09 - Breathwork, Balance and Business: A Creative Story with Heidi Snelgrove

In this inspiring episode of Between the Bells, I’m joined by Heidi Snelgrove, founder of creative production company We Love Images. 

Heidi shares her journey from high-end agency work to building a business around motherhood, creativity, and a love for real stories. 

We explore how she landed a major client straight out of the gate, why she’s prioritising brave moves this year, and how breathwork has become a daily reset that keeps her grounded. 

She recommends the Breathpod app for anyone wanting to explore breath-led wellbeing. It’s an honest, energising listen full of practical ideas and personal insight.

🎙️ Edited with precision by podcast editing master, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real

⏺️ Got feedback, a question, or want to be on the show? Leave me a voice message by CLICKING HERE – we might even feature it in a future episode!

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Transcript

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So I literally got a map where I lived, I thought I don't want to be too far away from the kids, let me go and focus on some agencies and clients within my radius. And yeah, my first client, I didn't expect it. I worked with small companies, big companies, and we managed to, with a lovely little agency, we collaborated and we won our first client, which was Weight Watchers. On this week's episode of Between the Bells, I'm joined by the wonderful Heidi from We Love Images. Heidi and I have never properly met. She's heard me speaking at an event. And this year, Heidi is wanting to do more brave things. And one of those was to appear on a podcast. So she's ticked that off her to-do list. And honestly, I could have spoken to Heidi all morning. We've had a really lovely conversation. And she's been very real about sharing her rather wonderful business story, from being a freelancer to setting up her own business, and shares the struggles that we all have in doing that journey. And she shares some really interesting tips and wonderful apps, lots about breathwork, which is something I really want to look into more. So enjoy this episode with the wonderful Heidi. Well, Heidi, it is an absolute privilege to have you on my podcast today. I know we've not properly met face-to-face, although we've been at events and things together, but it was so lovely that you reached out to me. So welcome to Between the Bells. Hello. So as always, Heidi, I'd love you to start off this episode by sharing your business story, because I know you've got a great one to share with the audience. So over to you. Okay. So I have produced high-end content for various brands and clients. I began in long form at the BBC, moved over to an advertising agency where I really loved working with the creatives and an amazing producer. And I really learned everything about production and creativity from there. I actually went freelance in my twenties and worked with various companies, which I loved, but I wasn't very good at handling the finance side. And I got an opportunity to grow within a company and pitched for various clients, which was just incredible. And worked at that company for 10 years. I gave everything to them. And I think they were quite surprised when they found out that I was pregnant. I was quite surprised because we were struggling to have children, to be honest. So my work was everything because I love what I do, but I was the first within this business and they really didn't know what to do with me. And they didn't like any flexibility. They didn't like any, you know, I mean, I just believe now this wouldn't happen, but yeah, they didn't handle it very well, should we say. And with my baby number two, they actually moved offices to a place I couldn't get to. And I'd actually set up the London office. It was thriving. I'd won some absolute top clients like Wimbledon, Ferrari. And I built that through bringing teams and pitches. And there's something that happens to you when you have children. And everyone around me was telling me, you can do it. You can do this for you. You know, you've got it. I didn't have that feeling. I was just too scared. It's all I'd done. But suddenly you've got two children. How can I fit that? It's a very busy, full-on job. So I thought, let me just take some time out. But, you know, I had bills to pay, mortgage. So I got a lovely job in an interior shop, which was part-time. But it wasn't enough for me. I realised that after a couple of years. But what do I do? How do I manage wanting to be, you know, a good mum, bring money in? So yeah, you just have to take the challenge. And the challenge was to create a website, get all my work together over the years and just get out there and win a client. And I just, I did it while I was working at the showroom because I didn't believe I could do it. I really had so much. Everyone around me was championing me. I had one of my best friends' husbands, who was my mentor, who was like, go on, girl, you go. And he was amazing because he's in recruitment. He's not in the creative world, but having somebody that just had my back meant everything. So I literally got a map where I lived. I thought, I don't want to be too far away from the kids. Let me go and focus on some agencies and clients within my radius. And yeah, my first client, I didn't expect it. I worked with small companies, big companies. And we managed to, with a lovely little agency, we collaborated and we won our first client, which was Weight Watchers, which back in 2017, we pitched the idea to use real people, I suggested, because I love finding real people's stories. That's my passion. So I went around the country and I said, look, stop using actors. Let's go and find the girl from Newcastle or the family from Manchester or, you know, people from Brighton. Stop being so London-centric. You've got a whole range of members that you can reach out to, you know, from Ireland. I mean, obviously they're worldwide, but this was just us looking after this part of the country. And