Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Binion
Hi Hailey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, I used to steal my mom’s Kodak from her purse when I was a little tater tot. I remember falling in love with photography in that moment. In high school I was obsessed with Flickr and creating self portraits after school every day. Then in college is where I dipped my toes into film and found my next love in the photo world. I’d spend entire evenings up into mornings where classmates would bring me coffee in the darkroom. I just loved the entirety of the process of creating film photos.
Social media popped off after that. A college final of mine actually went viral on buzzfeed and I was awarded my minor in photography before I’d met all my credits.
So I spent the next two years studying and my photography took a backseat for the next six years until my son was born and the itch to pick up my camera and create was too unbearable not to scratch. Especially in this era of documentary style sessions and film booming again. What a perfect time for me to come back.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. To be honest I’m here because I didn’t have another choice. I was fired at 7.5 months pregnant without warning. I kind of panicked. I borrowed a dear friend’s camera equipment (she even let me use all of her editing software) and I chased a friend around her property for three hours in the July heat to get some practice in before I launched myself as a photographer.
Once I had my son, I had a rough go with PP and used my photography as an outlet to get myself back together. It’s really worked so far. It’s allowed me to reconnect with my old self and rebuild my new self as a mother, photographer, wife, friend, daughter, sister all the things.
I’ve struggled a lot with comparison, with competing with other local photographers just for work, and that’s always a hurdle.. but a mindset shift really helped me to escape that fog. I allowed myself to learn from my competitors and adapt to what people are looking for and separate myself in my way, the way that makes most sense for me and my work. And that means not everyone is for me!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a sentimentalist. I have a knack for finding the magic in the moment and I capture it with my camera(s). I love film, Polaroids, and of course digital work is a must!
I am just obsessed with those ooey gooey in between moments people think no one notices.
I am most proud of my ability to connect with people. It’s truly what’s key in capturing people in their truest form. Everyone deserves to have that photo of themselves where they think “damn, we look really happy here” and I just have this thing where I make it happen.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
There’s room for everyone to win, try not to compare. Allow yourself to create what makes you happy and your people will find you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.haileybinioncreative.com
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/haileybinioncreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087942687018
Image Credits:
Hailey Binion of Haileybinioncreative llc
