W: Can you tell us how you got your start?
HR: In November of 2013 I was given a 35mm Canon AE-1. I think I shot around 5 rolls within the first weekend of having it. I never had a hobby that I was this enthralled by. It was an amazing feeling to get lost through my lens.

W: What is your biggest inspiration?
HR: My biggest inspirations are all of the local photographers I have come to meet and work with. I love sharing ideas – inspiring each other. Another huge inspiration is my boyfriend, Jordon. He’s constantly pushing me to break my barriers and push myself forward. He’s my biggest fan.

W: How would you describe your style?
HR: My style is ever-changing. I try to stick to a natural feel, not too forced or unrealistic. Some days I feel brighter, less contrast; other days I am feeling shadows and lots of clarity. I am still trying to find my signature editing style, its a fun journey.

W: Tell us the story behind one of the photos we’re featuring – why did you choose that photo to send?
HR: One of my favorite photos out of this set is the photo of my close friend Madison in a bathtub. This photo is especially important to me because it’s probably one of the most beautiful images I’ve ever taken. I think I had her slide into the water about 6 or 7 times before I came out with this image. She just looks so elegant and captivating.

W: Where are your favorite spots to shoot?
HR: My favorite places to shoot really depend on the day. The mountains are an obvious favorite, especially when everything is overwhelmingly green. I also love urban locations, downtown Salt Lake City has endless possibilities.

W: What kind of equipment do you use?
HR: My first camera is a 35mm Canon AE-1 with a 50mm 2.8 and a 27-70mm 2.8. My digital is a Canon 70D with an 85mm 1.8, 28mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8 and a 18-135mm 3.5-5.6.

W: Do you have any special techniques? Do they define your style?
HR: I don’t think I necessarily have any special techniques. I try to make my clients feel like they aren’t in front of a camera, I love to catch those in-between moments. I’ve also been recently trying out shooting through different mediums.

W: What challenges have you had to overcome in this industry?
HR: My biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome is my own scrutiny. I am my own worst critic. I had to come to the realization that I can’t compare my art to the art of others. My work is different than theirs, and I am proud of that. I could stand side by side with a fellow photographer shooting the same model and our images would be completely different. It took me a long time to realize this.

W: How do you see your career progressing?
HR: My ultimate goal in life is to make photography my career. I want to shoot all forms and styles. I don’t want to limit myself to one particular type of photography. I have also thought about dabbling in videography. At the end of the day, I just want people to recognize and enjoy my art.

Heather is based in Salt Lake City, Utah
Contact her on Instagram: hnrphotog
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W: Can you tell us how you got your start?
KS: I started getting into photography early in high school when a friend of mine would borrow his dad’s DSLR and we’d take it up snowboarding with us. We’d switch off taking photos of each other in the terrain park or just riding the mountain.

W: What is your biggest inspiration?
KS: I know a lot of photographers who are about my age who inspire me to push myself on a daily basis. I love seeing work of people who have a lot in common with me. A lot of people see other photographers as competition, but I think there’s plenty of room for all. I strongly feel that the more people there are expressing themselves through creative outlets, it allows for a better creative environment for all of us to gain more inspiration from each other.

W: How would you describe your style?
KS: I guess I’d say that my style is “in the moment.” I like letting my subjects set themselves up naturally. I don’t like setting up a scene for a photo; I like candid shots to really illustrate how it felt in the moment.

W: Tell us the story behind one of the photos we’re featuring – why did you choose that photo to send?
KS: One of the photos is a photo I took just the other day just outside a small town in Montana called Ronan. My friends and I went on a massive road trip through Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington and I took thousands of photos. This specific photo was taken before sunrise at a stop we made after driving all night. I think the photo really shows what I try to accomplish with my photography. My friend, Zack, is in the middle of the frame and he’s taking photos of the beautiful scene that was in front of us. Right as I was taking that photo of him, a bird flew right over the pond and created an even better image.

W: Where are your favorite spots to shoot?
KS: My love for photography started because of my love for the outdoors. I wanted to display how beautiful my state is and I wanted everyone to see all the incredible things this place has to offer. Because of that, anywhere in nature is my favorite place to shoot.

W: What kind of equipment do you use?
KS: I mostly use my Canon EOS 6D with a Sigma 35mm F/1.4. I use some other lenses too, but that’s my go-to.

W: Do you have any special techniques? Do they define your style?
KS: I have a certain way I edit photos, but as far as special techniques, I’m not sure that I have any. My style is defined by letting scenes set themselves up naturally and doing my best to capture it adequately.

W: What challenges have you had to overcome in this industry?
KS: As I stated earlier, a lot of people see other photographers as competition, and that can be true to an extent. Sometimes it’s hard to not compare my work to the work of others. There are really good photographers out there and maintaining complete confidence in my work can sometimes be challenging.

