We recently connected with Heather Pugh and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project has been my 40 Sassy Women Over 40+. Working with real everyday women who don’t have any modeling experience is so much fun! We have an entire Girl’s Day. We do Hair and Make-Up. Select an elegant wardrobe that compliments their figure & gorgeous features. We enjoy each other’s company, drink coffee, have snacks, & pure laughter. This is my dream project. I have always wanted to get to know my clients on a personal level. Create an atmosphere that is enjoyable & relaxing. So, I am going to share their story about life & what they love at the Gala once the project has been completed. Their beautiful and timeless images will be shared with their family & friends in an elegant way.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

On my 8th Birthday, my dad purchased a point & shoot film camera with a pop-up flash. I enjoyed taking photos to keep for a lifetime. I would wait for the film to be developed. Then I could see what came out of the camera. Some were great & some weren’t. But it was fun trying different things. Like my brother riding his bike & that photo was so blurry. I still have that photo. It was my best work at 8 yrs old. I continue taking photos growing up. In high school, I wanted to study photography. So, I went to Nossi College of Art to learn more about the development of images, and all details of the camera, lens & lighting. I learn how to capture moving subjects in focus. This was such a great experience. At this time I didn’t know what genre I wanted to be in. I was 20 so I barely knew what I wanted from one minute to the next. Just like everyone else. So, I tried a little of everything. I didn’t want to be just a Wedding Photographer. I didn’t want to put my work in a box. That’s what I thought at that time. So, I continue to critique my skills for many years. I photographed products, couples, weddings, maternity, & families. I loved all of it because I was photographing. Although something was missing. “The BIG Dream”. That was having a studio, spending time getting all dressed up, connecting with my clients on a personal level, & creating beautiful Art Work.

So, I now have an in-house studio in Dallas, Georgia. This allows me to be able to provide an experience to remember. My clients tell me they left more confident & ready to take on the world. They carry that feeling into their everyday life. We are able to spend time creating beautiful images with fantastic lighting. I am building an elegant client closet with luxury props. We are able to create premium prints, wall art, photo books, & gifts. We will dream it up & I will find a way to make it happen. The client will be able to select their prints & have high-resolution digital images.

I have had to learn to communicate with many different types of personalities to help them enjoy our session. Most women are nurturers & they will put themselves last. My studio allows them to be lifted up & the center of attention. They feel like rock stars for a day. I have always been able to speak to anyone & start up a conversation. Building up people’s spirits is what I truly enjoy doing. Watching someone slowly open up in front of the camera is incredible to watch.
One of my biggest hurdles has been learning to allow people into my life. Sharing my experiences. So, I am still learning to build my brand. I do beautiful work that I love to share with the world but, never knew how to share it. Now I enjoy taking time to show people videos of me working, or the new props the studio has. Telling people that I have completed a class & now I am a Light Nija.

What sets me apart from others is my compassion. It comes from the deepest part of my heart. I give all of my heart to a project. I work until it’s 110% up to my satisfaction & standards. I want to spread kindness like confetti & photographing people allows me just a little time to show them good people are this world. I take the time to understand the person in front of the camera. I tend to their struggles like someone’s smile or figure. I show them how truly beautiful they are. I am a person that will take more time to hear them. It’s not about my bottom line.

I am most proud of every obstacle I have overcome. I have tried to get my photography to take off for 10 years. I have always wanted to be a full-time photographer but, I was a hobbyist. Making a little bit of money to cover the cost of the props. It seemed like I would get my photography going a little & my equipment would die. I lived paycheck to paycheck for a very long time. So to buy a new camera or computer would seem to take me a year. By then my clients had moved on to someone else. I continue to keep “The BIG Dream” in my heart. Over the last 4 years, I have been able to build my equipment up, and take classes to stay up with the latest technology or styles. Something recently changed in my spirit. I took a leap of faith & left my GREAT corporate job. I became a bus driver so I could have more time to work on “The BIG Dream”. I know I will become a part of a community & it will share my compassion. The community will want people to experience this movement to inspire each other to lift the next person up. To help a person to remember how beautiful they are on the inside & out. We are all made differently & we need to celebrate our differences.

The main thing I want my clients to know about me & my work is I love people. I want us to uplift, encourage, support, & love each other. I want my work to show this.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I would have loved to learn how to open up & share my story. It took many years to even want to share. I didn’t think I was good with words or giving detail in a story. I had to remember it’s like talking to a friend. Now I am trying to figure out every way to share my journey.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There have been 2 mentors that have really helped my business & skills flourish. Chelsea Nicole Shoot To Edit: Master Natural Light Photography Course. Her upbeat personality & genuine want to help people grow their photography skills. Now I am a part of her community on Facebook & watch all her videos on YouTube. Sometimes I watch them before a photo session to get in the groove. She will pump you up for sure. The 2nd photographer is Dina’s Secret Sauce Momentum. I have learned how to market my business on social media & build a beautiful portfolio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rheasphotography.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrheasphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRheaPhotography/
• Other: https://www.rheasphotography.me/sassy-women-over-40-ish

Image Credits
Heather Rhea with Rhea’s Photography