Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Gill.
Hi Heather , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity and meaning. My background is in culinary arts, photography, and graphic design, three disciplines that might seem distinct, but for me, they’ve always revolved around the same thread: beauty, story, and connection.
When I became a mom, photography became the way I tried to hold on to fleeting moments. That simple desire to preserve wonder grew into a full creative career, from photographing food and lifestyle stories to artfully directing visual narratives that help others see the extraordinary in the everyday.
Over time, my creative work expanded into education through Slate & Story Studio, where I design art appreciation and cultural learning resources for families and schools. Today, my focus bridges both worlds, curating visual stories for brands and culinary spaces while continuing to build meaningful educational tools that help others learn to see beauty for themselves.
It’s been a winding path, but it feels like all the threads of my creative life are finally weaving together. Whether I’m behind the camera, at the table, or designing something for the next generation of learners, my goal is the same: to create work that makes people pause, look closer, and remember that beauty still matters.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not exactly smooth, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. There hasn’t been one big, dramatic struggle; it’s more the quiet, everyday kind. The kind where you get up, do the work, and keep going even when no one’s clapping yet.
People usually cheer once they can see what you’ve built, but the real work happens long before that, when it’s just you, the vision, and a lot of faith that it matters. That so-called “overnight success” people talk about often comes after ten or fifteen years of showing up and doing the unseen work. I’ve been told that more than once, and it always makes me smile, because I know how much time and heart went into getting here.
There are long days and moments of doubt, but I’ve learned that consistency is its own kind of courage. That’s really been the challenge and the gift of it all, learning to encourage myself, to stay faithful to the process, and to keep creating beauty even when the road feels slow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve always seen creativity as a language; it just took me a while to realize I was speaking in different dialects. My path began in culinary arts, which shaped more than 15 years of my life and still informs everything I do. The kitchen taught me composition, patience, restraint, and the quiet beauty of craftsmanship.
Photography opened the next chapter, a way to stay connected to food from a new perspective. It took me from local kitchens to culinary destinations in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and even to the world of Michelin-level dining. Those experiences deepened my understanding of light, texture, and story, the details that make a meal memorable long before it’s tasted.
That bridge between seeing and storytelling eventually led me into editorial and design work, including serving as a food and photo editor for Edible Magazine. There, I learned how visual choices shape emotion, how layout, typography, and imagery can work together to tell a story that invites people to linger.
Now, that same sensibility guides my work as a photographer and creative director, helping small restaurants, artisans, and brands translate their vision into imagery that feels as intentional as the work itself. I believe in storytelling that’s artful, honest, and rooted in a deep respect for craft, whether that’s a plated dish, a product, or a creative experience.
Alongside that, I continue to build Slate & Story Studio, a branch of my creative world focused on art appreciation and cultural learning for families and schools. It’s all connected, different expressions of the same mission: helping people see beauty more clearly and live more artfully.
What sets my work apart is the way it bridges disciplines. Because I’ve lived and worked across so many creative worlds – from restaurant kitchens to classrooms to design studios, I see connections where others might see categories. My work has always been about one thing: creating spaces, stories, and images that remind people that beauty still matters.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think about risk a little differently than most people. For me, it’s not about chasing danger or thrill — it’s about confronting fear. Sometimes I take risks because I’m afraid, and I know the only way past fear is through it.
Years ago, I learned to scuba dive because I was afraid of deep water. I grew up near the ocean and loved snorkeling, but going down into that deep blue was intimidating. So I decided to learn. And once I did, the fear was gone. That experience taught me something I’ve carried ever since: fear often loses its power once you face it head-on.
Since then, every major shift — from culinary arts to photography to graphic design, and now to launching Slate & Story — has been its own kind of dive into the unknown. I ask myself the same questions over and over: What if it doesn’t work? and What if it does? It sounds cliché, but those are the real thoughts that run through my head, especially when I’m starting something new.
Most of the time, no one’s even paying that close attention. People are busy living their own lives. So I remind myself: just do it. You’ll never know until you try. And honestly, that’s where Slate & Story was born — out of getting tired of my own overthinking and deciding to act anyway.
Risk, to me, is less about danger and more about courage. It’s the choice to move forward even when you don’t have all the answers — and that’s where the good stuff usually begins.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.slateandstorystudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_heather_gill
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/heathergill-slatestory3a13
Image Credits
Head and full lifestyle body images credit: Amy Lopez of Olivia Quinn Photography All other work is mine: Heather Gill Photography
