Life and Work with Julie Heisey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Heisey.

Julie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Imagery has always been important to me. As a child with 35 mm film cameras, a teenager with a pocket sized digital camera and as an adult with DSLR equipment, I’ve always tried to keep a camera in my hand. I treasure capturing important events, and I find that taking images of the little moments in my own life makes them important, because I have those moments forever. That’s one reason I started my business ten years ago; the ability to offer that gift to others is something that I deeply value.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting and running a small business is not a smooth, simple process. Starting one in an oversaturated industry like photography means that you need to be even more intentional and committed to juggling the many tasks that are a necessity for a successful business. Photography is relatively unregulated, business-wise, so the barrier to entry is low. As such, it’s important to figure out what you have to offer as a business owner, to really explore and advertise what differentiates you from others. Not only that, but give yourself the best chance for success by creating a solid base before you start trying to earn money. Create your business plan, flesh out what your goals are – financial and otherwise, create workflows that will save you time and provide built-in organization, and make sure that your product or service is honed and ready for consumption.

As small business owners, we are always learning, updating, adapting. But make sure that your work or production is something that you can truly be proud of selling – it’s worth spending a bit of extra time practicing or tweaking a detail in order to offer your clients the best product you can provide. My best advice for small business owners is to spend time in your industry community. Small business ownership can be isolating, especially for a business run entirely by one person. It’s easy to become discouraged or burned out or comparative – and I find that the best way to combat those things is to spend time with strong, passionate, hard-working women who understand what you’re experiencing! I’ve been so lucky to find a huge group of talented, incredible photographers and artists who I respect and trust, both online and in person. Soak in what they have to say, without ever expecting them to do the work for you.

And lastly, figure out how to use your platform to better this world. Use your power and your privilege to amplify the voices and perspectives of others who are often silenced – be it through your advertising, your donations, your art, and so much more. This is one of the huge positives that come with small business ownership – we get to choose how we will impact this world in very real and tangible ways. Make sure that you use yours to be a force of greatness and conviction. When the investment of your time and energy goes toward creating good in this world, your motivation goes beyond a numbers game.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Julie Heisey Photography – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a parenthood and newborn photographer. This means I get to take photos of stunning pregnant folx, snuggle their tiny brand new babies in my studio for their newborn session, watch them grow as they visit every three months for milestone sessions, squeal while they dive headfirst into frosting and cake on their first birthday, and then capture their family photos for years to come. I genuinely adore children – my Bachelor’s degree is in Child and Family Development and I was an early childhood educator and state assessor for many years when I first started my business. I delight in the ways that children grow and process this world – being able to spend time with children that I enjoy on top of creating legacy art for their families to treasure forever? It’s the best job I can imagine! I get to read books with older siblings while newborns take a break for a feeding. I get to watch little ones hug each other so hard that they almost knock each other over. I treasure the ability to capture the love that parents have for their children and the trust and adoration that the children have for them in return. I believe that my kindness, my experience, and skill in working with children and my passion for the artistry of imagery are all things that set me apart.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
There’s a ton of pressure for women who are living in a world that expects them to fit one very constrictive mold which also happens to be full of contradictions. Don’t believe anyone who tries to oversimplify your options – you get to create your own life, and it will be full of nuance. There might not be a small business or a job that looks like what you imagine. Create it! Maybe no one else has done it before – do it yourself! Figure out how you can mold your business or career to the life that you want, and don’t jump into something because you feel pressured to have it all figured out. And that goes beyond your career. I know it’s cliche to say “Be Yourself!”… but there it is. Invest some time into figuring out who you are, and then start creating a life that fits you. Don’t waste time trying to live a life that someone else designed for themselves then called it “one size fits all”.

Contact Info:

• Website: julieheiseyphotography.com
• Email: hello@julieheiseyphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/julieheiseyphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/julieheiseyphotography

Image Credit:
Images by Julie Heisey Photography, Headshot of Julie Heisey by Happy Hippo Photography

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.