First off, I’d just like to thank you all for the outpouring of interest in my work, especially lately!

I love to hear that my work inspires you, and keeps you coming back time and again! Thank you.

I receive quite a bit of interest and questions daily about how I do what I do. People wanting mentoring, workshops, wanting to achieve the “look”.

I’ve been tossing around the idea of adding the whole workshop or online sessions into the mix…. so many different thoughts arise.

My mind and heart get torn in different directions.

For one, my number one concern in this business, is with my clients…and when I’m doing all I can to just keep up with fulfilling their needs & wants, there isn’t much time for anything else.

Time.

Here I am talking about time. I never thought I’d be one of those people who couldn’t find the “time” for something – as a kid I always thought that was a lame excuse.

As a wife, as well as a mother to 3 precious little girls, plus the demands of running a full time business….I know it’s not an excuse, but reality!

Time. such a concept.

Also, and this isn’t to raise a huge debate about who should and who shouldn’t teach… but I feel like once someone reaches a certain level of ‘expertise’, if you will, it is almost expected that they mentor.

I look around and everyone mentors. Sometimes I feel like some people just want a quick fix.

However, I do think it is great to try and learn and better yourself, and I understand that people want to achieve certain looks and want to be better overnight. It’s a fast paced world we live in – you got it… well I want it.

If YOU have something I want, then I don’t see why I can’t have it too…and NOW.

Who is qualified?

If everyone offers some sort of mentoring and there are thousands of resources online – so many helpful youtube videos or the list goes on and on…. How do we know who is qualified to teach?

If a person has never attended a workshop, class or been mentored elsewhere… are they even qualified themselves to teach…(me) ahem..

There are MANY different ways of coming up with the same results.

Are mine the best or most efficient? – most likely not….it’s just the way I do it.

The secret editing formula.

 There is no secret.

” I only know what I know.”

I’m not technical.

Seriously.

I know my few things and I stick to them.

 If I don’t like something, I will find out why I don’t like it and change it. I use Lightroom & Photoshop. I use my own “actions” I’ve created in both.

I spent hours just “messing” with different tools in photoshop – adjusting settings, watching youtube videos about what specific tools do…just so I could navigate around the program.

It. took. time.

Time. There’s that silly word again.

I am constantly  learning & pushing myself…. and I will never arrive.

What to know.

Know your instrument in this case your camera (which there are many basic beginner DSLR courses out there as well awesome books of knowledge)….

Know your light. Look for the light in your subjects eyes. Turn them around and around, bounce it back with a reflector- but find the light in their eyes….

if you know your camera and what settings you should use, what lens etc. and you can see the beautiful light in your subject’s eyes… the rest is how you view the world!

The rest is a reflection of  YOU!

I don’t think you can learn that from anyone else but yourself. Deep down your style is basically your personality (at least thats how I see it – am I right…maybe not…again, just my view).

I think that my work directly reflects me & who I am. How I see the world, how I view love, how I connect to people. How people respond to my quirky personality.

How do I get my clients to feel comfortable?

Probably my most asked question….

I’m a people person. I talk to anyone and everyone. I don’t worry if someone thinks I’m cray-cray- cause they are probably right!

I don’t have all of the answers, but I talk to anyone like they were my long lost friend! I’m happy – I smile and laugh with peeps.

 I don’t let there be room for silent awkwardness.

If I have an idea for a stylized session, I ASK them if they’d be interested…guess what? They always are interested in new exciting ideas!

If you have a certain idea that you’ve been dying to try out in a session – don’t be afraid to simply express to them that you’ve been wanting to do it!

They want your creative mind at work, that is why you are the artist!

Rut.

What if you are in a creative rut, a slump, or just feeling like you are spinning your wheels and would like to move forward?

Good news… It happens to everyone in the creative arts. You are not alone.

Don’t dwell on it, do something about it.

Start somewhere.

Look at things that are inspiring – outside of your line of work- for instance, if you are a photographer, don’t go looking at other photogs work, instead flip Pandora on and tune into

 a station that you typically wouldn’t listen to…. or grab a poetry book, take a nature hike and be inspired…..at least these are things that I do .

When I was young, my parents made me practice my piano. Made me do my lessons and I would whine and just want to give up at times.

Now, I’m glad they  pushed me forward.

