Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Lake.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hannah Lake. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Even since a very young age, I’ve held photos very close to my heart — it’s always how I’ve documented my life. Yes, I was that kid who constantly had a disposable camera with her! Then, a friend of mine was selling his camera for an upgrade in college, and I thought to myself, “What a steal!”. I bought it from him with the intention of just having much nicer documentation of my life!
Going to school for theatre, you know everyone is going to need headshots every 6-12 months! So I started doing basic headshots for people in the theatre department, and I realized how much I loved shooting people. I loved getting people to smile genuinely and figure out how to capture exactly who they are in one shot. I loved the moment when the light hit them just right or I snapped the moment just after a laugh where their eyes were lit up! That is still something I consider one my biggest strengths — between falling in love with each person I shoot in some way, my silly dancing to whatever music we’re playing, or making jokes, I get at least one mid-laugh shot per shoot.
But from there, I started upgrading my equipment, reading blogs online, making connections in the photography community, taking classes, venturing out into different kinds of photography — styled shoots, cosplay, dance — and in early 2016, I said to myself, “I just really want to do this for real.” I had my friend, Janine DeMichele Baggett with Country Fried Creative design a logo for me, I made an Instagram & Facebook business page, started writing contracts, and from there, Hannah Lake Photography was born.
I am constantly working on ways to grow — grow in my art, make new connections, collaborate in new ways, challenge myself in new ways! Right now, I’m working on building out a studio in my condo, for example! I’m so excited to see where this business endeavor takes me, and all of that started out as a hobby, and now, I get to do it for my job!
Has it been a smooth road?
I would say that in pursuing something you really love, it is completely expected to hit some bumps along the way! But usually, your obstacles are also full of things to learn, if you keep an open mind. One huge obstacle that affects everyone, I’m sure, is time. I’m also an actor and a teaching artist, so sometimes, it’s difficult to give each one of my passions the time I wish I could in order to grow in that area even more. For example, if I’m performing in a show, I find that my photography takes more of a backseat during that time.
Or if I’m teaching summer camp with the Alliance for 40 hours a week, I may not be able to go to an audition that comes up because sometimes you just can’t do all the things at once! It’s all connected. I feel like I’ve really improved over time about task management and giving lots of things my focus at once, but even that is a skill! You have to constantly work on it. I’ve even taken to making sure I schedule myself days off, or I’ll just work 7 days a week because I love what I do so much!
Money, of course, is a struggle for every millennial trying to make their dreams happen. For example, for photography, it takes money to invest in equipment, classes, time off of other jobs to shoot, etc.! The same as task management, it takes constant self-evaluation to make sure that you are investing in yourself as a business, the same way you pay your bills, because it will only help you grow.
And like I said, our obstacles are FULL of ways we can learn, and I really try to take things in stride. My motto of 2018 seems to be “be present, be positive, be grateful.”
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At this point, I’ve done a little bit of everything! Headshots (both theatre & corporate), cosplay, dance, weddings, engagement, maternity, styled shoots, theatre production photos, newborn, boudoir! But I’ve narrowed it down into four basic categories — headshots, weddings, theatre, & lifestyle. That seems to cover everything succinctly. 🙂
But I don’t necessarily want to limit myself — I’m always open to trying new things, and like I said, I’m constantly searching for ways to grow and to challenge myself. I definitely think what sets me aside from other photographers is my bright, warm, & emotional style and my personality. I love to try to bring out the best in people while I’m shooting them. I’m constantly looking for new ways to communicate with each model to get them to show their best selves.
I’m an emotions person — I’m drawn to capturing feelings, whether it be through dance, cosplay, boudoir! I love to play music to make people feel comfortable. I’m great at making conversation, so it keeps the model connected and relaxed. If anything, at the very end, I want the model to like how they look in the photo AND to look like their best self. There’s a definite difference between just a pretty picture and a picture that captures who they are.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I have loved growing as a photographer in Atlanta, Of course, there are tons of photographers here, each different and talented in their own way! But instead of looking at that as competition, I look for it as opportunities to learn and connect. I’ve learned a lot just from chatting and working with other photographers about how they’ve grown, what has worked for them, and tips and tricks of the trade!
Not even just photographers, but I’ve made so many friends from being a photographer — whether it’s someone I met in passing who asks me to shoot them, the cosplay and theatre communities here, collaborations through friends — and that to me is one of the most valuable things I’ve gained from being a photographer here.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahlakechatham.com
- Phone: (828) 320-2586
- Email: hannahlakec@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlakephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahlakephotography
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlakee
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