Photographer and visual storyteller Hadeel creates authentic brand imagery and community-led creative projects, using photography and film to build confidence, connection and meaningful stories.
Creative Spotlight | Hadeel
Could you please describe your creative practice?
I’m a business photographer and video creator. I work with individuals and business owners who want authentic and professional headshots, branding photos, and videos. I love helping people feel at ease in front of the camera and show their confidence. These moments are so rewarding to me. On my other days, I work at Cultura on creative projects, creating multilingual video messages in a simple and creative way.
When did your creative journey begin?
After graduating from university, my career went into HR. I was working as an HR manager, and photography was my hobby. During my lunch breaks, you would see me holding my camera, capturing a flower in the garden. After work, I spent my time learning more about photography through online courses and post-processing tutorials.
When I moved to Geelong in 2019, I was planning to continue on that path, but during the pandemic, everything changed. I used the lockdown as a way to learn more about photography as a business, and I also enhanced my work by volunteering in creative projects between lockdowns.
In late 2020, I had my first client who found me through my newly established website. I still remember how I felt at the time, mostly terrified.
Around the same time, I got my first job as a Santa photographer. It was a very condensed learning experience in a fast-paced environment. After Christmas, I moved into school photography, which was another fast-paced setting that helped me build confidence quickly.
COVID continued into 2021, and during that time I was working at Cultura in collaboration with Barwon Health, creating what I call “COVID videos” to communicate complex information in a simple and accessible way to the community. At the same time, I was building my photography business across different areas, including families, portraits, and weddings. Over time, I found myself drawn more to working with small business owners and professionals, and I started focusing on that.
Now, in my studio in Armstrong Creek, it’s my true joy to turn that awkward feeling of standing in front of the camera into an easy and enjoyable experience, especially for headshots and personal branding.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the creative field?
When I’m not feeling like myself, I grab the camera and experiment with different light and perspectives. It's not just a passion, but also a kind of therapy for me. Even now, outside of business and work, I take photos of everything without rules or guidelines, just creating as a way to heal and connect with the world around me. It is also my way of communicating and telling stories. Turning photography into a career felt like a dream. I couldn’t imagine doing something I love this much for a living.
How do you connect with the Greater Geelong area through your work?
When I first moved to Geelong with my husband, my first impression was: " Wow! There are so many beautiful things to photograph!". I felt at home immediately. I love the community feeling here. I started volunteering with Humans in Geelong and worked on some projects during the pandemic.
Through my work as a photographer, I’ve connected with amazing, passionate, community focused people from Humans in Geelong, Cultura, headspace, Geelong City Council, and Barwon Southwest Public Health Unit. We are lucky to have such supportive people at Geelong City Council. I recently felt very supported by the team, and it helped me connect and feel trusted and appreciated as an artist, especially at a time when I felt I wasn’t fully connected yet.
I also loved the recent creative business workshop by the council. It was amazing to connect with other creatives in Geelong.
What challenges or barriers have you encountered in your career?
Doubting myself and my work is something I think every creative person goes through. Juggling many things at the same time as a solo business owner, while also working part time, has led to some burnout phases. I also felt isolated at times, as an introvert and a creative person who tends to spend spare hours on personal projects. But recently, I’ve been working on that side of me by connecting more with the Geelong creative community.
Looking ahead, what would you like to achieve?
I want to help more women with their business and personal brand through strong, beautiful visuals. I know how hard it is to start a business or even a side hustle. Creating visuals can feel like another barrier, and I want to make that easier. I recently started creating tutorial videos on YouTube about how to elevate your brand visuals using simple gear. I’m also dedicating my Instagram to sharing simple, practical tips around that.
Where can we see or learn more about your work and projects?
- To connect with me, you can find me on Instagram. I share tips about brand photo/video from a photographer’s perspective, behind the scenes from the studio, and a few glimpses into my slow mornings and my cockatiel, Chicken: @hadeelens
- For deeper tutorials and more detailed videos, you can check my new YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@hadeelens
- And if you’d like to work with a photographer, you can view my work and book through my website: www.hstudiogeelong.com.au
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