W: How do you see your career progressing?
KS: I’m not really pursuing my photography career in any specific direction. I’m just seeing where this all takes me and where I end up!

Contact Kyle on Instagram: kylypso
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W: Can you tell us how you got your start?
KO: I had just started college in 2011 and needed a new hobby. So one weekend when I was at home from college visiting my family I found the Nikon F3 film camera that my Grandpa had given to me before he had passed away. I had never used it, but my Mom taught me the basics of using it, then I was self-taught from there on out.

W: What is your biggest inspiration?
KO: My biggest inspiration would have to be my family and friends. I have such a great support group of amazing people who support me and help me to get better. They inspire me to be all that I can be.

W: How would you describe your style?
KO: Natural. I do my best not to fully pose people while taking portraits, and that’s because I want to photograph who you are as a person, whether you be shy, out-going, happy, or sad, I want to capture that emotion.

W: Tell us the story behind one of the photos we’re featuring – why did you choose that photo to send?
KO: One of the photos is of my friend Eddie and his wife Tess on their wedding day. I love this photo because I didn’t ask them to pose or anything. Eddie just nestled in right next to her and I snapped the photo. It’s one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken.

W: Where are your favorite spots to shoot?
KO: I love shooting up in the mountains. Whether it’s a portrait shoot or just casually shooting while hiking or something, there’s just something about a towering peak that makes every photo better.

W: What kind of equipment do you use?
KO: I have two cameras, firstly is my Nikon F3 35mm film camera with a 24mm lens and a 50mm lens. Secondly is my Canon 5D Mark III and the lenses I have for that are the 24-70mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, and Tamron 150-600mm.

W: Do you have any special techniques? Do they define your style?
KO: Not really. I think my special technique is to capture a moment and not have it be forced, and I’m sure that definitely shines through in my style as well.

W: What challenges have you had to overcome in this industry?
KO: None, really. The only challenge has been keeping track of all the shoots that I have scheduled. I had to go buy myself a planner to stay on top of everything.

W: How do you see your career progressing?
KO: I’m not fully sure. I’m still testing the waters and getting a feel for everything. Eventually I would like to get more into video work and hopefully do more with that. For now though, I’m content with my progression, and I’m excited to see where else it takes me.

Contact Kesler on Instagram: keslerbear
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W: Can you tell us how you got your start?
CC: Photography and art in general have been things I’ve always loved. When I was younger I would mess around with a cheap digital camera, and then spend hours editing pictures on free online editing sites. Once I graduated high school I went to a semester at Utah Valley University, where I took a photography class, (5 hours every Saturday morning.) That’s where I learned the basics, and basically taught myself everything from there.

W: How would you describe your style?
CC: To simply put it, I’m a natural light portrait photographer. But I do all kinds of photos, and I have a hard time describing in specific words what my style is. I think I would use the words “creative” and “real” to describe my style, or what I strive for it be. Ultimately, I try to tell a story in a single frame.

W: Tell us the story behind one of the photos we’re featuring – why did you choose that photo to send?
CC: There is one photo, the black and white one in the woods, which I absolutely love! I was able to team up with another incredible photographer, and this incredible model, and it ended up being one of my favorite shoots I’ve ever done. I had a pretty specific image in my mind of how I wanted the shoot to be. Dark. I haven’t done a lot of dark and moody shoots so it was really fun to step out of my bubble a little bit. We worked really well together and I was able to bring my ideas to life almost identically. There’s no better feeling!

W: Where are your favorite spots to shoot?
CC:  Anywhere in the mountains! I’m so incredibly blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

W: What kind of equipment do you use?
CC: I mainly just stick to my Canon EOS 6D camera, and my 50 mm 1.8 lens.

W: Do you have any special techniques? Do they define your style?
CC: I love everything that has to do with light. Backlighting, bokeh, harsh light, soft light, I have fun with all of it! Also, I think a technique that truly defines my style, is I try to capture very real and raw moments. I try to set a particular environment, and give whoever/whatever I’m shooting a beautiful context within that environment.

W: What challenges have you had to overcome in this industry?
CC: I’m SO hard on myself! Confidence is so important. If you try to, you will always find someone who’s more experienced than you. There is “competition” everywhere. But I realized early on that it is only competition if you allow it to be. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, and I think that’s a challenge anyone in any sort of artistic industry has to overcome. But I’ve learned to turn those comparisons into inspirations, and support!

W: How do you see your career progressing?
CC: I plan on being a portrait photographer for… the rest of forever. I can’t imagine ever stopping! One day I think it would be really cool to work specifically with female models. That’s one of my very favorite things to do!

Contact Chelsea on Twitter: @chelsmer94 or Instagram: chelsmer. Interested in being profiled on the Wispeo blog? Send an email to our team social@wispeo.com!

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