Inspired, A Very Special Project | Heidi Hope Photography

This Tuesday we have an AMAZING woman to share with you! It is actually a huge treat to share with you this lovely lady not because she is beyond talented (which she indeed is) but also because she is a wonderful, kind sweet person to boot. I just adore her and her work!! Sometimes you get an impression of who someone is by their art, their work and I can definitely sense that Heidi has a beautiful heart and a HUGE passion for her craft. Let’s get right to it!!

You can find Heidi’s Website HERE, her blog HERE and her Facebook Fan page HERE.

Heidi’s First Work!!

Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

I’m completely baby crazy (for my own and everyone elses). I’m a creative scatterbrain, usually working on too many projects at once, but always enjoying the chaos. Nothing brings me peace like watching the ocean… okay, maybe wine!

What sparked your passion for Photography?

I’ve always loved photography, but I never studied the technical aspects until I had to teach it in my first year as a high school art teacher.

Whats in your camera bag?

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4G, 85mm 1.4D, 35mm f/2D, and 60mm 2.8D Macro, 14-24 2.8G, 70-200mm 2.8, lens cleaner, dum dums, business cards

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

I learned on a Canon Digital Rebel, when I went PRO I started with the Nikon D700

If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?

50mm 1.4, hands down. Its a focal length I’m comfortable shooting at with babies, yields beautiful results when shooting wide open, and is a wide enough angle to take in a decent amount of landscapes and sets.

What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?

It is HARD work. And so rewarding! I see so many mom entrepreneurs who begin a business thinking they will have more time for their family and then quickly realize that they’ve never worked more in their life! It certainly brings you joy if you are passionate about it, but don’t be mistaken, you have to put the time and effort in to truly succeed. And of course, if you want it to be a “business” rather than a “hobby” you have to set yourself up to profit, which means not being afraid to price your work and pay yourself rates that are worthwhile.

What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?

Someone gave me the book, “Annie Leibovitz at Work” when I was teaching photography and I definitely crushed on her! In the baby photography realm, I found Kelley Ryden and Tracey Raver on flickr (back before the days of facebook) and they had a pull back shot of their set up, and I thought “OH my gosh, I could do this!!” I’ve loved seeing their work ever since.

What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?

I’m a bit of a macro still life dork…. making interesting compositions out of the lines and values of a subject or small details. And of course my cuties, but you knew I’d say that!

If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?

I hate these types of questions because I’m a pathetic decision maker! How can I pick just one person? What will my choice say about me? So here is a funny story: When I first started out, I joked with my girlfriends that my career goals were to get on the Oprah Show and photograph Tom Brady’s new baby (I’m a big Pats fan and he was expecting at the time). The Oprah Show is off the air, so I guess my answer would be Tom Brady and family. I hear they’re expecting again! 😉

Describe your style in 3 words.

Colorful, Soft, Whimsical

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

Well I suppose this would be most terrifying… I had a shoot with my very first celebrity client and I was a bundle of nerves. We had to reschedule the shoot for them and I agreed to do it on my way to a family vacation in Maine (car loaded up to the roof and Shaun and Giuliana in tow). We pulled into an underground garage and when I jumped out of the passenger side, my unzipped camera bag tumbled out after me, and my brand new D3S with 70-200mm lens smashed on the ground. I didn’t want to bring too much equipment with me because I was traveling, so my back up camera was at the studio. Time FROZE. I saw it smash in slow motion. I sat on the floor of the garage and held the broken camera in my lap with the attendant yelling at me to get out of the way. OH. MY. GOD. How was I going to call these clients and tell them I broke my camera and couldn’t do the shoot, 5 minutes before our start time?! It turned out that part of the lens broke off into the camera body and once I removed it, I was able to shoot the whole session with my 50! PHEW! And now I always have a backup on location.

Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?

I think time management is the greatest challenge when you are a mother and a business owner. I’m a “yes” person and I’ve had to learn to say “no” sometimes in order to still give time to my own family, and occasionally my self!

