Meet Heidi Calvert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Calvert.

Heidi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Tampa, Florida in 1971, I always communicated through artistic expression experimenting with a variety of media including drawing and painting. But it was in the early 1990’s when my love of music led me to the discovery of my attraction to the camera.

Starting out shooting my favorite bands on stage, and then eventually shooting their album covers and promo assets, I decided to focus on photography as my chosen career path. I chose fine art as my initial major in college but took photography classes which opened up a whole new world for me. I discovered the work of fashion photographers such as Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton that showed me how fashion and art can become one through the magic of photography and I knew right away that was what I wanted to do.

In 1997, I left Florida for New York City to live out my dreams! After dropping out of art school after one year at the School of Visual arts where I was awarded a scholarship to attend, I became a fixture in the art and underground nightlife communities. I both mingled with the elite in the high art scene and partied in musty basements in the underground art world. I became somewhat of a nightlife and art personality, even appearing in society papers and magazines. All the while I was busy shooting tests with new agency-represented fashion models who lived in my revolving dorm rooms at the famed artist residence the Gershwin Hotel. I met legendary artist/photographer Anton Perich there too, who offered me my first publication opportunities as a contributor to his long-standing magazine, NIGHT. My name appeared on the cover alongside Helmut Newton himself, which Anton revealed in an interview with me “Well, publishing (your) photography in the same issue with Helmut Newton was not an accident. It created a conversation between his work and your work. It was a perfect example of what NIGHT should be. Your photography questioned and enhanced his work.”

In 2002, I moved to Los Angeles where I opened my infamous former gallery and art space “bluespace”, where many legendary nights were made. The space hosted avant-garde art parties showcasing established/celebrity and new talent alongside one another, inspired by what I had learned in New York. Celebrity artists under my curation included some of my heroes, such as Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, Bauhaus’ David J, Horror genius Clive Barker, and others. In 2005 I shut the gallery doors and retreated to New York for a short time before returning to LA where I now reside. Here I also finished my bachelor’s degree in Photography, this time at the top of my class.

As a plus-sized woman, I have always been inclusive in my work, appreciating and photographing all body types and even dabbling in plus modeling myself – not because I wanted to be a model, but to learn what it was like to be on the other side of the camera in order to become a better photographer. I am known for being one of the first to shoot plus-size models in the same high fashion style that straight-size models are shot, and offering the same retouching treatment, staying true to my artistic style. As a Photoshop pro who believes in body positivity, I do not believe that natural-looking but flawless beauty retouching goes against this belief. Historically, fashion and beauty images have been retouched and to treat plus-size models any differently, I believe, is oppressive in itself. Fashion photography is an art – the images focus on the beauty of women and their style, and although I believe that culturally defined “flaws” are beautiful too and should be embraced, my creative style is clean and flawless and everyone I photograph is treated equally.

I am based in Hollywood and shoot fashion, music and portraits for both commercial brands and individuals.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many struggles. I’m still struggling. My evolution as a full-time artist in Los Angeles has been slow, and at time I feel like it’s too late to accomplish what I set out to. But then I remember to live in the moment, and today I am surviving as a full-time artist. That in itself is a success. And it’s never too late. Many people have become very successful later in life. As I mentioned, my evolution may have been slow, but I do believe it’s never too late to accomplish your biggest and wildest dreams!

When I look back on my life and career this far, there have been a lot of learning experiences, some mistakes, a lot of distraction, a lot of healing, but most of all a ton of fun! I mean, I made friends and worked with some of my heroes! I don’t take that for granted. I’ve also inspired many women to feel beautiful as I’ve learned to do so myself, and that means the world to me. I’ve had a pretty wildly awesome life so far and I look forward to the next chapter as I approach 50 years of age.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Heidi Calvert Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am full-time fashion, music and portrait photographer and I offer my services to both commercial brands and individual clients. Although my main focus is on commercial photography, mainly fashion, I like to make myself available to any woman who wants the experience of looking and feeling like her best self through my work. That’s my passion and what I am most proud of. I’m known as a specialist with skin tones and plus-size bodies, and for shooting the first fashion editorials featuring plus-size models, such as famous fashion icon Tess Holliday and social media sensation Jenny Rieu. I am a full-service studio that not only offer photography services, but high end retouching as well.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Oh, Los Angeles is an amazing city to shoot in. There are so many creatives to collaborate with here. So many models and beautiful locations. So many brands are based here. So many people here wants and need photos of themselves. That being said, the industry is very saturated and competitive. But I don’t fear competition. I feel like if you have a clearly defined style, there are clients that you are right for, and clients you’re not right for. It’s a matchmaking game in many ways. Sometimes it comes down to numbers, or connections, or simply if you can get the job done and turned around in a timely manner. Sometimes it’s not even about how good you are, especially in this city where networking is super important.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heidicalvert.com
• Email: info@heidicalvert.com
• Instagram: @heidicalvert_photo
• Facebook: @heidicalvertphotography

Image Credit:
Top to Bottom Image 1: Monique Parent for Pinup Girl Clothing, 2. Amber Purcell and Harley @eatdrinkcat 3. Pansy St Battie for Pinup Girl Clothing 4. Valentina Azul  5. Jenny Rieu  6. Tess Holiday 7. Traci Lords 8. Lacy Soto for Pinup Girl Clothing  Personal photo by: Sequoia Emmanuelle

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