Focus on Gratitude - Heath Robbins Photography
My upbringing has profoundly shaped who I am and how I run my business. From an early age family instilled a strong commitment to giving back. My father taught me how to save and what it means to “earn your keep.” Meanwhile my mother emphasized the value donating and helping others through volunteering.
“In my adult life, I've continued this legacy. My family has a 501c called The Giving Tree, and while started by my mother it is now run almost completely by all the grandchildren. This annual family initiative requires all the grandkids to contribute to a pooled fund, which then gets matched by me and my siblings and then again by my mother. Each year we collectively decide which charity will receive the donations. I smile knowing that this tradition will continue for many generations to come.
As a photographer I feel fortunate enough to be where I am today, and to contribute through my passion. Motivated by the way in which I was raised and gratitude for being able to do what I love every day, I actively allocate a portion of my fees from every shoot to various charities that embody my philosophy of "Eat Well, Live Happy".
In addition, grateful for having had so many great teachers and mentors over the course of my life and career part of giving back for me, has been to return the favor to others.
For years I volunteered to teach a seminar on what it takes to be a commercial photographer. In addition, I take on interns every year for a full semester and teach them everything I know. From how I shoot to what it takes to run a business, they learn it all. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing them learn and grow over the course of their semesters!