Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Bloomfield.
Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My interest in photography first began when I was 13 and attending a summer camp in McCall, Idaho. I remember using a tiny blue point-and-shoot Kodak camera to photograph flowers, plants, and people around the camp. Not surprisingly, these photos did not turn out as spectacular as younger me would have liked to believe. Eventually, a few of my friends convinced me to take their photos for fun and I instantly fell in love with portraits.
Throughout high school, I took every photography class that was offered and taught myself anything else I needed to know. I had an amazing teacher who encouraged me the whole way and before junior year, I had even started a small business with my passion. Seniors, couples, and friend groups around Boise began hiring me to take their photos and I started to see a future in this career.
As graduation got closer, I began to reconsider my path after high school. All of my friends were looking into colleges and getting excited about the fall, but I wanted something different. I decided to take a gap year to travel and focus more on my business. I lived in Croatia for two months volunteering at a dog shelter and taking photos the whole time. It was incredible to be able to experience another part of the world while expanding my artistic horizons.
Now, back home from Europe and thinking about the future, I’ll be attending art school in the fall. I applied and got accepted at SCAD, an arts college located in Savannah, that I cannot wait to attend. I’m so excited to be able to learn from a new group of people in a brand new environment and I hope to challenge my artistic skills to the best of my ability.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say most of the struggles I’ve faced have been self-imposed. Last year my business took off a lot more than I expected and I was constantly trying to juggle different commitments. I was enrolled in high school, worked as a barista, and was trying to run my own business on top of that while still trying to be a teenager. Trying to keep up with all of these responsibilities was overwhelming but I also loved being so busy.
Now a year later, my bigger struggle is trying to create new and unique work. I feel very stuck in a rut and shooting similar clients so often doesn’t give me much room to grow. I try my best to get creative and plan shoots that excite me but finding the time to do that isn’t always easy.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a portrait photographer based in Boise, Idaho. My business specializes in senior portraits but also expands to couples, weddings, editorial work, and occasional branding photos.
I am most proud of the fact that I started a business at such a young age. I also think this sets me apart from other senior photographers in my area. Since I’m so young, I am able to connect with high schoolers very well and make them feel relaxed during their sessions. The most common feedback I receive is how fun and comfortable girls feel when shooting with me, which is exactly my goal.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the scenery of Savannah and the style of the city! It’s such a different environment from Idaho and I can’t wait to move there. I don’t really have any dislikes as I haven’t lived there yet!
Pricing:
- Senior portraits start at $400
- Weddings start at $800
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: hblphoto.com
- Instagram: @hblphotography
Image Credits:
Savannah Miller of Dear Kodak photography
