Meet Heidi Ziemann

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heidi Ziemann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Heidi, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

As a photographer it’s quite essential to remain creative because after all, it’s something that heavily relies on creativity. What most people don’t talk about in relation to having a creative job or creative hobbies is that creative burn-out is real and it’s SO hard. I actually hit creative roadblocks often rather it be something as simple as a lack of inspiration or something more difficult like creative burn-out. In those instances I like to give myself grace. Sometimes, I also need a break and that’s okay too. In these instances I have found the best way to keep my creativity going is to ensure that I am being creative for ME. That could look like taking my camera out on a walk and just photographing everything that catches my eye, even if it’s not the most beautiful photograph. Almost like creating a little photo diary of my walk. Another thing that often helps me gain inspiration is going and loving on all of my favorite artists’ work. There is so much value in seeing things from others’ perspectives. Lastly, being creative in a way that is completely different from my main art form of photography. This could be coloring, opening up Photoshop and allowing myself to create something that I normally don’t get to create, learning to draw, reading, writing, creating a prop, etc.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a professional photographer who specializes in newborns, children & families. I am hoping to expand into pets as well by this upcoming Fall 2024 season. Before I fell in love with photography, I actually loathed it. Mostly because my grandfather was also a photographer so he would have his camera out any and every chance he could get and I would do everything to avoid it. It wasn’t until I got into middle school that I found my love of photography. It became an escape for me. I learned to appreciate how beautiful it is to be able to capture memories and freeze moments. I learned that photos contribute to a sense of belonging, especially for children. It’s important for them to see themselves amongst a wall of photos. If it wasn’t for my grandfather, I wouldn’t have those frozen moments to look back on. Now, I’ve made it my job to be that person for others. I’ve captured so many special memories from births to first steps to weddings. I thrive to capture real and authentic moments. I love when children get to run and play, I love when parents get to be silly and fun with their babies & I love all the laughter that comes along with it. To me those are priceless moments that I want to freeze forever so they can be looked at relived again and again. I have always thought my job was so special and I truly am so grateful to be able to capture memories for others. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Break the rules of photography. This seems so silly but I think one of the best ways I have ever learned was to learn by breaking the rules. For instance, use terrible lighting, have improper composition and edit a blurry photo every now and then. This allows you to understand WHY there are rules to begin with.
2. Utilize constructive criticism. There is so much value when you open yourself up to accept criticism. How can we become better at something if we don’t accept help from those who are great at it already? At the end of the day, even those who are masters of their art, are also still learning new things as well.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others. This is probably the most difficult skill that I’ve had to develop. I wouldn’t say that I’ve even completely developed it yet because I’m human and I still struggle some days. It’s SO easy to become lost in comparing yourself to someone else. I always remind myself that everyone learns and grows at a different pace. That doesn’t mean I am horrible, less than or not worthy of showing my art. It would be a really boring world if we all did everything perfectly and the same as each other.
The biggest piece of advice that I have for anyone wanting to start on a photography/artistic journey (or any journey really) is to keep going. Keep learning, practicing and pushing through. It WILL get hard. You will have moments where you want to throw it all away and truthfully it’s so easy to just give up, but don’t. Those are the moments when you really have to sit and remind yourself of your why. Why did you want to do it in the first place? Go look at your favorite people, artists, musicians, lawyers, doctors, etc and remind yourself that they also very likely had moments where they wanted to give up but they pushed through.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Finding a community of likeminded people who also have a love of photography has been the biggest game changer for me. The best place for this has been photography groups through social media or taking photography courses through photography hubs. You open up a whole world of knowledge, guidance, friendship and support. Before joining these I didn’t have a place I could go to ask questions with something I was struggling with and now I can post a question and be met with so many different perspectives. I can ask for constructive criticism when I am feeling stuck and be met with the kindest responses of people willing to spend a few minutes to help me. I have met some of the very best people, including people I looked up to when I first started out. The best part of it for me is that now I get to also support people, engage and share my knowledge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heidinicolephoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidinicoleeee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidinicolephoto