Meet Brin Hanson
Where do you live and what do you do?
I live in Soho, Manhattan and I work as a lifestyle photographer.
Where does your passion for photography come from?
My first interest in photography came from National Geographic magazines. As a kid I used to tear out the photos and plaster them all over my wall. The photos exposed me to a world I otherwise wouldn't have had a chance to see and learn about at the time. It's when I first realized the power a photograph can hold.
What is inspiring you right now?
People living authentically, dressing authentically, telling their story authentically, both in film and photography. Fortunately living in New York City I get a front row seat to that, so just a walk to the corner bodega can be inspiring.
How did you get started in your career?
I bought a canon rebel for a trip, and soon after friends started asking me to shoot different events for them, like engagements, and so on. I figured I should start charging for my time, and if I'm going to be charging people, I'd better know what I was doing. Like any professional, I turned to youtube and sites like Creative Live to teach myself, then picked up a few mentors along the way.
Tell us about your recent trip to Italy.
I was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks galavanting around Rome, Tuscany, Umbria, and the Amalfi Coast with my closest friends before ending the trip in Puglia for my best friend's wedding. The timing couldn't have been better because we got to Italy just days after they allowed vaccinated Americans to enter the country, so there were hardly any tourists. Truly a trip for the books!
What was your favorite part of the trip?
Being around good company, with good food, and good wine. And not a zoom meeting in sight. Now that's living.
What was your favorite moment from the photoshoot?
I had a couple - the first was to be able to bring Del Toro's Italian roots to life. Shooting in such a traditional and beautiful location like Tuscany, and bringing a modern edge to it was a fun project for me to take on. The second was seeing my best friends, who I used as models, excited to participate and bring the vision to life. Plus, I got to freely boss them around for a few hours.
What was your favorite thing you ate on your trip to Italy?
Ahhh, this is such a hard question. But if I had to choose, I'd say the spaghetti pesto with green chili peppers from Da Adolfo's in Positano. INCREDIBLE. If you're ever on the Amalfi coast, go! The food, the staff, the vibe, just... *chefs kiss*
Is there anything you learned on this trip that you want to apply to your daily life?
Whenever I'm abroad taking in the charm of another city, I wonder if the locals realize how lucky they are to call a place home that I'm so taken by. It makes me reflect on my home (New York), and how I need to continuously remind myself not to take my own city for granted. It's easy to get stuck with your head down in the day-to-day, but I'm trying to challenge myself to romanticize my own city and daily life as well.
All Photographs by Brin Hanson
