Conversations with Samantha Hearn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Hearn.

Hi Samantha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first picked up a camera when I was in journalism school about ten years ago. After graduating and working in the news world for a few years, I realized I was hustling 24/7 but didn’t have much to show for it beyond a writing portfolio and countless hours of sitting in boring City Hall meetings. I was tired, broke and overworked, and found creativity in taking photos of my friends. I always dreamed about going freelance as an artist and would spend all of my limited free time playing dress up and creating on other people. It was the one thing during my time in the newspaper industry that kept me going. After realizing I was deeply unsatisfied working for someone else, doing stories that I didn’t actually care about, I quit my job with $50 in the bank and never looked back. Since then, I’ve shot a rocket launch at NASA Social, had photos published in the New York Times and Peerspace, shot for Zac Posen, and have worked with countless amazing clients to create art that I really love. I now have much more than $50 in the bank and will never go back to any kind of corporate or news industry job. One of my biggest passions is helping other creatives realize that they can make more money and find more personal satisfaction in working for themselves than they ever could working for someone else, and that abundance is everywhere if you take the time to do the inner work.

Alright, 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?
There were definitely struggles along the way, the biggest one being that I just didn’t have much faith in the universe. Once I started on the path of self-awareness, positivity and abundance mindset, everything shifted. And I mean everything – the money, the types of clients I work with, the relationship, the friendships. I think one of the biggest struggles all creatives face is the deeply ingrained belief that you’ll be a “starving artist” and that creatives “don’t make much money” and that you have to “work really hard.” These are inherently false beliefs. I used to hustle, believing that I had to in order to be successful. I would take the jobs I didn’t really want at prices that were completely unfair to me, all because I believed more in lack than abundance. I was constantly working, constantly taking clients, yet still had nothing to show for it. But once I shifted my mindset through daily meditation, affirmations and training from lack to abundance, I no longer needed to hustle. I could now take fewer gigs, but at the rate I deserve and have a much more fulfilling lifestyle. The key is that wealth and happiness all start from within – one of my teachers told me that it’s a frequency you cultivate from the inside out, not the outside in. A lot of times, we try to work hard, chase clients, go after the gig, etc. and we think that will make us wealthy. But it doesn’t – it overworks and undervalues us. When you affirm your boundaries, stick to them, and raise your inner vibration to one of joy and overflow, the outside reality has no choice but to match it. I firmly believe that the path of awareness and enlightenment is the path to wealth, happiness, joy and love.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in high gloss glamour photography with a dash of disco science fiction. I’ve always been a theater kid, inspired by anything that sparkles and demands attention. I love science fiction stories of all kinds and that’s definitely visible in my work, and I also love playing dress up with my clients. I’m most proud of my relentless dedication to positivity more than anything, and it fuels my career in a way that hustling and grinding never could. I bring that energy to every shoot and feel amazing when I can help another person feel beautiful. I think that’s what honestly sets me apart from others – I won’t let you talk down on yourself if you’re around me and I’m going to help you see your inner light. But it won’t be in a new age hippie kind of way – it’ll always have my signature, sparkly touch.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes! I am always reading so the books shift, but some of my recent favorites have been A Woman’s Worth by Marianne Williamson, anything Alan Watts, Winning Through Enlightenment by Ron Smothermon, and of course The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I also love the Twilight series (sue me) and a good corny romance novel. My favorite podcast is called The Feminine Frequency by Oyinkonsola. It’s absolutely epic when you’re seeking the path of least resistance and enlightenment. I have daily listened to this podcast because there’s always something new to discover. Consistently feeding my mind positive information is a huge key – when we get on Instagram or Facebook, we’re always being subtly programmed with information that’s just not healthy for our spirit. I love anything that helps me feel centered, grounded and alive.

Pricing:

• $225 – 1/2 hour shoot with 10 edits
• $450 – 1 hour shoot with 20 edits
• $1500 – 3 hour editorial shoot with 50 edits, wardrobe styling and set design
• $3000 – full day 8 hours with 100 edits
• $150 – 1 hour coaching session

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.samanthahearn.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sammyhearn
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaHearn

Image Credits
All photos by Samantha Hearn. Models: Tyler Rayn, Randi Lee, Sara Dela Haya, Raena Sky, Stephen Dillon, Kara Frazier