Her Story
About Heather
I'm a freelance cinematographer who spent 20 years in the Air Force before pursuing my lifelong dream of working in film. I was in security forces for 9 years before switching to the chaplain corps as a chaplain assistant. After retiring from the Air Force, I went back to school and attended film school to do exactly what I've always wanted to do since I was young. I have a bachelor's in psychology and a bachelor's in digital cinematography. I love the camerawork portion of film production, but I'm also involved in all the different parts like post-production, pre-production, film editing, and lighting. I work on sports documentaries and favor working with women because I think the strength that women have, especially athletes, is amazing. I also work with non-profit organizations and community stories because I worked for my church part-time for 10 years as the admin, and I love community stories. I've done stories on programs like buddy backpack that provide lunches for kids on the weekends. I finished school in 2023, so I've been in the field for 3 years now. Even in my spare time, I'm going through videos and editing videos because film was a hobby for a long time before it became my career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely say my parents, especially my mom. My mom was a big influence on me, and she pretty much believed she could do anything, like fix anything. She would get her hands dirty. That's definitely where I get it from - that belief that I can do anything and the willingness to just dive in and make it happen.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When I got out of the military, I saw a vocational rehabilitation person, and she told me it's never too late to go back to school. It's never too late. She really encouraged me and said, you can do it, you can go back. I was just looking for a certificate or something, but she said no, you gotta do the whole thing, you gotta go back to school. That advice changed everything for me and helped me pursue my dream of becoming a cinematographer.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to make as many connections as you can. Go to even the small events, maybe like a meet and greet. Stay an active part of your community. Every year there's this big event called Hall of Fame where you can learn about people that got into the career that you want to be a part of, and they come back and do different talks and lectures. I would stay involved in all the new things that are coming out and learn from others who come back to tell you their stories. Stay connected with all of your classmates and teachers too, whenever you need help. I can't say enough good things about Full Sail University - we can always go back and contact our teachers, and they're always real active with telling us what's going on at school that we can be a part of.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith is very important to me, as well as serving my church. Family is also very important to me. These values guide both my work and my personal life.
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