• bio

Stephanie Freid-Perenchio is a documentary photographer whose work has appeared in Newsweek, Time Magazine, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Foreign Policy, Huffington Post, and NPR’s website.

As creator, photographer, and co-author of the book SEAL: The Unspoken Sacrifice, Stephanie earned the trust of U.S. NAVY SEALs and their families to achieve an extraordinary level of intimacy and insight into a world normally cloaked in secrecy and masculinity. The book, published in 2009, represented seven years of working closely with the community as it dealt with the aftermath of 9/11. In 2014, the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago invited Stephanie to exhibit her SEAL photographs in the first-ever US Navy SEAL photography exhibition.

Stephanie’s photography has been inspired by her commitment to humanitarian causes. Traveling the unbeaten path—from Afghanistan and North Korea to Haiti, Cuba, and many countries in Africa—Stephanie has documented the realities of life in war-torn or developing nations. Concerned with the way mass media covers those most affected by poverty, displacement, or disease Stephanie attempts to provide a real story behind the spectacle of violence and devastation. As an advocate for those who have no voice or political power, Stephanie also documents endangered wildlife such as the elephants of Africa who are nearing extinction due to the illegal ivory trade.

Stephanie’s interest in advancing global awareness and justice led to the founding of two Sun Valley-based think tanks: the Sun Valley Global Affairs Forum on International Policy and Women Under the Radar. Stephanie is also the co-director of The Family of Woman Film Festival, a film festival that raises awareness about the issues facing girls and women around the world, provokes conversations about improving their lives, and inspires people to be a part of that change.

Stephanie serves on a number of national and international boards and advisory committees.


Sun Valley Global Affairs Forum
Women Under the Radar