Biography
Stephon grew up in Hampton, Virginia, raised in a home built on resilience. His mother, his grandparents, and his younger brother Jayvon shaped who he is today. In fact, his biggest inspiration is his younger brother. Growing up without their fathers present, Stephon knew early on that he had a responsibility to be the role model his brother deserved.
His creative path started at thirteen, editing his older cousin’s varsity football photos and capturing blooming flowers on a basic phone camera. That simple spark grew into a lifelong passion for sports media and fine art. Guided by mentors like Jay Zuberi and inspired by visionary artists like Dread Scott, Stephon learned to use projection, layered photography, and performance to examine identity and uplift stories within the Black community.
As a first-generationwork-study college student, nothing was handed to him. His junior and senior years in undergrad were a test of endurance. Tuition wasn’t fully covered, and though his mother gave everything she had, Stephon took on loans and multiple jobs to shoulder the rest. He balanced serving as President of the Minority Investment Club, working work study, organizing his first art gallery, creating content for Longwood Men’s Basketball, and completing two internships, all while taking 24 credits in his final semester. That drive yielded national recognition: the 2022 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) Undergraduate Fellowship, an inclusion in the Made in VA exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and Gold in Illustration at the College Photographer of the Year awards. In May 2023, Stephon earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography.
Upon graduating, he became the Director of Creative Content for Longwood Women’s Basketball, transforming their social media branding and boosting engagement by 200%. To gain that experience, Stephon did whatever it took, from sleeping in campus buildings, his office, and his car. When industry rejections came, he let them sharpen his craft rather than break his spirit.
The 2024 through 2025 year brought an unprecedented weight. In June, the day before his birthday, Stephon totaled his car while driving Uber, losing his primary source of income. That August, he began his Master’s program at VCU’s Center for Sports Leadership while serving as a Creative Content Graduate Assistant, capturing all varsity sports. In September, he started the process of crossing into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., officially crossing on March 2nd as the youngest in his chapter. While balancing school, work, and creative pursuits, Stephon sold his camera in December just to make ends meet.
Through most of that academic year, Stephon's heart was in a hospital room. He sat by his grandmother’s side daily, watching her body slowly break down from Hodgkin Lymphoma. In April, he received the call that she had passed away while sitting in class. Grieving that profound loss, Stephon missed critical class time at the very end of the term. Despite maintaining a 3.5 GPA throughout the program, receiving two Cs in that final semester led to his dismissal from the program.
Standing in the wake of that decision was humbling, but it does not define Stephon's story or his capability. His grandmother’s strength lives in him, and her memory is a daily reminder of why he fights so hard for his vision.
Following his unexpected departure from VCU, Stephon refused to let the setback stall his momentum, ultimately securing his first professional sports role as the Media & Creative Services Assistant for the Norfolk Tides. Driven by a relentless work ethic, he embraced a grueling four-hour daily commute between Richmond and Norfolk throughout the season. When a catastrophic equipment failure destroyed his primary 70-200mm f/2.8 lens just one month in, Stephon adapted on the fly, pushing his creative limits to redefine how he captured the team’s story without missing a beat.
Every hurdle, sleepless night, and sacrifice has built an unshakeable foundation. Stephon shares this journey not for sympathy, but to give courage to anyone navigating their own dark valleys. Perseverance, hard work, and faith are not measured by how smoothly the road is paved, but by the determination to keep building. He is still standing, still creating, and moving forward toward the breakthrough ahead.