Meet Ruthie Hayden | Photographer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruthie Hayden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruthie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I first began capturing photography for paying clients when I was just out of high school. I had no idea what I was doing but I loved making art out of people’s lives and telling their stories. Over the years, my passion has only grown for learning photography, the business, and helping people with this art form. I keep on investing in the business because it feels like something I have to do. I’ve had other jobs along the way but always come back to my passion for storytelling. When I work for myself and have the chance to meet new people, encourage them, and show them their lives in an artistic and new perspective, every day feels full and worth the hard work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
A lesson I keep learning as a creative human being is that what I create, what I do, is not my identity. The amount of people who praise my work, acknowledge me, or even see what I make does not give me value. I create from the place of knowing my worth, my intrinsic value, and the message I carry. My art has to flow from that place for me to feel the freedom and joy in creating. Whenever I begin to feel pressure and anxiety about my business or the future, I know that is a signal to stop and recalibrate my “why”.

I became very sick when I was a junior in high school and went through years of pain and disability. Going through that time was incredibly hard, but my art was my path through it in a healthy way. Taking what I felt inside and having an outlet to paint, write, draw, photograph, and write music allowed these crushing emotions and experiences to be turned into something beautiful. that was eighteen years ago and now I still love to use art as a way to bring beauty to the world despite pain, in the midst of it, to bring joy. I want to help tell other people’s stories through my art. Getting to know my clients, understanding their stories, and drawing that out through images. My hope is that when people see themselves in my photographs, they see themselves as beautiful, valued, and uniquely them.

Encouraging others to see the value in their own story, to know their own identity, is a passion of mine. I have struggled with feeling worth investing in so many times, but I have to remind myself that it’s not just about me. What I have overcome can encourage someone else walking through the same story. There is purpose in pain. It is like mining deep inside a cave, rather than resenting it, understanding what I can and can’t control, and then learning that deep inner strength to stand strong despite the pain. Everything I have I owe to Jesus. I wouldn’t be here without my relationship with him. For me, my worth and value comes from knowing that I am made for a purpose and can walk that out every day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the oldest city in America, St. Augustine, Florida. First I would take them to some of the parks like Washington Oaks, or Guana State Park, and show them the scenery. Then we would go to downtown and see the Lightner Museum, grab a coffee and brunch at Cafe Alcazar, then walk through the oldest streets. Walking along the river front, the Bridge of Lions, and then the Fort. Castillo de San Marcos. A little walk down San Marco to the oldest chapel grounds, La Lady de la Leche and see the monuments there. Places I love to eat are the Floridian, Forgotten Tonic, River and Fort for the rooftop drinks, and Buena Onda for breakfast. For part of the week we would have to visit Jacksonville and go to the Cummer Museum gardens and then downtown by the Riverside area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friend Erica Cole is also an incredibly talented artist, photographer, and musician. She has been someone I can be my truest self with, transparent and honest. We encourage each other and challenge each other to be the best we can be both personally and professionally.

Website: www.ruthiehayden.com

Instagram: @ruthiehaydenphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthiehayden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruthiehaydenphoto

Image Credits
Evan Rummel, Erica Cole Photography and Becky Fearnley