Women in Business Spotlight-Joan Heffler Photography

If you’ve been to a Women’s Business Council event, Joan Heffler is the person working the room with her camera. And for 25 years, Joan has lived up to her tagline, “Pictures with Personality.” Her photos are alive and vibrant and tell a story about the person’s personality.?

When I asked her what she loves about her job, she laughed aloud and said, “I get to tell people what to do, and with camera in hand, they listen!” When shooting in a corporate setting or for a family, her masterful eye arranges and rearranges people and furniture to get that perfect shot. It’s about feng shui, a natural flow of things and people complementing each other. Joan spoke with passion as she humbly shared her thoughts that after 1000s of events and over ten thousand headshots, every single one made her happy.?

What a gift to enjoy what you do, and how lucky we are to have Joan in our midst!?

Favorite quote- Doesn’t have one! Joan does not need one. What she sees through the eye of her lens exceeds any thought or emotion that a quote could offer.?

Could you tell us something about you that few people know?

Few people know Joan’s love of ballroom dancing. She finds the motion of dance graceful and elegant. The Bolero is her favorite and is a slow dance characterized by smooth, gliding movements and dramatic arm styling with a romantic feel. Joan does not dance competitively but has participated in recitals for the past 15 years at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. The similarities between dance and photography were evident to me. The feelings, the emotions, and the attention to detail sum up what makes Joan a gifted photographer.?

How do organizations like the Chamber help business leaders? What are some things we could be doing that you would like to see the Chamber build on?

When Joan joined the Chamber in 1999 via a federal grant offering one year’s free membership, she volunteered for every committee, including the WBC. At the time, there were 15 women in the WBC, and a mere five years later, it had grown to 150 women. Today, the WBC engages women and businesses inside the Capital Region and beyond.

Joan attributes her joy and success to the circle of friends she has met at the Chamber for over 24 years. She prefers the term camaraderie as opposed to networking. Camaraderie is stronger, and so are the women she surrounds herself with. Joan is a gem within the WBC, and we are thankful for her continued view of all of us from the lens of her camera!

Joan’s studio is in upstate NY, and she travels anywhere to be a part of your world. Contact Joan Heffler Photography at?[email protected]?or call (518) 346-4485 to speak with this professional for more information on portrait, corporate, branding, event, and wedding photography.?