Director Courtney Sofiah Yates Joins Stept Studios

Stept Studios has added director Courtney Sofiah Yates to its roster for US commercial representation.

Growing up in Southeast Michigan, Courtney Sofiah Yates was instilled with the values of accountability, respect, and care from an early age, and she continues to prioritise this foundation when working with her creative collaborators as both a photographer and director. Driven by a profound desire to discover and reveal the meaning and beauty in every day moments, Yates is dedicated to documenting the intricate emotional experiences of human life with a primary focus on grief and loss. She is also creatively dedicated to capturing and studying the exuberant energy of performance in entertainment and sports. Yates has worked with globally-renowned brands, including Nike, Moncler, Smirnoff, Gucci, Dick’s Sporting Goods, among others. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Vogue, Marie Claire, Document Journal, and more. She is currently based in New York.

Yates’ most recent project with Stept, Expanding Outdoor Culture, is the most recent film in REI’s Opt Outdoor campaign. Capturing evocative, intimate portraits of people as they enjoy the natural world, the film creates a profound emotional connection with the diverse group of individuals, friends, and couples as they experience the beauty and simplicity of the outdoors. The campaign began as a way to eschew Black Friday consumerism and replace it with time spent with friends and family outdoors, is dedicated to the belief that time outside is a human right – and that everyone should feel welcome outside, regardless of their gender, race, age, or sexuality. 

Nick Martini, Stept founder and director says: “You can really feel a sense of humanity in Courtney's work, her photographs and films provide a window into her subject’s world. It's been amazing to watch her progress so quickly in the commercial space, and our whole team couldn’t be more excited to watch her take the next step in her creative journey.”

“Film is the most fine-tuned tool we have for studying human behavior and hopefully, for cultivating communal connections,” says Yates. “That goal underlies all of my work both commercial and artistic. I know Stept values those ideas as much as I do and I’m thrilled to be joining the team.” 

Yates is currently working on a a collective of short films with Smirnoff.