We were lucky to catch up with April Heffner recently and have shared our conversation below.
April, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success comes from hard work and unwavering determination. When people ask how I built a successful business, I tell them it’s mostly relentless effort—and a little bit of luck. I happened to meet the right people at the right time in the early stages of my brand, but even with that stroke of luck, the real work never stopped. I continue to show up every day, putting in the effort alongside those same people, nurturing my brand to ensure it not only thrives but continues to grow.
April, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is April Heffner, and I’m the founder of Onyx and Arrow Collective—a brand devoted to capturing memories and love stories all over the world.
My journey began in November 2017, while I was working in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas. I showed up every day knowing I had a purpose in that role, but deep down, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I was 25 at the time, on a strong path of growth within the company, but I knew I wanted something more meaningful. That desire led me to start my first brand, Desert Belle Photography.
The beginning wasn’t easy. Building a brand from scratch requires patience, relentless work, and a whole lot of persistence. Slowly but surely, my business began to grow—but even as it did, it didn’t quite feel like a reflection of who I was or what I wanted to offer. In January 2019, I rebranded to Onyx and Arrow Photography, and for the first time, my business felt like me—aligned with my vision and values.
Then came 2020. Like everyone else, I feared the worst when COVID hit. I thought the wedding industry might never recover and that I’d have to continue corporate life. But something unexpected happened. As Las Vegas began to reopen by August 2020, ceremonies came flooding in. By July 2021, bookings had surged to the point where I could leave my corporate job and take my business full-time—and I haven’t looked back since.
In May 2023, I expanded the brand from just photography to a full-service collective, offering a curated team of associate photographers and videographers. This allowed us to deliver an even better, more seamless client experience. Since I started, my team and I have captured over 1,000 love stories—literally millions of photographs.
When I say I’m living my dream, I truly mean it.
What I’m most proud of is that I built all of this from the ground up—with no background in photography, no business experience, and no roadmap. Today, I’m running a seven-figure brand built on heart, vision, and an unshakable belief in what’s possible.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
What truly made a difference was consistency—consistency in my drive, my work ethic, my personality, and the quality of my final product.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients is from referrals, either from past clients or vendors.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://onyxandarrow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyxandarrowcollective/
- Other: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/onyxandarrowcollective/
Image Credits
Onyx and Arrow Collective