hey! I’m hannah JOY
I am passionate about depth, transition and life’s moments that are absolutely saturated with vibrant, undeniable joy!
my history of photography //
the thread of photography weaves way back into my childhood years, as photos were always a staple in our household. I learned from an early age that pictures (whether professional or with a Kodak disposable camera!) had the power to freeze moments & memories, therefore retelling stories both remembered and forgotten, for years and years.
images indicated and delineated the passage of time, and helped me appreciate every day I was given. portraits and details are my favorites, and whether it was my pink Sony CyberShot, my iPhone 4, or the DSLR I got for my birthday one year, I was enchanted by & enthralled with capturing life in-motion, through my very own camera + lens (which is currently a Canon R6 ii + either a 35mm, 50mm or 85mm :)
I officially launched my business in 2021, have shot over 100 weddings since then, and have spent countless hours in mentorship, out-of-state-workshops, continued education and currently am a member of a life-first business coaching group called the ELEVATE collective. I’m committed to being a lifelong-learner in order to provide you with the premier experience that you deserve!
photography grants me the freedom to work in an environment that I thrive in, and allows me an accessible avenue to serve others - while simultaneously creating a feeling of deep fulfillment for me.
wanna know a secret?
photography is 1000% my dream come true, yet counseling + psychology actually make up my academic roots and background. listening to and helping people tell their personal, unique stories is what I’ve claimed as both my passion and purpose.
photography provides me with the perfect outlet to truly flourish in my strengths.
whether you’re
launching your cap into the air in a field of wildflowers as you imagine and look forward to all that this season after high school has in store for you,
hiking up to the literal edges and peaks of a breathtaking backdrop of the mountains in order to exchange soft whispers of your vows,
laughing hysterically with your honey while the flower grandmas steal the show, with their cutesy fanny packs as they gently adorn your aisle with petals, or
you’re hoping to stop time for just a moment, in order to lock eyes with your favorite person in the universe, as you watch them sob like an actual baby when they see you for the first time, in your big-day getup, as you promise them your forever “I do”…
…I want to be right there, alongside you, documenting every part of your journey - so that you can enjoy + relive memories you’ll forever cherish, anywhere you want.
so what is joyflare?
ever since I can remember, I have been captivated by the concept of joy. yes, it is part of my identity in the fact that it is smack-dab in the middle of my three names, but my interest in joy itself has been a common theme throughout the entirety of my life.
joy is the ability to have peace + confidence, even when everything around you may be in chaos.
flare nods to brilliance, luminosity - a sudden, intense brightness.
joy flare takes place where the beauty of natural luminance collides with the peace and confidence that your personality brings to the world.
my job, put simply, is to create the perfect arrangement, from whatever environment we’re in, for these things to be brought out and for them to coexist, even if just for a “sudden, brief” moment or two.
[ your joy ]
my goal is to help you see the roots of your own joy spring up in the flash of a moment. I want you to be able to recognize the extra special type of joy that you cultivate. the joy that allows those of us beside you to say “it wouldn’t be the same without you here.” I want the photographs I take to cause you to lock eyes with that joy, looking it square in the face, and acknowledging your inherent value because of it.
joy exists inside of you.
[ your light ]
when you can see something in full color, plainly, for what it is - light must be present, in some way. I believe that natural sunlight and sunflare help illuminate and magnify the depth of joy that is etched within you, bringing that sparkle into your eyes, and turning the corners of your mouth into a radiant, crescent-shaped smile. light has the potential to bring out the absolute best in people - and this is where my focus lies.
light breeds authenticity.
why weddings, couples + seniors?
I think wedding/elopement photography and senior photography both speak to the art of capturing someone at simultaneously their most vulnerable yet most anticipatory version of themselves! there’s so much emotion involved, and emotion helps a photograph really be worth 1000 words.
I literally STILL look back at my senior portraits, engagement photos and my wedding gallery. I graduated high school years ago, and will be celebrating my 5th year of marriage this year! I couldn’t be more grateful for the gift of these photos in my own life, and I’d bet that you will want photos of you in these seasons, too!!
