How NextZen grows with your photography business: Heather Nelson’s story.
July 11th, 2025
In the ever-evolving world of professional photography, tools that once worked well can quickly become limiting. As photographers grow, refine their style, and expand their business, they need platforms that grow with them–tools that evolve, adapt, and support not just where they are today, but where they want to be tomorrow. That’s where NextZen, Zenfolio’s new platform for photographers comes in, and that’s why photographers like Heather Nelson are sharing their stories.
Meet Heather: Building a business on authentic connection.
Heather Nelson is an editorial wedding photographer with a natural style, blending gentle posing with authentic moments. “My goal is always for couples to look back and say, ‘That’s us. That’s who we really were,'” Discover how an authentic approach with clients and a website platform with the right features helped photographer Heather Nelson grow her business.Heather shares.
Based in Durham, North Carolina, Heather’s approach to wedding photography is refreshingly personal. She describes her client strategy simply: “Make friends and take photos because it’s fun.” This authentic connection philosophy extends beyond her photography into how she runs her entire business.
But like many photographers, Heather faced the challenge of managing a growing business with increasingly complex needs. When she moved from Charlotte to Durham, she had to rebuild her client base from scratch while still managing the administrative side of her photography business and providing a positive experience for past and prospective clients.
“Recently, I moved from Charlotte to Durham, and that meant restarting my business from the ground up,” Heather explains. “Building new connections, finding second-shooting opportunities, and getting my name out there. It’s tough, but it’s also sparked new creativity and pushed me to find inspiration in new locations.” Managing the business side of things in the middle of a transition was daunting. That’s where NextZen came in.
The platform problem every photographer faces:
Before finding NextZen, Heather was caught in the same trap that snares countless photographers: platform overload.
“I used to have like three different websites and honestly, three different passwords that I had to remember in order to just keep my business afloat,” she recalls. “Owning a business is already difficult enough.”
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Most photographers start with cobbled-together solutions. One platform for their website, another for client galleries, maybe a third for booking. Each comes with its own learning curve, monthly fee, and yes, another password to remember.
But Heather discovered something that changed her entire workflow.
Why NextZen works: everything in one place.
“Zenfolio has been a game changer. Before, I was juggling three platforms just to keep things going–one for my website, one to deliver photos, one to book clients. Now, it’s all in one place.”
For Heather, Zenfolio’s NextZen platform solved multiple problems at once:
Streamlined Client Delivery: “I can upload images, organize them into categories, like weddings, engagements, or families, and easily find everything later. Clients can download, favorite, and even order prints. NextZen handles that whole process for me.”
Professional Website Made Simple: “The most important thing about my photography website is that it’s really easy to do and really easy to create. Because I don’t love spending all the time to make it perfect… especially when a new [custom] website costs tens of thousands of dollars, it’s so nice to have it just right in front of me on my computer for a simple, small price.”
Mobile-First Experience: “I love the dynamic nature of NextZen, because everyone has iPhones now. You might be downloading pictures on your phone for your Instagram. Having that ability to work across multiple platforms is really awesome and accessible.”
The bigger picture: photography business evolution.
What sets NextZen apart isn’t just convenience, it’s scalability. Whether Heather is delivering five galleries or fifty, the platform adapts to her needs. “If I have a small amount of galleries I’m delivering, that’s great. If I have a large amount, whether it’s a lot of photos or multiple categories, I can adjust it for my needs. It allows me to expand my business.”
This flexibility is crucial for photographers at any stage. When you’re starting out, you need simplicity and affordability. As you grow, you need power and sophisticated features. NextZen delivers both.
“Zenfolio has definitely helped my business because it’s growing with me.”
Heather’s story reflects a broader transformation happening in the photography industry. Today’s photographers need more than just technical skill, they need business tools that work as hard as they do.
Zenfolio’s evolution with NextZen represents this new reality. It’s not just about hosting photos anymore; it’s about creating a complete business ecosystem that grows with you. Built on over 20 years of trust in the photography community, NextZen combines the reliability photographers depend on with the modern features of today’s business demands.
The Zenfolio team resonates with what Heather discovered: photographers shouldn’t have to choose between powerful features and ease of use. As she says, “Whether I have five galleries or fifty, Zenfolio scales with me. It’s flexible, intuitive, and saves me so much time, which I’d rather spend editing or shooting, not managing passwords and platforms.”
Focus on what matters most.
Heather’s approach to both photography and business management comes down to the same principle: keep it authentic and keep it simple.
“During portraits, I focus on the couple being together, not rushing it,” she explains. “One perfect photo they’ll frame forever matters more than 20 quick ones. I read the couple’s vibe and let them relax. That’s when the best moments happen.”
The same philosophy applies to her business tools. Why complicate things with multiple platforms when one comprehensive solution can handle everything?
“Owning a photography business is hard enough—Zenfolio makes it easier. From simplifying my workflow to giving my clients a great experience, it’s helped me grow. And I’d absolutely recommend it to other photographers.”
Grow your photography business.
See how NextZen can grow with your business too—start your free trial today.
