Photoshop Actions For Photographers
Heidi Haden of Velvet Owl Photography
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Velvet Owl Photography is certainly one of THOSE photographers that make my eyes light up when I see her photos in my Facebook newsfeed. Her clean edits & incredible connection with her clients to get them to relax & appear care free during their shoots is so inspiring to me! She makes me wanna get out & shoot!
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Given all the hard work and hours involved in the photography business would you choose this line of work again?
Yes. I most definitely would. I believe photography is where I should be and I’d do it all over again!
Lessons learned from your years of experience, what mistakes have you made that you would never repeat?
Lots of lessons learned!
First off – “Buck Up Lil’ Buckeroo” – It takes some thick skin to be in this industry…. brush it off, keep a smile and move forward.
Secondly – Try your BEST to stay organized! I’m not the greatest at this, but I’ve worked out my own little system that works for me. I’ve learned that letting emails pile up does nobody any good… so take care of them. Make your TO-DO list daily and keep on top of your work!
Finally – Only agree to shoot as much as you can handle… still working on that tidbit.. 
If you could change one thing about the industry what would that be?
Honestly, I don’t really know. In the “photography world” I stopped caring a long time ago about what other people were up to…. I’m kind of a keep to myself, do my own thing, carve my own kangaroo, kind of girl….maybe just do your own thing and be true to you.
Has your contract had to change over the years as you have learned of sticky situations with a client?
No not really, I actually have been pretty fortunate to have wonderful clients to work with!
What types of shoots have you vowed you would never do again?
Newborn studio photos – not my cup of joe! I find they just don’t fit into my ‘lifestyle’ style. I love newborn in-home lifestyle sessions with families and telling a story connection, but I just don’t have the passion to photograph in a blazing hot studio and try to get a baby to pose for 3 hours and get a couple shots… sigh… God bless the photographers who love that style and have that calling! haha!
Do you have an absolute favorite photo you have taken that you feel you knocked the socks off of? If so, please provide and describe why it moves you.
I have a hard time with this one… I usually have a favorite photo from every shoot…. but one of my all time favorites was taken actually at Huntington Beach when I had a couple run through a flock of seagulls…. I just love the movement and the action in the shot!
What do you do to make sure people identify you with your images, and I don’t mean watermarking, I mean putting your own personality to your photographs? Is it editing, shooting style, sass or other?
These questions seem tough to me this evening haha- I don’t really do anything other than try and make people feel comfortable in front of my lens – I am very spontaneous when it comes to the actual shoot – I let the light guide where I shoot. I let my imagination and corny jokes fly wild too…
What is a real day like in the world of Heidi Haden? Be honest, are you in jammies till 2pm like me?
BUSY SEASON SCHEDULE::
Typically I wake up at 7:30 get my oldest girl fed & ready for school – drive her to 1st grade by 8:30 – then her younger sisters (twin 4 yr olds) and I come back home do some Pre K home schooling for about an hour or two…then I edit. make lunch, read books, edit, emails…. blog…. edit…. until it’s about time to pick my daughter back up from school at 3:00. Then more often then not I will have a shoot that evening around 5 or so, once daddy gets home to be with the girls, that I will do. After the shoot I come back home, pour a glass of wine, edit, post a preview, eat somewhere in there, watch some prerecorded showing on tv of whatever.. take a bath…then bed. phewf! No wonder the days go by so fast!
What is the number one piece of advice that you would give to someone just starting out?
Just keep shooting. Keep practicing, keep pushing yourself, never be satisfied with where you are. No one got to where they are without trying… so keep trying and don’t give up. (Remember the thick skin bit from above) Find what your passion is and go in that direction! If you have passion for your subject – it will show.
What changes have you had to make over the years to stay at the top end of the industry?
Again, tough! haha I’m not really sure I’ve made any steep changes in my way of doing things – I think my work has definitely improved over the years and that has been reflected in my prices as well as how far out I am now booking clients! I’m only one person, so I try my best to fit everyone on my calendar in a timely manner – if I can’t get them in for some reason as fast as they’d like, I love that my clients are understanding and willing to wait for me.
Would you change your style if given the opportunity or do you feel boxed in to what you have always done?
Nope! I don’t feel boxed in at all. I like to keep sessions fresh and unique – I’m thankful that I get to shoot lots of different subjects and events that keep my creativity flowing and I love it all! I especially love when I have an off the wall idea and I let my clients know they would be perfect for it, and they totally roll with the punches…. feels so great to bring a vision to life!
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Where can we find you?
Facebook: facebook.com/VelvetOwlPhotography | Web: http://velvetowlphotography.com | Blog: http://www.velvetowlblog.com
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