Harper Hempel has built a remarkable career journey from her days as a college volleyball star to becoming a successful photographer and social media entrepreneur. Born and raised in Kentucky, Harper Hempel has crafted her path in the digital world while managing her public image.
Her story showcases how athletic discipline can translate into business success and how someone can rebuild their brand after facing public challenges.
Early Life
Harper Hempel was born on August 31, 1997, in Union, Kentucky, where she grew up in a family deeply connected to sports. Her father, Richard Hempel, co-founded eCoachSports, a company that provides online coaching resources to basketball coaches. This platform allows coaches across the country to access high-quality training content, showing how sports run in the Hempel family blood. Her mother, Colleen Hempel, supported Harper throughout her athletic and academic journey.
The sports connection extends beyond her parents. Harper’s brother, Conner Hempel, attended Harvard University, where he played football as a quarterback. Growing up with a brother who was also an athlete likely fostered Harper’s competitive spirit from an early age. This family dynamic created an environment where excellence in sports and academics was encouraged.
The Hempel household in Union, Kentucky, provided Harper with strong role models for both business acumen and athletic achievement. Richard Hempel’s work with eCoachSports connected the family to the basketball world, which would later play a significant role in Harper’s life. This foundation in a sports-oriented family helped shape her drive and discipline that would serve her well in her later ventures.
Growing up in Kentucky, Harper developed her own athletic identity while being supported by her family’s understanding of what it takes to succeed in competitive environments. The values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance instilled during these formative years would become essential to her future endeavors in volleyball, business, and digital media.
Volleyball Career
Harper Hempel’s athletic talents became evident during her time at Ryle High School, where she was a standout volleyball player. As a four-year starter on the team, she showed exceptional skills that earned her recognition throughout Kentucky. Her performance led to three All-State selections by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association, marking her as one of the top players in the state.
Her leadership qualities shone through when her teammates voted her team captain three times. This vote of confidence from peers speaks volumes about her character both on and off the court. During her senior year, Harper reached another milestone when she was named district MVP. She also received the 2011 Team Leadership Award, further cementing her reputation as not just a skilled player but a natural leader.
After high school, Harper took her talents to the University of Kentucky, where she played for the Wildcats volleyball team from 2015 to 2017. As a defensive specialist and setter, she contributed to the team’s success while balancing the demands of college athletics with academics. During her sophomore season, she played in 13 matches and recorded 20 digs, 3 assists, and 1 ace.
Harper’s academic achievements matched her athletic ones. She attended the prestigious Gatton School of Business at the University of Kentucky, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a minor in Digital Media. This educational background would prove invaluable as she transitioned from athletics to entrepreneurship. Her combined knowledge of marketing principles and digital media applications gave her the perfect toolkit for her future career path.
Business Ventures
Harper Hempel transformed her passion for photography into a thriving business venture after college. She established Harper Hempel Photography, based in Kentucky, where she offers professional photography services that capture special moments for her clients. What started as a hobby evolved into a legitimate business that showcases her creative eye and technical skills behind the camera.
Her photography business specializes in a variety of services, including portrait photography, couple shoots, family portraits, and fashion photography. This versatility allows her to work with diverse clients and projects, keeping her work fresh and engaging. Harper’s photography style emphasizes authentic moments and natural expressions, creating images that feel genuine rather than overly posed.
The geographic reach of Harper Hempel Photography extends across Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Cincinnati. This regional approach allows her to maintain a personal connection with clients while serving multiple communities. Through word-of-mouth recommendations and social media marketing, she has built a solid client base in these areas.
Harper’s photography business serves as more than just a source of income—it’s also a creative outlet that allows her to express her artistic vision. Each photo session allows her to tell stories through images, whether capturing a family’s bond, a couple’s love, or an individual’s personality. This storytelling approach has become a signature element of her photography style.
The success of Harper Hempel Photography demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to turn a creative passion into a viable business. By leveraging her marketing knowledge, she has positioned her photography services effectively in a competitive market. Her business continues to grow through her dedication to quality, client satisfaction, and consistent brand messaging.
Management Career
Harper Hempel’s expertise extends beyond photography into the realm of social media management, where she has built an impressive career. She has worked as a Social Media Community Manager for Fact & Fiction, where she developed and implemented strategies for major brands. Her responsibilities included creating engaging content, managing online communities, and analyzing performance metrics to optimize social media presence.
Among the brands Harper has worked with are Voodoo Ranger, Halo Top Ice Cream, and All Social Jessie. For these companies, she has managed various aspects of their social media presence, from content calendars to community engagement. This work requires staying on top of changing social media trends and algorithms, skills that Harper has mastered through her education and practical experience.
At All Social Jessie, Harper took on the role of Social Media Marketing Manager. This position allowed her to oversee and execute content calendars for clients’ social media platforms as an independent consultant. Her success in this role demonstrates her ability to understand different brand voices and target audiences across multiple industries.
Currently, Harper works at The Cold Life, according to her LinkedIn profile. This position represents another step in her professional journey, allowing her to apply her growing expertise in digital marketing and social media management. Throughout her career, she has consistently leveraged her marketing degree and digital media minor to create value for brands in the social media space.
Harper’s work in social media management showcases her ability to blend creativity with strategic thinking. She understands both the artistic elements of creating compelling content and the analytical aspects of measuring its performance. This combination of skills has made her a valuable asset to the brands she works with and has contributed significantly to her professional reputation.
