EP 368: From Barbie Camera To Mansfield Studio: Heather Harvey On Family, Legacy, And Print

What makes Heather Harvey with Heather Harvey Photography a good neighbor?

What if the photos you love most never make it past your camera roll? We sat down with Mansfield-based portrait photographer Heather Harvey to unpack why the images on your walls shape family identity far more than the thousands tucked away on a phone. From newborns and seniors to immersive Santa sessions, Heather shares how she designs studio experiences that feel warm, intentional, and deeply personal—turning fleeting milestones into heirlooms that live in your home, not just your cloud.

Heather’s story begins with a Barbie film camera and grows through profound loss, a journey that taught her how photographs carry voices across generations. She explains why printed portraits boost a child’s confidence, foster a sense of belonging, and help families curate their own visual legacy. We dig into practical details too: how she guides clients on wardrobe and set choices, the role of social media in showing the craft behind the final image, and what it takes to blend artistry with client care at every step.

We also touch on mentorship and community—how Heather supports newer photographers with honest insights about building a sustainable business, shaping client experiences, and staying creative between sessions. Outside the studio, her love of simple family rituals fuels the cozy, seasonal textures in her work, making each session feel like a page pulled from real life. If you’ve wondered when to move a favorite photo from screen to frame, this conversation offers both the why and the how.

Subscribe for more neighbor stories, share this episode with someone who needs a nudge to print, and leave a review to tell us which photo you’d frame first.

To learn more about Heather Harvey Photography, go to:
 🔗 https://www.heatherharveyphotography.com/

Heather Harvey Photography

254-715-7815

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place

(00:02):
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_01 (00:10):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in native aphotographer?
Well, one may be closer than youthink.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Heather Harvey, with HeatherHarvey Photography.
Heather, how are you today?

SPEAKER_02 (00:25):
I'm good.
How are you?

SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
I'm good.
No, we are excited to learn allabout you and your business.
Can you start off by telling ourlisteners just a little bit
about your company and how youoriginally got into this
business?

SPEAKER_02 (00:40):
Yes.
So my name is Heather and I ownHeather Harvey Photography.
I have a studio based inMansfield, Texas, but I service
the water DFW Metroplex.
I'm a portrait photographer.
I work with tons of children.
That's my specialty.

(01:00):
And with that comes newborns,maternity, families, seniors,
just the whole journey of afamily, really, and telling
their story.
And then I do a lot of headshotsand work with several businesses
and schools.
So a little bit of everything.

SPEAKER_01 (01:21):
Yes.
And what is your favorite partof the photography to work on?
Which stage?

SPEAKER_02 (01:29):
Which stage?
I love, I mean, just my favoritepart is working with children.
And so at the end of the year,we do huge Santa experience
visits.
And so that's what we're in themidst of right now.
And um the children love it.
It's just a nostalgic, pricelessmoment with parents building

(01:51):
memories with Santa.

SPEAKER_01 (01:54):
And how did you originally get into this
business, Heather?

SPEAKER_02 (01:59):
So I started out loving photography when I was a
little girl.
My dad gave me my first camera.
It was a um 126 film Barbiecamera.
And the older I got, I had Ilost both my parents and I lost
my brother.
And I realized how pricelessthose pictures were.
And telling our story andtelling our family story.

(02:21):
And being able to pass down andtell my children because my
children never met theirgrandparents.
And so being able to help themmeet and learn about their
grandparents, I've just learnedthe importance of an image, how
how important a picture can beto a family in generations.

SPEAKER_01 (02:43):
Oh well, I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm so
glad you're able to makesomething so beautiful out of
it.
Thank you.
Now, what is the most commonmyth or misconception you come
across on the day-to-day in yourindustry, Heather?

SPEAKER_02 (03:03):
Um, just the daily myth is your images need to live
on a wall, not just your phone.
So many people think thattoday's society everything's on
the phone, everything's on thego, but there's something about
having those images on yourwall.
Um, statistics even show thatchildren's confidence is boosted

(03:26):
drastically when they walk bytheir image hanging on a wall in
their home.
They're connected.
Um they're they know that theybelong somewhere.
So I would love for the myth ofeverything being on your phone
digitally would die just alittle bit.

SPEAKER_01 (03:46):
Now we know marketing is the heart of every
business.
Who are your target customers?
And in terms of marketing today,how do you attract them?

SPEAKER_02 (03:56):
Um, a lot of it's social media because it is my
work that's shown, so I canshowcase a lot of my work on
social media.
Um, I love to reach out to moms,grandmas, dads, grandpas um that
just really cherish thosememories and those moments and
and want to capture all of them.

SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
Heather, have you ever thought about having your
own podcast before?

SPEAKER_02 (04:23):
I have.
Just talking about things in thephotography world.
Um, I do a lot of mentoring andmentorship with um my
photography work and all thethings that come with that.
So being able to speak to thatand and help others grow in the
industry would be a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 (04:41):
Now, outside of work, what do you and your
family like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02 (04:46):
Um, we love to just go find somewhere to eat, like a
hole in the wall place,somewhere we haven't been
before, and just try it out.
We like to try new things.
Um, we love to sit on our backpatio, and especially this time
of year, because we can have afire and s'mores and hot cocoa.
We absolutely love that time.
Um, and other than that, we Ilove getting into my studio and

(05:09):
just being creative and buildingand building wardrobes and sets
when I'm not working with theclient.

SPEAKER_01 (05:16):
Now, please tell our listeners one thing they should
remember today about HeatherHarvey photography.

SPEAKER_02 (05:23):
That it's all about capturing those memories.
And I want to be able to tellyour story, and I can do that
through my camera.

SPEAKER_01 (05:33):
Well, they say a photo is worth a thousand words,
right?

SPEAKER_02 (05:36):
Yes, yes, and so many more.

SPEAKER_01 (05:40):
Now, where can our listeners go to learn more about
Heather Harvey photography?

SPEAKER_02 (05:46):
They can go to Heather Harveyphotography.com.
I also have a Facebook, HeatherHarvey Photo, and an Instagram,
Heather Harvey underscorephotography.

SPEAKER_01 (05:58):
Well, Heather, I really appreciate you being on
the show today.
We wish you and your businessthe best moving forward.
Thank you.
Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (06:07):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
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