Visual Storyteller Leaves Her Mark on Arkansas Photography Industry
By Katelyn Allen on Monday, November 3, 2025
When Raegan Stoken was 13 years old, she picked up a camera for the first time and has had it with her ever since. Being in Valley View High School’s yearbook and student media organizations showed her the power of visual storytelling. What began as a creative outlet became her connection with the world around her. Raegan especially loved photographing people and their love stories, which led to a career in destination wedding photography.
“If you love something, explore it. Practice it. Share it. Fail at it and try again,” Raegan said. “Surround yourself with people who believe in you and push you. You don’t have to have it all figured out, but you do have to start.”
With her family in her corner and listening to women in the creative industry tell powerful visual stories, she took a leap of faith into the world of photography. Pursuing her degree at the University of Arkansas left several avenues open for a career, but participating in the Miss America Scholarship Organization was what gave her the confidence to chase her dreams.
“That experience truly changed my life for the better. It gave me confidence, a sense of purpose and a platform to advocate for causes I care about,” Raegan said. “It helped shape not just my career, but who I am at my core.”
Being surrounded by go-getters and creatives in college ultimately inspired Raegan to run her own photography business. Starting with senior portraits, brand sessions and, eventually, making it into the wedding industry, all helped form how she wanted to brand herself.
“Once I photographed my first destination wedding, something in me lit up,” Raegan said. “I knew I wanted to keep telling those kinds of stories, in beautiful places around the world. Seeing people come back to me, refer others and trust me with their biggest moments made it clear that I could build a business around this passion.”
Now, Raegan is interested in growing the educational side of her work and mentoring young photographers dreams like her. She is determined to open her own photography studio and host workshops that help other creatives step into the field confidently. Although these dreams require roots, Raegan has no plans to stop traveling any time soon.
“I’m still growing,” she said. “Still learning [and] evolving. That’s the beauty of pursuing a creative life—you never really ‘arrive.’ You just keep showing up, staying curious and creating from the heart. That’s more than enough for me and I can’t wait to do this job for another 70 years.”
