The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I always had such a clear vision of what I wanted to do, and without a back-up plan, there was no option other than to make it work!
Even with big challenges – like COVID, my main colleague getting brain cancer, taking on a commercial lease that was too expensive (so we had to live on site for three years), buying a family home, the cost of living that impacts us as well as our clients, fertility issues, finally becoming a mum, my vision and drive have remained perfectly clear.
This is my calling. I believe so strongly in the importance of photographs to capture history in the making, so that it can be relived forever and passed down to future generations. I love photography so much, and even with the chaos of life, it’s my one constant. It keeps me grounded and focused.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros would be the freedom and the satisfaction of creating something that is totally yours and that you are proud to share with the world.
The cons are, of course, the costs of running a business (that I was blissfully unaware of when I started!), taxes, and quite simply, when you don’t work, you don’t get paid (so maternity leave seemed impossible).
Hopes and dreams: What next?
This is a very timely question. I am currently, quite literally, living my lifelong dream! I had always hoped for a beautiful home in Brisbane where I could have my family upstairs and the studio set up downstairs. We achieved this five years ago.
And after finally welcoming our long-awaited baby boy two years ago, the dream has started to evolve. I love this set-up so much and it has been the perfect place to start a family. However, now that we have a very busy two-year-old in the house, we are starting to plan the next chapter.
While some people “work from home”, I feel like I have always “lived in the studio”… So for the very first time, we will be looking at having an independent studio in Brisbane, while our family finds a home not too far away. The dream will continue to live on and I am so excited for the next chapter in the HP story… stay tuned!
Visit the Hannah Photography website to find out more, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
