Meet Robert Hanna | Director of Photography / Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Hanna and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My ultimate goal has always been to have the liberty of choosing what kind of clients and projects I work with. While being a freelancer or contractor has its inherent risks, I love the freedom to be able to focus my attention on small businesses, nonprofit organisations, and artists and artisans whose work I respect and admire. It helps keep me motivated to push my creativity to its limit.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My background began in creative writing, and it was in high school that I discovered that I loved to write. I was also quite ensconced in visual art, painting, and drawing at that time, and as I got to the age where college started becoming a looming thing, I chose to follow creative writing as a possible profession. I subsequently left Boulder and moved to Seattle, and completed a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in German from Seattle University. As life usually has it, my interests and world shifted back into visual art when I turned to analog photography, and starting in 2003 I began studying and learning the craft of analog photo, eventually going back to Shoreline Community College just north of Seattle, which was renowned for their photography program. Through learning photography and working in the field a bit I pivoted into Graphic Design as well, and worked a hybrid of both fields since. It was in 2010 I started to dabble in video production, which to me culminated all of the things I loved about design and photography into a single entity.

What I’ve realised over the years is that I’m a storyteller at heart – it’s the singular aspect from my writing background that prevails over everything. Every pivot I’ve made, to photo, design, to video – have all been a concerted effort to build my creative toolbox. I want to be able to tell stories in multiple ways, and that’s what is centric to my brand of art. I dwell a bit on the fringe and darker edges of the general Zeitgeist and that is the perspective that sets me apart from any other creative. The ultimate lesson I’ve learned is to spend less time worrying about how others perceive you and to spend more time listening to your heart, and to follow your instinct.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite places in Denver and in Boulder tend to fluctuate as both places have changed so much in the last years. For drinks I like Sputnik, The Crypt, the Satire Lounge, Don’s Mixed Drinks. For food, Watercourse, City O’ City, and the holy Mecca of all that is good, El Taco de Mexico. My favourite record shops are Chain Reaction, Wax Trax, Twist and Shout, and Read and Black. Denver is great but if you want to really experience Colorado go for a hike around Morrison/Red Rocks, or a jaunt up the Chataqua trail in Boulder.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My career wouldn’t be where it was today without the love, encouragement, and support of my parents Bruce and Kay Hanna, and my sisters Julie and Supatra. I’d also like to particularly acknowledge Melanie Wimmenauer, Creed O’Hanlon, and Chris Seegel for giving me the opportunities to solve my greatest creative challenges, and all of whom ultimately pushed me to grow, bring my work to the next level, and learn new skills.

Website: https://www.robhanna.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannihilation.time/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robhannadesign

Other: https://vimeo.com/roberthanna https://linktr.ee/roberthanna