Hayley Fisk: A Journey Through Photography and Entrepreneurship

Hayley Fisk is a photographer and entrepreneur who has been making a name for herself in the photography industry since she graduated from college in 2012. Hailing from a small town in Illinois, she ventured to Los Angeles with aspirations of establishing herself as a photographer. Since then, Hayley has collaborated with prominent brands such as Levi’s, Jergens, and Native just to name a few.

Hayley’s journey in the photography world began with her parents, who were supportive of her artistic talents from a young age. Although Hayley started out interested in illustration, she found that she didn’t enjoy the traditional art school approach she encountered in college. It wasn’t until she took a photography class that she fell in love and found her passion. She loved it so much that she immediately changed her major to photography and never looked back.

After graduating from college, Hayley was offered an internship with a photographer whom she had idolized throughout her college education. Through that internship, she was introduced to a professional retoucher who owned his own business. He offered her an apprenticeship, and from there, she learned how to retouch images that were used for billboards, magazines, movie posters, and more. Hayley learned so much about what goes into the final stages of a photo, and this experience would later prove invaluable to build her own thriving business in the photography space.

For a few years, Hayley worked at various retouching and photo editing jobs, including working as a photo editor for sports entertainment networks such as Fox Sports and NFL Network. While she enjoyed what she was doing in many of her editing roles and liked the financial consistency and stability that came with full-time or part-time work, she knew that a career as a retoucher or photo editor was not what she ultimately wanted.

It wasn’t until Hayley started shooting fashion photography that she found her true calling. She got a part-time job at a major fashion brand where she expanded her knowledge of lighting for both on-figure and e-commerce fashion photography. This job gave her the confidence to seek out other freelance roles, and eventually, she was working non-stop for several fashion clients. 

During the fall of 2019, Hayley’s career trajectory shifted unexpectedly. Her fashion clients started to seek out more cost-effective or full-time photographers, a choice that did not align with Hayley’s professional standards for delivering high-quality work. Despite reaching out to other fashion brands, she was unable to secure consistent freelance work, leading to a deep sense of failure, depression, and anxiety. Today, Hayley is a vocal advocate for mental health and plans to open a coaching practice for photographers focused on manifestation, providing support to those struggling with the pressures and challenges of the photography industry.

Despite the obstacles back in 2019, Hayley had already begun experimenting with stylized product photography and had landed a position with a reputable creative agency, a partnership she maintains to this day. While she was initially uncertain about her newfound interest in product photography, Hayley eventually fell in love with the art form’s creative potential. Unlike fashion shoots, which were fast-paced and frenetic, product photography provided a calmer, more methodical approach that allowed her to exercise her creativity fully. She also recognized that her time was undervalued on fashion shoots, whereas her clients respected and valued her skills when it came to product photography.

Hayley’s business gained further momentum when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Los Angeles in the spring of 2020. With a studio already built in her home, she took the opportunity to establish an LLC and devote herself to expanding her product photography portfolio. As restrictions lifted, she added beauty photography to her services, and soon she was fielding inquiries from a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from small businesses to well-known brands such as Sexy Hair, Jergens, Flower Beauty, Lemme, Fenty Skin, Rael Beauty, Native, Crepe Erase, Smileactives, Image Skincare, Bombas and Levi’s.

Hayley‘s business has continued to thrive, and she has established herself as a leading specialist in stylized product photography for e-commerce, social media, and advertising. Her impressive list of clients includes major industry players, and her work has been published in prominent stores such as Sephora and CVS’s visual merchandising for renowned brands such as KVD Beauty and Real Techniques. Hayley’s exceptional work ethic is evident in her dedication to her craft and her clients. She approaches each project with care, taking the time to fully comprehend her client’s requirements and vision. Her meticulous attention to detail and ability to infuse products with a creative flair through her photography have earned her a prominent position in the industry.

Hayley’s journey through photography and entrepreneurship has not been without its challenges, but she has persevered and come out on top. Her dedication, hard work, and passion for her craft have paid off, and she is now living her dream as a successful photographer and entrepreneur.

If you’re interested in learning more about Hayley and her work, you can check out her website at hayleyfisk.com or follow her on Instagram at @hayleyfiskphoto. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a business owner looking to elevate your brand through stunning photography, Hayley is the perfect person to help you achieve your goals.

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