Hi there, my name is Hailee!
I am lifestyle and documentary photographer, specializing in intimate weddings and artistic portraiture.
Here are a couple things to know about me!
- I am a queer woman and passionately believe that humans should be allowed to love and marry whoever they choose. We support all lifestyles and relationships around here!
- I strive to be as body positive/body neutral in my work and day to day life as possible. You will not get anything but positivity and encouragement when you are around me. As a fat woman myself, I am very passionate about this subject.
- I LOVE dark and spooky stuff. Anything macabre and potentially haunted and I am IN. Please let me take you on a ghost tour or to have your pants scared off in a haunted house. Fall is my favorite time of year because it's spooky season and I am a November baby, so it all makes sense! (I am always 100% ready to photograph anything spooky, real or not)
- I strive to be as body positive/body neutral in my work and day to day life as possible. You will not get anything but positivity and encouragement when you are around me. As a fat woman myself, I am very passionate about this subject.
- I LOVE dark and spooky stuff. Anything macabre and potentially haunted and I am IN. Please let me take you on a ghost tour or to have your pants scared off in a haunted house. Fall is my favorite time of year because it's spooky season and I am a November baby, so it all makes sense! (I am always 100% ready to photograph anything spooky, real or not)
Now that you know a bit about me, let me tell you a little story about how I came to love photography...
About ten years ago, when I was just venturing into the world of private school (I was home schooled for the majority of my childhood), I found myself extremely fascinated with media. I was drawn to the “Behind the Scenes” extras on DVDs and would watch them religiously after I finished a really awesome movie. I was amazed at how much goes into production, particularly that of movies and video.
After finishing two years of private school, I was sent off to a charter school, specifically Media Arts Collaborative Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to begin my first year of high school. My parents knew how fascinated I was with creating short films and this was an ample opportunity to place me where they knew I could pursue my interests first hand. I spent the first two years of high school creating short films based off of the assignments my classmates and I were given in media class. Somewhere in the wonderful world of YouTube, you can find my less than professional videos posted online for the world to see.
We’ll keep that secret between you and me, though.
We’ll keep that secret between you and me, though.
In addition to the film/video classes I was taking, I had also signed up to take photography classes. To put it simply, I just did not understand the appeal. I spent my freshman year absolutely confused as to what people found fun about photography. It was too technical. The cameras were difficult to use. I didn’t understand how much went into just setting up the camera alone in order to get a decent photo. I disliked photography class. My teacher knew I disliked photography class. But, it was either photography or graphic design, and I was NOT interested in graphic design.
Sophomore year arrived and I signed up for another photography class. The class was smaller that year, so my teacher had more opportunity to spend time with each student. This was also the year that Lightroom was introduced to us (thank goodness), so I lucked out.
The new year rolled around and we were finally assigned a project that piqued my interest. It involved producing a photo series that was related to a movie we liked and we had to create a movie poster to advertise it. It took me a while, but I finally decided that I would create something related to The Wizard of Oz.
Suddenly, the floodgates opened and I was inspired.
Suddenly, the floodgates opened and I was inspired.
I checked out my equipment, rounded up a team, and created something that I attribute to the turning point of my photography career.
I remember the feeling I had when I showed my creation to the class. My teacher was impressed. My family was impressed. I couldn’t believe that I had created something that I was so proud of. I had to continue chasing this feeling.
My mom got the photo printed on canvas and it hung on my bedroom wall until I moved out.
After that, I spent the rest of my high school career learning as much about photography as I could, even reaching out to a few studios in Albuquerque for internships. I spent two years training with wedding photographers and spent the entire summer after I graduated in 2014 shooting weddings as a second shooter. I’ve been freelancing ever since.
Photography has been the one true constant to me that I have always been sure of and I will continue to pursue it as long as I am happy while I am doing it, because that is what is important to me.
Behind the Scenes | January 2012
Now that you've had a good laugh, take a look at the work I created
after I figured out what I was doing!