Conversations with Heather Schaack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Schaack

Hi Heather, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Since I was a young girl, I have ALWAYS loved photography. I remember my mother saving up as much money as she could to buy me an Olympus Digital Camera for my 12th birthday. I would beg my younger sisters to do photoshoots with me and of course, they always did. (Best younger sisters ever!)

I had just moved to Colorado from Florida with my Toyota Corolla full of all my belongings and my kitty, Honey. While I was driving through Texas, the thought hit me. “Why don’t I start a photography business?”. It felt like a train hit me. When I got to Colorado, I was working at a restaurant serving tables and saved every dime I could. I took a leap of faith and really prayed that it would all work out. To my surprise, it did. So much that it was hard to keep up with my emails sometimes! To this day, it was one of the best decisions i’ve made.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh, there have definitely been highs and lows. When you work in the photography biz, you work with people. When you’re first starting off, there are many obstacles you don’t think about. The learning process can be difficult but rewarding when you figure out how to smooth the out the bumps. When I did my first wedding, I was so nervous I almost missed their first kiss! To learn the process of weddings and elopements and the busy schedule that comes with would keep me up at night. I would work all hours of the day and night and never gave myself time “off”. Which can lead to extreme burnout and mental exhaustion. I learned how to set boundaries for myself, I learned to take breaks. Most importantly, I learned not to compare yourself to other photographers and their style. Social media can really make you evaluate your work and not believe you are as good as others in this field. That was the biggest hump to get over– to trust myself and trust my work.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Denver portrait and wedding photographer. I specialize in every single type of portrait photography there is. Senior photos, maternity, family, engagements, weddings and elopement photography. I am so proud of the way my business took off and I completed over 200 different photography sessions, including 20 weddings in 2024. I feel like what sets me apart from others is that I go above and beyond to capture life’s most precious moments in the most authentic way. I strive to make my clients feel comfortable, heard, and loved. To be apart of someones pregnancy announcement, or witnessing a surprise engagement is one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world. I truly love what I do.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you are looking for a photographer that truly loves what they do, who goes above and beyond to capture the most special moments in your lives, and who makes you laugh until you cry along the way, I am your girl.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heatherjanephotos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherjanephotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherjanephotos