Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Heather Edmunds

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Heather Edmunds. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Heather , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, hands down. Intelligence and energy are important and valuable, but without integrity they’re like a camera without a lens cap removed; lots of potential, no clear focus. Integrity shapes every decision I make, from how I treat my clients and lead my team to how I show up for my family and community. Skills can be learned and energy can be fueled, but character can’t be faked.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Heather Edmunds, the heart and shutter behind Moments by Heather Edmunds & Company, an award-winning portrait and event photography company based in North Carolina. For nearly 18 years I’ve turned once-in-a-lifetime milestones and everyday magic into portraits that feel alive long after the flash fades.

Photography is personal for me because there is a unique vulnerability needed for clients to feel their true authentic selves and me to be able to document that in the best possible way. At my core, I thrive on empowering those around me. Having profound empathy is a skill that most overlook, however, being able to see people where they are, meet them where they are, and help them see themselves where they want to be is just part of what makes me stand out in a populated industry.

When I’m not working, I absolutely love spending time with my family. My husband is my real life hero and best friend. He’s a professional Firefighter and EMT, and together we have two incredibly brilliant and athletic boys as well as two dogs. Understanding the chaos in everyday life, the traveling sports schedules, the urgency of time together, and moments that go too fast and you cannot get back are also part of what makes me unique. Whether it’s the giggle between grandparents, an empowering boudoir session, new parents smiling at their baby, a father walking his daughter down the isle, a mom headed back in to the workforce, a teenager trying to find their rhythm, or the gleeful magic of my custom Santa Workshop- I’ve got you covered.

What sets my brand apart is how I fuse artistry with strategy. With more than 25 years in marketing and public relations, I know how to turn meaningful images into powerful storytelling tools. My clients don’t just receive photographs; they gain visual narratives that strengthen family legacies and business brands. Right now I’m expanding empowerment-driven projects, from portraits that celebrate self-confidence to community experiences that bring people together. My mission is simple but profound: to help people see the beauty of their journey and create memories that outlast trends.

If you’d like to follow along or create lasting memories of your own, you can connect with me on Instagram and Facebook @momentsbyheatheredmunds or visit momentsbyheatheredmunds.com, I’d love to help you capture your story.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Within the last year, I’d said the most defining relationship in my life is the one I’ve built with myself. Probably a little different response than some, but I started as a little girl who felt voiceless, yet I learned early to fight for my place in the world. By my teens I had graduated early, worked two full-time jobs, maintained straight A’s in college, and built a business—proving to myself that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Somewhere along the way within the hustle I lost myself. I was successful, but I was so focused on raising the next bar that I wasn’t present in the moment. Flash forward to now, I still have that relentless determination, but I also value myself enough to take care of me. I strive to set healthy boundaries teaching my boys that betting on yourself is the only bet you can ever be 100 % on. You don’t have to know the odds, you just have to know you’re capable of doing hard things and you’ll come out either winning or learning.

Learning to trust and champion myself hasn’t just changed my own path, it drives me to help others stop dimming their light and own their worth. I absolutely thrive on helping and empowering others to see themselves, believe in themselves, and bet on themselves.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. I don’t know of a single business owner that hasn’t wanted to give up at least a dozen times. Building a business while carving my own path has tested every ounce of grit I have. There were seasons when I felt unseen, overworked, and unsure if the sacrifices were worth it. But each time I reminded myself of a simple truth: I can either sink or swim. I’m a swimmer. Nothing worth it is easy, so I’m either going to work incredibly hard for someone else’s vision, or my own. That mindset turns doubt into fuel. Perseverance isn’t about never feeling like quitting, it’s about choosing to bet on yourself, again and again because betting on yourself is the best investment you’ll ever make.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in photography is that gear and trendy edits are everything. The industry loves to sell the idea that the next camera body, lens, or preset will magically create artistry. In reality, it’s the connection with the subject and the ability to tell a story that makes a portrait unforgettable. The most powerful photo comes from someone who knows how to truly see their client and how to properly translate that into art regardless of their tool.

Another myth is that burnout is just part of the hustle, to be successful you have to book every weekend, pull endless all-nighters, and underprice yourself to stay competitive. It’s an unsustainable model that drains creativity and steals joy from the craft. I believe in building systems and pricing that honor both the art and the artist. A thriving photography business should fuel inspiration and support a full, balanced life, not burn it out.

The truth is simple: artistry grows from vision, relationships, and integrity, not from chasing the latest fads or sacrificing balance.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is that I saw people, really saw them, and helped them see themselves.
That I used my camera, my words, and my work to empower others to own their worth and preserve the beauty of their journey.

I want them to say I built more than a business; I built a legacy of connection, kindness, and courage. That I didn’t just take pictures, I created space for people to feel celebrated, valued, and unforgettable.

I hope they remember how fiercely I loved my family, my husband and our two boys, and how I poured that love into our community. Whether I was championing kids who felt invisible, mentoring young creatives, or standing up for those without a voice, I want my life to show that family and community are the heartbeat of everything I did.

And above all, I hope they say I never dimmed my light and never asked anyone else to dim theirs, that I lifted others as I climbed, leaving behind more confidence, more authenticity, and more love than I found.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.momentsbyheatheredmunds.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentsbyheatheredmunds/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-edmunds/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentsbyheatheredmunds
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/moments-by-heather-edmunds-mooresville
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@heatheredmunds
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@momentsbyheatheredmunds

Image Credits
All images taken by Heather Edmunds, Moments by Heather Edmunds & Company