Rising Stars: Meet Haylee Owen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haylee Owen. 

Hi Haylee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
When I was younger, I would say around 12-13, I fell in love with photography through my dad. My dad and I were inseparable and would travel all over Colorado together. During these trips, we would stop on every pull-off we could find to get those amazing, breathtaking shots. I started realizing that I had an eye for photography when we got the chance to stop and look at the photos we had captured. Sitting in hotel rooms and AirBnbs looking through 100’s of landscapes and eventually editing around 10-12. These moments that are engraved in my mind, in these hotels and whatnot with my dad, really got me where I am. I took photography courses all throughout high school all the way up to AP Photography. In Photography 1, I got two of my landscape photos into two art shows, and I think that is what “put the icing on the cake” and made me want to keep going. In Photo 2, I got multiple more of my pictures into art shows and the fire that was in me before just kept getting hotter. Although when I was a sophomore in high school, my parents got divorced and my strong relationship with my dad slowly faded. Photography was a way for my dad and I to connect and although he moved away and we didn’t talk as much is what I wanted to say, I still had a passion for photography. Now, as I am graduated, I use photography to still feel that connection even though my dad and I no longer talk. My senior year of high school, we had to complete a “Senior Project” My project was to create a photography business. During this time, I marketed on Facebook and was known as a photographer to many people. I then went on to create my website, get price sheets together, find more clients, create a contract, keep finding clients, etc. It was and still is a long process but I can say I am proud of myself with the mental health obstacle I have overcame/still struggling with, and losing my main lifeline for photography. Now I am known as a portrait photographer. Something that if you were to tell the younger version of myself, I wouldn’t believe. I can say that I am 18 years old and a business operator/owner. I also couldn’t do all of this without my mom. She has become my best friend and my biggest supporter 

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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. My sophomore year of high school, my parents got divorced and my dad moved away. My dad was the reason photography was introduced to me and the reason I found my passion. In a way, it felt like I was betraying our relationship if I continued with photography. I eventually overcame that feeling but through this, I was battling with my mental health as well. My dad was my best friend and suddenly in an instant, I lost him. That for me created a dark hole that I really struggled with getting out of. I was taking photography classes at this time and through doing that, I had opportunities to take pictures and light that spark again. I began expressing my mental health struggles through photography which I felt really helped me with the coping process. Flash-forward to today, I haven’t spoken to my dad in over 6 months and my dream has changed into wanting to be a wedding/portrait photographer. I really always struggled with the thought of I shouldn’t do it without my dad but I also realized that he was the one who lost our relationship and if anything, I want to prove I can do it alone. I believe I am closer than ever to that goal. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I consider myself a portrait photographer. Many don’t believe that this is an art form but it truly is. I express myself and others through photography, and art is all about expressing yourself. I not only enjoy taking portraits but I enjoy taking landscape photos as well even though I haven’t done that in a while. I am mainly known for my cool tones and the candid aura of my photos. I believe making moments as candid as they can be captures the best shots. As of right now, I focus on anything from senior photos, to engagement photos. I want to work my way up into becoming a wedding and elopement photographer. I am getting there very slowly. 

The thing that I am most proud of is quite honestly being the first and only of my siblings to graduate and actually having a goal for my life. If you were to ask me what my biggest accomplishment was is also what I wanted to say, but I would also add being able to be in this magazine and have my own story. I would also say that I worked hard to get where I am and through the struggle, I overcame it all. 

I believe what sets me apart from others is how much love, dedication, and work I put in to produce the best images I can. I prepare a lot for my shoots rather than be gathering poses, gathering camera equipment, making sure everything is going to go smoothly, researching locations, etc. I personally believe I express my love for what I do through the photos. I take pride in the candidness of my photos and how much work I put into producing my photos. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If people would like to work with me or support me, I ask that they please go through my website to contact me. https://hayleeowenphotography.mypixieset.com. 

There you can find all my work and a place to contact/book with me 

Pricing:

• Basic photoshoot- 15 edited pictures, 1 location, 1 change of clothes- 100 dollars
• Standard- 25 edited photos, 1 location, 2 outfit changes- 150 dollars
• Premium- 35 edited photos, 1 location, 3 outfit changes- 200 dollars
• Deluxe- 35 edited photos, whole gallery of photos, 2 locations, 3 outfit changes- 250 dollars

Contact Info:

• Email: Hayleeowenphoto@gmail.com
• Website: https://hayleeowenphotography.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleeowenn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayleeowenphoto