Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Hall.
Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I am so excited to be here! My name is Anna, and I am a photographer in Athens Georgia. I remember taking film photographs as a child-using, the empty film canisters as storage for my beads and treasures, waiting for the pictures to come back, and then carefully creating scrapbooks full of photographs of my world- my front porch, a cat, a flower… but in college, I was excited to pursue a career as an occupational therapist to help children with special needs and was taking all science classes as a result. On a study abroad trip partway through college, I begged my way into an upper-level studio photography class. (As a science major, I didn’t have the prerequisite film experience, but I had received a digital camera and wanted to learn how to use it) They let me switch at the last minute, unaware that their willingness to bend the rules would change my life. In that class, I learned everything about photography-from the global vision of great work and the great artists in this field and their impact, all the way down to the nitty-gritty of camera settings, composition, and editing.
Since my fellow students were experienced artists already, they sat on their hard chairs looking towards the outside, leaping from them and rushing out the door as soon as the didactic portion of our lecture concluded. My professor was left with one blank slate, eager-faced student before her – me. She kindly led me out to the streets of Cortona to teach me everything- walking with me, encouraging me to take a photograph, then tweaking details in real-time to help me learn. My confidence grew and I remembered the joy I had felt as a child when capturing the world around me. At the end of that summer, my work was featured in our art show, and my professor encouraged me to begin my own business. Anna Hall Photography was born the next spring, in 2014. It has been a beautiful blessing to my life ever since! I started by photographing families and children, but within my first year began my career as a wedding photographer. Now I am thrilled to be photographing weddings in the Athens and Atlanta areas with nearly ten years of experience!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My mission has always been to “under-promise and over-deliver”. By shooting for free, then charging only small amounts of money as I built my portfolio, I gave 110% to every single session and wedding, with the intent of making every experience above-and-beyond. I would tell the client their images would be ready in three weeks, then work diligently with a private goal of image delivery within one. I quietly pursued continuing education and upgraded my equipment to deliver better and better results while only letting my prices scale after the experience and quality of images I was providing improved. I think this principle has served me incredibly well in my business and allows me to feel incredibly confident where I am in my business now. I have built on a firm foundation, using integrity as my guide. This is a hard road, as it does not yield profit as quickly as a quick and easy strategy, but I am proud that I chose the road less traveled and more difficult. I believe it is what God has called me to and I trust that He will give me strength even when it is hard!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in fine art wedding photography. I think I particularly love weddings because of how close I am to the bride and groom all day-I strive to create a haven in which my couple feels completely loved and comfortable because I believe this creates not only the best portraits but the best memories behind those portraits. My goal is for my clients to walk down the hall and notice the image on their wall and smile without realizing it because they are transported back to how they felt in that very moment. This experience starts at my engagement sessions, which are used as reconnaissance missions to get to know the clients, ask about insecurities and preferences, to study and learn what works and what doesn’t in regards to posing and prompting. That way, on wedding day, I can jump straight to what works best for them uniquely to create the best possible images for their day. My favorite (and most common) feedback is, “I was so nervous/not photogenic, but that was so FUN!”
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My professor, Polly Gaillard, who taught me photography that incredible summer in 2013, my husband who has supported me every single step of the way, my parents who encouraged me (and bought my first camera for me that summer!) and my very first wedding clients (who insisted on paying double what I quoted). That kind of belief and investment is something I will never forget!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://annahall.photography/
- Instagram: annahallphoto
- Facebook: annahallphoto
Image Credits
Anna Hall Photography
