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Alicia Stepp is an adjunct professor in SMU's Division of Journalism Fashion Media program, where she teaches Fashion Photography (FM 4351). She holds a B.F.A. in Photography from the Art Institute of Dallas and began her creative career in the late 1990s as a web and graphic designer before transitioning into photography and creative direction.

For the past 20 years, Stepp has worked as a fashion and beauty photographer, creating work known for its hyperreal and dreamlike qualities. Her photography has been published in Vogue and commissioned by clients including Mary Kay, Nike and other leading fashion and lifestyle brands.

She has since founded OPAL, a white-glove, boutique creative consultancy that blends strategic storytelling, team curation and creative production to create culture-forward narratives across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and the arts. Her multidisciplinary background informs OPAL’s holistic approach, rooted in her perspective as a creative and her advocacy for collaboration that protects vision and integrity.

Her course emphasizes creative voice development and visual storytelling grounded in both theory and practice. Students explore campaign ideation, lighting and production techniques, and fashion photography's evolving cultural significance—culminating in the execution of final fashion campaigns. The course encourages artistic risk-taking, collaboration, and the strategic use of emerging tools for concept development, while guiding students to create imagery that reflects their unique perspectives.

Beyond the classroom, Stepp serves as a board member and ambassador for Focus on Women, a national organization advancing gender equity in the photography and production industry. In all facets of her work, she advocates for artists and collaboration, driven by a belief in visual storytelling’s ability to shape culture and build connection.