Stine Heilmann worked as an intern for 5 years with one of Denmark’s most successful advertising photographers, Torsten Graae, who was and still is an expert in light setting and aesthetic motives. Her final graduation exam won her 3 awards and 4 prizes.She went to New York, where she worked for 4 years, assisting Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon and Mary Ellen Mark. The last 2 years of her stay she worked closely with Mr. Irving Penn. He was her mentor, inspiration and good friend until his death in 2009.In New York she created her own business “Botanic Couture”. The concept was wrapping real shoes in flowers or vegetables. It became hugely popular all over America – all the way to the white house and was her early trademark.