not always easy, and sometimes I question if I have made the right decision in my life. But at the end of the day, I am still driven by the excitement of catching the ‘perfect’ wave, or an iconic view from a hike that not everyone gets to experience.
I am most called to surf photography and videography, as the surf culture has played a big role in my life. The camaraderie and support from fellow surfers is such a special relationship that not everyone gets to experience. When I am filming a surfer, I feel like I am right there with them on the wave cheering them on. I get super excited as I see them set up for a wave, go for it, sometimes fail and sometimes nail it. Even from afar, I still have this connection with surfers that’s almost an unspoken language and sometimes hard to describe.
Droning started out as a hobby for me at first. Once I started getting better and was able to track surfers, I realized there was a demand for special footage like this. I took a federal exam called the FAA Part 107 Remote Drone Pilot, which has given me the opportunity to shoot commercially, and make a profit. I am also legally allowed to shoot real estate, weddings, and other events. Although this is where most photographers focus their time and energy due to the financial stability, I cannot help but follow my passion of surfing and traveling, and I believe it shows in my work. I started my own business when I decided to go all in on myself and my talent. I now have a full merchandise catalog at stueysdrones.etsy.com with clothing and apparel that I have designed myself. I also have had help from friends who helped me create iconic logos that really express myself and my mission. I am now setting up for big wave season here in Hawaii and trying to connect with the local community. I have had some practice with some of my new photography gear when we had a swell a couple weeks ago.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Punctuality has always been extremely important to me. In terms of meeting up with a client for a surf shoot, I always arrive at least half an hour early to scope out the lighting and where the best angles would be to gather footage. I also think it is professional to be ready for your client and already have ideas from the start so no time is wasted during their shoot.
I also have an extremely fast turn-around time getting my footage back to my clients. Usually they receive the footage right at the end of the shoot, but now I have started to edit footage and go through to choose the best shots for them. Capturing the footage is only half of the experience; the post production is a whole other side of this and also brings me great joy and energy to work on. I am usually so excited after a shoot I immediately start working on the footage so I can get it to my client as soon as possible.
Communication with your client is also extremely important. It is good to gather their expectations and hear what they are hoping to get out of the shoot. Sometimes they have specific ideas in mind, but other times they give me full creative control and trust my instinct. It is a balance of knowing which shots work and which ones do not always turn out for the best, but being open and flexible for a client is very important.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes! I love collaborating with local artists, brands, or anyone that needs help promoting their business. Currently I am in Oahu, Hawaii, and can be found on Google Maps on the North Shore at STUEYS DRONES LLC: PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY. I have a website Stueysdrones.com where future clients can learn more about my journey, check out my portfolio, and see what services I offer. I am able to travel all over the island of Oahu, but am currently based out of the North Shore in preparation for big wave season. I also would love to collaborate with anyone in real estate or wedding photography, as my droning offers a different perspective and could help with listings or show off the magical mountains of Hawaii for a wedding. I am open to all things and not just exclusively surf photography, and am also open to finding a mentor who can offer some guidance. When the big wave events come around, I would be honored to shadow a professional photographer that is in charge of shooting one pro surfer specifically and learn from them; even if it just means helping carrying around their camera equipment!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Katelyn Ferrara

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