Visions by Heather: Capturing Appomattox in our best light!
Appomattox native Heather Cheatham is an artist who captures moments and memories through her camera lens.
Her first memories of photography are from a young age when she would visit her grandmother who took photos everywhere they went together. Heather would learn the importance of remembering these moments in time by watching her grandmother capture and preserve them in albums.
She also remembers creating her own dress up portrait sessions in her grandmother’s back yard. She spent time posing for portraits as well as getting behind the camera to compose and capture the images herself, creating picture perfect memories that she cherishes even today.
“I’ve always had a camera and I’ve always wanted to capture memories,” Heather explained. She started playing with an inexpensive 110 film camera as a kid, and in high school she was on the Yearbook Staff, where she learned the intricacies of exposure and developing film in a dark room.
Heather has loved photography and portraiture her entire life.
When her two sons were born, she began capturing special family moments with her camera. Close friends and family would comment about how great the photos were, and they began asking her to capture portraits of their families as well. In 2006, though she already had a full time job with an insurance company, she was finishing up her masters degree in business, and had all the responsibilities of a mom and wife, Heather decided to start a part time business offering family portraits in Appomattox. Her business name? Visions by Heather.
Four years later, Heather’s photography had seen such great success that she made the decision so leave her job in insurance, and make Visions by Heather her full time business.
Seventeen years later, business is booming! You’ve probably seen her work on display around town, through social media, or perhaps you or someone you know has had their portraits taken by Heather!
Senior spotlight
(Click to enlarge photos)
Heather considers her specialty to be working with high school seniors.
Her senior portraits look like something you might see in a magazine! Heather puts a lot of effort into making sure that each senior’s portraits represent their personality, hobbies, and interests.
Heather starts her senior sessions with a questionnaire to find out more about each senior. Then, she consults with the senior in the studio to learn more about what they love to do and the styles that they like to wear. They discuss the types of locations that the senior might like the photos to be taken (for example, a cityscape, a rustic look, photos by a water source, in a flower garden, etc.)
Heather is always prepared with a list of locations, but she also loves it when her clients give suggestions as well! She explained that a grand setting is not really what makes a photo great, it’s the subject (meaning, the person or people) that’s truly important. She loves styling photos in locations that are “new to her” because it really excites her creative side, and a personal location can be truly meaningful to her clients.
Her creative senior sessions usually last a couple of hours with variety in locations and outfits personal to every senior. After the creative session, Heather uses her expertise to help guide the senior and their parents in choosing favorite images and products from the studio to remember this milestone in their life.
“It’s not about looks and perfection, it’s about the light that they have inside,” Heather explained.
“When I can get to know a young person and make them feel more confident, and show them in their best light, then at least I can leave a mark that way - as someone who sees them in that light and I can give them an insight to see themself that way,” Heather said.
Every year, Heather also offers a special opportunity to each of her senior clients. They are invited to join her “Insider Team.” This gives each senior the unique opportunity to participate in group portraits with their peers throughout their senior year. These portraits are a fun way to build confidence and gain experience being comfortable in front of a camera. They also serve as a creative outlet for Heather to showcase her unique ideas and concepts for portrait sessions.
Capturing moments and memories
The other specialty that Visions by Heather offers is capturing family portraits. In the blink of an eye, kids grow up and older loved ones pass on. Heather is able to create beautiful memories that are worth more than gold and can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Heather enjoys shooting family portraits because not only is she capturing a moment in time for each family, she also has the honor of getting to know her clients and continuing a relationship with them as they return to her year after year for more portraits as their families change and grow.
Heather also offers maternity portraits, milestone birthday or anniversary portraits, sweet sixteen portraits, and business headshots.
"For me as a photographer,” Heather began, “the whole purpose is this moment and this memory. Whether it’s a maternity, engagement, a newborn baby portrait, this is a part of someone’s life that I have been part of, and for them to trust me with that is a big deal.”
You can expect a photo session with Heather to be easy, fun, and efficient. She knows the exact groupings and poses to make you and your family look good, and she moves through them confidently. She knows that kids can get squirmy, and she has an ease and patience to keep everything moving at a pace to make getting your photograph taken uncomplicated and effortless.
Whether your family portraits take place outside amongst the beauty of nature, or you choose a more polished look by having your portraits taken in her professional photography studio, you’re sure to love the finished product.
Inside the Visions by Heather studio, aside from the photography area, you’ll find a gallery of her recently taken photographs in prints on the walls and in professionally bound memory books spread throughout the room. It only takes a moment to look around the studio before you realize Heather is a true artist!
(Writer’s note: Did you know that Heather Cheatham is a multiple-award winning photographer? Appomattox is blessed to have her knowledge and expertise in photographing our community! In 2023 alone, she recently won 11 different awards! )
Let your light shine
Heather understands that good lighting can make or break a photo. She has professional lighting equipment that she uses in the studio and in her outdoor photo sessions as well to ensure your photos showcase your best look.
“Light is everything in a photo, especially on the face. I like to see the light in someone’s eyes sparkle and if you look back even historically, light is what helps tell the story - whether it’s dramatic lighting that makes you feel something when you look at it, or whether it’s soft lighting that flatters the subject,” Heather said.
“That’s what I use as a photographer to tell the story and deliver the message and the feeling that I’m trying to convey.”
Professionalism, with care.
Even if you’re someone who doesn’t like having your photo taken, you can trust Visions by Heather to capture you in your best light.
“My goal is to make the process easy. For me, it’s all about serving my client’s needs and purpose,” Heather said. “We can buy cars that depreciate, we can buy clothing and tangible things, but a photograph truly has an immeasurable value. It can be the last portrait you have of someone. It can be a moment that went by too fast that you were too immersed in to capture it.”
For Heather, it’s a privilege to be able to capture a moment or a memory that is invaluable to those participating in it.
Appomattox has always been home for Heather, and she loves being part of this community. “In a small town, you can wrap around each other and support each other. I see so much value in supporting the businesses around me. It’s pretty great to be a part of the community. I’m part of my kid’s lives, I’m part of the school, I’m part of the sports. I’m immersed in my community. The community sees that I am there for them and I see them supporting my business, too. And that’s just the really cool thing about being part of a small community,” she explained.
Timeless
“My work is timeless, Heather explained. “I want to capture you, in your best light, and I want it to be timeless.”
Visions by Heather can be found online at visionsbyheather.com, on facebook, and instagram. You can reach her by email at heather@visionsbyheather.com or by phone at 434-944-1264. Reach out to her today for your next portrait session!
Photos provided by Visions by Heather. article was written by Teresa Davis and is a paid advertisement. If you are interested in promoting your business on the Appomattox Happenings website, email, and social media, contact Teresa Davis through the contact form below or email appomattoxhappenings@gmail.com
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