In previous years, Stead worked with such outlets as The Seattle Times, ZUMA Press, Reuters, Associated Press, High Country News, The (Provo) Daily Herald, The Bellingham Herald and The Skagit Valley Herald. In addition to holding a spot as the associate chair with the National Press Photographers Association in Region 11, Stead attended the 25th anniversary of the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2012. Aside from organizing the world into one rectangle at a time, he enjoys cold showers, hot vacations and temperate attitudes.