Stephen Weiss Bio

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Stephen Weiss, Biography

〝I do not have a job...I have a life being a photographer ... today is about you...

 I want you to become the finest photographer.〞 Stephen


This is what "Nancy" said about our recent trip with Stephen to Italy...


I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am that we went on the trip!  It was truly the trip of a lifetime!  The locations, logistics, guides, driver, and our group were just perfect!



A recent review from one of our classes...


Larry's Review:


Just returned from Photo Bootcamp 3 with Stephen and the St. Louis School of Photography.  Exceptional day - 5+ Stars!


We spent 6+ hours with Stephen and his team photographing sites around downtown St. Louis - not the "typical" St. Louis photos (looking east through the arch), but different perspectives and things that make great photos that are unique (and very cool) that you need a "Photo Pro" to find.  Highlight of the day was photographing dirt bikes at Archview MX motocross park!

Stephen and his team are great instructors, very patient but always  providing "focused" instruction to his students.  Even if you know your way around your camera, you'll learn new techniques from them.  Well worth the time and cost.




Stephen Weiss has always had a camera in his hand. At the age of 9 years old his father built him his first darkroom in his childhood home. Stephen also has an extensive background in retail and photography. His family owned over 100 retail stores where he worked as a young man selling, managing, providing advertising and marketing services and photography.


Through high school and college Stephen was the yearbook photographer and he also started a photography business in Denver Colorado photographing for several companies. Returning to St. Louis to complete his degree, Stephen interned for Lewis Portnoy (the original St. Louis Blues photographer) while attending St. Louis University. He graduated with a degree in Business Management in 1985.

Stephen Weiss Shooting Experience

The Shooting Experience

Stephen was able to experience shooting at Blues games, Cardinals games and he even shot for Anheuser Busch with Lewis. While interning, Lewis was asked to be one of the LA Olympic photographers. Stephen was responsible for editing the images and sending them back to Lewis for use at the Olympics.  During his twenties he also assisted several fashion, product and commercial photographers

Professional Studio

After college, Stephen managed a portrait studio for the Photo Corporation of America at their top studio in St Louis, helping them change their studios to provide better lighting. Additionally, he started his professional studio. By the mid-80’s Stephen became a full-time independent photographer, shooting for many customers such as Gucci, Life Uniforms, Taco Bell, Burger King, Lambert Field, Falcon Products and several engineering companies. 

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In the early 90’s he purchased a franchise named SeegerPeople. This was a specialized photography company that photographed families and then created montages of families that placed photographs on plastic that were hand cut out and aligned on a display base. This business grew and enabled Stephen to move forward on his next adventure.

The Next Adventure

In 1998 Stephen purchased a 10-store chain of camera stores (Creve Coeur Camera). These stores were in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Over the next 10 years business grew under Stephen’s management and vision. Creve Coeur Camera became one of the Top 100 consumer electronic companies for 8 year straight. Over time Steve created and nurtured the School of Imaging. 

The School

Trips have included:

  • Italy
  • Costa Rica
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Cuba
  • New York
  • Chicago
  • New Orleans
  • Alaska x2
  • The Smokey Mountains
  • Door County Wisconsin
  • Several western trips including Monument Valley Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon

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 Additionally, Stephen has visited and photographed:

  • Spain
  • Paris
  • Budapest, Vienna and several other cities down the Danube River
  • Morocco
  • Belgian
  • Amsterdam
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • Canada
  • And many locations throughout the United States


Over the past 25 years, his corporate customers have included, Charter Communication, Coco Cola, John Force Racing, NASCAR, NHRA and he was the track photographer for Gateway Motorsports Park. His photographs have been published across the world and many people have purchased his work including over 120 copies of his rendition of the solar eclipse a few years ago. 

Stephen Weiss Next Adventure

A New Vision

Recently Stephen made the decision to close his retail stores and change his profession to a full-time instructor and Photographic Travel Guide. Additionally, he opened a new business and camera store that includes a multi-media classroom/studio, sales floor and several offices. This location will continue to offer many of the same services and products that his previous store offered, including video tape transfers, metal prints, slide scans, professional quality printing and more.


As we have grown into a full-service travel photography company - we have a new division called Worldwide Photo Tours.  Stephen also is a certified travel agent saving you even more on our adventures.

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This new business offers multi-day photographic trips, one-on-one classes and “on location classes”, travel photography classes and lots more. 

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Get ready for some great adventures to come each and every day!


Call 314-567-3456 for more information

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