Meet Paul Hanon | Headshot & Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Paul, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Updating your headshot isn’t typically the first thing every professional wants to add to their agenda. Often times, it’s the last thing they want to do or it’s avoided all together. The most impactful contributing factor behind my success is giving my clients an amazing experience where they walk out of my studio feeling great about themselves and their headshot. It’s common to hear, “that wasn’t that bad,” or “wow! that was easy!” Headshots are important and when I can make it easy for my clients, it ends up becoming a win-win scenario.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been building my business for about five years now and have jumped out on my own twice. The first time I had no concept of the inner workings of business, but I had a big ego because I was successful in a previous sales position. As I watched my savings deplete faster than I was anticipating, I panicked and found another job to provide for my family. This time, I slowly built more awareness of my brand and my photography style. After almost four years of building the business in the evenings and weekends while working days in a completely different industry, I decided to leap into full-time photography again, this time with more of an understanding in accounting, marketing, SEO…all things NON-photography that make a BIG difference.

The best lesson I learned was failing. My first attempt was frightening. I was in complete obscurity. Nobody knew Premier Headshots. Not only did I fail at drawing awareness to Premier Headshots, but also getting lost in details that wouldn’t produce new clientele. Spending time on IPA’s (income producing activities) has been a big takeaway.

Whatever your dreams are, it takes courage. Courage isn’t the absence of FEAR, (false evidence appearing real), but it’s the willingness to press on regardless of fear. Stepping into this business a second time is a risk. I want to model that type of courage for my friends, family, community and customers. When someone works with Premier Headshots, I want them to leave feeling more courageous and willing to put themselves out there too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If this is a week long trip, we’ll visit what I call “the front range loop.” We’ll start off with a bang! Sunrise on top of Horsetooth Rock, then down to Lucile’s for a late breakfast. (Gimme a beignet, Farmer’s Eggs and a biscuit!) Hang around Old Town for a bit before we hit the Rio for some burritos and margaritas before heading up to the Mishawaka for dinner and a show. Next day we’ll head into Rocky Mountain National Park and see the sights. We’ll continue on to Granby and take the back roads to Frisco & Breckenridge making a few stops along the way to see old friends and make new friends. Ultimately we’re headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, but we’re taking the back roads to visit friends along the way. We’ll spend a day or two in the Dunes. Of course, I’ve brought my camera and some lights and we’re exploring some cool portraiture wherever we find inspiration on the loop. Once it’s time to leave, we’ll pick up I-25 in Walsenburg and head to DIA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without a handful of people: – Peter Hurley – World renown headshot photographer and creator of the Headshot Crew
– Tommy Collier – Owner/Photographer of Denver Headshots
– Jon Meadows – Owner/Photographer of High-End Headshots in the DC area
– All the support, encouragement and time from my wife, family and friends
– God – my faith is important to me, and I’m thankful for the community and people I’m surrounded by

Website: https://premierheadshots.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierheadshots

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulhanon/

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

Image Credits
Paul Hanon | Premier Headshots