We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rob Hann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rob below.

Rob , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I spent about fifteen years shooting portraits for magazines and record companies. About eight years into that career I started taking roadtrips throughout the American southwest for my own pleasure, shooting whatever caught my interest along the way. At a certain point my paid work started drying up and the money was being reduced for both magazine work and record company shoots due to the effect of the internet. Out of desperation I thought I might try selling prints of the roadtrip photography on the street in SoHo, New York City. It went well and I was noticed by gallery owners from both NYC and Stockholm, Sweden, who started selling large limited edition prints of my work. When I saw how well my prints were selling I quit the magazine and record company work. I now make a full-time living selling both small open edition prints as well as the large limited edition prints. I initially started shooting that work because I enjoyed taking the trips and shooting the type of photographs I could take on the road. I kept taking photos on the road for several years with no idea what I might do with that work before stumbling into a career supporting myself selling my prints when the paid work dried up. Maybe I could have made that move sooner but it was a leap into the dark that I only took out of necessity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I first bought a camera and started shooting portraits of friends when I was living in Milan and working as a model. I thought I might be able to be a photographer when the modeling career came to an end. I moved to Paris and then London where I started showing my work to photo editors and got my first breaks shooting for music magazines. That led to commissions shooting for record companies and then to shooting actors, authors, musicians etc for weekend newspaper magazines etc. I have seven photographs in permanent collection of The National Portrait Galley in London. I moved to New York City in 2003 where I transitioned from the portrait work to selling prints of photographs I’ve taken on the American road, primarily in the American west. My limited edition prints are sold through Clic from their several locations in the US as well as through Larsen Warner gallery in Stockholm. My first book, Diesel Fried Chicken, was published by The Artist Edition in 2018. I’m currently working on a second book. My partner and I divide our time between New York and our home in Joshua Tree, California.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When the money started drying up from shooting portraits for both magazines and record companies I had several opportunities to get work in event photography etc. Even though I was hurting financially and the work would have brought in money I turned it down. I knew that accepting work within photography that wasn’t satisfying creatively would have made me miserable. I decided that I would prefer to take temporary work doing something else rather that work as a photographer shooting work I didn’t want to do. It led to some tough times dealing with debt. To make ends meet I worked the door of a bar and music venue at night until I started selling prints of my work and could once again support myself through the work that I loved.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think it’s important for any of us to have a creative outlet, whether that be an artistic pursuit, gardening, cooking or anything else that requires creativity. It’s good for the soul and can lead to a fulfilling life.

Contact Info:

• Website: robhann.com
• Instagram: @rob.hann

Image Credits
All images – Rob Hann Except the portrait of me – Nora Chavooshian