Yvonne Hanson - Vancouver Photographer
How did you end up being a photographer?
I originally took it up as a side hustle to make some extra money to supplement my retail job. Little did I know it would grow to take over my entire life fairly quickly! Once I got started watching YouTube videos and podcasts about photography, it felt like I had kind of opened Pandora’s box. There’s just so much to learn and try out!
What inspires your creativity as a photographer?
I used to create art by drawing or painting, and I would paint elaborate dreamscapes and monster/ creature designs. As a photographer, I feel somewhat driven by the goal of replicating that feeling and dreaminess in an image without relying too heavily on photo manipulation. A lot of my more creative work involves fantasy elements and trippy in-camera effects that I think harken back to my time as a visual artist.
How would you describe your style?
Right now, I’m working on a kind of hard light, a candid-inspired style that I’m hoping comes across as a bit nostalgic for the early 2000s. Overall though, I would say my style is characterized by bold colors, harsh shadows, and repetitive geometry/ symmetry.
Tell us something you struggle with as a photographer.
I never went to school for photography, and I feel like I missed out on a lot. I spent my early 20s pursuing a totally different career, and I often think about how much better I would be at this if I had started when I was 17 and got my first camera. I would have 10 years of experience by now! Instead, I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up with the artist I could have been.
Other than a camera and lenses, what else do you pack in your camera bag?
Lighting is a must-have, I usually have my small Godox Speedlight and larger Godox flash head, extra batteries, softboxes, etc. I also carry a few Prism Lens FX filters wherever I go, especially the Dream FX filter and Starburst FX filters. They’re great for achieving different effects in the camera!
Have you ever told a client “no"?
Not yet, but there are a few I wish I had. Mostly clients who try to stretch shoestring budgets way too far…I’ve been practicing saying no to them in my head.
Have you ever told a client “no"?
Not yet, but there are a few I wish I had. Mostly clients who try to stretch shoestring budgets way too far…I’ve been practicing saying no to them in my head.
What are your superpowers?
I’m very decisive- when there’s a split-second decision to be made on set, or a very limited amount of time to accomplish a certain shot, that’s when I really excel. I’m proud of my ability to make a decision quickly and follow through without second-guessing myself. I’m also good at delegating, especially in time-sensitive situations. I can grab a handful of volunteers and have a shoot ready in 20 minutes if I need to.
What is one question nobody has ever asked you- that you wish they asked you?
This is a good question! I would say I’ve never been asked what drives me. I’ve been asked about inspirations and goals, but never my motivations for creating the art I love.
Walk us through your portfolio
I’ve spent a lot of time sorting my work into “themes” on Instagram. You can scroll down my IG feed and see different layers of work, sorted by color and style. The most recent layer is hard-light, 90’s style fashion shots with white and blue elements. A little further down I have eclectic editorial shots with architectural highlights. Past that, I have the Neon Sunbath series that I worked on last year and into the spring, and after that, we get into warm, naturally lit street style and punchy backstage editorials.
I’ve really been working on posting more full-body fashion shots this year and not leaning so heavily toward portraits. My early work was very portrait-heavy, and I’ve had to be very conscious about moving away from that. Part of this process has been adding more street style into the mix and making an effort to get good quality street style shots that focus as much on the lighting and composition of the image as the outfits themselves.
