Profiles | Helen Joy
I'm grateful to say that Helen Joy has been my friend for several years. She's a birth doula, photographer, and a writer. She and I first connected when our children attended the same preschool, and she was my birth doula and photographer for my daughter's birth. As a photographer, she captures the spirit and personality of her subjects. As a doula, she is empathetic and sensitive. As a writer, she shares her experiences openly and honestly and wholeheartedly. She sat down with me over coffee to answer some profile questions. If you are looking for a photographer or doula, I invite you to get to know her better by reading this profile. And, if you're not looking for a doula or photographer, I still invite you to take some time to learn a little more about Helen Joy.
MH: How did 2020 go for you, and how is 2021 so far?
HJ: I guess I would say that 2019 was the year of isolation, so I wasn’t quite as shocked as other people were. 2020 for me was super hard, but the whole world was grieving, so it felt more like everyone was joining in my grief. And then, I decided to homeschool for a year, and that was empowering for me. I didn’t feel as capable before that, but it gave me something to do and pour my passion into. I think most people had bad experiences with homeschool, but I didn't.
MH: Tell me about how you became a doula?
HJ: I photographed my sister’s birth in 2011, and I ended up supporting her through her birth while I photographed her. I photographed some births, and I realized how much I was sitting around, so I decided to get certified to support people between taking photographs.
MH: How did you find photography?
HJ: I used to set up scenes with my sisters and make them take pictures of me with film cameras while growing up. I practiced and studied photography independently during college. When I got married, we spent all our wedding money on a DSLR camera. Then, I took pictures of anyone who would let me, and after college, I started my own business.
MH: What do you think makes you unique as a photographer?
HJ: From Hendersonville/Asheville, I’m unique because I focus on in-between moments and not staged. What really sets me a part, that I’m realizing, is that people like the experience of being photographed by me. I want it to be a collaborative experience, not just the results of the session. I want it to feel really genuine and not pose-y.
MH: Tell me about your book Yellow Tulips for those who haven't read it yet?
HJ: It’s about my quirky childhood that I had traveling around the United States growing up, my dad’s mental health crisis, and my mental health break down in 2016 and 2017 where I got stuck in our failing mental health system. I wrote it for people who are struggling with mental health, but mostly I wrote it for people who love others struggling with mental health and how to love them better.
MH: As a mom, photographer, and doula, you give a lot of energy to other people. How do you like to give back to yourself?
HJ: Baths are probably my biggest self-care, and I do a lot of writing in my bathtub. Leaving my phone in the car and going into the woods is self-care to me. Connecting with friends gives back to me a lot, taking the time to have meaningful conversations, and share in the highs and lows of life.
MH: Night owl or early riser?
HJ: I’m a middle of the day kind of person. I don’t like either time. Night-owl for me is like 10:30.
MH:What is your favorite thing about living in Hendersonville?
HJ: I would say that I have traveled all over the world, and I love traveling, but when I come home to Hendersoville, there is something about the people here that feels like home. I don’t feel like I have to keep up with anyone, and I can be myself without judgement. The lakes, rivers, and National Parks don’t hurt, either!
MH: What are your top three Hendersonville spots?
HJ: I love the Flat Rock Bakery. I love the feeling of walking in there.. My favorite shop is the Safelight Thrift Store, and my favorite outdoor place is swimming at the bottom of Triple Falls.
MH: How do you balance motherhood and working for yourself?
HJ: I share my successes with my kids. Everytime I go to a birth, I talk about it with my kids. I edit my photos while they’re playing Legos or doing homework. I grew up in a time and space where women didn’t work, so I didn’t have a good example of how to have that balance, but I feel like my kids like seeing their mom do something she’s good at. So, even sometimes I miss their school functions because of a birth or a photo shoot, they know that I’m doing something I’m good at.
Helen Joy's website is helenjoy.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @helenjoygeorge.