A new photography studio celebrated its opening on Monday with the community at 653 W. Walnut St. in Frankfort with a focus on capturing special moments for family and friends.
Heidi Masters, owner of Heidi Joy Photography, celebrated alongside the community on Oct. 23 with a ribbon cutting of her new photography studio in Frankfort. Heidi Joy Photography was started by Masters in September 2022 when she founded the business after a few months of work inside the community. Masters commented that her new studio will allow for her to meet the needs of more clients inside and around Clinton County.
“I’m feeling really excited just to be able to have a location that my community can come out to, and hopefully I can reach other people in Lafayette or the north side of Indy and have those people come out and meet me out here as well,” Masters said. “Before, I was just renting other studios in Lafayette or Indy, so it’s really nice to have my own where clients can come see me.”
Masters expressed that the studio and her business would not have grown to its current glory without her biggest supporter, her husband, Grant Masters. She stated that he urged her to pursue photography as a hobby and continued to support her as her photography skills quickly turned into a business venture. Masters began her work with a $200 camera from Facebook Marketplace, and she initially conducted free sessions as a hobby before her client list began to expand.
“My husband bought me my first camera July 2022,” Masters said. “I had just started being a stay-at-home mom. I just had my second child, and I really needed something to do in my free time because I was starting to go crazy a little bit. I had always enjoyed photography, so my husband, Grant, said that I should pursue this and it might be something I’m good at.”
Masters stated that she was surprised how quickly her business became a well-known asset for the community to explore, and a year later as she opened the doors to her new studio, she remained grateful for the support she has received from the community.
“Things just started snowballing so much so quickly that I was constantly booked and busy and people really enjoyed my art, and I was just shocked I guess,” Masters said. “I’m still kind of shocked a year later that things have been going the way that they have.”
Heidi Joy Photography provides an opportunity for families and couples to capture the special moments of engagements, weddings, milestones and lifestyle photos through her various sessions. Masters commented that her new studio features a cozy venue for families to capture a more laid back and inviting atmosphere.
“I want it to feel very warm and inviting whenever a client walks in,” Masters said. “It’s really meant to imitate somebody’s home so that if they want to do pictures that are more of an intimate or cozy style with their family but their house isn’t picture ready, then they have a studio that they’re able to go to without having to worry about cleaning up any messes or doing anything like that. It’s really just meant to be a warm and inviting place.”
Masters expressed that her main goal when exploring the opportunities for sessions with her clients is to ensure that her clients’ experiences become life-long friendships to better help Masters capture the individuality, wants and needs of every client.
“I like to become friends with my clients, and, in fact, I have become friends with most of my clients,” Masters said. “I really strive to make sure that everything about their day so perfectly because I know that pictures are an investment, especially in our economy right now, but I know how important they are, so I spend time with each of my clients to make sure their outfits are coordinated the way they want and make sure to get their vision and what they’re looking for for their day.”
Masters prides herself on her quick turnaround for photos as she provides her clients with albums within a week or two weeks following the sessions. Masters expressed that the process of capturing moments in photos surpasses her need for a business, commenting that through her own personal experiences and wants for her family, she has developed a business model focused on helping clients capture their precious moments.
“Life is so short, and moments just go by so quickly, and a lot of times you’re five years into your little family, and you realize you have no pictures of you and your kids,” Masters said. “Memories go by so fast, so it’s nice to have those pictures that you can encapsulate a short amount of time to be able to look back on and remember you and your partner or just a special moment in your life, your children and things like that. As a mom of two kids, personally it’s very important to capture those memories, and I know that it’s very important to other people as well.”
Masters conducted a photoshoot for the Humane Society of Clinton County as a way to introduce herself to other Clinton County Chamber of Commerce members and highlight the animals that have been residents of the shelter for the longest. For more information about her Humane Society albums or to schedule an appointment for a session, visit Heidi Joy Photography on Facebook, message Masters on Facebook or visit her website.