For as long as I remember, I wanted to be an artist...
When sitting here thinking of what to write as a bio for my website and reflecting on how creating has been a part of my life, I'm actually seeing it much clearer now. Creating IS my life. I have such vivid memories of elementary school where art was my favorite class, and how people would get me to help them with their finger-painting assignments because they couldn't draw their sun in the corner of the paper to their liking. I once won a writing competition in fourth grade with a story about runaway socks disappearing from the dryer. In middle school, I discovered a love for music and played in the handbell choir (I know, that one is a little nerdy). In high school, that love for music continued as I sang in chorus and traveled around with them to different events and competitions. I took an advanced literature class my senior year, and every time a graded essay was returned my classmates would turn to me and say, "Let me guess, another perfect score?" Meanwhile in math class I was barely getting by- probably because I spent most of my time doodling. Numbers are not for me.
I spent so long fitting into the mold of the world, that I missed what made me special all along.
While I excelled in all things creative in my school years, drawing pictures and daydreaming unfortunately doesn't get you too far in academics. I remember feeling so defeated because while I was intelligent enough to be in honors classes, I hated school to my core. One day during my senior year, a guidance counselor went around the room and asked everyone what colleges they had applied to and what they were pursuing for their career. "Lawyer... nurse... pilot... military..." I was one of the only people to say "I don't know." So embarrassing, right?
While those other careers are obviously noble and important, I can't help but feel like the artists of the world are forced to fit into those boxes too. I went through so many different options in my head, and actually got accepted to college where I was going to pursue nursing. As you could guess- that didn't work out.
Now approaching my 30's, if I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be to stop running myself dry trying to be what everyone else thought I should be. If I would just lean into my strengths instead of trying to change who I am, I would blossom with the confidence that every teenager needs in themself. It took me a long, long time to learn that lesson, and I am proud to say that I have finally found my place creating art in the form of images. So, welcome to how I see the world through my lens!
Did we just become best friends?
If I've incorporated any lesson from my life so far into my work, it's that every client relationship formed is much more than that to me. That sounded a little weird. I mean in the best friend hype-woman way. Not a creepy way. What I mean is, since I know what it feels like to hide your true self and suppress what you really want, I go into every session with a goal to make your images a reflection of exactly who you are, and for you to leave 10,000% happy. When you hire me to be your photographer, you're also hiring someone to deck your uncle Bob for having his phone out if you asked for an unplugged wedding ceremony LOL.
All jokes aside, it's my passion to capture the heartbeat of your family, what makes your love story unique, to showcase how your essence is reflected in your brand. Whatever session type you have, I want every image to be woven together with little pieces of you. That is my "why" behind all of this. And I'm so damn grateful that I get to do it!
Becoming a Mama has been my biggest push to keep creating.
A lot of time has passed since that little girl dressed as an artist made her career day debut. I conquered some really trying times in my early twenties, got married to my WONDERFUL husband Andrew, and brought our two greatest blessings into the world- Everett and Maddox. Truly, my greatest creations ever. These two little boys have challenged me in ways I never imagined possible, but have also given me the deepest love I never gave myself growing up. Seeing how fast they are growing fuels the importance of photos for me. The fact that I get to encapsulate moments in time for other people when they are so fleeting is an honor. On the days where life gets hard, or I'm having creative blocks, I just remember what I get to do and I'm quickly back on track. My purpose is to instill in my boys and others that if you have a passion, YOU CAN DO IT. Just go for it- trust your own intuition and what you were created to do. I can only hope that my journey with photography serves as an example of that.
Some fun facts about me:
-Hannah Raymond Photography was born in 2019.
-My favorite session types are families, couples, and boudoir.
-My husband actually taught me everything I know about cameras. He had his own videography business before I even thought about photography! Check him out at kineticmediacompany.com
-I'll never turn down an iced coffee, even in the winter.
-My favorite family activity is camping. I love the outdoors and exploring.
-I love a good true crime podcast.
-I am ashamed to say that my guilty pleasure is reality TV. There's just something about The Bachelor that gets me.
-I'm a Virgo (if that means anything to you). Just think: super organized and a planner. But somehow my house is always a mess too.
-I LOVE to travel! Take me somewhere new please!
-My biggest pet peeve is when you watch a movie or show with someone and they don't pay attention. YOU CAN'T MISS THE DETAILS PEOPLE.
-Taylor Swift is the music industry. The ones that get it, get it. I don't think that counts as a fact about me but... still true.
