Today we’d like to introduce you to Elliott Hefner.
Hi Elliott, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Let me start by saying I didn’t always want to “go big” with my photography. I always looked at is as a hobby and always looked down on myself, thinking I would never go anywhere; I am not National Geographic good, no one will ever publish my work. But now I am published, I have people asking me to take event and graduation photos, and am pursuing a master’s degree in the art of photography. I have always been interested in photography, especially capturing moments and history of it. In 2018, I got my first camera, a Canon PowerShot. I took that thing everywhere, capturing everything. Little did I know this would create the building blocks to the fundamentals of the skill. I shot everything, trying every type of photography, from macro to portraits, landscapes to nature. Eventually, I began to shoot specific things in a specific style, for example, using the style of landscape photography in a landscape shot. I began taking photography classes at SDSU in 2020. This taught me the skills and techniques required to compose a shot and tell a story with an image. This was a game changer; my work ended up in several galleries across campus, and got some much-needed encouragement towards my photography and towards my education in photography. With this newfound confidence, I began to reach out and submit my work to things and try to get my name “out there.” This led to me being published in an e-book about street and documentary-style photography.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Be biggest struggles I faced was self-doubt. Doubt in my camera skills, doubt in my abilities to compose a good photograph, and even doubt in my clientele. But after years of taking photographs, practicing, and self-encouragement. I found myself and my confident, and can now call myself a photographer.
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 am a photographer. I enjoy nature and wildlife photography but can really shoot anything. I am known for my creative portraits and vivid landscapes. But the work I’m most proud of would be my Naturally Connected collection I created in 2021. I photographed my family doing various household chores in natural environments. For example, I have a photo of my father shaving his face against a tree.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Someone who pushed me to become the photographer I am today is a man named Professor Robin North at San Diego State University. Other than my family, he was the first person to truly believe in me and my skills and abilities. He urged me to think outside the box in my photography and push my skills to the limit. He suggested that I apply for my master’s degree in photography. That is exactly what I am doing. I am currently working on my portfolio to “beef it up” for my master’s application in November 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elliottrhefnersphotography.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliott.r.hefners.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliott.hefner
