About the Artist
Born Stanley Phillip Cox Jr. in Alhambra, California, July 1953. I became "the 2nd" when my father, SPC Sr passed away in 1992. I was raised and schooled in California from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and a few points in between. I was always one of, if not the best in my class at drawing and painting, and I knew that I wanted to make a career of art from a very early age.
I discovered photography in Junior High School, and fell in love with the medium. I continued my art education in school and from reading books from the library, and studying the works of the Great Masters. I took classes in photography in High School, and won awards for my imagination in my final assignments.
I took my first job as a professional photographer right out High School with the local newspaper in Camarillo, California. I covered sporting events, and was put in charge of the paper's darkroom. I was also able to apprentice with a Master Photographer, (my then brother-in-law), and assisted at weddings, barmitzfahs, and on glamour portraits and portfolios.
I moved to Kauai, Hawaii in 1976, then Maui in 1980. During that time I was involved in building and managing health clubs, and continued to freelance with my photography I did quite a lot of advertising and lifestyle photography for the health clubs and promotions I worked with.
When I sold my interest in my health club in 1982, I dedicated myself to my photographic art, and enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography. I completed their curriculum at an accelerated pace then took a job with a local advertising agency as their Lead Photographer.
I moved back to California for a couple years, continued freelancing and worked with my brother-in-law again for a while. I moved back to Hawaii, the Big Island in 1990, continued to freelance and study art. In 1993 I co-founded a portrait and general photography service studio, then known as Cox Paramount Photography. In 2002 my co-founder and I divided the business, and I opened Paramount Photography Hawaii on Oahu where I am currently based.
I have two beautiful children, a 19 year old son, and a 17 year old daughter, and have been with my wife for 11 years now.
My passion is Fine Art Portrait Photography. I love photographing people, creating Art Portraits, and presenting art to my clients that elicit a "WOW!" reaction.