Personal Brand
Harper Hempel has built a strong personal brand on social media, particularly on Instagram, where she has amassed a significant following. Her content focuses on lifestyle, travel, and showcasing her professional work as a photographer. Through carefully curated posts, she offers followers glimpses into her life while maintaining professional boundaries—a balance that many influencers struggle to achieve.
Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, Harper uses her location to influence her content, featuring local spots and regional travel destinations. Her Instagram presence goes beyond self-promotion, as she engages with followers through thoughtful captions and responses to comments. This interaction helps her build a community rather than just an audience, creating stronger connections with the people who follow her.
Harper is listed as a lifestyle content creator on influencer platforms like Collabstr, indicating her professional approach to social media. This classification allows brands to find her for potential collaborations and partnerships. Her ability to create authentic content that resonates with audiences makes her an attractive partner for brands looking to reach her demographic.
Her personal brand balances professionalism with relatability, showing both her business achievements and everyday moments. This approach helps her connect with different audiences, from aspiring entrepreneurs to photography clients to casual followers interested in lifestyle content. The consistency in her visual style and messaging strengthens her brand identity across platforms.
Through her social media presence, Harper demonstrates the principles of effective digital marketing that she applies to clients. Her accounts serve as a portfolio of her skills, showing potential clients what she can achieve. This strategic use of personal platforms to support professional goals reveals her marketing savvy and understanding of brand building in the digital age.
Relationship with Jamal Murray
Harper Hempel met NBA star Jamal Murray while they were both students at the University of Kentucky between 2015 and 2016. Murray was a freshman basketball player, while Harper was a sophomore on the volleyball team. Their relationship began during this time and continued as Murray’s basketball career took him to the Denver Nuggets after being drafted seventh overall in 2016.
The couple maintained a long-distance relationship as their careers pulled them in different directions. Murray focused on establishing himself in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, while Harper completed her education at Kentucky and built her photography and social media career. Despite the challenges of distance and busy schedules, they supported each other’s professional journeys.
In March 2020, Harper and Jamal faced a significant challenge when private content featuring the couple was leaked online through Murray’s Instagram account. Murray quickly stated that his account had been hacked and apologized to fans. The incident thrust Harper into an unwanted spotlight and led her to temporarily deactivate her social media accounts as she dealt with the invasion of privacy.
Following the incident, Harper took a break from social media to regroup and protect her privacy. When she returned to platforms like Instagram, she focused on rebuilding her online presence around her professional work rather than her relationship. This pivot shows her resilience and determination to control her narrative in the digital space.
The current status of Harper and Jamal’s relationship remains private, as both have chosen to keep their personal lives out of the public eye after the 2020 incident. They no longer post about each other on social media, leading to speculation about their relationship status. However, both have continued to focus on their respective careers, with Harper building her brand in photography and social media management.
Professional Achievements
Harper Hempel has built an impressive financial portfolio through her diverse professional endeavors. Her estimated net worth falls between $1 million and $5 million, reflecting her success as both a photographer and social media expert. This financial achievement demonstrates her ability to transform her skills and passions into profitable ventures.
Her dual careers provide multiple revenue streams that contribute to her overall financial success. As the owner of Harper Hempel Photography, she earns income from photography sessions, which can range from family portraits to fashion shoots. Meanwhile, her work in social media management provides another steady source of income, with social media managers in the United States earning average salaries around $65,000 per year.
Harper has built her professional reputation independent of her high-profile relationship. While many might know her name through her connection to Jamal Murray, she has established herself as a successful entrepreneur and digital marketing professional in her own right. This independent success speaks to her determination, business acumen, and professional skill set.
As a business owner, Harper has achieved significant milestones in a relatively short time. Launching and sustaining a photography business requires both artistic talent and business savvy—qualities that Harper clearly possesses. Her ability to market her services effectively, maintain client relationships, and deliver quality work has been key to her entrepreneurial success.
The diversity of Harper’s professional ventures provides not only financial stability but also opportunities for continued growth. By maintaining multiple career paths, she has created a professional life that allows for creativity, business development, and personal fulfillment. This balanced approach to career building reflects a thoughtful strategy for long-term professional success.
Personal Life
Harper Hempel currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where she balances her professional pursuits with personal interests. The move to Atlanta represents a new chapter in her life, giving her access to a vibrant city with numerous opportunities for both her photography business and social media career. Her location in a major metropolitan area allows her to connect with more potential clients and collaborators.
As a lifestyle content creator, Harper shares aspects of her daily life, travel experiences, and professional work across her social media platforms. Her content gives followers insights into her style, favorite places, and creative process without revealing too many private details. This curated transparency helps her build an authentic connection with her audience while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Harper’s professional focus continues to be on brand development and social media strategy. She applies her expertise not only to client accounts but also to her brand, creating a cohesive online presence that showcases her skills and interests. This dual application of her knowledge strengthens both her client work and her platform.
Travel features prominently in Harper’s content, suggesting it’s both a personal passion and a source of creative inspiration. Her travels provide fresh settings for her photography and new experiences to share with followers. These journeys also help her expand her perspective and bring new ideas to her professional work in social media management.
The balance Harper maintains between business and personal content creation shows her understanding of modern digital branding. She recognizes that today’s professionals, especially in creative fields, often blend personal and professional identities online. By thoughtfully managing this intersection, she has created a sustainable approach to life as a digital entrepreneur that protects her privacy while building her brand.
No Comment! Be the first one.