Laura Swoyer’s Story

Aug. 172018 . Category:business, Encourage, growth, Guest Blog, How Do You HoldFast?, photography

From the get-go, HoldFast’s allegiance lies in this: steadfast dedication to professional photographers and the systems they utilize. Committed to paving the way, HoldFast gear accentuates style while also performing comfortably and efficiently. Responsible for creating a new genre within the industry, we’re changing the way photographers look and feel while doing their best work.

In this series, you’ll hear stories of HoldFast gear and the photographers–the pioneers, the adventurers, the originals–that use them. This is How You HoldFast.

There is definitely something to be said for being an original. It should come as no surprise that that sentiment is a tenant of HoldFast, a company that values the significance of being one of a kind. Laura Swoyer was searching for an addition to her arsenal of gear with the same sort of standard, which makes her discovery and use of HoldFast Gear a match made in photography heaven.

Based in Vermont, Swoyer has been shooting professionally for over six years, but her interest in photography dates back to her collegiate years where she earned a degree in marine science–and spent time taking underwater photos.

“There was a point when I decided I loved photography enough to make it more than just a hobby, so I went back to school and then dove into the profession full time,” Swoyer says.

Not long ago, Swoyer says her quest for comfortable gear began. “I was looking for something super strong, functional, and a little bit more hip than the black harness strap that every other photographer in the world seems to have.”

In the throes of desperation, and basically at the end of her rope, Swoyer threw caution to the wind, and it paid off in spades. “I think I googled something like “best, coolest, most durable camera strap for professional photographers” and there, in the search results, in the midst of all of those other black straps, was HoldFast, shining like a beacon of hope,” explains Swoyer.

Swoyer purchased the Money Maker, and it didn’t take long for her to realize what a pivotal piece of gear she’d invested in. “As a photographer, I am a walking advertisement of my brand. Every choice I make is intentional and the Money Maker is totally on point with that aesthetic. It adds style and professionalism to my wedding wardrobe, and allows me to carry a lot of heavy gear easily.”

In the past, Swoyer says the hassle of being weighed down with gear and camera straps that were a hindrance, not a help, are what drove her to HoldFast. Thanks to the Money Maker, it’s changed the way she approaches her work, which consists of weddings and location engagement and portrait sessions.

“In the past, I had often found myself entangled in straps with 20 pounds of gear knocking against me with every step I took; I would literally come home with bruises on my shoulders after the end of a long day,” Swoyer says. “As a relatively short woman, I often found myself a little overwhelmed by my large camera gear. Things could get really awkward and uncomfortable.”

Now, things couldn’t be more different. “The Money Maker lets my cameras sit completely out of the way, but still right at my fingertips. I do a lot of location work, and had a session out in the mountains shortly after I received my new strap,” explains Swoyer. It was the perfect opportunity for the Money Maker to shine, and Swoyer put it to the test.

“I had two cameras on my Money Maker, a backpack full of lighting gear, a shoulder bag with a tripod and a light stand in my hand. The cameras were completely comfortable and out of the way of my other gear. Being able to carry my cameras on me without having to unpack them from a bag every time I stopped to shoot was huge.”

Swoyer is quick to tell you: HoldFast Gear and the Money Maker is second to none. “How does it compare to other gear I’ve used in the past? It doesn’t. The option to drop my cameras, and have my hands completely free while I’m working is amazing. I feel totally comfortable with my largest camera setup just hanging out at my side while I set up gear or interact with my clients. It has been really freeing. I can wear two cameras at the ready and have my hands free to catch myself if I slip on a rock or need to stabilize myself. It looks good and I don’t feel like I got hit by a bus the day after I shoot a 12+ hour wedding.”

The security that the Money Maker provides for Swoyer is exactly what she was searching for, and the fact that form and function are married together in all HoldFast products sets the gear apart from the rest.

“I have worn this strap under a backpack full of gear many times, and I usually forget I’m wearing it. It is incredibly ergonomically comfortable. I also love the sturdiness of the attachment and extra security of the backup safety clip. I work with some really amazing, adventurous clients and often find myself hiking out into the middle of nowhere for amazing backgrounds, views, secret waterfalls…this strap has made it easier and more comfortable to be mobile. I spend a lot less time thinking about my gear and more time being in the moment.”