Professional Photographer Interview With Hanna Of LA Sadistasisters
Q: Where is your favorite place to live and work as a photographer in the World and why?
A: Italy, straight up, Italy. It was the reason my step dad bought me my camera. I was going to Europe for 2 weeks as a graduation present from my grandma. I had so much fun out there, there was so much to shoot, I’m surprised my camera didn’t die from over use!!!!
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: There is no definition. It’s in the eye of the beholder! One person’s beauty can be another person’s beast.
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: My pictures, I’m no one without my pictures, haha.
Q: How would you describe your attention span?
A: That of a goldf- OH LOOK A PENNY!
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: When my step dad sold my Beamer, went out, bought me a camera, and said “Here, use it.”
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: It means a way for people to express their feelings, capture something no one else can see, to seize the moment, hold it&own it. To create and bewilder the mind.
Q: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
A: No, there are to many that make me go WOW! to even begin trying to remember the first one.
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: No I do not. I was handed my camera and told to try it out. Of course, frustration set in and I asked my step dad for tips. I have a lot of photographer friends, so I pick their mind every once in a great while, I pick up tips and suggestions from everywhere I go.
Q: How technical is your photography?
A: Not very, ready for a 5 second idea of my shooting? “Ok… here we go… ight… THERE’S A SHOT, *CLICK*, got it.”
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: HAH! If I have to crop photos, I didn’t do my job right. Don’t get me wrong! Sometimes you have to, but I find it time consuming for me, and I would prefer not to do it.
Q: What is your most favorite and least favorite word in photography or life? How do they make you feel?
A: “Automatic”, stop using cameras on automatic! HAHA, the only time MY camera is on auto is when my friends are using it for fun.
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: I get more strict, especially if I’m working with a model. If I’m working a show, I get more irritated due to crowd surfers hitting me in the back of the head. I go into a mode where no one can bug me, my own little world. I see something, it’s over until the set/session is over.
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: Ugh, it sucks so bad… sometimes my camera lags at a shoot, then I miss the shot, it kills me!!
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: What is failure? How would you define failure??
Q: Who are your influences?
A: Oh man, both my dad and step dad, Jeremy Saffer!! All my muses and friends:) Family of course who sit there and listen to me rattle on and on about the show I just saw, but most importantly, the other photographers in the world! Thank you for giving me inspiration! Every day on M.M. I see a shoot or idea I could have never come up with on my own, it lets me know that photography will never die.
Q: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: God, I couldn’t even begin… I’ll just use one of mine. It’s of Max Green and Craig Mabbitt of Escape the Fate. It was Warped ’09, at Carson. It was dark, so for the first time EVER at Warped, I put flash on. The way the light bounced off the stage and around them, I was amazed when I uploaded it. I’m new to photography, when I get a shot that is of “epic” proportions to me, it makes me feel good when others agree with me. It’s probably one of my favorite pictures.
Q: Describe a day in your personal or professional life.
A: Hah, ok. Well… I wake up super early, go to my internship at Century Media Records, or if I’m working, I go to The Greasy Wiener and sell hot dogs. After either of those fun-tastic times, I run to Musician’s Institute, where I study Music Business, oh and if there’s time, I eat and sleep. But usually not.
Q: What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
A: No car, no car, no car. I guess Metro comes in handy for that, but it’s hard to get from place to place with no car. Especially when shows I get press passes for are super far and I have to find rides, that’s what sucks cause I have to be nice to people!! Hahaha.
Q: What has been the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer in whole?
A: Well it’s still happening, I don’t own a website. I have no $ to put down to pay someone to create it for me… I get turned down for press passes left, right, and center! It bums me out no doubt, but I guess if I’m persistent enough, it’ll all pay off.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: Deffffffinetely live bands, no words can describe listening to music, and catching a shot, it’s mind blowing for me.
Q: Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
A: Well I don’t really have one… Sadly, nothing comes to mind… haha, I’m still new to photography, I still need to earn my stripes.
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: No, never. I could never. Take a break or pause yes, due to being at school all night, and either working or interning during the day.
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: No, more like writer’s block, I do pictures and interview bands.
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: Live shows! It’s an adrenaline rush!!
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: It’s beautiful, but not for live shows, haha. I LOVE b&w shots, it makes it look innocent, adds a touch of class if you will. Portraits are the best photos to be b&w.
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: I think the word artist means, “(S)he who creates, captures, and displays that which another could not portray.”
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: Chaotic, I’m all over the place, I can’t stand still when I shoot. Mundane and same position shots bore me!
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: Oh man, the best is when Jeremy Saffer told me to keep up the good work, that meant a LOT to me. I look up to him, he’s an amazing photographer and awesome guy!! Also, when my family took 1 look at my shots and told me how proud they were of me, that hit me so hard…. I almost had tears in my eyes.
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: I think everyone knows a little something dark about me… Uhhm…. stumped, can’t think of anything!!
Q: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
A: Photo sessions of my fave bands!! Like I said, I’m still starting out, I have a long way to go.
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: It just started, haha, so let’s wait a few years…
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: Ugh, paparazzi ruins it for us… Because when I walk around with my camera, people assume that and ask me stupid questions about if I caught any stars! Well, of course I did, but I didn’t go and stalk them for it!
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: Well, if it’s all in good fun, go for it!! I love seeing photos that expands my mind. For example, a zombie photo, those are awesome. Fairies… and so on, ahha.
Q: What other thoughts would you like to share?
A: If you’re just starting out as a photographer, don’t give up!! Don’t let NO be the end of something that could be beautiful!
Visit Hanna’s sites: LA Sadistasisters on Facebook and LA Sadistasisters on ModelMayhem.
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