i'm just gonna say it, Zoe Hiigli rocks my world! after years of doing what she thought was right, she followed her heart and is now one of the hottest newborn and maternity photographers based in nyc. meet zoe:oh, hey. before we get started... did you know that this divine artist is a fellow native new yorker? how about she's a HUGE Madonna fan? oh- and guess what? we met in high school. yup. you heard right. high school. Corey Tazmania zoe, one of the biggest impressions I have of you from our high school days was how beautifully you expressed yourself through fashion. was that a conscious part of being an artist for you? Zoe Hiigli haha. It blows my mind to hear you and others from school tell me this about myself because I never thought I was beautiful or artistically expressive. I wanted to be Madonna and basically I was copying her. Corey Tazmania what was it about Madonna that inspired you? Zoe Hiigli Any woman who is strong and independent, I'm attracted to- which is why I loved Madonna so much. The one thing that I've learned through talking to high school friends is that we all felt alone and kind of powerless. As a teenager, I had a weak and non-existent relationship with my parents so I looked to other women to guide me. The song "Express Yourself" had a huge impact on my life. Madonna told me to express myself, not to go for second best, to love myself and not be ashamed of my sexuality. It felt right, so I listened to her. Corey Tazmania did Madonna lead you to discover other artists or help you form a throughline for yourself as an artist? Zoe Hiigli She did lead me to other artists, for sure. Keith Haring, Jean Paul Gaultier, Frida Khalo, the list goes on and on... I never considered myself an artist, until recently. I'm kind of a late bloomer. I spent many years doing what I thought I should do instead of listening to my soul and heart. I struggled as a graphic designer and never felt very good at it. Everything was a struggle. Being obsessed with paying bills and staying current (fashion, hair, makeup) detracts from your real mission in life... to cultivate your god given talent. Which in my case is photography. When I started my photography career it was the exact opposite of a struggle- it came so naturally to me. Corey Tazmania after so many years of doing something that didn't feel right, when did the decision to change come? Zoe Hiigli What really changed me was my son, Max. When he was born I started photographing him alot. Waaay too much. lol But in that, I realized my talent and how effortless it was for me. Unfortunately, I kept being a graphic designer because I didnt have anyone in my life telling me I could change careers. I thought to myself, Ive been doing this for 20 years, how can I just stop now that I have a kid? And how the hell am I going to compete with Richard Avedon? My school CreativeLive changed all that for me. They literally saved me. They ripped apart the notion that in order to be an artist you must starve. Corey Tazmania how did you find out about CreativeLive? Zoe Hiigli Searching for "how to be a fashion photographer" lol google! Corey Tazmania hahaha! so, it sounds like you were ready to make a career change, using photography as your medium and looking to go into fashion; did you do it? Zoe Hiigli Yeah! In my eyes, it was the coolest. I mean, who doesn't want to be in fashion! Beautiful models, beautiful clothes, beautiful locations, makeup and jewels. I tested with models till the day I found CreativeLive. Actually, I gave up right before I found CreativeLive. The fashion industry is a really, REALLY hard, ego filled, plastic industry to be in. And at that point in my life (30 something, single mom) I knew I wanted to be a photographer but I didn't want to do that. Something about it felt wrong but I wasn't educated enough to realize why I felt that way. CreativeLive helped me find a genre that was more me and what excited me was making regular women feel beautiful; I like that idea. I found my own power and beauty though my self portraits and I wanted to share that with other women. There is something powerful about seeing your own beauty. Corey Tazmania I have goosebumps just hearing that truth of yours, zoe! Zoe Hiigli I get goosebumps telling my story, Corey! What a journey it has been! I also learned very early on that you have to pick one genre and stick with it. This concept was the toughest lesson for me to learn because like many photographers, we love shooting everything. But along the way, you have to realize that when you spread yourself that thin you dont become a master of anything. Corey Tazmania great insight. you mentioned earlier that you photographed your son, max, a lot. did he encourage you to redirect your focus towards photographing newborns and expecting mothers? Zoe Hiigli No, he was too young then. But he is my BIGGEST supporter now. He tells me how proud he is of me every week. I have literally starved and gone without anything (clothes, treats, vacations) for years. I am finally at the turning point I always knew I could be at. What lead me to newborns was my glamour teacher Sue Bryce. She brought newborn photographer, Kelly Brown, to CreativeLive and from that point on I KNEW it was for me. Despite coming from a nonexistent family, I am very family oriented and I love kids. Newborns just felt like a natural fit; I get excited about the possibilities. Corey Tazmania clients must really feel comfortable knowing you are a mom too. Zoe Hiigli It helps, but my clients hire me because they love my work. They appreciate art and want to create it. Period. {just to interject here for a moment. really! her clients LOVE her work: "She has the creativity and talent to take the most amazing photos that are not cliche or typical. She reaches beyond borders and boundaries to make your sessions and images special, unique, and so couture." here's one more: "Her professionalism and patience in working with such tiny models makes the experience fun and stress free for both parents and baby!"} Corey Tazmania wow, so happy for you, zoe! you are at a very exciting moment in your artistic life! yeah! Zoe Hiigli Thank you! It is super exciting and it makes me happy from a very deep and spiritual place. I know it's meant to be. All of it. random fun facts about zoe:corey: what is your astrological sign? Zoe: ha! i'm a Capricorn. corey: describe the best lunch you've ever had. Zoe: hands down was my experience with food in Italy, in Uggiano La Chiesa, never have i tasted such amazing food and all of it was made by the owner of this very small bed and breakfast. i tried an octopus ceviche for the first time and it literally melted in my mouth. corey: yummy! last question: i'm DJing a party and taking requests, what three songs would you like to hear? Zoe: oooh, that's a tough one. as an x dj that answer has evolved over time and it really depends on my mood. ummmmm... Love is a Stranger: Eurythmics I Can't Quit You Baby: Led Zeppelin Turn Into: Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs but since I'm a music hog, I demand you play Patti Smith: GLORIA! corey: you got it, mamma
a gigantic thank you, ZOE,
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Authorcorey tazmania |