Meet heirloom photographer Vanessa Simpson
Vanessa Simpson and I met a few years ago when I held a heiter event at her beautiful home in Somerset. Back then Vanessa made it her goal to bring people together. What started off as event hosting, workshops and retreats has now grown into a different form of connecting people with each other. After some changes and a few challenges along the way, Vanessa has turned her passion into a heartfelt photography business that is all about creating meaningful memories. I can’t wait for you to find out more about it.
When did you decide to become a photographer and why?
I’ve often wished that I could share a story of having been taught photography by my
parents or grandparents, but despite the fact that one grandfather was indeed a photographer it is a relatively new love of mine. It began out of necessity in truth, using social media to run a small business from home quickly taught me the value of good imagery and in the learning to make appealing photographs I became enchanted by the challenge to make more meaningful images and learn more about photography itself.
How would you describe your photography style?
My style? That’s hard to answer! While I enjoy the process of making a picture what I really love is talking to people, so portraits are top of my list, but I what I’d like to be known for is creating photographs that convey warmth and an emotional connection for the viewer. I favour darker images as opposed to the light and bright, and am ever seeking that glimpse of sunlight in the shadows!
What inspired you to focus on family heirloom photography?
The heirloom photography has gently grown out recognising just how highly I value family and home. As a family we’ve lived in many different places around the world, so making new homes and saying goodbye to them has been a feature of our lives, but we’ve always believed that home is where our family is. However we’ve also taken all our ‘stuff’ along with us which has been important; so many of our belongings have some sort of story attached to them and it is these items and their associated memories that can make a place feel like ‘home’ I think.
Why do you think photography has a positive impact and adds to one’s Heiterkeit?
Photography plays a hugely important role not just in documenting social history, but along with our other senses in stimulating memories and emotions. I believe there is value in creating and curating photographs that represent our loved ones and their homes not only for our own pleasure, but to pass on to generations to come. I hope that beautiful heirloom albums will not only tell a story but convey the hugely important values of family and home to them.
What will 2021 bring for you and your photography business?
2021 will continue to be challenging for family photographers for a little while to come and I’m extremely sensitive to the responsibility I bear when stepping into the homes of older and vulnerable people; it’s very important to me that clients can rely on my professionalism. So, while I long to make these projects for families I will be patiently waiting until the time is right and in the meantime will be focusing on honing my skills, enjoying other creative projects and as an ex-nurse I’m also hoping to become part of the volunteer vaccination workforce.
What are the things that make you feel heiter?
The things that make me ‘Heiter’ are mostly very simple, a cup of tea with my parents, a walk with a friend, a chat with my daughters or a glass of wine in front of the fire with my husband. I love our garden, am always full of wonderful plans for it and forever ordering more seeds that I will ever manage to grow and plant!
Where can people find and book you?
My website is vanessasimpson.co.uk and you’ll find links to my email and social media there. My favourite social media platform is Instagram where I’m @simpsonsisters (I have three sisters!) and I send a monthly letter to subscribers from which I often enjoy some email exchanges - I’m much quicker on a keyboard than a phone so love communicating this way too!
The photographer herself - Vanessa Simpson
Images: Vanessa Simpson
Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine
