Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Stokes.
Hannah, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am a creative in every way. I can remember from like age 4 being obsessed with glitter, crafts, painting, and basically anything I could make with my hands. School always came as a struggle for me, so I put my heart and soul into music until I could get to college and develop my mind and my talents. I went to a liberal arts school in NC (just graduated in May!!!, didn’t know if it could be done…) and I chose to study English and basically got to read every amazing book under the sun and geek-out with fellow book lovers within my major. It wasn’t until college that I started playing around with Photography.
I had a lot of friends who were in the industry and it seemed to be really taking off for them. I liked that photography offered the creative freedom to story tell through images, but also to offer a good side-income for my poor self;) I bought my first camera and just started taking pictures of anyone who would let me. I started getting a lot of positive response from those pictures and was encouraged to start taking this seriously. So, I upgraded my lens, started an Instagram for my photos, and designed my own website. There have been bumps along the way, and I am still learning every day, but it has been such a gift amongst the intense transition out of college and into the “real world” haha. I love being able to tell stories of love, growth, beauty, and adventure through images, and I can’t wait to see where this business takes me!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a photographer, but I would rather describe myself as a fly on the wall with a camera;) I like to capture those images that make you wonder “what was the subject thinking while this was taken?”, or “did they even know this was being taken?”. I take photos because I think that making memories is one of the best things in this life. I hope to look back one day when I am older and see just how much I lived–the raw, the funny, the lovely, and the honest– and I want to offer my clients the same thing too. I hope that from my photos, people understand that their self, just as they are, is enough to make amazing memories.
I am a minimal editor because I want people to be represented as they are with my artistic style, rather than an image they can’t even recognize because it is so photoshopped. I am also a minimal poser because I gravitate so much more to the authentic moments between a couple, with solo subject, or between a family. In a session with me, I’m not going to tell you exactly where to place your finger or tilt your head, but rather I’ll ask you what you love about the person you’re with, or your favorite memory as a kid, or ask what inspires you. I get up close and personal with my clients because I believe that that is the only way to honestly and authentically tell their story.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
I think success is defined by being able to do what you love despite what is trendy or popular, and have people value that art. For me, it is so easy to meditate on the things I think matter–how many followers I have, how many clients I’m booking, if other photographers like my work, etc.–and those are important things to think about, but if you let them consume you, you will never feel successful in your art. Because frankly, there are always more followers to have, more clients to book, and more people to impress. It’s essential to always have a vision for where you want your art to go and what you want it to say, so I have to continually remind myself to set my own goals based on my own art. For example, if I have a really quirky posing idea that is pretty unconventional and I find a client who is willing to collaborate with me to make that image, that is a win for me, because it is developing my personal style rather than conforming to the traditional funk that photographers in the south so easily fall into.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my work on Instagram (@hannahc.stokesphotography), Facebook (@stokesphoto), or on my Website https://www.hannahcstokesphotography.com . People can support my work by following me on social media, sharing my work with friends that might be interested, and just valuing the unique style of photography that I love to give to my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hannahcstokesphotography.com
- Email: hannahc.stokesphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahc.stokesphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StokesPhoto/
Image Credit:
Hannah C. Stokes Photography
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