Meet Georgia Heesch | Photographer & Custom Artist

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

Hi Georgia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
A career as a creative was never my intention. I worked tirelessly to get into a STEM and research oriented university all through high school, with my creative endeavors always on the back burner. Halfway through my three years at university, however, I realized that everything in my life was pushing me towards this creative path. The jobs and internships that were motivating rarely lied in the field I had originally intended to pursue. My friends and family were actively encouraging me to change paths, to stop fighting what they saw would make me happiest. Even my professors talked to me about opportunities in the arts. As soon as I came to this realization as well, everything flowed much more smoothly.

There have definitely still been bumps in the road since this choice– don’t get me wrong. But I’ve found these days to be more enjoyable than even my best days in other jobs. Whereas before setbacks of this magnitude would’ve ruined my day (and maybe week) in any other career, I remain motivated and confident knowing that this is what I should be doing. This is due in large part to the amazing support network I have in friends, family, and other creatives I’ve met throughout my career. Without them who knows where I would be.

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.
At twenty-one, I don’t really know what I’m doing. The fact that I am being interviewed astounds me. Until recently, I never felt that I had or could have any business potential in a creative field. Once I started to believe this, I questioned whether I really had any artistic credibility; if I could produce art capable of meaning something other than a paycheck. There seems to be a constant questioning in my mind of what it is that I’m doing. It’s definitely due in some part to the way I landed here.

A creative career path was never something I intended to pursue. My teen years were spent trying to convince people I was smart enough to be taken seriously in the medical field. I took classes I didn’t need to and did extracurriculars I didn’t enjoy and tried to win awards I really didn’t care about other than to put on my college applications. I did all of this with this pit feeling in my stomach and tightness in my shoulders that makes me sad to think about now. My first year and a half of college was spent the same way. It never occurred to me to stop and think if this was something I really wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. One day the realization came that it was purely something I was doing to prove a point. My counselor had just helped me schedule Organic Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, and a Biology class for the next quarter and laughed when I had asked if there would be any room to add art classes in the next few years. Looking at the map of my five year plan, that feeling in my stomach and shoulders came right back. It made me question why I was doing this if I was just miserable the entire time.

During this time period I was apprenticing for a phenomenal Aerial Photographer and doing creative projects on the side for friends. There was always creative work being done, but it was never something at the front of my mind. It was just something fun to blow off steam. Some friends I had done work for convinced me to take Painting 001 in the winter of 2021. I wasn’t expecting too much, but ended up having one of the most important conversations of my career. At the end of this course, my professor had a chat with me about why I had taken his class and what I was planning to do with art in the future. He ended up showing me lists and lists of opportunities for those who had graduated with an Art Studio degree and we talked for almost an hour after the final about how I could break into this field. That conversation pushed me into that same advisor’s office to talk about a change of plans.

Since this seemingly massive change I haven’t had that feeling of dread in my stomach or the tightness in my shoulders. I have worked harder day in and day out that I ever did in Pre-Med, and have had much more on my plate. The difference was I actually enjoyed everything I was working on and towards. I know I’m only 21, but it still feels like I’m so late to this game and can’t imagine what I would’ve done by now if I had come to this realization sooner. It’s important to stop every once and awhile and do those little life evaluations, you know? That’s why I question everything about my business and artistic credibility now, I don’t want to miss a single thing.

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?
Pretty much everything I plan is based around food, so bear with me here.

The first thing I always tell people to check out is Bread and Cie in Hillcrest. I used to eat there every week with my grandpa and people watch. They have the best bread and pastries in the city.

You definitely can’t miss OB Noodle House, it’s just a San Diego staple. Great food, great drinks, there’s not much else you can ask for. The bars in OB are just hard to beat as well.

Extraordinary Desserts is another can’t miss spot, even their savory foods are to die for. One of my favorite things to do when I’m in town is grab a slice of the Black Velvet cake and sit in Balboa park. The museums are amazing but there is always something else happening too.

As far as activities go that aren’t just centered around food, San Diego has a lot of options. I always suggest a walk at Torrey Pines or Paddle Boarding around La Jolla or the Bay. If the beaches get old– although I’ve never heard of that happening– about two hours East are incredible sand dunes that are a photographer’s dream. There’s awesome Mountain Biking in Alpine and beer at Mcilhenney Brewing Co– only about 30 minutes East of Downtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There have been so many amazing people who have helped me realize my potential as a creative. My family has encouraged me every step of the way, my amazing and even more so talented friends have guided me on this path, and the TikTok community helped grow my business beyond what I ever thought it could be. One specific person who truly impacted my career change is Ethan Rohloff, an aerial photographer I have apprenticed with for a few years now. In high school, I really only saw photography as a hobby and a way to make a quick buck if I wanted concert tickets or a new outfit or something. He saw what I was capable of and helped guide me into seeing photography as a career rather than a hobby. E’s mentorship and the opportunities he has given me these past few years are invaluable, and will last a lifetime.

Website: https://www.californiaheesch.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/californiaheesch/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-heesch-245143236/