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

I would love to shoot in the evening each day, but I can’t miss reading my girls goodnight stories, so I never have the chance to!

If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?

I would probably go back to teaching again. I miss it!

Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, but have actually never taken a photography class!

What do you do to get your clients to relax with you?

I’m just myself. I’m an outgoing, regular, girls-girl. I try to treat everyone the same way, whether I’ve known them for minutes or years, whether they are the mom-next-door or a celebrity, whether they are difficult or easygoing, and I think people warm up to that right away. People just want to be seen for who they truly are and at the end of the day, we’re all pretty much the same.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

2012 was all about balance and maintaining our business through a new baby and a new house. 2013 we’re focusing on the studio and already looking into new locations!

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning? Any Big Aha! Moments?

I’m definitely a competitive person and I think my greatest competition is my self. I always want to improve on my last session, my last set, my last idea. I hope I always continue to learn and improve. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in that respect. There was a quote I taught in art class by Leonardo DaVinci: “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” I feel that way about my photography. I’ll never feel I have “arrived”. One big “AHA” moment in this business was the realization that if something negative happens, you HAVE to figure out how to take the lesson from it and move on in a positive direction. Everyone becomes disheartened in business at times, but if you focus on the negative, all that will come is more negativity. If you can spin things into a positive light, you never know where it will take you! Some of my most creative and successful ventures were born out of frustration.

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

Often times I have a vision in my head of how I want something to turn out and I’m always nervous that what I actually capture will live up to it!

Digital or Prints?

Both. I LOVE wall art and so do our clients, so we pair that up with digitals in our packages so that they can have the best of both worlds.

How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

It used to be that our work was completely different from what was out there, but the baby business is big now and there are baby photographers everywhere. Now we set ourselves apart with our studio, our quality of work and product, and a level of customer service and customization from our staff that is hard to find elsewhere.

What do you think your next photography related investment will be?

A new studio! Woooh HOOO! And a D4! I’m bringing our other photographer Mariah over to the “other side” (Nikon ;))

If you had to recommend ONE thing that a photographer needs in their camera bag what would that be?

Dum dums for bribery and a sense of humor! Equipment doesn’t matter as much as connecting with the client and being present in the moment with them.

What would you say your biggest muse is?

My daughters, of course!

 Fun stuff:
Favorite Color: Turquoise
Favorite Season: Autumn
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: Red wine and dark chocolate
Pet Peeve: underhandedness
 Favorite Pandora Station: ooooh tough one… I probably listen to Today’s Hits the most right now, I would fall asleep to most of my old favorite stations!
Studio or On location: both (sorry, I warned you that I can’t make decisions)
What did you want to be when you grew up? First a mommy, then a marine biologist, then an art teacher (again with the decisions!)
 One thing no one knows about you is: I don’t think there is anything. I’m an open book… and I don’t shut up.
 Pc or Mac: Mac
 Lightroom Or Photoshop: Photoshop
Film or Digital: Digital for business
Props or No Props: Props
 If you could travel anywhere it would be: I want to go to Europe, and Australia, and the South Pacific… I have a lot of traveling left to do in my life!
 Glass Half Empty or Half Full: Half Full
 Favorite photo ever taken: Right now it’s a photo of Shaun and the two girls from when Grace was first born. My favorites change with the seasons though.

 Raw or Jpeg: Raw
 Favorite Music to Edit to: See above 😉
 Favorite Quote: “Believe in your dreams and they will come true.”
 Most valued material possession: I don’t place a huge value on material things, most likely because I am constantly losing everything… and life goes on. The one thing I would feel really sad about losing would be my wedding rings, and of course that would be more for their sentimental value than their material worth.
 Processing Style: Soft and colorful
 Coffee or Tea: Coffee
 If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be? See above 😉
 What kind of Camera bag do you rock? I have a Slingshot and an Epiphanie, depending on the location.