Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Mann.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hannah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I got into photography probably the same way most people end up really finding what they love: I got a degree in something else, hated it (well, almost), and had to figure out a new life plan.
I had majored in computer science in college and I worked in the field for three years after graduation. After a short break from working at all, fresh back in San Diego from living out of state, and with my second baby due any day, I was desperate to find something I even moderately enjoyed and could do primarily from home so I wasn’t leaving my children so much and paying a fortune for childcare. Photography had never called to me before except as a casual hobby, but I figured if so many other people could do it, why not me, and I dove in. For the record, I do not recommend starting a business on the verge of having a second child. 😉
Through a lot of hard work, a lot of reading and learning and challenging myself and meticulously studying what successful people were doing, I got my business off the ground. I have probably never been more stressed in my life as I was that first year, but I wanted it desperately and I hung in. And here I am a few years later, and while I always want to grow and learn and change, I am doing what I set out to do: I have a job I love, I work for myself, and I have a flexible schedule that fits great with my family.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always challenges in owning a business and working in a creative field. Marketing is a huge challenge for most small businesses and the technology and trends are always changing. Knowing when to actually put my work away and rest is particularly difficult for me (it’s always waiting for me at my desk – there’s never a point when everything is done!). Finding the balance between being critical enough of myself to keep growing yet not so critical that I kill my own confidence is often hard. But those are all issues that are manageable, and also need to be addressed on and off again throughout the entire life of a business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Hannah Mann Photography – what should we know?
I usually call myself a lifestyle and wedding photographer, though at the moment I am stepping back from weddings for a time since I have three young children at home. My current focus is families (including maternity and newborns), but I really love it all.
I want my photographs to leave my clients feeling lots of deep feelings. Anyone can take a snapshot to help you remember what you looked like at a certain point in life. But capturing what life felt like, how your children made you feel, what it was like saying your vows, or waiting on your baby, or becoming a parent, or whatever – AND doing that in a beautiful way – that’s a whole different game. We only get to do life once, and I want to preserve the richness of the love we have forever. I want my photos to touch a place in my clients’ souls that they didn’t know a photograph could.
I’ve been honored to have my work featured in some of the most exclusive publications, such as The Fount Collective, Lemonade and Lenses, 100 Layer Cakelet, and more.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think honesty is the most essential characteristic for success for me personally and for most people in a creative field. And when I say honesty, I don’t just mean not lying to my clients (though obviously, that’s a given, ha!): I mean being an authentic person, connecting in a genuine way, taking photos that my clients know really tell their story, and continually producing work that speaks to me as well. I can’t just follow trends or copy anyone else or even set out to be different just to be different – every piece needs to be honest and real.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahmann.com
- Email: hannahcmann@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahcmann/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahmannphotography/
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