Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Harpole.
Heather, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After graduating high school in the midst of the pandemic, I made the decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue a degree in Digital Marketing at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Not many of my peers, teachers, or counselors had heard of the college prior to me announcing my acceptance.
In contrast to the majority of students from my private high school, I decided to take a less traditional approach to college. Studying the business of social media seemed to be taboo because individuals in my hometown did not consider it to be a legitimate profession. However, I am here to say that after completing my Associate of Arts in Digital Marketing and currently working on my Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing, I can 100% testify how vital social media is for all businesses no matter their presence. Once I arrived in LA in October 2020, I began working on building my photography portfolio even with the challenges of the pandemic. I took this time to collaborate with students at FIDM and networking with creatives on Instagram and Facebook. This is yet another example of how social media can leverage a person’s personal presence as well because it gets your name where it needs to be at the right time.
Most of my career opportunities have a direct correlation to my own digital marketing for my freelance photography and design business. I guide brands in conceptualizing the visuals for their marketing assets along with shooting and editing the images/videos after shoots. My experience includes photography for campaigns, public figures, events, and environments. I am proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro, XD, Shopify, WordPress, Asana, Final Cut Pro, Canva, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. In addition to balancing college and my own business, I have interned as a marketing and public relations assistant for multiple brands. Last spring, I worked alongside Price Latimer, an interior designer based in the Arts District. I helped her source materials for her clients and photographed her work. I also had the opportunity to produce the Chloe Sells Drugs Before Dinner Death Before Dishonour Gallery.
In the fall I began interning at Girls Crew, an industry-leading jewelry brand that is woman and minority-owned. The founder, Jina Chang a 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient provided me with experience in creating marketing assets for collaborations with Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, Care Bears, and Squishmallows. I took the initiative to reach out to the press to receive media features and plan experiential activations for upcoming business expansions. My time at Girls Crew landed me a new internship at MOOUSE MEDIA, a content creation agency in Beverly Hills. Starting in April, I will be attending shoots and editing footage for Nicole Kramer and Sam Moouse. I am looking forward to this new opportunity because of the diversity of companies and styles amongst their clients. This new leap will be a great way for me to continue building my skills while practicing those I have learned in previous positions and in my freelance work. Today, I spend the majority of my time managing school, my personal passion projects, and collaborating with LA-based brands. I never take the possibilities this city has to offer for granted because one opportunity can result in endless connections!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the main challenges I encountered is the timing of the pandemic. Unfortunately, I graduated high school in 2020 so I did not have a typical prom or graduation. However, I took this time to build my photography portfolio and hone in on the skills I needed to learn to meet my clientele’s needs. Dealing with the pandemic in Arkansas was a completely different situation than in California. Many of my hometown peers that attended traditional college still got to have the experience of living in a dorm and attending classes. In contrast, I spent the majority of my freshman year in my studio apartment trying to leverage myself as a creative any way I could. Attending FIDM made me grow up much faster compared to my hometown peers because of the responsibility of managing the upkeep on an apartment at 18. The amount of freedom I had truly made me who I am today because I adore exploring any new endeavor even if there are bumps in the road. I consider a journey to be about the learning experience because I apply the lessons I gain to my own business. Despite the comparison that comes with choosing an art school versus a traditional college, I am confident that attending FIDM is one of the best decisions I have made. I used to contemplate transferring because of how rocky the start was with Covid but the importance of persevering through the ups and downs is what helped me to meet so many lovely people. I see what my peers are doing in traditional environments and I realize that I would not have been able to receive near as many career opportunities if I went to a college that did not consider social media marketing to be a profession.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in content creation, creative directing, photography, public relations, event planning, and graphic design. My experience comes from marketing public figures, events, and brands on social media platforms since I moved to LA. Some of the brands I created content for include Disney, Marvel, Girls Crew, Barbie/Mattel, Revlon, Hub, BH Cosmetics, Hamsa Club, Price Latimer, and Lucky Life LA. Each of these brands have diverse styles and usage for the visuals I create for them. One of the main things that set me apart from others is my ability to pinpoint a brand’s aesthetic and make it a reality within the creative assets. Some days I am working for an apparel brand while others, I am trying to convey a lifestyle or mood rather than a physical product. My agility in various styles is what makes me stand out. I tend to listen to clients on their vision primarily because they know how they want their brand to be perceived. I am most proud of how many different clients I have been able to work alongside. I am confident that I can take on a variety of projects at once to keep me passionate. My ultimate goal is to bring each of my client’s brand messages to life through the compositions I create.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My favorite thing about the city is the fast-paced lifestyle. I love staying active and I feel that LA has so many amazing qualities for people who are always on the go. You can also find a community of people for anything you enjoy doing! The possibilities are endless as long as you recognize your potential and see where you can grow. Since living here, I’ve learned that you have to pave the way yourself. Although I attend a college that provides amazing connections through fellow students and professors in the industry, a person has to put themselves out there to build relationships. Upon reflecting, I realize how most of the opportunities I’ve received are due to my willingness to try new things and experiences without knowing the outcome. As someone who likes to know my future and schedule in advance, I’ve found that LA is not the easiest place to plan ahead. There are always shoots that come up and you have to maintain a flexible schedule. I’ve had instances where I’ve found out I needed to be at a studio on a Sunday morning only hours before. Being in the entertainment and creative industries means that you are always on call. Freelancing here has its ups and downs but I love how the best projects are the most spontaneous ones!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heatherharpole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherharpolephotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-harpole/
Image Credits
Heather Harpole Photography
