Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Hizey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Photography had always been a hobby for as long as I can remember. I would invest in cameras rather than purses or shoes. It was when I was pregnant with my son, Chase, that I purchased a semi-professional camera and started to experiment with the more technical aspects of the camera. My BA is in Child Development and at the time I was a preschool director and then eventually opened my own licensed preschool after my son was born. I started a blog for the parents and documented the children’s daily milestones with photos. I eventually started offering photo packages and doing themed photoshoots with the children. Friends and family started asking me to take maternity, newborn family photos, etc. At the time we were living in North Carolina and then my husband received a job offer in Florida.
So, in 2012 we moved to Atlantic Beach, Florida and I went full-time with my photography business. I loved capturing beach photos of families and children, especially at sunset. I also started capturing weddings and did some training with the resident photographer at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. I was also flying back here to Boston (where the majority of my clientele were since this is where I was born and raised) at least every other weekend to once a month to see clients. I received some extensive training at the largest baby hospital in the country on how to safely photograph and pose newborns. Having spent so long in the childcare industry I knew how important it was to learn this, as newborn photography is certainly not something you do just starting out. I believe all my training and experience with children, families and couples has put me in the position to operate a successful business, and 2 years ago I opened up a portrait studio in Weston, MA.
My photographs have been featured in Twins Magazine as well as Basic Invite, Snapknot Boston Mom’s Blog.US Magazine, E Online, Inquisitr and more recently one of my biggest achievements, People Magazine.
I was selected to be the main photographer on Married At First Sight. I commented on a thread back in July of 2017 where a producer was looking for a photographer. I never thought I would hear from anyone, because there were so many talented Boston area wedding photographers who applied. Well, I got a phone call a couple weeks later and I had the gig! It was exciting.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I do believe it has been a pretty smooth road, and I consider myself very lucky to be doing what I love.
I think at first there were people who thought I was a little crazy giving up a steady career as a teacher/ education director. I was the first generation to graduate college in my family, so I don’t think my parents and other family members were too thrilled at the idea of me being a “photographer”. However, I worked really hard and I think I have proven my success to not only them, but myself over the years. There were many, many sleepless nights where I was up editing, taking online classes, learning more about photography in general. My son was really young so I did most of my work when he was sleeping. I was extremely motivated to be nothing less than successful.
I think my BA in Child Development, being a mom and my many many years of working with families and children has helped me maintain a great relationship with all my clients. During a photoshoot, I never have to think about how to interact with a child who is 2 as opposed to a child who is 5 because I know where they are developmentally and I know how to make them feel comfortable. I also have had extensive CPR training, SIDS training and how to safely pose newborns. Many of those cute little poses they are in can take 10-20 minutes to get them properly posed.
These huge things that parents may not think about at the time when booking their photographer, but it is extremely important. I think having these accolades definitely sets me apart from others in the industry.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Courtney Hizey Photography, LLC – what should we know?
Well, since we do weddings, many times we will meet our clients for an engagement session and then we are pretty much seeing them through their weddings, pregnancies, children’s births, children milestones, etc. That is one of the most rewarding things in this business. They become family to us and we are providing them with a lifetime of memories. We also hold a lot of classes where our clients can come and learn more about how to use their cameras.
We have partnerships with many different local businesses. When you book a session or a wedding with us you receive a discount with Best Dressed, styling by HubFashion, discount on all your invitation and stationery needs through www.basicinvite.com (these could be used for anything ranging from birth announcements to wedding invitations). We are proud of the quality of our service. Clients don’t just show up to their session, they fill out a pre-session questionnaire and we have pre-consultations with them prior to the session. To show case the art we give you we provide some of the most high-end products such as organic bloom frames and high-quality prints. There isn’t too many other services or products out there that you can say you invest in and they last you a lifetime, so we use professional quality print labs that use the highest quality ink and paper.
Courtney Hizey Photography has grown quickly and Courtney knew she couldn’t do every shoot on her own and keep up with the volume of clientele coming in. More recently she implemented an associate program. She began taking on interns who she trained and they shadowed her for a long period of time before doing sessions, they are now associates for CHP and provide services to clients who may be on more of a budget. By doing this Courtney is also helping other moms who want to do something they love, and earn some extra money without the sleepless nights she had to endure while building her the business.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I am a fairly outgoing person and pretty silly by nature. I love to laugh and make others laugh so I think that really helps people feel comfortable in front of the camera, no matter what their age is.
Pricing:
- Wedding pricing starts at $2400-5400 but CHP can build packages for smaller weddings/elopement ceremonies.
- Portraits vary by the package and can range from $100 session fee – $300 session fee. Prints, products and digitals are purchased separately. You only buy what you want and there is no minimum on what you have to purchase.
Contact Info:
- Address: 483 Boston Post Road
Weston, MA
02493 - Website: www.courtneyhizeyphotography.com
- Phone: 3392229918
- Email: info@courtneyhizeyphotography.com
- Instagram: courtneyhizeyphotography (children and families) AND courtneyhizeywedllc (for weddings)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneyhizeyphotography/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/CHPweddingsandevents/
Image Credit:
Heidi Hope Photography
Courtney Hizey Photography
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