Meet Hayley Gaertner | Photographer and Outdoor Enthusiast

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

Hi Hayley, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued a creative career because nothing else excited me. When I graduated high school, I realized I was trying to force myself to pick a “normal” career path to study in college, but I wasn’t passionate about anything. I knew I didn’t want to have a job just for the money, I wanted to truly be excited to go to work every day and I didn’t see that happening in a career that wasn’t artistic in some way. Since I was a kid, I was always into drawing, designing, and doing all the artsy things. I eventually became obsessed with photography, and since then, nothing else has ever made me quite as happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting to where I am now was definitely not easy, and still is not. I had many doubts that I could never make a living off of photography, but the people I’ve photographed remind me every day that this is what I’m meant to be doing. I’ve lacked creativity, felt financial stress, and thought I was unworthy MANY times over the years, but when I see reactions from the photos I’ve taken, it proves that I’m where I should be. What I’m most proud of in my work is the authenticity of it. I know that word is overused these days, but I truly feel that way. I don’t take pictures that are posed and forced; my main goal is to capture a couple truly in their element. With that, I also primarily serve couples that value the outdoors. Nature is what makes me the most happy in the world, so when I get to share that with other people and photograph them in breathtaking places, the product is something really special. My ultimate goal is to take people into beautiful outdoor spaces, capture their love for each other, and deliver timeless photos that make them emotional.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I actually just had a friend in town and gave them the best Colorado experience we could in a few days. The drive from Denver out 70 into the mountains is an experience in itself. There’s nothing like coming out of the Eisenhower tunnel for the first time and seeing the surrounding mountains and the town of Frisco down below. A visit to a mountain town is a must – we took our friends to Breckenridge and spent the day shopping and drinking the best hot chocolate around from a tiny shop downtown. Another must do is a hike to an alpine lake, the beauty of a bright blue lake on top of a mountain is unmatched. If they’re really up for a full on experience, a 14er is a must! You really can’t describe the feeling of being on top of one of the tallest mountains in the United States.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think the first people who deserve credit are my art teachers from junior and high school. I would have never even believed it were possible to have an artistic career unless they showed me. They recognized my talent, encouraged me to apply to art shows, and even did independent study classes with me. They invested in my talent from a young age. In my adult years, I owe my best friend Annie Hedger. To this day, she reminds me that I’m great when I feel less than, and she has never once doubted my dreams in any way. Any crazy idea I have, she fully supports and encourages, and I would not be a photographer right now if it weren’t for her.

Website: www.hayleygaertner.com

Instagram: @hayleygaertner

Other: Print shop: https://hayleygaertner.passgallery.com/-landscapes/gallery