Why I Took this Shot

I was visiting friends at the Atlanta Aquarium and saw the gracefulness and beauty emanating from this jelly fish and wanted to capture that on film. I didn’t matter that there was a thick glass separating us. I wanted the audience to feel they could reach out and touch the graceful lines of the jelly fish.

Adding a vintage touch in sepia demonstrated the timelessness and agelessness of this glorious creature.

You’re hiring me to photograph your event only for my wit, right?!

I would hope you value the work of a professional photographer; but with cell phone cameras, we can take our own just as good as a pro. Right?  YIKES, no!!

Pros understand composition, lighting, different techniques, oh!, and have a wit about them to captivate the audience to get the right shot.

Don’t have that?

Then feel free to contact me at joan@joanheffler.com and visit my website at www.joanhefflerphotography.com.

Photos for Free. Really?!

Scenarios like the following knock me out. People don’t get it.

I’m photographing an event and one of the guests asks me to take a photo of them with a VIP and then hands me their card and says “could you email that to me?”

For free???? Really. This is my life’s work and I can’t give it away for free. I say, “if you wish to pay for it, I would be delighted to email that image to you.” I get a frown.

Folks, you don’t go into a store and ask to borrow a dress for one evening for a gala and then return it the next day do you? Then please understand that photographers take images at events for pay, not for free.

I would be happy to photograph for anyone wishing to value the work of professional photographers. Feel free to contact me at joan@joanheffler.com">joan@joanheffler.com and visit my website at www.joanhefflerphotography.com.

Kind Words by Clients of Joan Heffler Photography

Outstanding Capital Region Photographer!

Joan is an exceptional photographer. Period!

Amazing Photographer

Tailored, Stylish, Attractive–didn’t know I could photograph that way?!!

Joan is the consummate pro.

Joan Brings Out Your Personality!

Joan Heffler Photography Is Amazing and Works Magic!

It had been 8 years since having my last professional head shot taken and one that received a lot of praise. As such, I had a bit of trepidation going into my appointment with Joan Heffler Photography knowing that we had to “beat” a picture taken almost a decade earlier, but she blew the old one away – twice! That’s right, Joan took two great head shots in just minutes! In fact, one of my head shots was the first or second picture taken and between two wardrobe changes she took no more than 15 pictures total and TWO AMAZING photos came out of it. Needless to say, Joan is amazing if not the best! Absolutely use Joan Heffler for your photography needs, she is GREAT!

The 3 events that made this photographer even better!

Just in the last decade, the advent of digital photography, the major camera manufacturers like Nikon and Canon making SLR cameras less expensive and advertising how even amateurs can take professional looking photos, and the iphone almost crippled the photography profession.

Everywhere you go, the iphones and amateur cameras with WiFi are up and clicking; whether it be at a concert, a wedding, an event, or even on the streets. Iphones and WiFi equipped cameras are everywhere and the images are posted immediately through social media outlets.

How do you overcome such obstacles says a professional photographer?!

Well, you get better at what you do technically and educate your public through social media. Post those images within an hour of creation to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and any other outlet and show your stuff! Write a blog about how you got that image to educate the iphone and amateurs how taking a photo by a professional is much more highly valued. Show them through your images your creativity and beauty and technique.

This is what made Joan Heffler Photography a better photographer!

You are in good hands with a professional photographer!

A professional photographer is like a psychologist, artist, time management professional and all around “Jill of all Trades” when it comes to planning an event.

What separates out the professional photographer from the newbie or weekend warrior is the immediate feeling of security that the pro will take care of you, ally all fears, anticipate any challenges and map out a strategy so the day of your wedding, portrait session, or event runs smoothly and you trust you are in good hands!

Most often, people don’t know what to expect or how to plan. Most often, people call and ask how much before they understand the elements that go into making a perfect event unfold. When speaking with Joan Heffler Photography, know that you are in good hands!

Photography With Personality!

Photography with Personality!

I’ve been told I have plenty of personality, so why not let me make all that I photograph full of personality too!
When I began my professional photography career 15 years ago (it was a lifelong hobby), I was told by marketers that I needed to brand myself, and in that branding, clarify what makes my style of photography different from all others. I would ask myself everyday, “Why am I different? What is my style? What makes me different than all others in my field?”
Finally one day, it struck me like a thousand flashes going off at once. I have so much personality, why not showcase that in a style…in my own style.
My style demonstrates how I interpret the world, and how I interpret personalities. Everyone and everything on this planet has a distinct and unique personality; and in my photography work, I wish to capture that. I want to share my gift with you, and capture your individual personality and hope you that your uniqueness shines through.

I invite you to delight in my work, and if you are interested in further information about my wedding, event, portrait, or corporate work, please contact me at 518-346-4485 or joan@joanheffler.com.

A Bit About Aperture

     The aperture is the physical opening within your lens that allows light through to the sensor. The size of the opening  is measured In f stops. The largest opening has the smallest number and is 1.8. The smallest opening is f22 and that has the biggest number. It is very confusing!!

When choosing to purchase a lens, try to get the largest opening fstop such as 1.8 or 2.8. This is the better lens,  and it is always more expensive than a medium priced lens that has an fstop of f3.5 – f5.6.

Changing the aperture, the amount of light coming through, does change the way a photograph will look. With a wide opening of your lens such as 2.8, less area is in focus. With a small lens opening such as f16, you have more of the photo in focus. That is called focal length or depth of field. If you want the forefront and background out of focus, use f2.8. If you want the forefront and background to be more in focus, use f8, f11 or f16.

For landscapes, you want to have most everything in focus. Use f11, f16 or on a sunny day, use f22.

A rule of thumb is f8. A great average lens opening (aperture) to use for most photography such as portraits, weddings, and events if f8. That is the middle ground for lenses. This photo was taken at f8.