Stanton is a third generation photographer and director. He left behind his family portrait studio in the ozark hills of Missouri to study art in North Texas before working in commercial production in Dallas. In 2013 he stepped out on his own as a photographer working with magazines, on commercial campaigns, and developing a body of artistic work. His photography was featured in the Seattle Museum of Art and in 2019 he was named in the top 10 Seattle lifestyle photographers by Peerspace. In 2018 he joined the board of the Kikulu foundation, a nonprofit which helps educate children in Uganda. This organization and the experiences that come from its work have helped shape Stanton's photography in scope, subject, and awareness.