Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Ferranti.
Hi Hannah, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always the loved the arts for as long as I can remember. My parents took us to Disney World when I was just a kid and honestly, my mom couldn’t get me away from the drawing and animation experience. When we got home, my mom and dad purchased me a Little Tikes art table and that’s where my passion for creativity and art was developed. My parents were (and still are) pastors in Bay City, which means I grew up in the church. Church is where I discovered different ways to use my creative expression to connect with and bless other people. For years, my passion was simply a hobby. However, as I grew up, I began to see how much of my creativity was much more than that. It truly was a reflection of who I was as a person. Once I realized this, I began using art in every profession moving forward. I moved to LA in 2008, and again in 2011, where I began working with teenagers and introduced them to art. Teaching then how to express their feelings in ways they didn’t have to use words. I moved to Atlanta in 2012 and used my creativity to perform on stages all over the United States. I eventually moved back to Michigan and continued working at Bay Valley Christian Church. I continued using my creativity in every department I stepped into. It was working at Bay Valley Christian Church that I developed my skills in graphic design, advertising and marketing. I also began taking some college classes, majoring in Art and Design. In those coming semesters, I would walk into classes where the professors were people I had already been working with in the creative industry. I worked with these professors both in design and photography with partnering businesses in our community. I remember one of them asking me, “Why are you here?” That conversation helped me realize that my lack of confidence was the only thing holding me back from launching my own business. These series of events lead to the launch of what’s now known as “Hannah Ferranti: Photography & Design.” Once I launched my business in 2018, many people began to reach out. I have been blessed to get the opportunity to work with, rebrand, and create logos for established and new local businesses within Bay City, MI.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There is nothing smooth about being a creative. There is still a large stigma against the professionalism of artists and the price tag, or rather the lack thereof, that people think come with it. I have been expected to work for free or significantly less than the time, work, and resources that go into what we do. I don’t have to know anything about numbers or finances to know there is a lot of work and knowledge that goes into accounting. I don’t have to have a business degree to know how difficult it is to start and run a business. Unfortunately, a lot of people who aren’t creatives truly do not understand what goes into how and what we create. Networking and collaborating are great things and still crucial, but working for free or “building a portfolio” for years at a time doesn’t pay the bills. Camera bodies, lenses, gear, equipment, lighting, technology, and software alone can cost you more than what I paid for my first house. And behind ever 1 hour of taking photos, there can be 9+ hours of editing and processing. But small businesses, local businesses is what truly makes a community. I always make it a point to shop local when I can, tip extra, and never complain about it being “too much” and try to encourage others to do the same. You’re not purchasing a mass produced item, you’re investing in your experiences, memories, families, and your community.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I grew up really investing my time into drawing. When I started working at Bay Valley Christian Church in 2008, I began seeing how I could use that skill in the workplace. I was introduced to digital design. How to translate the visuals in my mind into something that could help reach other people. I started simply designing brochures, booklets, and pamphlets that gave people information about our church. Then we started putting together small devotionals that people could take home with them and people were being encouraged. They were discovering hope and healing and that sparked something much bigger in me. From there, anything I could do creatively to bring that same message of hope to people, I did. Digital art, photography, video, etc. After working with so many other creatives, I began to narrow down my skill set and focus on graphic design and photography specifically. I’m most proud of what I’ve built on the photography side of things. Not only do I want to tell stories and connect with people through photos, but help others. This is what I believe sets me apart. Last year, I was able to go with Leaders for Christ and photograph their trip to Israel. This year, I plan to use those photos as a way to support organizations such as Convoy of Hope and their disaster services to help survivors of the Middle East conflict. My hope is to have people purchase prints through my website, starting in February 2024, and donating a large percentage of the profits to these kinds of organizations. I also have a passion for wedding photography. In a culture of media pushing the latest trends, I want to, again, connect with people to tell their story. I want people to look at the photos I take and not focus on the trends of that year or what they would have done differently on their big day. I want them to instantly see memories. How they felt, the fun they had, the smell of the air, the moments that can’t be recreated by any influencer. Photos of them, their moment, and their unique kind of love.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am always looking to collaborate with others. I most recently moved to Nashville, TN, to expand my creative influences, but I still have many clients and projects I am working with/on in Bay City, MI. I travel between states regularly in order to continue growing my business. I also still design for a number of businesses in Bay City and look forward in continuing the growth of my business nationwide and even worldwide. My website is the easiest way to see my work and to get to know me. I have wedding packages available and an inquiry section for anyone to contact me for design quotes or collaborations. www.hannahferranti.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahferranti.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hlferranti/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551385450074
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ferranti-6083a9293/
Image Credits
Amanda Waibel
Hannah Ferranti
