Rising Stars: Meet Heather Bechtel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Bechtel.

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My story starts in Pittsburgh when I was in 4th grade. I specifically remember setting my sister up after her first communion in 1984 with a Polaroid camera. I later took her outdoor senior photos in the early 90s. My mother took a night class when I was in middle school, and I specifically remember her setting up me and my three siblings to practice depth of field. With black and white film. I was instantly hooked. Later on in life, I attended college in Central Ohio and borrowed my mother’s 35 mm SLR camera. I was one of the last classes to ever go through film photography before everything switched over to digital. I then started my photographic journey by managing various portrait studios throughout Chicago and the Midwest, and then working for Lifetouch for their Studio and Preschool Divisions in Ohio and Kentucky before I made the leap in September of 2012 and H. Clare Photography was born. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If it was easy or a smooth road, everyone would do it, right? technically speaking, yes, my life is way easier now that I don’t have to lug around a bag full of 40+ rolls of film. Or having to worry about if you mixed fixer with bleach and it’s going to cause a chemical reaction in your studio. I just now haul around lighting, equipment, props, anything that I can set on fire…. As I am approaching middle age and my 30th year of photographing consistently, I really wish I would’ve went back and taken more business classes. Marketing myself has been my biggest hurdle. Working on SEO and marketing myself full-time is my number one priority for 2024. And possibly a certified professional photographer status through the PPA. And then I can work on that cover for Rolling Stone. 😉 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a portrait photographer that is motivated by laughter and love. If you are not having fun and laughing in my session, then I did not do my job. I am known for having a touch of pyromania so anytime I can set something on fire, especially a prop in a high school senior session, then I am 100% game. I think what sets me apart from others is I still have the old-school film mentality. I don’t rely on post editing a lot for my shots, especially lighting, therefore I 1000% try to get it right in camera most of the time. I’m always one for thinking outside of the box and adding a little spice or fire to the mix. Of course, all backed by laughter. I am still photographing weddings by myself. I have an “internal GPS” and never get lost. I have photographed someone or something in all 88 counties of Ohio. On occasion, you will see my husband or dogs assisting. On my days “off,” you can find me usually traveling with camera in hand. I’m most proud of the lifelong friendships/relationships that have grown since I first started my photographic journey. 

What were you like growing up?
I never really thought I fit into any sort of clique or group. In high school, I was a runner but then hung out with the artsy kids. I was an average student. I moved around a lot when I was younger, and I was the city girl that ended up in the country in high school. A lot of cornfields and FFA jackets, and I didn’t have a clue what was going on around me. I still kind of feel the same way today. I never really followed the path of others and always went to the beat of my own drum. I got made fun of a lot for this, and I vowed when I was older that I would never make fun of anybody for their differences. This still holds true today in my sessions. 

Pricing:

• Micro Weddings/Elopements start at $2295
• High School Seniors: $395/$595
• Lifestyle Portraits: $395

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hclarephotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hclarephotography/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hclarephotography

Image Credits
BJ Maybery
H. Clare Photography