Young Photographer Gains Fame Virtually Overnight
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Some people will say that fog is a predictor of precipitation, but in Tyler Stepper's case, it is turning out to be a predictor of a potential photography business.
On January 10, when the world was white with weather art, ten-year-old Tyler, the son of Crystal and Eric Stepper, decided to take a walk with his grandfather, Jess Murphy. Because Tyler thought he might try his hand at taking photographs, he borrowed his mother's phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
The sun emerged while grandfather and grandson walked, presenting a blue backdrop that accented the ice crystal-decorated landscape. Before the frost rime dropped and melted from the foliage and pieces of abandoned equipment on his parents' and grandparents' property by the spring south of Chinook, Tyler had taken several photos.
Because his mother considered the shots "not too shabby for a ten-year-old with a cell phone," she posted them on Montanica, a private Facebook group which calls itself the "absolute BEST group on Facebook regarding anything & everything Montana." According to one of the group's founding members, Montana + America = MONTANICA. "We have pride in state and love for country. We want to be Montana's brand, to bring Montana to the world!"
The response to Tyler's photographs during their time on Montanica was both immediate and overwhelming. According to his mother, Tyler got 5,000 likes in just under a few hours before the post was bumped. Multiple people also commented on his "eye for framing a shot" or "his eye for photography."
"Holy moly! We posted these pictures on Montanica, and we have had the most unbelievable response! Three of Tyler's photos are going to be featured in a gallery in Minnesota where he will be showcased in the young artists' convention in March; an artist in California whose grandparents lived in Saco asked permission to use the photos as inspiration for her paintings; and another guy is putting copies into wood burning art and offering to pay a commission," Crystal Stepper announced.
"The post on Montanica keeps getting deleted, so we lost all of the comments and likes. We reposted again, and as of the afternoon of January 12, it had 5.5K likes. Then it got bumped again," Crystal Stepper reported.
By the evening of January 12, Tyler had collected more than 650 comments. He has also had requests from people creating calendars or wishing to purchase prints. Others have used his photographs as inspiration for writing poetry.
In a poem titled "Tree of Knowledge," one author wrote in the first stanza of his piece: "Crunching as we strolled along, frozen grass beneath our feet / Walking with my grandfather, absorbing wisdom of which he speaks / So glad I was able to take along a camera, to commemorate this day / Because the memories of a ten-year-old, often fade away."
All of the enthusiasm generated by Tyler's photography prompted Stepper to design a Facebook page and a logo for her son, Tyler Stepper Photography.
"If you would like to purchase prints, please send us a message. All proceeds will go to Tyler to help him get his business going as well as to pay for photography classes and the equipment he is going to need. Thank you for taking the time to like his page! Your support means the world to him," Stepper said.
"I should add, Joel Lentz from Troy, Montana, saw Tyler's pictures on Facebook and is mailing him his old camera. He wouldn't let us pay him; he just wanted to gift the camera to Tyler so that he keeps shooting pictures. Pretty awesome. Another very nice gentleman is sending his old camera to Tyler to encourage him, as well. Tyler is just ecstatic; it's unbelievable!"
That camera arrived on January 14.
Accompanied by his siblings' curiosity, Tyler Stepper opens the camera he received from Joel Lentz.
On January 15, Tyler received a letter from Sue Converse-Simmons, Co-Director of Young Artists of Minnesota, asking for a Photo Print Release. In that letter, she also writes: "You have an amazing eye for beauty and simplistic views. We are a group of professionals that want to help promote artistic talent in young people. I am originally from Great Falls, Montana, and saw your pictures on Facebook. I fell in love with every picture. You sparked a string in my heart that said we need to promote this young man's talent. . . . We would like to feature your photos in our young artists' convention in March and in our young artists' feature in May at the Minnesota Children's Museum."
Converse-Simmons went on to encourage Tyler: "Keep taking pictures and sharing them with the world. You are making a huge impact on young and aged people all over."
Tyler's photography also has a presence on The 406!-a public group on Facebook that features pictures, stories, creations, and records of fishing, hiking, or hunting adventures. Site organizers invite posts about "the last best place, Montana. Show us whatever you do in The 406!"
When asked about his reaction to all of the attention his photographs are getting, Tyler responded: "My mind is blown! I would like to thank all of the people that liked and commented on my pictures. I'm super grateful for the things that you all said."
