Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Jewell.
Heidi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story with photography dates back to 2001 when I first picked up a camera. It was a 35mm and belonged to my best friend’s dad. I still remember photographing my friend’s brother. He was a 10-year-old boy acting as a middle-aged man, dressed in business attire and reading the newspaper. He was sitting atop a pile of books so his feet could rest on the kitchen table. In another scene, he was a pastry chef in the kitchen, licking his fingers in delight. After being president of my high school’s Art Honor Society and winning several national photography awards, I knew I wanted to pursue a degree in photography. In 2005, I enrolled at Concordia University in Montréal, QC. I studied fine arts photography and digital media communications. I was a kid in a candy store – shooting medium and large format film, lighting production, editing software, contemporary portraiture and color darkroom printing.
The summer of 2008 brought me to Times Square for a competitive full-time internship within Teen Vogue’s photography department. I was incredibly fortunate to work with high fashion photographers, production crews and Teen Vogue’s editorial team at Condé Nast. Upon graduating from college in 2009, I moved to Nashville, TN. I began as a freelance photographer for musicians, labels and networks such as CMT. I also started a street style photography blog called Under the Guise. Going beyond how Nashville was often projected in pop culture, I was inspired to showcase the blooming local style scene. Under the Guise launched into a candid street photography blog documenting locals with great style. As my interests grew, my blog grew with it, expanding into the local food, art and music scene, among other cultural interests.
Soon after launching my photography blog, I made a contact at Elle Magazine. I had just been to Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, photographing festival-goers style. My contact passed along my work to Joe Zee, then Creative Director of Elle, who ran my images shortly after. For the next five years, I continued to photograph national and international coverage for Elle USA and UK, among others such as CNN, The New York Times, Vogue Paris, Refinery29, J Brand Jeans, and many others. I was also Nylon Magazine’s Nashville editor on-the-ground for three years, updating our city on the daily with cool happenings. After five years in Nashville, I pursued and was awarded a grant from PBS Digital. I produced and hosted a web series in partnership with my blog and Nashville Public Television. The web series was called “You Ought to Know Nashville”. It introduced viewers to the people, places and events that were long-established and revered in Nashville, together with their new and emerging counterparts.
As digital agency work increasingly captured my attention, I decided to pursue a career in marketing. I accepted a job at a Denver marketing agency and worked my way from a social media specialist to an account director in 4 years. Beyond managing our client’s marketing needs, I did all the photography for our client’s ad campaigns and other content marketing needs. Some of my agency photography work went on to win OMMA Awards and Communicator Awards.
I’ve always loved creating a brand’s image and message through photography. Commercial photography strikes the perfect balance for me, as I’m still using a marketing mindset, and a camera to execute the vision. By launching my own photography business, I’m taking the experience I’ve acquired over the years, and giving that to my clients and their brands. My background in photography, video and marketing has given me an opportunity to not only understand the subject at hand, but also the marketing and business needs behind them.
Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey in photography?
My advice to young women in photography just starting out is to be a sponge. Get as much experience as you can. Be humble and kind and always work hard. Look at the challenges as inevitable opportunities to grow, and be thankful for the lessons learned. Figure out your style and what you’re interested in photographing. Your imagery is your voice. Get real life experience with professional photographers, producers, editors, production crews and location scouts. Learn and manage the facets of running a small business. Consistently go after new business and network. The harder you work, the more luck that will come your way.
Please tell us about Heidi Jewell Photography.
I’m a Denver, CO based commercial photographer specializing in food and beverage, lifestyle and product photography. I thrive on capturing the essence of a subject, and telling its story through photography. I’m known for my style which is bright and airy with pops of color. I’m most proud of the clients whose story I get to bring to life through photography. Some past and current photography clients I work with are ONE Bar, Purely Elizabeth, Earth Balance, Left Hand Brewing, Present CBD Sparkling Water, Lems Shoes, among others.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I’m grateful for having a family that instilled entrepreneurship and commitment to quality. My dad is a builder. I grew up watching him run his own business and pursue his passion. My mom is a nurse who seamlessly manages everything life brings her way and can multitask like no other. And my sister, who manages top musicians careers, accelerating them with her natural talents for business and marketing. She has been an incredible friend and mentor for me since the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heidijewell.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidijewellphoto/
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