...I just love traveling sessions...
...it is nice to get out of Durango and go on an adventure...
...all my sessions are on-location and what I enjoy most is going to people's homes and incorporating all they love into an image...
...little s's mom & dad love a bit of opposite styles, so it was so fun to mix that together to create images that include a bit of it all:
 ** their new baby girl + modern style + western style =a beautiful happy family **
...and I just adored meeting and photographing their little ~s~..

...this is the sneak peek and I cannot wait to show them the full gallery!..

xoxo-heidi

...happy valentine's day...
~xoxo~

bou*tique
~ a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele ~

***
...my new downtown Durango bou*tique office is ready and I am excited to share it with my clients...
...I will be putting finishing touches to it as well as ordering some fabulous new products and art for the walls through the year, but am now ready to meet my wonderful clients there for any reason ~ to take select photos in to start off a session, to meet, view images on a large screen as well as view all the products I offer and go over orders...
...and to all my clients who love me coming to them for orders, I still do that too, so no worries!...
...meeting there is by appointment only, so please contact me to set a date...
...I look forward to meeting you there and I love that I have a place just for my clients...
...and what is so exciting is that I am in the process of designing my sign & all the other last details to make it complete...
...one day, soon, I will make into a true boutique to sell fashionable accessories *fine art for the home* as an addition to the portraiture, but for now, it is just a bou*tique office...
...wow, this is fun...

xoxo-heidi

...this is the precious baby I was photographing yesterday...
...I will post more in a few days...

xoxo-heidi

...Here are just a few of the sweet and adorable kiddos I photographed today...
...I am quite exhausted:)...I think I photographed about 40 kids in 2.5 hours...
...And, I don't usually post any fundraisers I am a part of or donate to as it is my personal belief that giving should be that-giving, but I thought I would share this one as I would love to help raise awareness for this school as it will be here for a long time and it is a part of our community...
...The Riverhouse Children's Center is a non-profit school for children up to 5 years old.  It is a wonderful school and I adore the teachers and staff that work there.  And since they are non-profit, they rely solely on grants, donations, fundraising and tuition to allow the school have the best learning environment with the best teachers & staff available. Early childhood education is SO important and we need to foster education in our lovely town as much as we can to maintain the already amazing people and families that are here. This school really does need the community to take notice to help it reach it goals...If you would like more information on how to help, please contact the school (click here) to see how you can help.
...I feel so lucky to live in a community that has so many wonderful pre-k schools & families that focus so much on the importance of early childhood education...Durango is so amazing...

**To the families~I will have these ready soon...I had a hard time just posting a few!!  They were all WAY too sweet!**

xoxo-heidi

...I have debated on whether to post this or not, but finally came to the conclusion that I want the people who love my photography to know a little about me...nothing too exciting, just a bit of who I am, how I got here and what I absolutely love...I want to give a little insight as to who I am and my history with art to set me apart from "just another photographer"...I hope this helps you get to know a little about me...

...I remember growing up always wanting to be an artist...I started drawing and painting at a very young age and took as many art classes as I could...I fondly remember one of my childhood friend's mother who was an amazing artist. I vividly remember all the art supplies carefully organized in canisters along the art tables, counters and windows...I mean tons of them. All organized by type and color...but "artist" organized, not super clean or perfect...just like they had been used and placed quickly back where they were supposed to go but able to be used right away... I loved that...I loved everything about the colors, the paper, the brushes, and the creating of something beautiful...As I grew older, I wanted more of it...I did fine in all my other studies, but art was by far, my favorite. My grandfather was an artist/illustrator for Disney back in the day and I loved just the notion that I was related to an artist...that kept my hope alive that I could do it too...

...I moved to Durango in the middle of my high school years and the only thing that made it easier were my art classes...I took them all:)...I instantly connected with my art teachers...they were so amazing...they made me feel like I belonged...I graduated with academic honors and received academic scholarships to a couple different colleges, including Fort Lewis...but my secret favorite thing is that I was entered into the National Art Honors Society as well as chosen as the Senior Artist of the Year when I graduated...if anyone out there has moved to a new city and knows how hard it is, then you may understand how honored and special I felt when told these things my last year of high school...It made it real that I might be able to pursue being an artist after high school...

...But then, you second guess yourself anyways...or at least I did...How could I possibly make it as an artist? What kind of stable job would I have? blah, blah, blah...I started off as an art major, not really thinking about what I would do after college...but all of a sudden I felt pressured to make a decision on what to do with my life...so, with one year away from graduating, I switched majors...and I graduated with an International Business Degree...what? I know...I just thought it may be really amazing to learn multiple languages and somehow incorporate the fashion world into it... so I set my sights on Parsons Design School and a move to Paris...I know what you are thinking...where did fashion come into play?...I forgot to mention that I LOVE the entire theatrics of a fashion show, the creating of clothing as well as the photographs that accompany them...wow...I love all of it and consider it an very beautiful art...So, I did the student exchange thing, lived in Europe and went to school while traveling across Europe. While there I visited each and every art museum I possibly could...I was kind of obsessed...well, because they are amazing...and I planned on going to Parsons as soon as I graduated college (I think I still have the vhs tape they send you when you apply)...I dreamed of one day having my own art gallery...a beautiful modern art gallery.... as well as doing something, anything in the fashion industry...

...well...then I came home, graduated...and...happened to meet the love of my life, my husband, Daniel... who knew he would be right in Durango too...and on a blind date set-up to top it all off...seriously...I never would have thought that...

...now 10 years later we have two gorgeous daughters...wow...I have a super blessed life...and I am now able to fulfill the artist in me...and do it with photography...and to my surprise, I have the most amazing clients who hire me to photograph them...that is the most extraordinary thing ever...I LOVE making people feel beautiful and taking images that freeze a moment, a kiss, a smile, a hug all while creating a piece of art...all the special moments that I share with my husband and daughters make me appreciate every single day...I get to capture that for other people...That is so special to me and I do not take that for granted...It is very exciting to me that I get to do what I absolutely love and make people happy all at the same time...It is like all the paths in my life led me to this place...

...extra little tidbits...I have been doing graphic design and using adobe photoshop & other various adobe design products for over 12 years now...so the blend of all of my nerdy computer skills and obsession with art just blend together quite perfectly:)...

...Ahh...what a dream...and I want to take this SO many places...so please stay and enjoy it with me!  I can't wait for all that lies ahead...I still dream of a modern art gallery of my own...who knows:)...my new downtown boutique office is a start...

...Here are a few photos (of two cutie pie sisters) for those of you who do not feel like reading this or to at least make up for boring you to death :) ...

Lots and lots of love...

xoxo-heidi

...dancer...
...l'amant de n'importe quoi le français...
...with high hopes and aspirations...
...this beauty has a bright future ahead of her...



I absolutely love how she found me & how it came to be that I photographed her...I wish her all the best in life...

beaucoup d'amour...
xoxo-heidi

...this family is so wonderful and I love how they want to document their lives through photography...
...and I get to watch their family grow...
...I love that part of what I do so very very much...
...images of little ~l~'s baby brother coming soon...we just have to wait for him to make his grand entrance into this world...

...a sneak peek at images of a stunning bride getting ready on her beautiful wedding day...
...more to come...
...lots more...

...I am playing catch-up from all the holiday fun...
...more to come soon...
xoxo-h