Heather Manwaring - Founder, Transfire Photography

Heather Manwaring

Heather Manwaring is a am a woman who is driven by her heart in all things, and she has always cared about three very deeply: art, relationships, and personal growth. It dawned on her, after a few rounds of plant medicine, that she could combine all of those things with photography.

Heather grew up in Southern California with two younger sisters, two incredible mothers, and a dad who has inspired her path in many ways. She set out to New York to build the life of her dreams, found her man, and have been visually documenting her process through all of the darkness, the joy, the power and emotionality of its construction.

Much of Heather’s depth of emotionality and power has been discovered within the container of her sacred relationship, and her partner has given her an incredible amount of space and safety to be and express herself fully. This is the gift she wants to share with the rest of the world: space to express their vulnerable truth in beautiful, real and raw, connection-inspiring ways, so they can build healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Heather has fallen in love with her own process and capturing the process of being with others to help them go deeper within themselves, express whatever they need to express, and come out the other side with clearer vision and the power of choice. She has dedicated her life to supporting people live in the full expression of their divine humanity, and to be able to hold it all and help invite them forward into new ways of being and relating.

I’m so excited for you guys to connect with Heather, check out her work, and follow along as she continues to inspire others to live courageously, connected, wild, and free.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Heather Manwaring and I'm a NY-based photographer who helps women entrepreneurs express themselves fully, both personally and professionally, and reclaim the power they've given away. The photos I take are a powerful tool to create and discover more self-love, healthy relationship, and potent client attraction through authentic visibility. I'm currently working on creating thriving collaborations and partnerships to allow my work to spread organically and reach those who are in need of and desire my unique services.

How did you get started?

I got started as an artist 7 years ago--a painter, more specifically. I was going through my very first spiritual awakening at the time and it was brutally painful, and I needed an outlet for the words I didn't yet have. Paint was the medium I expressed myself with for about two years, and it began to evolve as I realized I desired more connection in my life to the real world, and had an ability to make people feel safe. Due to that desire, I left Los Angeles where I was born and raised, and moved to South Lake Tahoe, California, where I fell completely in love with the mountains and found my heart and soul in the process. After a couple years there, my heart called me to New York to start this business and stretch myself further than I'd ever been stretched--and now here I am almost three years later!

What inspired the work that you're doing?

I was first inspired by my pain. I was in so much of it that I tried all sorts of things to get out of it, and turned to the more spiritual, "foo-foo" remedies. Throughout my healing I began to recognize that that pain was as a result of not feeling seen, heard, or valued by my family and having to hide my true thoughts and feelings. So--I created for myself what I needed most: space to be honest, fully expressed, connected to myself and nature, and seen in my vulnerability (literally, through photographs), and I wanted to share this beautiful gift with others. Now, I am REALLY inspired by the possibilities of creativity and collaborating with other women doing amazing things for the positive progression of our society and planet, and working with them to fully embody and radiate their true selves on all levels. We are SO POWERFUL together.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

YES!! THIS. My work. It is my greatest passion, and the way that it creates the space for magical, healthy, truly loving relationships across the board makes my heart explode. Love is at the core of everything I do, and it fills me up when my specific flavor of love is received and applied.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

Aside from my work with people, being in nature with myself and my man is one of my favorite things in the whole world. Just resting and being able to BE and soak up all the nourishment the earth has to offer makes my heart overflow with love and energy. My connection with nature makes me feel like an energizer bunny even on my hardest days.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

Oh wow, yes! There are so many that help me whenever I start to feel either disassociated from my body or overwhelmed/drained. Some of my main tools are: meditative dance (examples are ecstatic dance and 5Rhythms), singing/vocalization (sometimes it's a scream or a sob), full acceptance of my feelings in each moment, authentic relating practices with my partner, mirror and breath work, yoga, going out in nature and literally sitting on the ground, art/creating with my hands, and listening to uplifting music.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

Haha! Hmm, she in utter disbelief, and at the same time SO SO HAPPY and relaxed. She spent a lot of time believing where I am now wasn't possible, so seeing me now is a dream come true for her. She worked TIRELESSLY to get me here, and knowing it paid off made her cry tears of relief and gratitude :) 

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

I'm here, I've got you, and I love you exactly as you are.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to be a wildly sought out photographer by people from all over the world, and spread my work and message across the globe. Ultimately, I'd love to see, in MY LIFETIME, the conscious actions of the world shift from a place of pain, fear, conflict, and lack---> to one of vitality, creation, abundance, and love. I want everyone to know what true love is deep in their hearts.

To learn more about Heather and her work visit her website www.transfirephotography.com and on Instagram @transfirephotography and you can check out her downloadable meditation that she uses with all of her clients called "Back to Nature" here: www.transfirephotography.com/freegift 

Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here