I couldn't believe that was my first client. And until I actually got paid for that first campaign, of which I did everything from working with the creative to actually getting it on air. And yeah, that was the first client which took over everything. You've got an office in Reading, had staff, and it just went from strengths to strengths, which was, and I kind of just rolled with it and I'd never done new business and I just got on with it. I just did it and we did it for four years. But in hindsight, all legs in one basket is not great for a business. But that's how it began. So that, but you know, it was a good story. I didn't shout about it enough, but I did manage to win some other clients along the way and they sort of helped with that. But then, yeah, it's keeping that flow and that stability. I'd say that's the biggest challenge, but that's how We Love Images began, which was... Wonderful. And I think, I mean, how amazing to get that juicy client. Never, ever imagine, you know, when people say, do a business plan, and I was like, I'd love to work with small SMEs, you know, and let's go and tell their story. That was not what I imagined at all. So, and I went for it. And I think in some ways, if you, maybe the fear was what, you know, I was going up against Saatchi and Saatchi, which is one of the big London agencies and another big agency, me and this little agency that were just there going, we've got this idea and we've done this little mood film and we, you know, and they just, they said they, you know, won their hearts by the music and the effort we put in. The passion, you know. Yeah, the passion. And they connected to that. And I think that seems to be a common thread through all these podcast episodes. It is the passion, because if you're doing what you should be doing, that chimes through, doesn't it? And actually taking that time out, you don't realise it at the time. I felt quite lost. I quite liked being Heidi, because when you're a mum, you get a bit, oh, you're so-and-so's mum, you know. And I think that was nice. But I realised, I mean, Alfred made a full-time job there. And I looked at that and thought, wow, five days in a shop, nine to five, ruck around childcare, working weekends for not a lot of money. And it wasn't just the money. But at the end of the day, you're like, that's not my passion. No. And passion is what drives us forward, isn't it? Yeah. Oh, I love that story, Heidi. Thank you. Really inspiring. So if we move on to your quickfire question, then. So this is an opportunity to share your favourite tool or a key lesson. So what is yours? Within our business, we use a lot of tools. We have to keep on top of technology. And it is growing beyond belief at the moment, as you can imagine, not just with AI, but yeah, virtual production. I'm actually going to an event on Wednesday, which is just going to be an absolute, it's at Olympia and it's just going to be all the new tricks and trades and tools out there. I have really embraced AI. I went on an AI course. You can tell whatever you use, whatever works for you. But my best friend at the moment is Gemini, called Gem. And I've got her to understand my language. And so I do use that. And a lot of people look at me like, you know, really? And I said, but it helps save my time, you know, and it works for me. I've also embraced Sales Navigator with LinkedIn and learn how to use Meet Alfred so that they can work together and set up little campaigns. But I think an app that I use on a day to day basis is called Bear. And that is something that I just like because it's creative. And you put your hashtags in that are relevant. So I do lots of pictures for clients and have lots of ideas. And I like to contain it in one place. And that's just that just works for me. So say I'm doing a pitch for I was doing a pitch for Kew Gardens last year, anything visual and gardens, you just hashtag it and it's got a picture reference of website. And then you use AI with it. And it just it just helps bring that brand to life and keeps it all in one place. Is that Bear as in B-E-A-R? Yes. Yes. Yeah. That's something that I think maybe, yeah, is more of an everyday sort of tool that I sort of turn to. Lovely. And I think that's what we have in. We have a blend of daily tools and then ones that we sort of drop in and out of. But we were talking before this moment about AI and I love it to use in the right way. But it's the time saving element of it, I think, as well. Like a training gem to know that's powerful. Yeah. I mean, 100 percent. I'm actually going through a rebrand at the moment because I start up in 2017. So website's quite old, you know. Things have changed, you know, and I'm using the AI to help with the messaging. And but the inputs all coming, all the works coming from us here. No, exactly. I think that's what people sometimes don't realise, isn't it? Yeah. And you have to work at it and it still takes time to get that. But the work you put in, the output you get is incredible. We'll look forward to sharing that new site with us then when it's ready. Exciting. So Heidi, your bell ring a moment then. So your single most important takeaway. Last year was quite tough for us here. We were nonstop for like seven, eight years and with various things that are going on in the economy and the climate, you know. Personally, I had to find a way to deal with that. So I've actually turned to breath work in quite a big way, actually. So every sort of big pitch or presentation or anything I'm doing, I'll do some deep three big belly breaths. But I actually go on little days where I sort of really tap in to get really deep with the breath work. And I think it's really good for your nervous system. It sort of calms you down and helps you get focus and clarity, gets you away from your phone and all the noise and the tech. And, you know, I do walk my dog and I don't put my headphones on. I do all the things. I love swimming and things like that. But this focus on your mind with breath work, I'm not brilliant at just meditating, but I do think breath work just brings you