Inspired, A Very Special Project | Tracy Heyman Photography
Oh how I love Tracy!
Even spending a few moments on her blog I just felt like I knew her! She may not be overly wordy but her images tell a thousand stories. You can just see from the smiles, the honest happy moments she captures that anyone within a ten foot radius feels completely at ease with her. Her processing is so soft and sweet and gorgeous and her branding is some of the cutest I have honestly seen. I dare you to not get caught up in her work. She is just so special! I look forward to continue following her!
Let’s get to know her a bit better!
You can find her website HERE. And say a big ol’ Hello to her here on Facebook.
Well hello sweet Tracy!
Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?
Hmmmm, let’s see…. I’m a wife to my wonderful husband of almost 13 years and Mama to my three precious babes (EJ – 7, Olivia – 7 and Piper – 2 going on 10). I am a chocoholic and coffee addict and indulge in both daily (and often, preferably, simultaneously). In addition to my love for my family, photography (and clearly caffeine), I love interior design and am on a constant mission for new vintage finds to fill our home.
What sparked your passion for Photography?
As with many photographers, my love for capturing moments began with the birth of my twins seven years ago. I spent their early days constantly snapping images with the hope of remembering all of the little details that I knew I was destined to forget.
Whats in your camera bag?
My Canon 5d Classic, 85mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.4, I also have a Canon 430EX II Speedlite that never sees the light of day.
What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?
A Canon XSi and 50mm 1.8
If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?
My 85mm 1.8. And in all honesty, for my outdoor sessions, it is the only lens I use unless I find myself in a tight spot. I love to shoot fairly wide open and I adore the bokeh that this lens produces.
What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?
Price yourself right from the start. Take the time to investigate your projected annual costs and budget for those costs. Base your prices off of those budgeted figures, the number of sessions you can take per week/month and what you’d like to make per year. Looking at the big picture is such a useful exercise when starting out and one that is often overlooked.
What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?
Tara Whitney. And, she still is my crush. 🙂
What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?
My family and our lives together. The everyday stuff that I will miss when they’re grown – their messy shirts and dirty faces, the toys all over the floor that I trip over 20+ times a day, their belly laughs and toothless smiles. Everyday moments, the good stuff.
If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?
Goodness, I struggled with this one! I would have to say my Grandfather, who died when I was too little to remember him.
Describe your style in 3 words.
simple classic real
Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?
I did a session swap last summer with a very talented local photographer who has been in business for years. I don’t usually get nervous for sessions but was very nervous for hers! In addition to the nervousness, it started raining 10 minutes into her session and we had to rush to get a handful of images before calling it quits. And, in the midst of the rushing (and the nerves!), I failed to adjust my ISO when we moved into the shade. Ack!! Needless to say I was more than a bit embarrassed when I had to tell her what happened. She was so kind about the whole thing and more than understanding, even admitting she’s done the same in the past. I guess it’s happened to us all at one point or another.
Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist with certain aspects of my life and my business fails into this category. From my editing (which used to take me hours upon hours because I would obsess over every little detail) to my branding and getting it all “just right”, I would spend needless hours on little details that often weren’t necessary. I’ve learned over time (or by having a lack of time!) to loosen up with some of this stuff but I still find myself falling back into old habits easily. I only wish some of these tendencies carried over to areas like, say, a clean house or the laundry!
Favorite time of day to shoot is?
I would have to say just before sunset but I’ve done a few early morning sessions in the last few months and they’ve produced some pretty amazing shots as well. Although, I’m not a morning person so I guess the evening light is going to win my vote.
If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?
Interior design. And Pinterest has taken my love for it to a whole new level!
Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?
100% self taught
What do you do to get your clients to relax with you?
I do a lot of talking. And, I do a lot of just letting my clients be themselves and interact with each other. I’m not big into posing my clients and I know that most of my clients appreciate this as they’re not big into being posed. I will often just direct them to a location or lay out a blanket and just let them do their thing. While I do try to get a handful of the more traditional shots with everyone looking at me and smiling, it’s a small part of our session. I just enjoy the more candid shots and my clients often do as well.
What are your photography related goals for 2012?
To get a little more organized with the business side (accounting) of my business. Why oh why did the perfectionist in me not jump head first into this area? Because it’s my least favorite and I often procrastinate until my quarterly taxes are due. I finally broke down and bought Quickbooks last month so I’m hoping this will help me stay on top of things. A girl can hope, anyway!
How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning? Any Big Aha! Moments?
I love learning and this field is so diverse in that there is always something new to be discovered. I would love to dive into film someday and I would love to learn to use my speedlite more effectively. While I’m a natural light photographer and think I always will be (no studio lighting for me), a simple speedlite can do amazing things and I want to spend sometime discovering its capabilities in my everyday shooting… especially once the sun goes down. Unfortunately, my 5d classic just doesn’t have the ISO capabilities necessary to get the job done on occasion.
Biggest Photography related insecurity?
Spending too much time comparing myself to others and how I measure up. I think we’re all guilty of this from time to time.
Digital or Prints?
I would love to say prints but the sad fact of the matter is that I don’t have nearly enough of my own images printed. I always have big plans for collages and albums for my personal images but these projects have yet to make it to the top of my to do list. Maybe I should add this above to my 2012 goals. 🙂
Fun stuff:
Favorite Color: aqua (like a vintage-y green/blue)
Favorite Season: summer (hands down)
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: coffee and chocolate
Pet Peeve: one uppers
Favorite Pandora Station: Bon Iver
Studio or On location: on location
What did you want to be when you grew up? a teacher
One thing no one knows about you is: I have a secret stash of candy
Pc or Mac: PC
Lightroom Or Photoshop: Photoshop
Film or Digital: digital
Props or No Props: no props
If you could travel anywhere it would be: Holland
Glass Half Empty or Half Full: half Full
Favorite photo ever taken:
Raw or Jpeg: Raw
Favorite Music to Edit to: Bon Iver
Favorite Quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss
Most valued material possession: Hmmm, I don’t know that I have one.
Processing Style: simple
Coffee or Tea: coffee
If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be?
What kind of Camera bag do you rock? messenger bag from Porteen Gear.
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