About Me
I’m Heather, I run Sourwood Photography in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
I’ve been doing this for over 16 years, long enough to know two things are always true: people feel awkward in front of cameras, and the light will do whatever it wants.
My guiding principle is simple: ken and gleaning shape my practice, regardless of what I’m photographing. ‘Ken’ is an old word for the kind of knowing that comes from attention, not analysis. It’s recognition, it’s intuitive, and it’s the closest word I know to “I see you as you are.”
Gleaning is what happens next. It’s gathering what’s overlooked, it’s noticing what I might otherwise miss, and it’s honoring the small, quiet moments that don’t announce themselves.
Ken is how I meet my subject, gleaning is what I do with what I see, and yes, I’m saying all of that on a photography website. If you are still with me, yay!!!
This is what it looks like in real life. I photograph pretty much everything: families, seniors, headshots, events, dance performances, personal branding, and the occasional “can you please make me look like I slept this week” request. I don’t specialize in one tiny niche on purpose, because I want you to have good photos, whatever “good” means for you, and I also love photography, full stop.
Plus, I like a challenge 🙂
If you are worried about how it’ll go, I’ll guide you, I’ll give you posing direction that makes sense, I’ll keep it moving without rushing you, and yes, I will tell you what to do with your hands. This is a safe space where you won’t be forced to smile. And when it all works, it feels calm, you show up as yourself, I pay attention, and we make photos that feel like your life, not like a trend.
If you want to reach out, please do. If you’d rather lurk around the site first, I respect a good lurk, no shame! Either way, I’m glad you found me 🙂
