We recently connected with Heather Peralta and have shared our conversation below.
Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
This is such a great question – If I had to start over again, I would definitely learn more business and marketing rather than perfecting my craft. My style has changed throughout the years and it’s always growing and evolving. I would focus more on the business and marketing side of it. Also, I would do more “free” shoots just to build my portfolio. What I did (after learning my camera, the basics, editing and practicing on birds lol), I started with Christmas mini sessions and charged $100. I got fully booked! I didn’t realize that I got booked because I was so cheap. Because I charged so little, the clients that came to me expected me to continue to charge $100 year after year. Having to market to a different audience takes a lot of work, which I’m still doing.
Heather, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Heather Peralta, a lifestyle and documentary-style photographer based in Chino, California, and my passion is capturing moments that feel like memories — soft, nostalgic, and deeply connected to emotion. I came to this craft after spending more than two decades in a corporate world that was overwhelming and beyond stressful. Photography became my refuge, a way to slow down and truly witness moments as they happened. What started as a hobby grew into a calling, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
Today, I specialize in maternity, couples, and newborn photography — creating images that honor moments that can so easily slip away. My approach is rooted in storytelling: I want every photo to be a chapter of your story, a piece of nostalgia you can hold in your hands for years to come. I don’t focus on stiff poses or forced perfection. Instead, I create a space where you can relax, be present, and connect naturally — so the images feel like my you.
What sets me apart is my deep belief in making the experience as meaningful as the final images. From the moment we connect to the delivery of your photographs, I am fully present for you. I listen, I collaborate, and I guide you with a gentle hand, making sure you feel seen, celebrated, and comfortable every step of the way. My goal is to create photographs that don’t just capture a moment but capture how it felt. I want you to remember what it FELT like – 20, 30 years from now – what it was like to hold your baby’s fingers in your hand, what it felt like to give your 2 year old give you Eskimo kisses…
I am most proud of the trust I’ve built with my clients — many of whom come back year after year to tell the ongoing chapters of their lives. My work is for those who value nostalgia, slow moments, and the beauty in the everyday. It’s for people who want photographs that stand the test of time, that transport them back to how it felt to be right there.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
For 24 years, I worked as an escrow officer — one of the most stressful, high-pressure careers you can imagine. In that world, perfection wasn’t just a goal, it was a requirement. Everything had to be done quickly, accurately, and with a smile. Making a mistake felt like the end of the world because every detail was critical.
I was molded to believe that being available 24/7, responding within moments, and juggling countless files was the only way to prove my worth — that people would only like me if I was always “on” and always doing more. Somewhere along the way, this became a part of who I was. I couldn’t shut it off after 5 p.m. I felt like I was always running around like a chicken with its head cut off, never fast enough, never perfect enough, never quite “good enough.”
It’s taken a lot of unlearning to find my way out of that mindset. To realize that responding within five minutes doesn’t make me more liked — it just makes me more rushed and disconnected. Today, I’m still a work in progress. I’m learning to slow down, to breathe, and to focus not just on doing things quickly, but on doing them intentionally.
That shift has shaped how I approach my photography. It’s no longer about checking boxes or striving for perfection. It’s about honoring moments, telling stories, and creating an experience where both of us can slow down and just be. It’s about showing up fully present, capturing moments that matter, and allowing space for connection — because that’s where the magic lives.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is knowing that I’m creating something that truly matters to people. It’s being trusted to witness moments that might otherwise slip by — quiet glances, heartfelt connections, tiny gestures — and turning them into memories that can be felt long after the moment has passed.
What I love most is that this work goes beyond making beautiful images. It’s about making people feel seen and celebrated, allowing them to slow down and be present for a little while. To me, that’s where the magic is. It’s knowing I’ve captured a piece of their story — a moment, a feeling — and given it a place to live forever.
That’s what makes this more than a job for me… it’s a way of honoring the beauty of everyday life, and that’s the biggest reward I could ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hp43photography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hp43photography?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HP43photography?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
