Today we’d like to introduce you to Haleigh Crabtree
Hi Haleigh, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I never thought I would ever be saying “I’m a photographer!” when people ask what I do for a living, but we sometimes end up on a path in life that we never saw coming.
I started a photography class while in college at MTSU, and had no idea what I was doing. It was a class size of around 12 people, and I think I was the only one who had never touched a camera with manual settings before.
I learned so much in that semester and slowly fell in love with the art of it all! It was a black and white film class, so we had weekly assignments of processing our own film in the dark room department. I think having all that time where I got to experience literally seeing my work “come to life,” is where the passion started. I didn’t do much photography after that class, until I had my son a year later. I was gifted a new DSLR from my family for Christmas so I could take photos of him and I always had it nearby while he was a baby. When he turned around 4 months old, I started a Facebook photography page on a whim, and people that I knew started asking me to take their photos! This is where things really started – almost 10 years ago now.
I ended up going and completing beauty school, and while I was in school, photography was my “main” source of income. If I wasn’t at school, I was constantly either having sessions, editing, or posting online. Word of mouth started growing and I was so excited!! I made a makeshift studio in my dining room, then moved it to a spare bedroom in my mom’s house, and eventually rented my first studio outside of my home! I continued scheduling sessions on the weekends once I started working behind the chair as a hairstylist and in 2020, went full time with only photography. I moved studios twice since then, and now have a studio located in the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood. At first, I shot sessions for everyone and anyone who wanted to book, then started focusing on what I wanted to do the most – and what I ended up loving and being the most passionate about, all things babies!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A smooth road wouldn’t have been as adventurous!! My biggest struggles were learning how to have a true balance of work, motherhood and life in general. When starting out in something new, most everyone feels this need to rush, rush, rush and work, work, work. And I definitely did all of that.
I was a single mom, worked every chance I had, editing late at night while my son slept, and trying to learn new things all at the same time. I really took a moment to sit back and realize that it wasn’t going to be enjoyable long term if I continued at that pace. I started prioritizing my work/home life balance and began only working when my son was away on the weekends, napping, or at daycare. Overtime, I found out a system that worked for me and it really became a lot easier once he reached school age. Working while he’s at school now feels a lot more bearable than working and not having a life outside of work!
Investing in in-person small business workshops and following business accounts and other small business owners really helped with the overwhelming aspects of actually running a business (the not so fun part of it all!).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in all things babies! Maternity, Newborn and baby’s first year is where my heart is – and what I specialize in! I have my studio stocked with all the things needed for any session: maternity gowns, props, baby outfits, blankets, swaddles, headbands and bonnets. All that you need to bring to your session is your baby.
I am known for being a baby whisperer and joke about it all the time but really, I have learned over the years exactly what babies need during their session – and I love chatting with parents during! Babies grow so fast, and knowing that I am able to “freeze” these moments for parents warms my heart so much, down to the smallest details of those baby stages, like their little hands and feet.
Not only do parents get to have these special photos to look back on as time goes, but the babies will be able to, as well!
I also take on a select amount of family sessions each year, because I love watching my baby clients grow each year into toddler-hood and beyond! I am extremely thankful for all of my past clients for trusting me with their photo needs, and look forward to meeting all new clients as well!!
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was pretty much a totally different person than now. I was a class clown, cheerleader, softball player and a drag racer! My family spent each weekend at the drag strip, where my brother and I both raced jr. dragsters. I loved it all, but I never had much of a “creative” side. That’s why it was so surprising to me ending up in two creative fields- photography and being a hair stylist!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haleighcrabtreephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleighcrabtreephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleighcrabtreephotography/
