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.
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. In 2011, we outgrew our original 1,100 square foot space and expanded into our current location, boasting 6,300 square feet of learning and production facilities.
With this extra space came new creative opportunities; a gallery space exhibiting the work of national and international artists, a large natural light studio, dedicated classroom, traditional darkroom, and an alternative process darkroom 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.
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.
Bryson Malone is a commercial/editorial photographer and art director, born and raised in Novato and living in Mill Valley. After picking up a film camera in college, he has since turn that hobby to a career with a decade of experience on in-house creative teams and freelancing for clients like Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, YETI coolers, Almine Rech, Artsy.com, Huckberry, The North Face, Wallpaper Magazine and more. He is most interested in shooting working artists, outdoor lifestyle, and fashion. Outside of work, you can find him mountain biking, playing tennis, and going to concerts.
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.
Kristy Headley works as Outreach and Workshop Coordinator at The Image Flow. She is interested in growing the photographic community through education, and offers artist strategy sessions to assist with portfolio review prep, digital presentation, statements, pricing guidance, and more. You’ll often find her here or at Scott Nichols Gallery in Sonoma. Previously, Kristy was the manager at Collectors’ Photography Gallery in Marin, and a technical lead for notable archival imaging projects at Google and Internet Archive. She has a BFA in 2D Studies, and practices alternative process photography with handmade photo emulsions.
Anton Belov graduated from California College of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration and is a freelance graphic designer. At The Image Flow, he does a little bit of everything – from designing fliers and updating our website, to offering valuable advice on our range of photo services. When he’s not at The Flow, he can be found freelancing for a number of clients such as Stanford Children’s Health, Saint Mary’s College of California, or the Paramount.
