hhetzelproductions@gmail.com hetzelproductions.com
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About Me

The Person Behind the Camera

A Milwaukee creative with a passion for authentic visual storytelling.

My Story

Capturing what matters,
one frame at a time.

My journey with photography started in 2015 as a high school junior taking Photography 101. My parents gifted me my first camera at graduation, and from there the curiosity never stopped. I went from shooting church directories at Lifetouch to working Walmart's photo center, then moved to Vail, Colorado as a ski mountain photographer—each step teaching me something new about the craft. It was in Vail where I created the Hetzel Productions brand and started putting myself out there, even when I was still spending more time fixing mistakes in Photoshop than getting things right in-camera.

Everything clicked when I landed a job at a local camera shop back in Milwaukee. Surrounded by gear and mentors who could answer every question, I finally mastered my settings, found my voice and editing style, and fell in love with flash and creative portrait work. In early 2021, I took the leap and invested in a co-owned studio, giving me a controlled space to shoot year-round. After years of thinking photography was just a side hustle, I realized this is what I'm meant to do—help my clients bring their vision to life and capture beautiful moments in a unique, creative way. A photo takes a second to capture, but the memories last a lifetime.

500+
Sessions Shot
MKE
Based In
5★
Avg. Rating

The Journey

How I Got Here

2015
The Spark
Took Photography 101 as a high school junior and immediately fell in love with the craft. Parents gifted me my first camera at graduation.
2016–2017
Lifetouch & First Paid Shoot
Joined Lifetouch shooting church directories across Wisconsin. Learned studio lighting, posing individuals to large families, and sharpened my people skills. Booked my first paid shoot outside of work—charging $40 for an hour session.
2017
Walmart Photo Center
Learned the printing side of photography and continued to expand my technical knowledge behind the counter.
2018
Vail, Colorado & Brand Launch
Moved to Vail to work as an EpicMix photographer on the mountain. Learned to shoot in harsh daylight with stunning backdrops. Created the Hetzel Productions Instagram and started branding myself—even when half the time I had no idea what I was doing.
2019
The Camera Shop & Breakthrough
Returned to Milwaukee and landed a job at a local camera shop. Surrounded by gear and mentors, everything clicked. Mastered my settings, started teaching classes, upgraded my equipment, and found my voice in creative portraits and flash photography.
2021
Studio Co-Owner
Invested in a co-owned studio space in Milwaukee—a game changer for year-round shooting in a fully controlled environment.
Today
This Is What I'm Meant To Do
After years of thinking photography was just a side hustle, I realized this is my calling. Helping clients bring their vision to life and capturing beautiful moments in a unique, creative way—that's what it's all about.

Mission Statement

Why I Do This

To create authentic, powerful imagery that helps people see themselves and their stories in the best light. Every session is an opportunity to build something real—art that connects, inspires, and lasts a lifetime.

Want to learn more or start planning your session?

Get In Touch