You don’t get anywhere without practice. and it may come easier for some than it does for others- but with (ahem) TIME

you can get better – you can branch out of your “C scale” – just try it. you might fall flat but I bet if you keep on keeping on,  you will make a lovely melody. (Cheesy -I know) haha.

As a Career?

Do I think Photography can be a career for everyone? No. Will everyone succeed in this industry if they follow a certain”magic formula” ? Probably not.

I DO believe everyone can take pretty photos and have fun doing so – maybe not as a career for every person who loves photography, but certainly a creative hobby!

 Please know that I completely encourage you in which ever path you are wanting to go, whether it be simply bettering your overall art, or starting to market yourself and your art in a business format.

An photography exercise:

Try to look at the world differently.

But don’t start with the world. Start with an object that doesn’t move.

object ideas: Flower(s) / pencils / fruit / cell phone / nail polish bottle etc.

Take your camera – take your object. 

Take 10 different shots of the object….all different angles. Move around the object, maybe throw the object in the air. Spill the object. Change your lens if you’d like to achieve a different look.

Come up with 10 different shots that you are happy with. 

Take them into your editing program. Start with one photo. Edit it the standard way you are doing today if you are happy with that type of editing. Take the next photo and push yourself – play with the “curves” layer add a gradient map to it… maybe change the saturation of the reds or greens for instance. 

Play in photoshop or lightroom and find the colors your eyes love. Maybe you love muted colors – or maybe you love a pop!  Try GOOGLE if you don’t know something off the top of your head. (really google works people)

Bet you didn’t know that you could get so creative with one little object!!

NEXT, make a collage of the ten pictures together  edited in your favorite style and email them to me at

heidihaden@hotmail.com .

I want to see what you come up with!! I want to encourage you! I want you to see that YOU can do this! 

I love to see people succeed in their businesses. I love entrepreneurship.  I sometimes push people harder in their businesses than I think they even care to be pushed…. because I know they can do it!

Look inside yourself. If you want it – Make It Happen. I’d like to give you a little push- a little nudge of faith in yourself – a little spark of encouragement to get out and DO.

Mentoring: So will I or won’t I??

Let’s just say… I’m focusing on my clients as my first priority  and

I won’t be traveling down that road this year my friends.

But that doesn’t mean I love you any less and I hope to keep encouraging and inspiring you in your journey forward!!

I will continue to try and answer questions as they come in, and get to more “Women In Business” posts – but again please know my clients come first

and my responses are sometimes delayed.

Thank you for your understanding!

(Don’t be too mad at me)

Feel free to “LIKE” and PLEASE share your thoughts!

Much Love ~Heidi

Awesome year.

Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who allowed me to capture and freeze memories and moments for you.

I am so grateful for each of you.

This year has been one full of lots of new life, I’ve enjoyed coming into your homes and photographing your family in your own element, with a lifestyle feel. Love the newborn lifestyle sessions and how many I was able to capture this year.

I’ve also enjoyed the families, high school seniors, corporate events and of course the awesome couples and weddings that took place in 2012!

So thank you for making these moments happen.

Thank you for your continued support and love that you all so graciously show me.

I am SO excited for 2013…..seriously……. but without any more rambling…. in no particular order… here is a look back on a spectacular 2012….. (it’s a big post…. bigger is better, right?)

Happy New Year friends, love you all.

~Heidi

Thanks for making this year amazing. Peace & love to you and yours in the New Year!

I can’t wait to visit and do this again sometime! Here are some of my favorites from the day!

More from Cali to hit the blog soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Click “LIKE” if you do!

I just want to thank you all so much for your amazing support and for all of the awesome love you continue to express towards me,

and towards my work daily! I read each and every comment and they truly mean so much…. so thank you.

If you aren’t a fan already ~ please hop on over and join the fun…..today I am giving away a beautiful customized hanger of your choice,

thanks to the Wedding Hangers Shop.

Check out my facebook page on how you could win! Winner will be randomly selected by tomorrow 9/19/12 at 12:00 noon!

Good luck to everyone who enters & much love to you all!!

Time for me to spread some extremely LOVING discounts to all of the couples out there this Valentine’s Day! Celebrate LOVE DAY on SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12th!

Enjoy a romantic & fun photo shoot with your love. Make a date out of it!

l….Guys, believe me, your woman wants this for Valentine’s day…SCORE! Wink, wink.

