Today we’d like to introduce you to Helga Kleinert.
Hi Helga, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in a small town in Western Germany outside of Cologne. Growing up, I enjoyed nature and played in creeks and castle ruins. 1992, I immigrated to the US, and my son Max was born in 2002. Having always admired photography, I acquired my first camera after the birth of my son to capture all the precious moments in his life. It was a Canon Rebel 35 mm Film Camera. I was so excited. I never put the camera into manual mode. I needed to learn how to use it first. The camera was suggested as a starter camera by a coworker, a photographer whose work I very much admired. I needed to learn how to use it. I never put the camera into manual mode. Soon after, I became a single mother raising a child alone. My hobby became a passion, and I started photographing every soccer game Max played. I liked sharing the photos with the other parents. To me, it was a gift of everlasting memories.
Max is now 21 years old and, in mid-2022, enlisted in the US Air Force. He is currently stationed in South Carolina. South Carolina has history, beautiful places, and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. I encouraged Max to explore the areas that surround him. As a mother, I have missed having my son near me, and my encouragement to explore inspired a brief vacation at St. Helena Island. We had a wonderful time. I took this opportunity to capture the photos shown in this article. If for no other reason, I will return to South Carolina to spend time with Max. I could always get lost in the moment when it comes to photography—a welcome stress relief after a long day in the office. Almost anything in photography sparks my interest, but I thoroughly enjoy photographing pets and wildlife. There is nothing that compares to being out in nature with my camera. There is so much inner peace in these moments. I only got serious about photography a few years ago. Besides my office job as a Finance Officer (photography equipment is expensive), I photograph for advertisements for the Tourist Development Authority in a small mountain town in North Carolina. I am currently expanding my pet photography business and building a portfolio to sell prints online.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being the survivor of mental and physical abuse, I believe my biggest obstacle is fear- the fear of not being good enough, the fear of looking stupid, the fear of being rejected, the fear of failing, the fear of the unknown. It took me a long time to overcome just that. Our one true gift is love and the desires of our heart because love can do what natural ability never will conquer all of our fears. When we enter the realm of our most passionate desires and remain there, the recreation of ourselves is not only possible, it is inevitable. So, as of now, I am still a part-time photographer with big dreams. And I remain in that perfect place where anything is possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a beautiful female German Shepherd I named Uschi. Uschi is a little over a year old now. She is an excellent hiking partner when I am in remote locations for photography. Very protective. She also likes to visit the dog park and play fetch. Naturally, I will photograph her and all the other pooches in the dog park. I enjoy photographing dogs in action. I am in love with the funny facial expressions they have when catching a ball. Many people ask me to photograph their dogs. I am contemplating a more prominent focus on pet photography. Should I follow that path, I want my pet photography studio to create photographs unique to my work style. Besides pets and wildlife, I also like photographing such majestic, free-ranging horses. I am planning a trip to the outer banks in 2024, where I suspect new opportunities for various wildlife will be present. I’ve had limited exposure to it. Native coastal environments, so hopefully, I will return from that trip with many amazing photographs to add to my collection.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have this point of view: with every unfavorable event happening to us, we can either feel sorry for ourselves or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep us from growing. “We get to choose.” The biggest lesson is that your whole world can change in the blink of an eye. During COVID, I was mostly the same regarding my full-time position. We had leadership that didn’t believe in working from home. I mainly worked with the office door closed and isolated from my coworkers. We still had to share the same kitchen and bathrooms. It wasn’t difficult at times. Photography slowed down quite a bit since we were restricted to work and staying home after work for a while. Hopefully, there will not be another lockdown. During this time, I shifted my interests a little. I also love cooking and started cooking a lot more, trying new recipes, and sharing meals with friends. I prefer a home-cooked meal over going out. It’s so much better and less expensive, too.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: helga.Kleinert.Photography
- Facebook: Helga K Photography
