Today we’d like to introduce you to Ernie Stripling.
Hi Ernie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This is a story of how a background in fine art and technology converged into a meaningful life.
Born in Tyler and raised in Arlington, my creative journey began when my father moved our family to North Texas to work at the brand-new GM manufacturing plant. After graduating from Arlington High School in 1972, I pursued my passion for art at Texas Tech University, eventually earning a BFA in Commercial Art and Art Education. My thirst for deeper mastery led me to the University of Dallas on a scholarship, where my professor, Dan Hammett, provided the professional tools and confidence I needed to step into the world as an artist.
In the late 70s, my career took an unexpected turn. While working as a technical illustrator, a colleague dared me to apply for a role in San Jose that required “zero computer experience” to train in digital technical illustrations on a Sun UNIX micro stations. I took the leap, and I have never looked back from the world of computer graphics.
As technology matured, so did my career in education. What started as a parent volunteer role in the early 90s evolved into a 30-year career in educational technology. After serving as Technology Director for Wylie and Richardson ISDs, I spent 21 years as the Chief Technology Officer for Denton ISD. There, I led the development of a complex fiber-optic network and made DISD the first district in the nation to deploy Cisco VoIP phones in every classroom.
Throughout my career, my “creative itch” never faded. In the early 2000s, I mastered the Canon 5D line and digital post-processing in Photoshop and Lightroom. This passion for photography eventually allowed me showing a photo in the Louvre in Paris and a gallery in Moscow. This made me a part of the Top 100 Landscape Photographers at that time. Today, I am proud to serve as an instructor for National Park Photographers Expeditions (NPPE), guiding professionals through our nation’s most beautiful landscapes.
However, my most rewarding role is one I share with my wife, Angie: portraying Santa and Mrs. Claus. What began as a family favor has grown into a professional studio operation and a beloved community tradition. We have hosted hundreds of families in our Denton studio for the “Santa Experience,” ensuring that the “Reason for the Season” remains at the heart of everything we do. Through art, technology, and ministry, our mission remains the same: to welcome others with exuberant hearts and create memories that last a lifetime.
What started with a “hideous” pair of Amazon felt Santa suits and a favor for my son turned into a divine calling.
Today, we have converted our garage into a full-scale professional studio where we host over 100 themed family sessions every November. During December, we make over 35 public appearances across the DFW metroplex. We’ve even come full circle by using our studio to provide professional headshots for other Santa and Mrs. Claus actors.
Our lives are full. Whether we are welcoming new members to the Redeemer Church of Denton or creating Christmas memories for a child with special needs, we are profoundly grateful for the roads—both digital and artistic—that led us here.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While the road has not been without questions, it has been one of “trusting that God has placed us where we are needed”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My passion is hiking and finding locations to photograph landscapes at sunrise, sunset, and times in between. My large-format photography helps bring the beauty and radiance of the locations to the viewer. My landscapes have been seen by people around the world. My photographs come with my personal story of the capture.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I have traveled across the United States in search of interesting opportunities to photograph and tell stories. Ansel Adams has been quoted as saying, “You don’t improve nature, you reveal your impression of nature or nature’s impression on you.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erniestripling.com/
- Instagram: @erniestripling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erniestriplingphotography
- Other: https://thetexassanta.com/
Image Credits
All images and copyrights are owned by Ernie Stripling and Ernie Stripling Photography
