Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Sevigny.
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved taking pictures. I can remember in my 20’s asking for the day off of work to go to the park and take pictures of my best girlfriend, Jess. I thought the light was beautiful and who wouldn’t want to spend a day outside capturing memories with a friend? Since then, having a camera in my hand always felt natural.
As life moved on, I got married and my husband and I started a family. The birth of our first daughter in 2010 prompted me to spend some money and purchase my first DSLR. I wanted cute pictures of my baby, and I didn’t want them all to be done in a studio. I wanted to get the small moments and start teaching myself how to take decent photo.
When my husband’s cousin invited us to their wedding rehearsal dinner a few years later, I was asked if I could grab some simple, candid photos of the event. I had no experience with event photography and no real clue how to use my camera, let alone editing software. Luckily, the family loved the photos, and it felt like a real win.
My husband, Chris, and I decided to officially move home to Guernsey County and put down roots in 2018. After shooting some first-birthday photos of a friend’s child and snagging photos at my little brother’s wedding, I began to wonder if I could make money doing something that I have always loved to do.
I was looking for some type of part-time work, and on a whim, I reached out to the local daily newspaper. I asked if there was any chance of them needing a freelance photographer on occasion. What started with a simple Facebook message has become something I never thought possible.
Through that contracted work, I continued to teach myself the basics of photography. I learned how to properly use my camera. I read through every book I could get my hand on about photography. I watched online tutorials and practiced, practiced, practiced. Lightroom and Photoshop became my new best friends, and through trial and error, I figured out how to edit my photos to create what I wanted to see.
Eventually, I figured out what type of photography I loved. Some folks think it’s just as easy as clicking the little button and taking a picture, but that’s not the case. Yes, the work is similar, but I believe each photography niche has its own skill set that it requires. A wedding photographer and a studio photographer both take pictures, but their approach and skills are different. For me, I landed in event photography, and I have loved every minute of it. The connections I’ve made taking photos at county fairs, local festivals, meetings and events have changed my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is life ever a smooth road? Throughout the past six years, I’ve had my fair share of struggles.
I have made mistakes when it comes to posing. I have made mistakes when it comes to lighting, and getting my camera settings right. I’ve shown up at the wrong location (more than once). I’ve missed important moments and I’ve had to apologize. A lot.
I’m so thankful for every one of those moments. I knew that at each shoot I was doing the best I could and those mistakes, those times of embarrassment, and tucking my head between my knees have forced me to learn from them.
I suffer from social anxiety a majority of the time, and being out in the public eye has proven to be daunting for me. Hiding behind the camera always makes me feel a bit safer and more relaxed.
The biggest struggle that I have dealt with and constantly deal with is believing in myself. Imposter syndrome is real and sometimes it takes over. The one thing that has constantly kept me going is that I know I’ve made it this far. I’ve done all of these amazing things, and if it ends tomorrow, I’d be proud of the body of work I have produced.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to think I’m capturing moments, not poses. My approach to photography is more candid, documentary-style, which works well for event and festival photography.
I like to look for the genuine emotions that people are having in whatever situation I’m shooting. I’d love to say it’s all sunshine and rainbows, but I do my best to capture those sad moments too. I often find myself crying right along with people as they are experiencing life. I think being able to see those moments and give myself permission to feel what my subject is feeling is what sets me apart. I just try to tell the story I see.
Three things in my career have really held a special place in my heart and I am so proud of each of them.
One of the things I am most proud of is my involvement with the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival. The annual festival happens every year at the end of September and encompasses everything pumpkin. I covered the festival for years while working with local media. I had been blessed enough to meet a gentleman named Reed Tychonski, who was the festival photographer for decades. He was kind, and didn’t make me feel like an idiot when I had questions. When Reed was unable to shoot one year at the festival, I helped out and just did my best to follow in his footsteps.
Last year, under the watchful and sarcastic eye of Reed, I was named the official photographer for the festival. Getting his blessing meant the world to me. I get to walk around for over five days, interacting with the public, shooting giant pumpkin weigh-ins, eating ice cream and helping capture the essence of what our festival embodies.
The second thing that I am proud of is my involvement with local media. This year alone I have photos in four different area tourism guides – Guernsey County, where I call home, Belmont, Noble and Muskingum County. I do part-time contract work with Guernsey News, a weekly newspaper by Southeast Publications. We work to bring local coverage to the community. I have also had work published in Road Runner magazine and for the USA Today Networks local newspapers. I’ve been extremely lucky to cover artists such as Neal McCoy, Sammy Kershaw, Travis Tritt, Dierks Bentley, Niko Moon, Aaron Lewis, Air Supply and Hank Williams, Jr. for various publications.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
When it comes to finding a mentor, I highly suggest finding someone that you can ask the most idiotic questions too and they won’t judge. You have to have someone push you, just a little bit and a little well-meant sarcasm can go a long way. I have been very lucky to find that in Mr. Tychonski.
For networking, I’ve always found that just being my genuine self is the best bet. Not everyone is going to like me or my style, and it’s taken a long time to be okay with that. I’ve found I’ve naturally made connections with people often times by NOT talking about work. Connecting with someone as an individual first and not seeing people as just dollar signs seems to be working.
As long as I am going with my gut each time, and trusting my own instincts, I can sleep well at night.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heathersevigny.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersevignyphotography/
