within the wild
emotive portraits of families, lovers, and the beautifully unguarded
upstate south carolina
Welcome, Wild Soul
I am so glad you’re here. My name is Haley, I am a portrait photographer and maker of simple films in the Upstate of South Carolina.
My business, Within The Wild, is rooted in the belief that the natural world reflects us: unpolished, ever-changing, and wildly alive. My work is about honoring the wildness in you, about being present with the untamed parts of the human experience.
I fell in love with photography at 11-years-old, and in the years since it's become more than a passion for me. It is my mirror, my therapy, and my offering to the world. I've explored nearly every style and subject over the years, but I'm most drawn to the work that asks us to be real. Art that reflects honesty and authenticity.
My sessions are rooted in presence, connection, and reverence. Whether I’m photographing a family tangled up in golden hour laughter, a new mother in her still-changing body, or an individual learning to stand fully in their own skin, the theme is always honesty. An honoring of exactly where you are in your life.
Nature is the heartbeat of my creative process. It’s where I return to remember myself. The name Within The Wild speaks to that pull. Wildness lives not only in forests and rivers, but in the raw, unfiltered essence of you. I believe there is healing in being witnessed gently, and I aim to hold that space each time I create.
My journey with self-portraiture, especially through seasons of transformation, motherhood, and self-discovery, opened a deeper well of compassion in me for the bodies we live in. That practice has shaped the way I photograph others: carefully, curiously, and with a quiet hope that maybe you’ll see yourself a little differently afterward. A little softer. A little kinder.
I offer a variety of sessions — families, couples, maternity, portraits, seniors, and intimate nude sessions in nature. Whatever brings you to me, I hope you leave feeling more at home in your story.
A few things about me: I’m raising four wild and beautiful children. I’m autistic, a touch atheist, a pinch pagan, an optimistic nihilist, and deeply spiritual in my own earthy way. A ball of contradictions most of the time. I’m queer, and yes my husband does have bi-wife energy. I write poetry, dig in the garden for peace, hike, and am always chasing meaning in conversation, art, and the forest.
Thank you for being here. I’d love to create something honest and unforgettable with you.
