Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Strauss.
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’ve always loved being both in front of the camera and behind the camera. I got my first (pink!) point-and-shoot camera at age 7 and have been obsessed ever since. I transitioned to a Nikon D5000 when I was 14 and used it to start a travel photography account. I loved capturing beauty in unexpected places and working with angles. I became shy in my teenage years and avoided being in front of the camera, but that changed in January of 2019. At the time, I had just begun a study abroad in Jerusalem. I wanted to have reminders of my time there and transitioned to being in front of the camera more. While I still enjoyed being behind the camera, I was surrounded by amazing photographers who were able to take stunning pictures of me. We often exchanged time behind the camera and in front of the camera, allowing for lots of growth and learning from each another. This started my interest in using myself as a subject in photography. Over the following few months, I actively grew my Instagram and expanded my photography skills. When I got home, photographers would reach out to me for photoshoots, and with my newfound confidence, I acted as a model for many styled shoots. My boyfriend (now husband) would often accompany me and we did our fair share of trade and paid shoots. My Instagram continued to grow as brands started reaching out. My first ever paid collaboration was terrifying and exciting, coming only about two years after I had started growing my Instagram. After that, it was a whirlwind. It has been two years since my first collaboration and I have been able to work with incredible brands such as Armani Beauty, Purple Mattresses, and Buybuy Baby. I am excited to see where social media will take me next, especially as new platforms arise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle with relying with social media is the platform itself. Late in 2021, my Instagram account started rapidly losing views. Posts that would usually get thousands of views were getting under a hundred. It has been an uphill battle to get my posts to my audience and I am only now starting to see a bit of normalcy in my view counts. This has encouraged me to try out new platforms and look into other outlets for my creativity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a micro-influencer that focuses on sustainability. I started out as a travel photographer and gained a following sharing my favorite pictures from around the world. My audience grew with me as I transitioned to sharing moments from my life. Some amazing brands have worked with me, including Zagg, Armani Beauty, La Roche Posay U.S., Red Vines, Purple, and Sephora. For a lot of these companies, I have created user-generated content that they feature on their pages as well as content that I feature on my pages. Having a photography background and a bachelor’s degree in advertising allows me to hit the sweet spot. Not only do I have an audience that I can share brands with, but I can create content that companies can use for marketing purposes.
Creating content is a creative outlet for me and is very rewarding. I love seeing projects through from start to finish, from the creative brief to the final delivered asset.
What matters most to you?
I recently had a baby and it is safe to say that she has stolen my heart. My husband and baby come first, always. Prioritizing my family has taught me the importance of privacy, especially when it comes to sharing your life online. For me, this means not sharing any picture of my daughter’s face, and not sharing her name publicly. This has definitely required me to turn down a fair share of collaborations that would require me to show her face. Money comes and goes, but my family will always be there for me, supporting me.
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