Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Johnston.
Hi Hannah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always been on the creative side but never saw that as a strength of mine until college. I attended Stephen F. Austin State University in 2015 and joined Chi Omega sorority. I had always wanted a leadership role in my sorority, but nothing was ever the right fit. I got assigned as a marketing assistant and was in charge of taking pictures for my chapter. I loved it and finally had that creative outlet I needed.
In college, I was a Health Science major, thinking I wanted to be a dental hygienist. However, after seeing blood in someone’s mouth, I realized this was NOT the path for me! (Shoutout to the dental hygienist out there haha!) I was the typical student in the phase of “What do I want to do with my life?” I really wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do or where I would be after college! Junior year rolls around, I had continued taking photos for my sorority, and one of my sisters asked me to shoot her grad photos. I did it for fun and ended up LOVING it. After this session, I realized that I had so much fun doing grad sessions that I could do it for money! WOW! What a concept!
I then created the beginning of my business, Hannah Johnston Photography! I shot so many “free” sessions to really get a feel for what I was doing but then started taking grad sessions for so many SFA grads. It felt like I had really found my passion – which wasn’t solely taking photos; it was talking to people! I loved meeting new people and getting the opportunity to capture a special moment in someone’s life! Which then led to taking family, newborn, portrait sessions, and even WEDDINGS.
So, I graduated college, moved home, got engaged, and decided I wanted to be a wedding photographer. I had so many inspirations and great photographer friends who were the key to the pivot into my business and wanting to be a sole wedding photographer. But then 2020 comes, and my wedding photography dreams have been crushed. Weddings were being rescheduled and cancelled everywhere. I mean who would’ve thought!?! This is the sad part to my story because I ended up thinking I would never be where I wanted. I looked at changing career paths and trying to end my business because I was scared the world would never be the same. As time went on and the world worked itself out, then I realized my dream didn’t have to end. I wanted this more than I wanted anything else, so why would I stop now? My husband, family, and friends were the most supportive in this confusing time period of what I wanted to do from that point, but I was lucky enough to find my way back.
I have been a wedding photographer for over 3 years, and it’s the most rewarding job. I have shot all over the DFW metroplex, capturing the best days for the best clients. The fact that someone trusts me so much to capture memories that they will look at forever is the biggest honor. I’m forever grateful that the Lord has blessed me to be a wedding photographer.
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?
Some of the biggest challenges I had at the beginning was that it’s a saturated market, and you have to find a way to make yourself known. It’s hard to stand out when you are in the beginning phases of building a business! I joined so many groups and worked for basically nothing as a wedding photographer just to gain experience. It’s so important to work hard and spend time on getting to where you want to be!
Another challenge was creating the style and look that I wanted when there’s light and airy, dark and moody, and all of the above. It took me a while to figure out the overall type of photos I wanted to create. After lots of practice, talking with other photographer friends, family, and friend critiques, I have gotten to a comfortable place. However, I will never stop learning, growing, and moving with my business! You have to be consistent with any business!
It’s not always a smooth road, but there’s always lessons. You can learn so much hitting a bump in the road and come out smooth sailing!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Dallas and Fort Worth Wedding Photographer and I specialize in weddings and elopements. I am most proud of how far my business has come! I never in a million years would’ve thought I would be 26, a wedding photographer, and running my own business! It has been a long road of hundreds of sessions, but it has led me to where I am today as a photographer.
I think what sets me apart from others is my personality. I LOVE being around people. I thrive off of a little chaos and a whole lot of fun! I love being there for people but especially on the biggest day of their lives. Wedding Photographers are with the couples all day long, and my mood is so important to how their day will go. So, I will be the first to remind them to have fun, crack a joke, have them make out for a photo, and dance on the dance floor with them!
Another thing that sets me apart, for the last year and a half I was also a wedding coordinator. I decided to expand my business as an event/wedding planner. I ended up pausing this half of my business after having my daughter in August, but it taught me so much. I have experienced weddings as a bride, coordinator/planner, and photographer. I understand the wedding flow very well, and I know what couples are looking for/need!
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To keep working towards your goals! Life will continue to throw curve balls, but if you want something, you have to work hard for it. Something isn’t working in your business? Pivot. Life’s got you down? Get back up! It’s not always easy to go after what you want, but it will always be worth it to work hard for your future self.
Contact Info:
- Website: hannahjohnstonphotography.com
- Instagram: @hannahjohnstonphotography
- Facebook: hannahjohnstonphoto
Image Credits
Hannah Johnston Photography
