R.J. Hartbeck
Photographer
R.J. Hartbeck is a commercial photographer based in St. Louis. His brand of storytelling is informed by his love for street photography and the belief that photos should be used as a way to connect with one another. His work has been featured both online and in print for various brands around the country. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, he enjoys helping people bring their new projects and ideas to life. Favorite neighborhood: Tower Grove East. Learn more at rjhartbeck.com.
rjhartbeck 
Contributions
A Healing Helpline
St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline offers identity-affirming resources for the region’s LGBTQIA+ community
A Coffee Culture
At Brew Tulum, Laura McNamara and Alberto Juarez bring a deep-dive into Mexican coffee culture to the Delmar Maker District
A New View
As president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society, Jody Sowell focuses on telling stories about St. Louis’ past that…
Outdoor
Enthusiast
With Ope Outdoors, Juno Musonda is spreading love for the Midwest’s parks and natural attractions through merchandise, park cleanups and…
Trading Up
As part of the Missouri Works Initiative, the Building Union Diversity program is expanding access to careers in construction.
Free Spirits
St. Louis’ Switchgrass Spirits is carving its own path with its grain-to-glass whiskey and brandy.
2022 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
A Broad Canvas
At Onyx Dagger in Lafayette Square, Valencia Miller combines fine art with tattoo art, supporting local painters in St. Louis…
Sustaining Style
With May’s Place, Katie May highlights the merits of shopping vintage – both for you and for the planet.
Float On
From the Boathouse to the Mississippi, Big Muddy Adventures offers St. Louisans a chance to connect with the region's waterways.
Up, Up and Away
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, one of the country’s longest-running balloon races, celebrates 50 years of making St. Louisans…
Raised on Glazed
Syeeda Aziz-Morris is carrying on the family tradition of donut-making at Pharaoh's Donuts in Downtown and the Central West End.
Nerds with Heart
In St. Peters, PokéNerds store owners Brian and Valeria Trull have built a community for Pokémon fans, who are in…
Freedom Through Food
Urban farmer Tyrean “Heru” Lewis brings fresh produce to underserved communities and advocates for more equitable growing practices across St.…
Beyond the Bag
Through her luxury handbag line Lux & Nyx, Lisa Hu seeks to empower women through functional, sustainable bags that marry…
A Powerful Lift
As the executive director of Paralympic operations at Logan University, Kelley Humphries-Mascoll is advancing the Paralympic movement in St. Louis…
Wicked ‘Wiches
Sugarwitch’s Martha Bass and Sophie Mendelson craft wickedly good ice cream sandwiches and frozen treats in Botanical Heights and Carondelet.
Climbing High
With So iLL, the Chancellor family has created an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally conscious experience for the modern urban rock climber,…
Historical
Perspective
With unique bus and walking tours throughout the metro area, Amanda Clark helps people see St. Louis differently.
Snacking for Change
With Airly crackers, a team from Brentwood-based Post Holdings has created a tasty way for people to combat climate change.
Nothing Little About It
From rural China to Fox Park, Lona Luo has come a long way in her journey to become one of…
2021 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
A Home for Art
In Gravois Park, St. Louis Art Place Initiative has completed the first of 20 units of single family housing at…
Tastes of St. Louis
Bringing together more than a dozen kitchens with varied cuisines, City Foundry STL’s Food Hall draws St. Louisans to Midtown.
Advocating for Inclusion
With the Starkloff Disability Institute, Colleen Starkloff works to make the world a place where people of all abilities feel…
Homegrown
Market
Local farmers and entrepreneurs build their businesses and a strong community through the support of St. Louisans at the Tower…
Small Park, Big Impact
Through Pocketparks, Samantha Lee Smugala is bringing art, activation and opportunity to transform vacant lots into community gathering spaces.
Building Space to Grow
Jason Deem opened St. Louis’ first coworking space, Nebula, more than 10 years ago, and continues to restore and develop…
Be(er) Well
With WellBeing Brewing's craft nonalcoholic beers and waters, Jeff Stevens is helping reframe the stigma around sobriety.
Security Solution
Led by CEO Ron Indeck, Olivette-based Q-Net Security is protecting government organizations and businesses across the nation from online threats…
Natural Wonders
St. Louisans find peace and purpose in parks and on trails throughout the region.
Organic Growth
In Wright City, Maria Marshall leads certified organic Marshall Family Farms in practicing regenerative agriculture, raising heritage poultry and producing…
Time for a Revolution
Saint Louis Story Stitchers brings young people together to express themselves through art and create social change.