to the present and the now and it makes you feel like everything's going to be OK. You know, it just brings that busy, busy head of cloud of, you know, I am quite a busy creative here, there and everywhere. My job is very varied. No two days the same. So if I just start the day, even five minutes, it calls. I've got this app called Breath Pod and it just gets you in the zone. And you can choose whether you've got seven minutes, eight minutes. It might sound like it's not enough, but I also do his two hour sessions. He's called Stuart Sanderson and he is he's just been brilliant over the last two years. So that's my that's my absolute go to try and do it on a daily basis. But it doesn't always work out like that. But if I do it once or twice a week, then I'm happy. That's a win. Yeah, I definitely look at that because I'm the same as you. Meditation, brilliant if I'm in the zone of doing it. And like you as well, I don't have headphones when I take the dog for a walk. However, sometimes you just need something that's a little bit more intense. So that and swimming, because you can't take your phone in the swimming pool and swimming, I've learned is all about the breath work. So actually, when I come back out from swimming, my team around me get a bit worried because they're like, oh, my gosh, it's when I come out with all these ideas, all these creative ideas, sort of. Yeah. Yeah. So water, water and breath work. Yeah. Love that combination. Thank you very much. So how do your school drop off? Shout out. You may well not be doing a school drop off anymore. I'm not sure how old you're. No, I'm I've heard some of your other lovely podcasts. And I think something that really resonated with me was when I originally worked at my big company, I used to hide behind the school gates, you know, used to be like covering the phone. And when I did do school drop off and I had my own business, I was completely confident about I am a mom and I'm here and I'm picking the kids up and this is what I'm doing now. Now they're at senior school. So it is, you know, I make sure that they've had breakfast. Well done. That's a win in itself. Yeah, it is. And they've got their uniform on and they've done their homework. So, you know, I get up quite early. I have a bit of time to me, whether I do my breath work or walk the dog and just make sure they're out the door. But I I used to go and work in co-work spaces, but I actually quite like a bit of my own time in the morning just to focus and refresh, whether that's, yeah, just doing the breath work or just put some calm music on and just look at what I've got to do for the day. So I always give myself that little bit of time. I never, ever just pick up the phone and just answer email straight away. I always have that little bit of time just to take deep breaths. That window for you, which is really important. Yeah, I love that. Thank you. And finally, your homework assignment. I'm loving these homework assignments, gearing me up. Yeah. Yeah, mine is for this year. I'm sort of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. So my homework assignment is for you to be brave and think of something that you've been putting off, whether that's you've been asked to do a talk somewhere or, you know, you should be putting a video online. Even I'm, I'm behind the camera, so I tend to interview and film. Even I'm guilty of not doing that. So think of something you've been putting off, and it might not necessarily be for your business. It might be something you want to do to challenge yourself. So this year I'm doing lots of little challenges and I'm finding that's really helping me in my business. So yeah, mine is just to think of something that you've put off for a while. So what's one of yours, if you don't mind sharing? Well, work-wise, I'm rebranding and I'm really going to put myself out there and be seen and heard. And I know that's what I've got to do. No, I'm pleased because I'm looking at your website. It's like, oh, where is Heidi? I sort of feel So that is a quite a big, my mentor has helped me. He is an absolute digital marketing whiz and we are nearly at the wireframe. So that won't be long until that's really clear and focused. But yeah, I'm climbing Ben Nevis in July. I really want to climb a mountain. So that's my, yeah, I'm setting myself little challenges and things that will make me feel good. And that's with a lovely group of women. And I'm really looking forward to that. Yeah, trying to get, and then it's, you know, it's good, isn't it? Because it's, you know, trying to get fit and healthy. There's loads of other positives as well as feeling empowered, hopefully when I get to the top. But like you say, it has a ripple effect, doesn't it? And I think the more we can stretch ourselves, but also the work and the business and the home life bit being separate. So having the personal challenges, I think it's really important. Yeah. I think I realised that I really needed to pivot, you know, your business is, it's working with the changes and the climate's very different for the world of video film and content. So it's about embracing that. And I took a bit of time in January to rethink and refocus. And I think that's where a lot of the sort of little challenges and things that I've set up for the business and myself has come from. And it is, it's about pushing yourself, isn't it? Always. That's a bit why I always have, I've got my vision board here that I do every January. On there, you know, like you, that visual piece of actually looking up and going, oh yeah, I did say, yeah, we're going, I was going to do that. And last year I trained as a naming celebrant, you know, humanist celebrant, and that was on my thing, on my board. And actually, once it's on there, it sort of makes it easier for it, you know, you're going to do something towards it, don't you? So I look forward to seeing you at the top and waving from the top. That's brilliant. Oh, so I loved it and really enjoyed our time together. And thank you for preparing and for being so authentic and sharing your story with us. Thank you.