Hannah is a rising senior at Saint Mary’s who has already accomplished things some people only dream of. Her entrepreneurial spirit and her passion for photography lead her to start her own business capturing milestones from senior pictures to weddings. Her business HZ Photography has gained popularity in not only in her hometown of Holland, MI but in surrounding areas, as well as across the SMC campus. I had the opportunity to ask Hannah some questions about what lead her to Saint Mary’s and where her passion for photography came from as well as where she hopes they both will take her.
Why SMC?
I knew that I wanted a socially large environment but academically small and Saint Mary’s just really felt like a place that I could thrive and utilize resources.
What is the best part of SMC?
My friends, my incredible friends and people that I have met and that most girls hold the door open for anyone behind them hahaha. Attending an all women’s college is such a unique experience and has truly given me the best ability to discover myself.
What has your SMC experience been like; where have you lived, what have you done, favorite classes and professors etc.
I have lived in Holy cross and Le Mans! I also studied abroad in Rome (epic photo opportunities), Honestly…. My favorite class was probably buyer behavior because of the journal that we did analyzing ads and marketing techniques in modern media and advertising! I did some interesting ones on Axe and Dove, Comparing the Soccer mom vehicles nation wide, celebrity endorsements when the celebrities have passed, (Marilyn Monroe for Big sexy hair) and even one about typography in the media! I really have loved many professors and connected with some outside of my major, which is incredible.
How did you start your business?
When I was about 13, I really got into editing pictures on this software called Microsoft picture it! Literally had an ! in the title. I used to photo shop my friends and myself with celebrities (like Hilary Duff) After about 2 years of only editing other people’s pictures, I decided I really wanted to start taking some for my own. My parents bought a SONY DSLR and it had different lenses. That was great and I used that camera for a while. Some of my friends were kind enough to let me take photos of them, but ultimately it was random kids from my high school who did not want to pay full price for a portrait photographer that asked me if senior photos was something I did! I started doing senior pictures for $30. The first year I did them was the same year I was a senior myself. One of the most rewarding things was to open my school yearbook and see pictures that I had taken featured as my peer’s photos! Since then, the phrase “practice makes perfect” is 100% accurate. I think I get better every shoot.
What’s your favorite aspect of your business?
It is simple. I love capturing moments, and memories. I love selfishly love playing a role in peoples stories! Documenting a wedding makes me feel so honored because that is what they are going to show their kids, and then their grandkids and to think that something that I create will hold that much weight in the way that future generations or other people interpret a memory or moment in time is infinitely rewarding. Pictures are memories, and memories make up experience, and experience makes up a life and reviewing that life in anyway with my pictures incorporated is the most flattering thing of all.
What are you doing in New York this summer?
I am currently in New York and I am about to attend the first “smart girls conference” an amazing group. I have been working with them casually on a project basis, doing graphic design and now photographing this conference as well as attending! I am super excited! The agenda is amazing and I am really excited to see what all these amazing people have to say! The conference was today and it was incredible. To have a room that is so energized with individuals who are determined to find their individual path to success is inspiring and exhilarating. Honestly, they had incredible speakers and the girls were eager to engage. I loved the way the whole conference thing worked it was informative and fun!
What advice would you give to aspiring photographers/entrepreneurs?
The entrepreneur thing I feel is a personality type and mindset. I am SUCH a visionary and that can be great but also extremely difficult at times! I see the potential in everything, and am always looking to inspire and create. I am by no means the true definition of an entrepreneur because those people are courageous, and have more self-discipline and confidence than anything. I am definitely on my way their to believing full heartedly in my mission and dreams and really hope to dive headfirst into the next ventures of life after my senior year at SMC!
As far as photography, there are infinite resources these days! You can have a go pro, an iPhone, a camera, or anything and have a love for pictures showing photographer tendencies! With applications like instagram, flipagram, and all the other unique editing apps, it really has kick started a trend of visual arts and that’s awesome but makes this industry definitely saturated. I personally am self taught so many photographers who go to art schools and have degrees specific to the art would be frustrated by my type of work and unconventional background. Ultimately, I think having a passion for photography, or simply having it as a hobby has ALWAYS proven worth it, I don’t care what you want to take pictures of, your family vacation in Disney, to your babies first crawl, or prom! It is all about quality documentation of the memories!
What have you done at SMC with your business?
I have actually done a good amount of work for Saint Mary’s! I have photographed their alumni reunion last summer! I have had a few sessions with annual fundraiser, BAVO’s love your body week, the business department, and features in the courier.
What do you want to do after Saint Mary’s?
I really love product photography, ultimately I want companies to send me products or their products and be like “how can we flatter this item and in what way, what setting, what season, what color, what emotion are we trying to convey.”
Some of Hannah’s pictures:
Check out more of Hannah’s amazing photos on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/HannahZPhoto
Photos provided by the author
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