First of all, thank you so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it and I hope you love what you see here.
My name is Heather. I've been shooting photography for almost two decades now--honestly ever since I was a kid. When I was nine years old, my family went on our first big vacation together: to the American southwest! We spent a whole week driving to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde, and so many more absolutely stunning places. It was a dream!
Before I started running around the canyons and desserts, though, my dad gave my sister and me two film cameras. He showed us how to put the film in and take a picture. He had always enjoyed photography, himself, having owned a Minolta film camera that he used on our vacations. He gave us each a handful of film canisters and told us that was all we would get for the trip so we should use it well.
I had so many pictures of mule deer and most of them were far away and blurry. The closer ones were only evidence in the later accusations from my parents that I had, while they weren't watching, gotten way too close to the wild animals. All in all, though, I was hooked. The next time we went on vacation--this time to the northeast--I used my photos to document everything I could.
When I was in middle school, my parents bought me my first digital camera. It was one of those big Canon Powershots with the great zoom. I would take it with me every time we would go to the state and local parks near our home. I photographed animals, plants, and landscapes--anything that would stay still really. Mostly, I photographed the things I loved.
In high school, I focused on environmental sciences and then art. In my art classes, I learned about other great photographers and artists and I experimented with different styles of photography. I was heavily influence by the work of David Hockney and even did my AP Art portfolio in his style. At the same time, I was reading National Geographic and becoming inspired by the works of David Doubilet, Paul Nicklen, and Joel Sartore, as well as so many others. I decided to go to college for photography.
I received my Bachelor's of Science in Photography from the University of Central Florida. In college, I ended up focusing on more abstract or conceptual work. That wasn't the kind of work that I really wanted to do--I wanted to be a Nat Geo photographer. I took the only journalism course that was offered and I really enjoyed that. Looking back though, I realize that many of my professors pushed me away from the kind of work I was interested in: nature, conservation, storytelling. One professor even told me that "if there isn't a person in your photo, it isn't interesting."
Regardless, I graduated. I struggled to get any real photography work for a long time and I ended up selling cameras for a major electronics retailer. Occasionally, I would get asked by friends or family to do portraits and weddings. Eventually, I gave in because I believed that would be the only avenue to making money as a photographer, and so I built up a portrait portfolio and got a job with a portrait company photographing newborns, kids, and families. All the while, I kept photographing what I loved: nature.
The portrait company I worked for did not pay well, though, so I ended up going back to doing other work. I got very jaded and started to believe that photography just was never going to be a way to make money. So many of my photographer friends--people I had graduated with--were not making incomes off photography either. I decided to put my photography on hold and go back to school.
I got a Master's in Library and Information Sciences from Syracuse University. It was very expensive so I worked really hard to make sure I could get a job right out of school. I worked in a public library and at two different academic libraries while going to school full time. I read a bunch, I wrote papers, I interviewed other librarians, and I found mentors. I forced my way in front of people that I thought could help me achieve my goal. I absolutely HAD to get a job in a library after school.
And I did. I'm happy to say I work full time as an Open Education Librarian at a nice university. My schedule is very consistent and it doesn't require me to lift heavy boxes or kneel on concrete. What it does give me is the ability to do the photography I am truly passionate about. One of my favorite quotes is by Theodore Roosevelt, who was actually quoting a one Squire Bill Widener of Widener's Valley, Virginia: "Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are."
I apply this quote in my life often, whether it's in my capacity as a librarian or when I'm trying to use my photos to promote conservation of Florida's ecosystems. It's one of many things I wish I had known when I was younger and that I try to impart in young people I meet now. I might not be a National Geographic photographer being sent on assignments around the globe, but I'll do what I can for the wildlife and people right here at home.
Thanks again for tuning in and for reading about my journey. 'Til next time!