Featured Photographer: Heather Clemente

Name: Heather Clemente

Representing: From the Heart Imagery

# of Years Experience: 10

My love of newborn photography came to fruition at the birth of my first child. He was such a beautiful baby and he filled me the desire to capture him in a way that showed his natural beauty and tiny little differences. I wanted to remember all the tiny markings on the souls of his feet, the creases in his fingers, every little detail was so important for me to document. As he started to grow and change rapidly I simply could not put down my camera. This, in turn, made me realize that other parents are likely to want the same things documented and I started working on opening up a business. As the years passed and my client list grew, my genre of photography started expanding from only newborns to growing with families as they grow. I now photograph newborns, toddlers, and family sessions and very much enjoy seeing my clients families grow and having the pleasure of documenting such growth.

My passions don’t lie solely in photography though. I also have a great love for music and dance. All of these outlets allow me to express myself in both outspoken and quiet ways, and when combined, they fill me to the absolute brim!

My style is very neutral with rustic elements. I choose to go this route as I love the contrast of a delicate baby next to a rustic piece. It allows the suppleness of the newborns skin to really stand out and keeps the focus on the baby. I am inspired by texture and light and allow these elements to guide me through my sessions. When working with older children you can usually find us in a open field, just before sunset, twirling around and having a good laugh.

Giving advice is not exactly my strong point, however, when starting out a newborn photography business I think it is so important to discover who you are as an artist, and what it is that inspires you before you even open the doors and start welcoming clients in. This will allow you and your clients to know exactly what they can expect when hiring you.

I currently shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and a Fuji x100t depending on location and lighting. My Canon is basically my work horse and is used for every newborn session with a 35mm sigma art, and a 100mm canon macro. My Fuji is used a lot during in home lifestyle sessions as it handles the mix of indoor and outdoor light seamlessly.

When clients come to my studio they can expect a very clean and cozy environment. There is always soft music playing and coffee/tea waiting to be served. It’s a very calming environment, filled with soft natural light. During a newborn session we take things down to a slower pace and simply enjoy the experience of having a baby in our presence.