Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Songer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I used to fill up the memory cards of my little point and shoot camera (that I had picked out at Target after saving up all my money for months) as my friends and I would take a million photos walking around the neighborhood. I picked up my first DSLR camera my junior year of high school when I took an AP photography course. Photography was a hobby for the years to come but I never took it too seriously. At some point, my camera ended up packed away in the back of my closet where it stayed through my undergrad college years. I went to school for Social Work and I began working in community mental health in 2019. Besides graduating and starting a real job that year, I also got married to my amazing husband and we adopted a second puppy. In 2020, I decided to go back to school for my Master’s degree.
That fall, I was working full-time in mental health and enrolled full-time in UT’s graduate program. I barely had any free time but I also could tell that I was burning out fast and that I had to find a way to do something for myself that was just for fun and could give me a break from the stress of work and school. I honestly don’t remember how I came to pull my dusty camera bag out from my closet but I did and I started watching youtube videos on shooting in manual. I began to practice and watch more videos and practice even more. I got friends to model for me and even posted on some Facebook groups looking for people who were interested in free photos in exchange for their time. While I shot graduation photos, families and individual portraits, too, I began to feel myself being drawn to shooting couples more and more. I loved the way I could let two people who love each other interact in front of my camera and just capture those little moments between them. The genuine, candid moments I was able to catch and freeze in time were the ones I really couldn’t get enough of. With this, my passion has evolved towards working to shoot more intimate weddings and elopements. These more intimate settings are where I find the most inspiration.
The time I spent behind the camera created a creative outlet for me during that year that I really needed and photography became one of my biggest forms of self-care. Besides the creative expression that photography brought me, I have also gained a beautiful community of fellow photographers in Austin, some of whom have even become good friends. I love getting to connect with others who are equally passionate about photography as I am. My journey with photographer has been such an unexpected one but I am so excited to continue to grow my business and, most of all, get to be a part of documenting more love stories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. Imposter syndrome is a real thing. With the saturation of photographers, especially in Austin, it can be easy to doubt myself and think that I’m not good enough or question why I even thought this was something I should pursue. Thats where my husband, who is so supportive of my photography, and the photography community I have, has come in so handy. It’s helpful hearing that I’m not the only one struggling with this and we all work to encourage and build each other up. It’s also been tough starting this business at the beginning of a pandemic. Its been a slow process with the barriers that the pandemic brought but I like to think that it also provided an opportunity to take more time to practice and develop the technical skills and the business side of things while meeting in person for photoshoots wasn’t an option.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in couples, intimate weddings and elopement photography. I’m passionate about documenting love stories and real-life relationships. When working with couples for engagement or anniversary sessions, I schedule a planning session to get to know them and to discuss their vision. I always like to ask what kind of things they like to do together. I think one of the best ways to capture a relationship is to have me be a third-wheel with you on your favorite date activity! This could be going on a hike with your dog, getting ice cream or burgers or even just getting cozy and hanging out at home. These are my favorite kinds of session to shoot because this is where you are most in your element and you will get to have those memories of all the times you spent together doing the same thing documented for the rest of time.
One other thing I’d say is that my goal is to make you comfortable in from of the camera. My favorite thing to hear after a session is “wow, that was actually really fun!”. Every time I meet with a couple before a session, everyone says the EXACT same thing: “I’m really awkward/uncomfortable getting my photo taken”. Trust me, I get it. I feel the same myself! But I got you! I give enough direction so you know what to do but I’m not forcing anyone into uncomfortable, stiff poses. I want you to feel like yourself and have fun with each other, most of all. Thats when the real magic happens.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Put yourself out there! It’s really scary at first, but the best opportunities I’ve had have come from taking a chance and reaching out to others who’s work I admire. The worst thing that can happen is that someone says no. Taking the time to build a community by connecting on social media and finding Facebook groups for other photographers in the area has been the best way I have found to network. Be genuine and you will find your people.
Pricing:
- Session start at $300
Contact Info:
- Email: hannahsongerphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/hannahsonger_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahsongerphotography
- Other: https://linktr.ee/hannahsongerphotography
Image Credits
C Bettis Photography, Mady Morneault, Julie Amelia
