for me, comes out in activism; wanting to make the world the best
it can be and [in photography] by depicting the world as best as it
can be.”

In addition to unpaid projects—which allow for an informal
approach to creativity, trial, and error—Hanson offers paid shoots to
help spruce up her clients’ Instagram feeds. While high-quality visuals
are vital for social media marketing, hiring a professional photographer
is not financially accessible for many non-institutionalized groups and
activism initiatives. Thus, she offers to capture promotional material at a
reduced rate.

Hanson met the founders of up-and-coming political humour
clothing brand Left-Merch while volunteering on a socialist political
campaign. She reached out to the brand and scheduled an unpaid shoot
with the owners to support their brand.

While Hanson shoots digital photography, she purchased a lens
accessory from Prism Lens Fx that captures 35 mm film aesthetic
without the high price. Some elitists within the photography community
sneer at digital photographers who pursue film’s visual appeal through
filters and editing. Hanson argues that there are classist barriers to all
photography—especially film. A roll of economy Fujifilm Superia from
London Drugs costs $14.99 for 36 shots, not to mention the price of
developing and scanning rolls.

#Staybrokeshootfilm—a popular social media hashtag—pokes
fun at how shooting with 35 mm film feeds into the starving artist
cliche. Digital is more forgiving and predictable. Nothing is more
disappointing than taking a roll for development only to have it return
empty. For those who cannot justify spending $500+ on a camera, Beau
Photo offers rental services.

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Photo by Yvonne Hanson; Conceptual Photography showcasing unique architecture and framing.

“Some people have an over-reliance on the gear. If you have
not spent $3000 on camera are you really a photographer? Well
yeah, [photography] is an art and very much what you make it.

If you make something you are proud of then you are doing the
art properly. I used to be a purist and not photoshop. I feel like I
have grown past that. [For me] it is about how the artist, not the
audience, feels about the final product.”

Back when she collaged fashion magazines, she never studied
the process of producing the perfect image. Since 2018, Hanson
has learned to look twice at each photograph. Research is part
of thriving as a creative. “I examine the crop, the colours, pose—
all of this brings out a hidden genius that needs to be more
appreciated, rather than an easily consumable image.” Hanson
encourages readers to look deeper at the images they see on their
Instagram feed.

Like most individuals, quarantine stifled creativity. “I only
took 50 photos every two months, which is not a lot considering
what I am taking now.”

Hanson works best when challenging herself with precise
criteria and daily output. Over quarantine, she invested ina
kaleidoscope and a prism lens. “When you are doing the same
thing repeatedly it can be hard to get something new. Then you
get upset that you are not getting anything new. You must push
yourself to try out new techniques.”

Eventually, she would like to merge political activism with
photography. “I want my photography to be meaningful to more
than just a fashion or influencer community—meaning in a deeper
way. Making money is not the driving force at this point.”

She encourages anybody with an itch for creative expression to
“pick up the camera and shoot every day and put as much effort as
you can into photography.”

Hanson shares advice for street photography reviews, different
lens attachments, and more on her YouTube channel. For more

Photo by Yvonne Hanson; Fashion Photography as inspired by architectural elements.

content, visit her website and Instagram.