Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey DeStefano and Brian Velde.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsey and Brian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Brian and I, Lindsey met through a high school friend. Flagstaff, AZ is the small mountain town where he and I both grew up, we went to rival high schools (let’s go Mustangs!) and in that season would not have been the fit we are today. Flash forward 20 years, and to one of my fave downtown hole in the wall bars. In walks Brian, the next day is where the story begins.
He picked me up on a Harley the next day for a ride on our back roads, in the perfect sunshine of an April afternoon in AZ. Our first stop on what I deem our first date is also the location of our marriage a year later, Twin Arrows. It is an old gas station, now home to some powerful graffiti images, and still home for AZ nostalgia. Brian went one way, and I went another; what I had been used to in past adventures was being found after 15 minutes or so and being rushed to move on. Hours into our adventure Brian was still doing the same thing I was, taking pictures. We had ventured down old Rt 66, through Two Guns and the old Kamp KOA, and standing in that gravel and comparing our days takes, I knew that we had something together, a style, a grit, our brand. AAZ was born, and something in my gut told me this was the start of something huge.
Printing. I with my nativity didn’t think past the taking of the picture, printing was a nightmare. I remember all too well the feeling of discouragement, so far removed from the elation at having these stunning images to share. The printing options for our budget were slim, and the quality that those options did provide was not something we could sell. Talk about a non-starter. We knew that if we were going through this, there had to be countless more that were stuck in this struggle too. We were moved to act.
How much is one of those printers? The question escaped my mouth before my brain had time to process. It was the start of our investment.
I at the time was working as a Custom Framing Specialist for a Corporation here, and making quite the name for myself as such, but was very much struggling in a corporate setting. I have found my thing, in every sense of the word. I feel like my whole life has been preparing me in numerous and oftentimes out of the ordinary ways for this job, Custom Framing. I get this ‘click’ when I have nailed a matting or fillet color, and I take pride in being able to finish off these amazing projects entrusted to me by their creators. Think about what we put up on the walls of our home. It is something you care about, makes you smile, and reminds you of a loved one, or that you have created. To have a hand in that is an honor, to be able to help you complete that task is something not all shops can provide.
Brian is an accomplished woodworker, it as well as photography is an art of his. Universe brought together the perfect pairing. Woodworking is his art, and a talent not many possess, from custom rare wood boxes, to hand made reclaimed materials, he has a mastery of wood. His eyes light up talking about the perfect rare wood or stain, the same way mine do when I am thinking about the perfect medium to print, or the perfect mat and framing pair.
He at the time, had a respectable shop to create, and it began the conversations about what it would take to be able to create quality products. Printers, Pneumatic mat and glass cutters, plainers, leveler, we now have it all. I now have the ability to hit enter and walk downstairs to a perfectly printed project, and it is hard to stop! It became evident very early on that we had a unique view and style, and now with the capabilities to print and frame them with our custom quality, the sky is the limit!
Our mission is to help other artists with affordable custom framing, and do for them what we have been able to attain ourselves. When people think of Flagstaff, AZ they don’t think of amazing art, and they should. We have some of the most amazing art I have ever seen, but before AAZ, there was not a good option for printing and framing. In the art world, works struggle to sell unless they are framed. I am sick of people going to surrounding towns to buy art or framing their babies in a cheap frame because they can’t think about it anymore. There is no reason to buy a picture of San Francisco Peaks online, there are amazing local artists who experience this beautiful mountain and have it authentically captured. Brian and I are uniquely able to offer these services at a cost point not before experienced.
We are currently working on a project with local businesses and local artists to create revolving art walls. Brian and I can answer so many questions on so many levels when it comes to putting art on walls.
Before it is hard to imagine asking an artist to put their babies on walls, there is a ton that goes into moving and hanging art, and unfortunately, a ton can happen! Whether it gets ruined in transit or whether it falls off the wall for whatever reason, things happen. When you are talking about artists’ finished work, which is their creation, literally their sweat and often times blood and frustrations go into these pieces. We are able to offer affordable, show quality printing so that artists can print from their originals and also make them any size. We are also able to offer locally sourced materials to finish these works. We really are able to offer an A to Z service and frame the works that should be on the walls being shared.
We have been handed a box of animal hides from an African hunt and told, “I don’t want it to feel like there is flesh on my walls.” Done. We came back with a beveled grey barn wood frame, hand painted and hand-stretched hide fillets. Feminine and masculine both, and exactly what the client had in mind. Another of our clients had a piece from their honeymoon that had been rolled up and in the closet for years because it is 48×48’’, and the quotes they’d received previously were not tenable to executing the project. We are able to complete not only that project, but the entire closet worth. We used a sustainably sourced rare wood, and hand-painted fillet to bring this beautiful project to the wall.
We are determined to offer a quality service, not only for the customers that get our photography and do us the honor of buying it, also for the other artists of our amazing mountain town. We have such an amazing opportunity to elevate the art of Flagstaff, and here we are almost two years later. We have had the opportunity to be in numerous shows over these last two years, as well as help other artists frameworks for shows and sale. We have catered a pop-up art show for an anniversary party where we moved 168 pieces of art in under 2 hours. We have the ability to beautify the walls of N. AZ, and there are blank walls to be had!
We look forward to continuing to work with our local business owners and grace their walls, as well as be able to help customers with a quality custom framing experience, not before offered in Flagstaff. We are excited and prepared to help all you artist, as well as those with works stowed away.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has had its growing opportunities over the last year. Rather than call it “hard” I would say that it has helped us define the way in which we are able to help people. It has helped us to refine our vision and make sure that we are in front of the right eyes, so we can help the right people.
It has been an interesting balance between being artists/photographers and having people that need our framing services. It did at first demand us to identify and go after our true end goals. What came out is the shops and capabilities we have currently, and the clear vision to elevate the art of N. AZ.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you guys do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
We are Photographers who grew up in the area we get to shoot, and it shows. We shoot the forgotten AZ in abandoned buildings and ruins. We shoot the items in another season of life, and beautiful in a different way. We are known for our perspective and grit, as well as our printing and framing capabilities.
We are set apart because of our true ability to offer a quality service at a truly affordable price. From artists, for artists, as well as almost any kind of custom work you could need done.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are pretty excited to move forward with our community wall project. We know that there is a true balance to find here in our amazing town to fill the blank walls with amazing art, finished and ready for the show!
Contact Info:
- Website: abandonedazphoto.com
- Phone: 928.288.2226
- Email: abandonedazphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: @abandonedazphoto
- Facebook: Abandoned AZ
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
