In the 1970s, Teiwes' love of the people and cultures of the Southwest led her to Arizona's many Indian reservations. By the early 1990s, she had logged thousands of miles photographing Hopi farmers, Apache tribal chairmen, Tohono O'odham saguaro fruit gatherers, Indian royalty, Spanish missions and Navajo hogans.

Throughout her career, she displayed an ability to forge friendships and to keep her work within appropriate cultural contexts. Stella Tucker, a Tohono O'odham who first met Helga at her great aunt's saguaro camp, recalled, "I think she was just fascinated with our people, the O'odham people. About the desert, especially the fruit harvest. She came every year to the harvest, and was almost like family. She is just a wonderful person, a great photographer."