We recently connected with Hannah Krówka and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve been around and been curious about photography for as long as I can remember. I started by asking questions and looking at what was around me, a process that allowed for growth by seeking out peers and asking myself about what might be making my work different from theirs. I’m wildly fortunate in that I was given space to use available resources very early on, taking free wildlife and waterfall photography classes over the summers at my local wildlife education center, and allowing myself to explore my camera and find out what made me feel creative and engaged. I’d never be where I am now if not for a wonderful program called Broadreach, which later allowed me the opportunity to shoot with peers from across the country in Iceland for a summer. I fully believe I would not have fallen in love with capturing people and authenticity if I had not been in the right space at the right time (and how wonderful it was that space was Iceland).
Essential skills are still ones I’m honing- essentially being open to flexibility, both in my work and in myself. Beyond perpetually finding my space and style, I love that wedding and elopement photography allows for cultivating a space for movement and fluidity. I learn something and find new and beautiful spaces each time I”m fortunate enough to share space with a couple. Reminding myself to continue asking questions and try new methods and directions- keeping myself conscious of the practice and art of photography- is absolutely key.
I’ve encountered plenty of obstacles in photography. Learning to navigate camera settings and understanding technical jargon was overwhelming initially, and there are still settings I work with that are more inherent “knowing” than are technically well-understood. Leaning into the photography community and learning to ask questions has helped tremendously. Beyond the technicality, getting in my own way has been my biggest obstacle. It’s a perpetual and conscious act, but giving myself space to step out of my own doubts and self-criticism to ask questions and appreciate what I do is what keeps me engaged and allows me to learn more.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I told myself I’d never photograph weddings. I remember saying this to a wedding guest one July after the evening was winding down when he asked how I got to where I am; the best feeling was recognizing what I was saying while sitting on a pontoon boat in Lake Keowee, SC watching the fireworks over the water and listening to newlyweds I had photographed back in January as recently-engaged lovebugs giggling up at the front. I’m sure we joked and remarked on how wild the dichotomy of that statement and my present was. Now, to say I love capturing weddings and elopements is an understatement.

Today, yes, I photograph weddings, elopements, couples, and proposals in Asheville, North Carolina and traveling to beautiful destinations. But I do more than just photograph them. I enter into these days honored and humbled to be able to document and tell a story of a big day from my eyes. I offer couples spaces that are comfortable, relaxed, and honest, and I capture moments softly and wholly in beautiful places. I strive for storytelling, accessible to everyone. It’s humbling to document intimate spaces and I’m honored to capture celebrations of love however and wherever chosen.

I’m most proud of how each shoot becomes my new favorite. I love being blown away by myself and my relationship to my clients. I love beaming with joy when I can prove how my on-site hype-up comments were honest reactions to how spectacular a moment I captured was with every gallery and teaser gallery follow-up text. I love being my clients’ rock, hype-man, and most supportive fan on their big day while being the last thing they have to think about. I love capturing little moments and all the day’s honesty. I love going beautiful places across the world and sharing in love and fun and celebration.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning that photography has to be polished and perfect has been the most prevalent in my work lately. I remember when I figured out “the thing that would make my photographs good” and why it was missing. It was an early portrait, meant to be a “candid” moment of my subject looking at me with a post-sunset blue sky background. The wind picked up just as I was taking my shots and we both abandoned the photo in search of someplace warmer. I remember looking at the photos later and having something click- that the motion of the wind through my subject’s hair across her face felt almost alive and present in the photo. That the blur in the movement lended to what I now recognize was an authenticity to the “alive” feeling in the image. It’s been years since I took that photo and even with my growth as a photographer, it remains one of my favorite images. Now I nestle my brand and style in movement and “imperfection”. I share the images that feel like breathing, laughing, running, being alive.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Ugh, social media! I would not be where I am today (still growing) if not for photographers with a much more confident sense of self on instagram. I’m a firm believer in learning from what you see around you, and despite all its drawbacks, instagram has been a godsend in regards to opening up what I get to see around me. I click, I follow, I comment, I share, and I spend at least 25-30 minutes each day looking at what other creatives are up to so that I can hop on trends that make the most sense to highlight my work and attract the clients I’d love to work with. My social media is largely word-of-mouth (and definitely still growing!) but reaching out to larger platforms within my community and befriending/ working with small-business owners to help highlight and showcase my work, as well as following vendors and venues I work with and want to work with has aided in my social media reach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://krowkaphotography.my.canva.site/krowka-photography
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krowkaphotography/
• Other: https://krowkaphotography.passgallery.com/portfolio

Image Credits
Krówka Photography