Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Shedd.
Hillary, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always loved photography and would take countless photos of family and friends growing up, but I actually began my career as a teacher. I worked for the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, and would spend my time teaching underwater robotics, squid dissections, lake ecology, and marine biology to high school teens. One summer, I was part of a team that brought high schoolers to the Bahamas to give them first-hand experience on how to be marine biologists–such a cool program! The photos I took of the students while in the Bahamas helped earn a large grant for the program, and it really opened my eyes to the power of photography and storytelling.
That experience inspired me to take the leap and pursue conservation photography full time. I moved to New York City and attended classes at the International Center of Photography while working for the National Audubon Society as their Photography Fellow. Since then, I’ve worked with a handful of really wonderful conservation organizations/programs from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and San Juan County’s Marine Resources Committee. I love being outside and genuinely care for the environment, but this career path did require a lot of traveling and time away from home.
My husband and I are expecting our first baby this August (YAY!!), and I want to make sure I’m home enough to help raise him/her. I recently pivoted my career to be an engagement, elopement, and wedding photographer, and I could not be more excited! I’ve always loved weddings, and I’ve had the honor of being a bridesmaid eight times and a maid-of-honor twice. With my background as a professional photographer and my heart full of love, I’m thrilled to be able to use my experience to tell true love stories through images. Wedding photos are so important to families because they pass down memories for generations to come. I feel lucky to be the one to document and create these family treasures!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone has gotten to where they are without struggles, but I believe that the glass is half full, and as Kelly Clarkson says, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Most of my challenges have come from career changes, but I’ve tried to think of it as “adding on” instead of “changing.” For example, I wouldn’t be as skilled as a photographer without working in the conservation industry first, and I wouldn’t have the social skills and desires I have without being a teacher first. Although entering into a new industry can feel like drinking out of a water hose, I believe that hard work, time, and a supportive group of people around you can make anything possible.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is Hillary Shedd Photography. I am a wedding, elopement, and engagement photographer serving all of Colorado. I decided to name my business after myself because it’s important to me that the couples I work with get to know me. When I show up at their wedding, I’m Hillary, their photographer and not just an unknown wedding vendor. My packages include engagement sessions, so the couple and I have a chance to interact and get to know one another before the big day. With the time before the wedding, I also like to work with my couples to make their ideal timeline and shot list. If there’s a moment or wedding detail that is important, I make sure to understand it before the big day. I’ve often been told that my attention to detail and laid back attitude make me a helpful presence around wedding planning.
There was one wedding that I photographed last year that sticks out to me because the couple was overwhelmed entirely with family drama throughout their day. After our sunset photos, we were getting ready to head back into the reception, and I could see on the bride’s face that she was dreading going back in. I asked the couple if they wanted to take a walk around the venue, just the two of them, before they headed back inside, and they loved that idea. Later, the bride shared that that was the only time of the day they were along just the two of them on their wedding day, and it will always be her favorite part of the day. I love reminding my couples that weddings are more than just a party with pretty photos; weddings symbolize the start of your life with your best friend/partner/spouse!
I take pride in being more than just a wedding photographer and work hard to go above and beyond to help my couples through this stage of their lives. In addition to at least eight hours of photography and an engagement session, most of my packages also include heirloom albums and/or gallery frames because I value printed photos just as much as digital. I genuinely enjoy meeting new people and often stay in touch with my couples as we’ve become friends.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
This is a hard one. I’d say that the reason I am successful is because of the hard work and excitement I have for this career–it’s more than a job to me. But I also wouldn’t be able to do this without my loving husband, family, and of course my amazing couples. Finding other wedding vendors in the area has also been a game-changer for me. The community I’m building in Colorado has to be the most important part of my success here.
Pricing:
- Wedding Collections begin at at $2,800
- Engagement Photos (without a wedding collection) are $625
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hillarysheddphotography.com
- Phone: 8157625665
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillarysheddphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillarySheddPhotography/
Image Credit:
Hillary Shedd Photography
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