For Brisbane-based photographer and mum Hannah, capturing family moments isn’t just a job – it’s a lifelong passion that began when she was just 14. Now, with over 20 years behind the lens and a beautiful family of her own, she’s created a studio where fun, love and laughter are all part of the picture. Balancing motherhood with running her own business, Hannah brings heart, experience and a deep understanding of family life to every shoot. She has created a space where memories are captured with warmth and authenticity. Here, she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Hannah Photography, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Believe it or not, it was a careers day at school when I was only 14… A young photographer was describing their business and something instantly clicked. I thought: That is what I want to do! So I bought my first SLR, took a teen photography course, and after graduating high school, went straight to uni to do a Bachelor of Photography… that was more than 20 years ago now!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I was only 19 when I graduated university, so I wanted more experience before starting my own business. I bought a one-way ticket to London for a job interview to be a photographer on a cruise ship… Luckily, they found a position for me on the Wind Surf – a beautiful yacht with only 300 passengers. It was such an incredible experience-sailing through the Mediterranean and Caribbean, photographing events like the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix!
After the ship, I still had the travel bug, so I lived in Ireland for over a year and then moved to Edinburgh where I worked with Venture Studios. That’s where I discovered my love for fun and unique family portraits in a studio setting. I finally came home in 2012 and set up my very own studio in Brisbane!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
When I arrived home in 2012, I had been thinking about the business since starting uni in 2002-so it was already 10 years in the making. I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life-this was it!
I applied for a business loan to set up a home studio, launched the website, then started networking like never before-visiting local businesses, attending community events, and offering fundraising services for schools and sporting clubs. I was everywhere!
A few months in, I secured a little shopfront on a busy road in a beautiful part of Brisbane and this helped things take off. Gradually, bookings became consistent and I now have a beautiful community of clients that are mostly repeaters or referrals. Some families I have been photographing for 12 years!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I am very lucky to have a wonderful set-up with our family home upstairs and the custom-built studio (thanks to my husband who is a carpenter!) downstairs. I’ve been able to have the absolute maximum time with our long-awaited, beautiful baby boy who arrived in December 2022, while also keeping HP going – just at a limited capacity.
