Why I Stayed Quiet About My Journey Until Now

Today, I’m opening up about something I’ve kept pretty quiet for a long time—my journey, the bumps along the way, and how I found my place as a personal branding photographer. If you’re here, thank you for reading and for letting me share this with you.

I’ve always been drawn to creating. As a kid, I’d lock myself in my room, crank up my favorite music, and just get lost in my art. I’m not saying my childhood masterpieces would’ve made it to a gallery, but creating felt like home to me.

Fast forward to adulthood, and that passion for art and design turned into my career in photography.

But I’ll be honest—getting here was no straight path.

Finding My Voice in Someone Else’s Spotlight

In my twenties, I was dating—and later married—a professional hockey player. Suddenly, it felt like all eyes were on him, and my work was barely noticed. To most people around us, my photography & design were “just hobbies.” No one took my work as seriously as his career, and that stung.

I’d have deadlines and projects to complete, but whenever people dropped by, I felt (maybe in my own head) I was supposded to set my work aside to entertain. I felt like I was constantly putting my dreams on the back burner.

When we got married, I left my high-paying job on Toronto’s Bay Street (think Wall Street in the U.S.) to follow my husband’s career around the world. I took up photography full-time, determined to build something that was my own, no matter where we ended up.

Even though I’d worked at top ad agencies in North America and Europe, won awards, and invested in my growth, I couldn’t shake the feeling that people thought my career was supported by my husband’s. But here’s the truth: I was building this all on my own.

That Drive to Prove Myself

I’ve always been the type who, when told I can’t do something, doubles down and pushes harder.

I took every course, invested in myself, and got to work building my business, even with that little voice in my head saying I might not be “enough” on my own. But I kept at it, and my work started to grow.

Then, one year, I hit my first six-figure mark. Then doubled and tripled that and so on. And each time I crossed a new milestone, the people around me who once thought my work was “just a hobby” began to sit up and notice.

But it wasn’t just about the financial growth; it was about proving to myself—and to everyone else—that I was doing something real, something meaningful, and something all my own.

Why I’m Sharing This Now

I stayed quiet about my story for so long because I didn’t want to seem insecure or unsure.

But I’ve realized that maybe sharing this can be helpful, even if just one person reading this feels a little less alone.

I know what it’s like to feel underestimated, to struggle with self-doubt, or to feel you have to “prove” yourself over and over. If you’re feeling that, I want you to know you’re not alone.

Have you ever felt like you’ve had to prove yourself, or struggled with feeling “enough” in your own journey? I’d love to hear your story—hit reply and let’s connect. Sometimes the strongest communities are built on shared experiences.

What’s Next

Moving forward, I’m more driven than ever to keep pushing boundaries and sharing this journey with you. There’s so much I’m excited to bring to life, and I’m thrilled you’re here with me as I keep building.

Looking back, I realize I kept going because, ultimately, I believe creativity and what we're building matters.

The work we do matters, and I want to remind anyone who needs it that you’re not alone in building something meaningful.

If you’re here with me, thank you for that support and for letting me share this journey with you. I’m excited for what’s next, and I’m so grateful you’re part of it.

Wishing you all the happiness and success,

Heike

P.S. If you want to go deeper with me on how to build your business faster to be more profitable, here are some resources I think you’ll love:

• Personal Branding Mastermind Program: A 16-week Live 1:1 journey together where we dive into everything from lead generation and client management to pricing strategies that truly work. It’s designed to help photographers build a profitable, sustainable branding business.

• From Headshot to Personal Branding Course for Photographers: This step-by-step course helps you transition from headshots to full branding sessions. You’ll get access to video trainings, tools, and templates to engage clients and grow sales.

• Personal Branding Consultation Guide: My guide for streamlining consultations with clients—this includes workflows, checklists, and scripts to help you communicate and secure high-value projects with confidence.

Each of these resources is crafted to help you skip some of the hurdles I faced and give you the structure and strategies to grow your own thriving business. I’d love to see you there!