Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Strahan.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had thought photography would be a good hobby for years. But I was never willing to purchase a camera and spend time learning. In 2013, my family and I were preparing to leave for Moscow, Russia, to serve as missionaries. We did a family session with a friend of mine who is a photographer so that we could use some of the images for a prayer card. Our session was so much fun; she made it all easy, and the images were so good from then on. I couldn’t wait to get that camera! The ruble plummeted only briefly after arriving overseas, and I jumped at the chance to purchase one. I started doing street photography, which turned into a blog about Russians. It was a fantastic way to meet Muscovites and develop my photography and language skills. I was hooked! We moved back to the States in 2017, and a friend asked me to photograph her newborn at her home – a very different thing than street photography.
I was nervous but loved the process so much that I asked more friends to let me take photos of them. It was still a hobby I wanted to get better at, but my husband challenged me to begin calling myself a photographer. That was a mind-bending stretch! And then, *gasp* he suggested I start charging actual money! Those friends told their friends, and before long, I was asked to do sessions regularly. I began leveling up my skills and quickly realized that it had become more than a hobby. Fast forward several years later, and I have a thriving business of creating images for families, newborns, expecting moms, and personal brands. I love it as much as I did when I first shot in Moscow. There’s just nothing like capturing memories for my clients!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge, hands down, is balancing the art and craft of photography with running a business. Whew! It keeps me on my toes.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer located just outside of Memphis, TN. I create images that capture the essence of families, newborns, expecting mothers, and personal brands for businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: heatherstrahan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherstrahanphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherstrahanphotography
Image Credits
Heather Strahan Photography