Only 10 slots available! Here are the details……..

Valentines Day Couples Special

$150.00

Includes:

30 min Mini Session with your love on SUNDAY FEB 12th

12-15 edited images in an online ordering gallery (where there will be discounted print prices, just for this Valentine’s Day special)

(1) 16×24 3/4″ standout mounted art image ready to hang on your wall …yes you read that right!!

UPGRADE option:

Upgrade your your Mini package and surprise your Valentine with all of the edited images from the session on a custom disc, with all rights to print

for an additional $250.00.

(This is a special Valentines discount from the regular price of $350.00)

Contact Me:

Contact me for the location & time slot details! There are only 10 couple slots available!

What are you waiting for? Email me at

heidihaden@hotmail.com

or hit the CONTACT tab on menu bar at the top!

Down payment of $150.00 through paypal is required to reserve your time slot!

Make this Valentine’s Day one to remember forever.

16×24 Standout example:

Much Love ~Heidi

(I understand if you need to get up and stretch mid way through this! )

Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2012!!

Love & Happiness to you. God bless you all in the coming year!!

FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW telling me YOUR favorite photo from this post!!

Last month I was out running errands by myself while my husband kept the kids. It was about lunch time so I thought I’d stop in at a “fast food” sushi wheel place for a bite to eat. I walked in, looked around for a seat and asked a girl sitting alone if I could join her. She smiled and said “Sure”. We made small talk,  she worked across the street at a Burger King and was on her lunch break. After about 5 minuets of chatting, another girl entered the restaurant. She too was  by herself, and sits about 2 chairs from me. I asked her if she’d like to join us, being that  we were all alone, and it’s no fun to eat by yourself! She replied, “Sure, thanks”! (I realize that I probably sound cooky at this point….I won’t deny it.) So we continued our small talk, sometimes elevating it to medium talk. In our short amount of time I gathered that the “Burger King” girl was only eating the $1.00 plates and being very selective with her choices, she made remarks that she’d like to try some other dishes, but it really just added up to quickly. I finished and paid for my meal, told them all to have a great Thanksgiving, thanked them for the company and said goodbye. I walked next door to the frozen yogurt stand for a little desert to top off my lunch (I can’t resist that place). As I was in there I really felt like I should go back and do something more than just talk to those girls, something to just bless them. I walked back into the sushi restaurant and handed them enough money to cover their plates and some extra for them to try out new dishes if they wished.

Now I’m not saying that I’m made of money here. But to see the look on these girls faces was so amazing. They were so taken back by a simple act of giving kindness. They couldn’t believe it. I didn’t get their names, I wasn’t there to hand them a business card or talk about myself. I wanted to genuinely impact their days for the better. Maybe they will pay it forward…maybe they won’t. What matters is MAN it felt good to give.

Next year I’d like to go to the grocery store, buy my essentials and come prepared to pay for the persons groceries in front of me….just because.

I hope you consider spreading an act of kindness this season. A smile, a small chat with someone sitting alone, picking up the tab for strangers….make a difference in someones day.

Much Love,

~Heidi

Happy Holiday’s everyone.

Pass it on, press the LIKE button!!

Please help me spread the word by clicking the  “LIKE” button below. Thank you!

{Please let the video load for better viewing/ press the play button then pause it and wait a few min then hit play again}

OLTEAN FAMILY, JUNE 2011

{THE REEL LIFE SESSION}  Introductory Price : $1,250.00

Includes a LOT of goodies:

2-3 hr personal photography session with Heidi Haden & simultaneous video session with Nick Hagen.

(1) Custom {Reel Life} Video filmed in HD / Custom case & personalized DVD as well

Large Standout Wall Art Display of images for your home ( 4 Different grouping sizes available to fit your home needs)

$100.00 print credit towards your online gallery of photos

All other digital images & custom items are available al’la’carte.

Group 1 Sizes ~ (2) 8×10′s / (2) 11×14 / ‘s(1) 20×24 (pictured above)

Group 2 Sizes ~ (2) 16×24′s / (2) 11×14

Group 3 Sizes ~ (9) 10×10′s

Group 4 Sizes ~ (2) 16×16 / (2) 20×20′s

EXAMPLE OF STANDOUT MATERIAL : (Choice of black or white edges)

Book your {Reel Life Session} Today, and have BEAUTIFUL memories that last forever.