STRAD FORD KEVIN STONE II
I help people and businesses turn ideas into things people actually remember—through photography, events, and projects that bring the right people together.
Selected Work
Portraits / Products / Food / BrandPhotography for restaurants, founders, and brands in Chicago who understand that good imagery isn't about looking expensive—it's about looking like yourself, just sharper.
What Partners Say
"We went from posting twice a week to daily because we finally had enough content. The monthly shoots keep us consistent without the scramble."
Founder, Bloom & Co.
"Stradford gets it. He shows up, knows what we need before we do, and the images always feel like us—not some generic stock photo version."
Owner, Southside Kitchen
"Best decision we made was switching to the Brand Partner model. No more panic-booking photographers three days before a launch."
Marketing Director, Haven Goods
Brand Partnership
Monthly
Brand
Photography
Most businesses hire a photographer, get 50 images, then scramble three months later wondering why they're out of content again.
The Brand Partner model fixes that: one monthly shoot, planned creative direction, and a steady pipeline of imagery so you're never posting the same photo from six months ago.
How It Works
We plan the month's creative together
One 60-90 minute shoot
Edited images within 5 business days
Partnership Tiers
Founding Partner
$299 / mo
Rate Locked Permanently
1 shoot · 60 min · 10 edited images · Studio included
Limited to first 5 partners.
Brand Partner
$399 / mo
1 shoot · 15 edited images · Creative planning · Priority booking
Growth Partner
$749 / mo
2 shoots / month · 30 edited images · Campaign planning
Things I'm
Building
Photography is how I help other people tell their story. These are the projects where I tell mine—events, communities, and ideas I'm building because they didn't exist yet.
01 / Community
Chi
Yak
A Chicago kayaking community. Started because I wanted to paddle with people who looked like me. Now hundreds of people show up.
Learn More02 / Events
Puzzle
Off
Competitive puzzle-building meets dinner party. It's about focus, strategy, and the kind of conversations that happen when people's hands are busy.
Learn More03 / Podcast
Echo
Seat
A podcast where I ask one question and let people talk for as long as they need. Stories, unedited.
Learn More04 / Community
The
Nine
A creative collective for people building things that matter. Less networking event, more actual collaboration.
Learn More05 / Events
Black
Paddlers
Weekend
An annual gathering for Black paddlers. Because outdoor spaces should reflect the city, not just the people who've always had access.
Learn More06 / Events
Chicago
River
Takeover
Hundreds of kayakers on the Chicago River at once. Started as an idea, now it's an annual tradition.
Learn MoreStradford Kevin Stone II — Chicago, IL
About
Stradford
Kevin
Stone II
I've been making things people remember for over twenty years—first as a chef, then as a photographer, now as someone who builds communities around the things I care about.
I shoot food, products, and people for Chicago businesses that know good imagery isn't about looking polished—it's about looking real. And when I'm not behind the camera, I'm organizing kayaking trips, running puzzle competitions, or starting projects that didn't exist until someone (me) decided they should.
If you're building something and need someone who gets both the creative and the logistics, we should talk.
Work
With
Me
Need monthly content? The Brand Partner model keeps you stocked with fresh imagery every month.
Need a one-time shoot? Let's talk about what you're building and how photography fits in.