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Get to know The Flow

Mission statement

The Image Flow aims to celebrate photography in all its forms and to provide a platform for photographers of all levels to create work, exchange ideas, and to innovate the medium of photography. Our staff and instructors are deeply engaged with photographic practice in their daily lives and bring that same dedication to our space each day. We remain committed to making photography accessible to the community by providing public exhibitions, free lectures, workshops, rentals, and imaging services.

History

In 2008, Stuart Schwartz founded The Image Flow with one initial goal; to provide high-quality photographic printing services to Marin County – because, in the words of Stuart, “it’s not a photograph until it’s a print.”

Since then, it has grown into a space to create, exhibit, discuss, and study all types of photographic expression, both digital and traditional. Based on the early feedback of some of our long-standing clients, we began offering workshops and classes, branching into the realm of photographic education. 

Our gallery space exhibits the work from domestic and international artists and has made The Image Flow a destination for photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond – both seasoned and emerging.

Today, our workshops and services continue to be in support of Stuart’s mantra, driving toward photography in print form. Whether you seek to achieve this goal in the darkroom or using digital images, we possess the tools and expertise needed to help bring your vision to life.

Staff

Stuart Schwartz

Founder & Educator

Stuart Schwartz graduated from the Art Center in 1979 and then spent 35 years as an advertising photographer in the U.S. and Europe. Stuart is comfortable working in the studio, on location, and with all sizes of productions. He continues to shoot for a limited number of clients. Stuart’s personal work spans a variety of styles, from street photography to abstract and mixed media. Stuart founded The Image Flow in 2008 with the vision to empower the avid photographer looking for personal growth in photography.

Nathan Lomas

Educator, Gallery & Production Manager

Nathan Lomas hails from Buffalo, NY. He developed his passion photography at the tender age of five when his father gave him a Ricoh camera. He has a BFA from the College of Creative Studies in Detroit and an MFA in Imaging Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. He is an adjunct professor at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, owns his own photo studio in Alameda where he specializes in 19th-century tintype photography, and at The Image Flow, works with digital restoration, film scanning, and printing, as well as teaching workshops and working one-on-one with clients.

Dean Lipoff

Production & Imaging Associate

Dean Lipoff, a Brooks Institute graduate, has been photographing and retouching images for over 30 years. In addition to enjoying being outdoors, Dean likes traveling, savoring good food, and spending time with his family.

Anelisa Nichols

Front Desk & Digital Media Manager

Anelisa received a B.A. in Communications and Media as well as Cinematic Arts and Technology from Sonoma State University. She is a freelance production assistant and film editor, specializing in documentary filmmaking. At The Image Flow, she manages email marketing campaigns, oversees social media strategy, conducts outreach through advertising and campaigns, and optimizes website content for search engines. In her free time, you can find her hiking the Marin Headlands with her dogs or building ceramic vessels.

Jarod Denmark

Graphic Designer, Client Services

Jarod Denmark earned his BFA in Art Studio and Art History from San Francisco State University. He has since flourished as a freelance graphic and web designer, gaining valuable experience at University Games, Callisto Media, and Abbott Diabetes. At The Image Flow, his versatile skills encompass designing publications, maintaining websites, and providing expert guidance across our diverse photo services. Beyond his professional endeavors, Jarod enjoys pursuits such as dirt biking, hiking, and golfing.