At the start of the new year I launched a new website, and with it comes a new blog. I didn’t honestly think that people were still blogging in 2026, but SEO experts and marketing people tell me that it is still a good idea, so here I am.

Besides upping my SEO, I do hope this blog as a way for me to really just dump more unfiltered feelings and reflections on what it is like to be a Nashville Event Photographer. So, maybe that means I let go of the pressure of keeping it on topic or a good narrative. Just real feelings and story dumps, I think that is my plan.

I guess the first thing I will share is that I am beyond excited about my 2026 calendar so far and also overwhelmed. This little (not so little now) business of mine has grown 145% in the last two years. I am busier than ever, having more experiences than ever, meeting more people than ever, and taking more photos than ever. It is THE BEST and SO exciting, totally, but just being real: it is a bit scary.

Why is it scary? Well, I did write out a list of what scares me about the growth a few days ago, and at the core of the list was really just: that I don’t want success to change how I operate. This is not an original problem, it is ago old. I know that. But, it feels like the first time I am experiencing it.

I have built this business on principles and philosophies that I believe in with all of my heart. I don’t ever want any client to get a lesser version of my business because of the quantity of jobs that I am doing. Like I said, I know this is an age old problem. But, when your business is your art, and you, it feels so personal. It doesn’t always feel like I am making “business decisions”. It almost always just feels like I am making a Heather decision.

I was never a surfer, but I did where Roxy brand all through HS, so here is a surfing analogy: My goal in 2026 is to keep riding the waves that come my way, no matter their size, and to be grateful for the big ones, the small, the calm, and even a wipe out here and there. But, I HAVE to stay on my own board, the one with all the stickers that I love. The one has been with me since the beginning of this surfing adventure, the one that is me. My board is my foundation, my non-negotiables, the things I refuse to compromise on… that stuff stays.