Meet Heather Saputo | Photographer & Financial Analyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Saputo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
If I am completely honest, I never thought of being a photographer. It wasn’t until after I had my children that I picked up a camera and started capturing my own memories. A little while later, I started doing sessions for $45 and quickly realized that this was something that I wanted to pursue. Even though I cringe looking back at those $45 sessions, I know it took that for me to grow.

While photography is not my full-time job, it is something that I have been able to continue to do as a passion. Sharing special moments with my guests became the thoughts behind continuing this business.

I work full-time in the home building industry as a Land Acquisition Financial Analyst, so pursuing another career on the side was never in my mind, but I am so thankful to have a creative outlet that gets me away from numbers. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be Heather Saputo, full-time photographer! For now, I am so thankful that I get to be a part of two things I love!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I am not a photographer with one style. I love that my guests can come to me with an idea, and we can execute it together. If my guest is having a baby and wants clean images, I can provide that, but if they come to me on Halloween and want a spooky, moody shoot I can also provide that. I love shooting everything from tattooing to Santa.

I am most proud of my growth in the last 2 years focusing on editing styles and growing my business authentically and by word of mouth.

I’ve gotten where I am today by messing up. I know that sounds strange, but it’s the truth. I truly believe that allowing myself to make mistakes and having people willing to make mistakes with me has allowed me to figure out what I am passionate about and where I see my business going.

I think that the most important lesson I’ve learned is to not compare myself to others. I’ve learned that as a photographer, I am not for everyone, and that’s okay! I no longer feel the need to have a perfect Instagram profile, a specific niche, or one editing style. I just want to take photos and experience this little life with each guest that I’m lucky enough to cross paths with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oooo – this one is going to be hard for me. Call me Mrs. Homebody.

I would most definitely take them down to Soda City market for all the food and local shopping. Explore downtown Columbia and then head over to Riverbanks Zoo for sure.

We would have to visit the low country and kayak the Edisto River, which is one of the best kayaking adventures in the state if you ask me. We’d stop and grab Bubba’s Biscuit in Lexington for fuel beforehand. Their Bubba’s Sweet Heat is probably one of the best biscuits I’ve ever had!

Hopefully, The Senate would have a show going on that we could catch because I love live music.

Outside of those specific things, I would most likely want to hit the road and explore some of the beautiful mountains nearby.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It would be hard for me to Shoutout one person or group, but I would love to dedicate this to all of my past, present, and future guests who continue to support me and allow me to do what I’m doing. I would not be here without them.

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