Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Navratil.
Heather, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My time as an artist started probably shortly after I was born. I was always drawn towards music and movement. I spent most of my life as a dancer. Numerous injuries meant I’d never do it professionally but that lead me towards my degree path which was athletic training. I spent a few years as an athletic trainer to different professional ballet and modern companies but my heart still longed to do something artistic myself. It was then I turned back to my camera.
I feel at home behind my camera. I love capturing what I refer to as “the in-between moments”, those moments that no one thinks matters or they don’t think anyone is looking. To me those moments are the most real, they are the ones that tell the story.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been a smooth road for me. I will have been in business for 4 years this Summer but the road to here has been a long one. I have always loved photography but it took a back seat to my other educational and professional ventures. I never stopped taking pictures but making it into a business wasn’t easy. I began my business in Northern VA, just south of DC before moving to Richmond, VA. It was in Richmond that I feel I finally began to find myself. Most of it was in thanks to Kelly Frankenburg of 11 Sixteen Photography. Kelly is a well-known newborn photographer in the Richmond area and was looking to hire an assistant. We both loved Nikon cameras and Apple computers so we seemed like a natural fit. She mentored me and my skills grew until I became an associate photographer for her; photographing families, maternity, and kids over the age of 1. It was the perfect start for me. I got to utilize my love of photography with her, while also growing my personal wedding photography business.
About the time, I felt like I was really starting to grow my business and make something of myself, my husband was presented with a huge job opportunity that we just couldn’t turn down. It moved us completely across the country to the northern part of Houston, TX. We are both from the East Coast and have no family and friends in the area. The road growing my business here hasn’t been easy but I’m so happy for the friends and connections I have made with all the amazing wedding vendors in the Houston area.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Heather Laurenne Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is Heather Laurenne Photography, which has actually only existed for a couple of months, before that I was Cardinal Rose Photography. I am a wedding photographer, I specialize in photographing weddings, engagements, and love stories. A love story is what you believe a love story is; whether it’s a couple in love, an anniversary session, a family, I just love making my clients happy!
My business is a representation of myself and I have a heart for loving creatives, free spirits, colorful ones, and the black sheep. I want everyone to have a voice and beautiful images. My clients come from all walks of life.
What drove my business to what it represents today was my own love story. I wasn’t traditional, at least to today’s wedding standards. My husband wasn’t my high school sweetheart, my bridesmaids weren’t girls that I was sorority sisters with, and I didn’t get married until I was a little “older than normal” Planning a wedding as a bride who is less than traditional made me feel like a bit of an outcast.
I knew with my business that I wanted EVERY bride to feel like she was special no matter what her love story was. You don’t have to be traditional to be beautiful!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I definitely believe that luck can play a role in any venture in your life but luck, be it good or bad, usually has help from determination.
If I wanted to I could blame my move from VA to TX on bad luck, the fact that I had to move my business just when I was starting to establish myself. But there are two sides to every coin. Maybe it was good luck that moved us.
I don’t know that luck has had much to do with it, hard work and perseverance will always win in the end.
Pricing:
- Wedding Packages begin at $2800
- Love Story Packages begin at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.heatherlaurenne.com
- Phone: (513)502-3272
- Email: heather@heatherlaurenne.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/heatherlaurenne
- Facebook: facebook.com/heatherlaurennephotography
- Twitter: twitter.com/CardinalRose1
Image Credit:
Heather Laurenne Photography
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