Passion, Pictures, & a 'mother's eye'

Faye Stroud

Faye Stroud was a five-year-old living in Cottage Grove, Ala., when her mother finally saved enough Top Value stamps from the Piggly Wiggly store to give Stroud a small camera.

Freezing moments in time became a fascination for Stroud as soon as she saw the prints of those first shots. Fifty years later, Stroud is a grandmother “living a life of passion” through Stroudmark Photography and the lens of her camera.

“I loved taking pictures of everything – scenery, people, animals – anything that caught my eye. It’s been a long journey, but I finally have my own photography business. And it’s the most natural thing in the world to be taking pictures.”

Stroud perfected her craft through perseverance and practice. She took pictures, pictures, and more pictures.

“I would take photos at weddings and showers for people I knew and give them a photo album as my gift,” she said. “I always loved to watch the look on peoples’ faces when they saw the photos. Even now, I love seeing how happy people are with my work. That is more gratifying than the money.”

Mama's boo...

At 47, Stroud launched a professional photography career using the self-styled techniques that had come with years of trial and error.

“I loved working in offices, and I am grateful for being employed. But it wasn’t my passion,” said Stroud.

“At the turn of the century in 2000, I just made the decision to trust God. I stepped out on faith and just did it. Over the last four or five years, I have taken a couple of courses, but I still use natural instinct to come up with the unique shot.”

It took Stroud more than two decades to muster the confidence to start her own business.

“Photography is what I’ve always wanted to do. People have said to me, ‘Faye, you wasted all that time working in offices.’ But I don’t feel those years were wasted. They prepared me to run my own business. It’s been a long journey, but all in all, a good journey.”

And along the way, some things in photography have changed, Stroud said.

“There was a time when showing a bra strap in a photo was not intentional,” she said, “but now I have to ask young ladies, ‘Do you want your bra strap showing?’ Sometimes, it is the intent for certain styles.”

Stroud takes photographs with a mother’s eye for detail.

Daddy's little girl...

“A collar tucked in where it shouldn’t be always catches my eye. I always notice something like a bra strap or collar. I want the photo to be perfect for the person being photographed.”

For the name of her business, Stroud turned to her son, who was 10-years-old at the time.

“I was sick with a cold or something, and my son made me a card that said, ‘Mom, I hope you get well soon.’ I loved it. But then he told me, ‘Mom, look on the back.’ He had written on the back, ‘Stroudmark,’ you know, instead of ‘Hallmark.’ I thought it was so clever for a 10-year-old. I never forgot that name.”

For additional information, call Stroudmark Photography at: (901) 826-FAYE, or view photos on: www.myspace.com/stroudmarkphotography.