Many of our most memorable covers share one thing in common: the instinctive, expressive lens of photographer Stacy Berg. Here, she shares more.
Q. For readers discovering you for the first time, how would you describe the kind of photography you specialize in and what draws you to those subjects?
A. I specialize in creativity more than anything. While many photographers define themselves by a niche, I’ve always been drawn to the full range of what photography can be. I love moving between styles, subjects, and environments, bringing a creative approach to all of it. At the core, I specialize in seeing possibilities where others might not. What draws me in is the ability to take any moment, person, or setting and turn it into something expressive, thoughtful, and visually compelling.
Q. Your work has a very distinct feel. How would you describe your visual style, and how has it evolved over time?
A. My style didn’t start this way. In the beginning, I focused on what I thought people expected: clean, traditional portraits that felt safe. At a certain point, I stopped trying to meet expectations and started trusting my instinct. That’s when everything shifted. My work became bolder, more layered, and a little more unpredictable, something you feel, not just see. When you stop trying to appeal to everyone, the right people find you. That’s where my work lives.
Q. What makes a strong photograph today, especially in a world where everyone has a camera?
A. It’s not access to a camera, it’s perspective. A strong photograph makes you feel something before you even understand it. It has intention behind it, with light, composition, and emotion all working together. In a world where everything’s instant, what stands out is depth. The kind of image you don’t just scroll past, but actually sit with.
Q. When a client hires you, what can they expect from the experience beyond the final images?
A. A darn good time, always. At some point, they’re going to laugh. I create an environment where there’s ease and trust, so they don’t have to overthink anything. I guide the process, keep it natural, and make it feel more like an experience than a photoshoot. By the time we’re done, people usually forget they were ever nervous, and that’s when the best images happen.
Q. Many of your subjects seem incredibly comfortable in front of your lens. How do you build that trust so quickly?
A. I show up as myself and meet each client with genuine curiosity. I move fast and don’t overthink it. If something’s overplanned, it can feel stiff. I prefer to step into a space, meet the person, feel their energy, and let that guide everything. Within minutes, I know how I want to shoot them. I photograph people as I experience them, not as something preconstructed. That’s where the magic comes from.
Q. What types of clients or projects energize you most right now?
A. I’m most inspired by people who are deeply passionate about what they do, artists, builders, business owners, anyone creating something with purpose. Those are the stories I love to tell. My goal is to capture not just what they do, but why they do it. When that passion’s real, it comes through in every image.
Q. What still excites you about photography today?
A. Everything. It’s the unpredictability, the freedom, the ability to turn nothing into something powerful. No two moments are the same, and that keeps me locked in. There’s always another story, another angle, another way to see it. That chase is what keeps me going.
Visit www.fotohogg.com to view Stacy's portfolio.