Today we’d like to introduce you to Haleigh Riddle.
Hi Haleigh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I feel like my story started out very similar to others in my position. I was just a young mom who loved following around my babies when my husband decided to gift me a camera for Christmas one year. I have always been obsessed with pictures and as a teen, I carried around a little digital camera that held TONS of memories. Once I got my first “real” camera though, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I had a passion for capturing memories for others as well. My husband and I spent the next few years documenting weddings together and although I loved the thrill of wedding days, my dream was boudoir. I fell in love with empowering my fellow women. I spent many sessions renting out spaces for my boudoir clients and honestly having my own studio seemed so unrealistic. I’d come home from sessions and daydream to my husband about how awesome it would be to have a spot of my own for a boudoir studio.
My husband randomly came across an old building for sale one day and even though I am not the one to typically take huge chances, he talked me into jumping on the opportunity. It needed a lot of work. We poured so much of ourselves into gutting that building and with the help of some family & friends, I FINALLY have a space to call my own. It still seems like a dream!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Owning a small business is never a smooth road. We have seen many moments of struggle, just trying to find our groove. There were times that giving up definitely seemed easier. Especially regarding revamping the studio, there were quite a few hurdles that we needed to overcome. There were delays, tons of setbacks, and even a few tears. Honestly, looking back those complications help me to appreciate where our business is now even more though! Throughout the years, many of my clients have become like family to me and the constant support truly feels so wonderful!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in Boudoir Empowerment Photography. Women are taught from a very young age about society’s beauty standards. We get hit from all different directions. We are told that we need to be thin, our bodies need to be perfect, skin needs to be flawless. By the time we reach adulthood, most of us have insecurities that run incredibly deep. I am no stranger to completely tearing apart my body in the mirror because it is hard to see past those insecurities. That is what I love about boudoir photography. It such a confidence-boosting experience and I am addicted to that feeling! I get many women in my studio that are initially shy, insecure, and honestly a little ashamed that they are actually spending money on themselves. I am so proud that I get to prove to these women that they are GORGEOUS and that they are truly worth this level of self-love. I get to show them what they look like from my perspective. It is amazing every single time for not only my clients but also for me as well. I aim to offer a full-service luxury experience. So each of my sessions are fully customizable and my studio takes care of essentially everything for my clients. The studio has a client closet full of outfits and my team of hair & makeup artists even provides a glam makeover. It is such a fun experience!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic hit so many of us extremely hard, especially small business owners. My small business was shut down for months as I was terrified to put my family and my clients in danger. There was a lot of fear of the unknown and that was definitely a tough time for us financially. There was a time during shutdown that we were nervous that we would be able to recover from the lack of business. Would we even be able to open back up? It was stressful for sure, but thankfully we were blessed enough to still have clients waiting for us when we opened back up. I personally believe that Covid-19 taught a lot of us not to take anything for granted though, especially time with our loved ones.
Pricing:
- Sessions begin at $500. Digital images, prints, and products are sold separately.
- My Collections begin at $1,500.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boudoirbyhaleigh.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boudoirbyhaleigh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoudoirByHaleigh/