Transforming Tea
Lisa Govro, through her company Big Heart Tea Co., is not only revolutionizing how tea tastes, but ensuring it’s ethically…
The Power of Plants
Mónica Carlsen, a Venezuelan immigrant and plant biologist with the Missouri Botanical Garden, is inspiring the next generation of budding…
Health and Healing
Naturopathic physician Jamila Owens-Todd extends her mission of healing further into the community through her ownership of the Golden Grocer…
A Conscious Cup of Joe
Inspired by the coffee they grew up drinking in their native Honduras, Patrick and Spencer Clapp are elevating the St.…
Solving Challenges
Biotech startup PercayAI and Washington University are collaborating to find treatments for COVID-19, through the work of people like computational…
Bringing Love to the Table
Shana Alicia Poole-Jones started her Grab and Go Table to give food and supplies to folks in need, and keeps…
A Hearty Dish
Welcome Neighbor STL's drive-thru supper clubs are a lifeline for refugees.
Community Game Changer
Entrepreneur Julian Keaton aims to foster community engagement and move St. Louis forward through “Dimensions,” a new interactive geolocation mobile…
Smooth Moves
Angela Zeng didn’t listen to critics who told her to start her line of superfood drinks, Karviva Beverages, elsewhere; after…
Bridging the Gap
The Foodshed.io app links small family farms to grocery stores so consumers can buy more local produce and farmers can…
Brewing Community
St. Louis brewers find new ways to connect with beer lovers and continue their businesses during the pandemic.
St. Louis, Together
How #314Together transformed from a pandemic relief Facebook group to an inspiring movement supporting local small businesses.
Period Positive
Even during a pandemic, the St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies is getting essential period products to people in need.
Power Drive
28 communities around the region joined together to donate nearly 15,000 pounds of food and personal care items to the…
Personal Growth
Home gardens flourish in quarantine, providing floral beauty, nutritious food and positive mental health benefits.
Growing Together
EarthDance Organic Farm School Hosts Pay-What-You-Can Drive-Thru Farm Stand in Ferguson.
Coffee for a Cause
How Sump Coffee is Fueling Health Care Providers on the Front Lines.
Superhero Delivery
Martin Casas of Apotheosis Comics is making sure that St. Louis residents have plenty of comic books and drinks to…
Puppies in a Pandemic
What happens to unadopted pets during a crisis? St. Louis stepped up to foster them - including one family taking…
4 Hands For Hands
4 Hands Brewery adds a new product to its beer and spirit offerings – hand sanitizer.
Creating Through Crisis
Mee Jey, an immigrant artist from India, tells community stories through her art in St. Louis and abroad.
‘Round and ‘Round
For 50 years, Mathew and Niah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King.
Home(Town) Brew
Here in one of the nation's top beer cities, St. Louis brewers are shaping the industry's future.
That’s a Ringer
Home to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame, St. Charles County has become one of the country’s top regions…
Spilling the Beans
Estie Cruz-Curoe’s Cuban-style black beans at del Carmen Foods are filling a delicious niche in the St. Louis food scene.
Autumn Action
The St. Louis economy gets a yearly boost from an array of spectacular fall sights and cool-weather activities, including Oktoberfest.
Shifting Gears
Mike Weiss believes that St. Louis could become one of the hottest cycling destinations in the country -- and the…
Fresh From the Vine
Tony White’s locally grown tomatoes are the not-so-secret ingredients in many St. Louis chefs’ acclaimed dishes.
Puppy Power
Fitness trainer Kim Gray built her wellness business for St. Louisans who love spending time with their pets.
Night Moves
Ranked No. 1 in nightlife, St. Louis is drawing attention for its fun, affordable ways to hit the town.
Career Center
New industries in St. Louis are helping to fuel Missouri’s rise in employment opportunities.
The Business of Basketball
Khalia Collier has transformed the St. Louis Surge into both a competitive team and an economic driver.
Making
Connections
Through Human Spaces, Lisa Rokusek is exploring how people can learn from each other with empathy and purpose.
Sweet Dreams
La Patisserie Chouquette co-owner and executive pastry chef Simone Faure has become the maven of macarons in St. Louis.
Masters of Light
Just as their great-great grandfather did, Aaron Frei and his siblings are coloring St. Louis with hand-crafted stained glass.
Midwest Millennials
Post-grads are learning that St. Louis’s low cost of living means more money for business and leisure.
Moving Forward
Historic St. Louis gems are earning new appreciation for marrying the past with the future.
Education for All
Through EdHub STL, Sherita Love helps educators shake up their classrooms and eliminate barriers for students.
Planting Seeds
Angi Taylor found meaningful work in St. Louis’s growing agriculture industry.
Game On
With dozens of studios, courses and events, St. Louis is becoming the nation’s next video game development hot spot.
