
Help Steven Replace Stolen Camera Gear
Donation protected
Hi Babes,
I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to share something incredibly difficult. While working a job I was truly proud of—capturing beautiful, joyful, candid moments that meant so much to me and my client—my camera was stolen. In a moment when I set it down to grab my bag, it was gone.
This wasn’t just any camera. It was the Sony A7RV paired with the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens—gear I had spent years working toward. The total value of what was taken (including batteries, memory cards, and a lens filter) is around $7,000. More painful than that, the memory cards were full of irreplaceable photos from the event. I felt sick knowing that not only was my camera gone, but so were the memories I was trusted to preserve.
As a full-time photographer living in West Hollywood and pursuing my passion, I put everything I have into my work. I go above and beyond to uplift people through my lens and create art that reflects joy, beauty, and authenticity. Sadly, I’m currently living month-to-month and simply cannot afford to replace this gear on my own.
I still have my older backup camera (Sony A7III), which I’ll be using for upcoming gigs. But the equipment that was stolen was truly my dream setup—what I’ve been working toward my entire career.
✨ To help raise funds and also give back to my community, I’ll be offering discounted photo sessions all month (portraits, couples, content creation, you name it). So if you’d prefer to support by booking a session, I’d be honored to work with you. You can reach out to me through @stevenjamesphotos or @stevenonthescene
Please know: there is absolutely no pressure to donate.
I completely understand what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and barely make ends meet—I'm living it myself. If you're struggling financially, please do not donate. Take care of yourself first.
I’m only putting this out there in case anyone has the means to help during this tough moment—even though asking for help is never easy for me.
Every donation, share, or word of support means the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for being part of my journey. I’m so grateful for this community.
With Love + Gratitude,
Steven
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Organizer
Steven Matthews
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA