--about
HEATHER
The truth is, I got into photography because it was the only way I felt like I had a voice after my divorce from a very abusive first marriage. It allowed me to be seen without being seen. To share with everyone around me the way I saw the world, the stories of people's lives documented. I was a single mom struggling to find value in the life I was living that was beyond the title of "mother". Not that I didn't love being a mom, but just knowing deep within my bones I had so much more to give to the world. And the camera gave me that freedom.
Heather Woolery Photography has had many chapters and lived through many era's since I started taking on clients in 2017; but at the heart of it all storytelling has always been the primary focus. To be able to become a historian, getting to know my clients and what their story is before turning
My Name is Heather
meet the STORYTELLER
on the camera and becoming a journalist to document my clients moments and memories without feeling posed or rushed. I've taken endless workshops, made some mistakes, ebbed and flowed in and out of different communities, always gaining what I felt aligned to and leaving behind what didn't serve me or the direction I've always known I wanted to take my business.
As an empath, I feel my clients emotions and use this to help direct a session or even a quick moment on a wedding day, always acting as a "Big Mama" to make sure that those I am documenting feel seen, loved and taken care of. As an enneagram 4 and artist, I see the world in a multitude of colors and angles and use this to create iconic and honest imagery thats raw, a visual poem to last generations.
My photography, writing and art is more than just a commodity or service, it's a way of connecting with people on a deeper, more human level. A craft that is built on empathy, storytelling, an a deep desire to connect with people. Because of this, I don't take on clients just for the surface level sake of "take a quick photo", to me, it's far more than that. I take on a limited number of clients each year, clients that align with this same manifesto that photography is documenting the art of living, and preserving your own history.
XO,
11 Things About Heather
005:
Vincent Van Gogh is my all time favorite artist, I dream of getting a masters degree specializing in just Van Gogh.
001:
I'm the child of an immigrant and a Native American and am a registered tribal member of the Lenape tribe.
002:
My form of therapy is the car window rolled down blasting classic rock or indie bands.
003:
If I could drink espresso and red wine all day without turning into a raisin, I would.
006:
My three dream vacations are Italy, South Africa and the Orient Express to Paris.
My all time favorite food is hispanic food with extra cheese and a spicy marg (pasta is a CLOSE second).
007:
I graduated from the University of Idaho (high honors) with a Bachelors in Fine Art and Creative Writing.
008:
009:
Halloween is a religion in my house, and we've been doing family costumes since my kids were toddlers.
010:
I have worked in multiple galleries and as an after school art teacher for over a decade.
011:
I am an amature gardener and crazy AF chicken lady, like seriously, my 30+ chickens are my dogs.
004:
I read on average about 100 books per year spanning all genres (banned books are my favorite).
Featured and Published In
SUBSTACK
I've come to find that telling peoples stories is what I do. Making art is in my veins. I find deep diving into art history and how it continues to define us today truly exhilarating. Beyond the finished piece lies the real story. My Substack, The Artist In Residence, is a journal of process, portraits, and history — a living archive of what it means to make and to see with depth.
