Hannah Pena Photography Interview

Conducted by Abigail P and Bethany M

Who or what inspired you to start pursuing photography?

It would have to be when I saw One Direction on the Take Me Home tour. My mom got me a camera, and I remember thinking, 'I don't really take photos,' but it looked kind of fun. There wasn't a specific person who inspired me. I just started bringing my camera to shows. As I got older, I realized that people actually do this for a living, and I wanted to figure out how I could do that too.

What has been your favorite part about working in the industry?

I love the community we have. Here in Atlanta, we have a group chat of photographers, and we help each other out. Meeting other photographers at shows and getting inspired by their work has really influenced me. I enjoy seeing how I can incorporate those ideas into my own style. The community is amazing. I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world.

What is your artistic process when shooting and editing photos?

I start by putting in the SD card and going through the photos. I mark the good ones in green. Then I do some basic editing, and if I want to scan a ticket or setlist, I move the file into Photoshop. My artistic style has changed over the past few months because I got a new camera after my old one broke. I also had to get a new laptop since my previous one stopped working. Starting over from scratch actually helped me figure out what my artistic style is. I have been thinking about what I can do with this new setup using my new laptop and lens and how to use them creatively. Since I go to the same venues often, I try to find new angles, like zooming in or out more or going up to the balcony where not many people go. My editing process usually starts with Lightroom, and if I want to tweak something like zooming in or tilting the image, I move it into Photoshop. My process is pretty simple right now because I am still learning and adjusting to my new workflow.

Have you faced any challenges in the industry and if so, how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was when my camera broke right before the main act came on. I wasn't able to take photos, only videos. So I had to record the entire show and then take screenshots from the footage to edit, which is the worst possible way to do it. I learned that if your camera can take both photos and videos, you can still make it work and figure things out. There haven't been too many challenges overall. Another one would be not finding a contact in time or not getting responses to emails. But the biggest challenge for me was my camera breaking. I wanted to leave the concert, but I decided to stay and figure it out for the moment.

What has been your favorite concert to shoot and why?

I loved taking photos of Madison Beer during the Life Support Tour in Kentucky. I have been a fan of hers since around 2014, so it was amazing to see how much she has grown as an artist. Her lighting was beautiful, bright, colorful, and really fun to work with. Another recent favorite was Daniel Seavey. His lighting was perfect, and full credit goes to the lighting designer for that. My top three would be Madison Beer, Daniel Seavey, and Cigarettes After Sex. That last one had a very black and white, moody, and mysterious vibe, which was a challenge for me. I could not just put a black and white filter on it. I had to figure out how to make those photos stand out and be different from other black and white shots, because that is the aesthetic they want. It really pushed me to think about how I could make my work unique compared to other photographers.

If you could photograph any artist who would it be?

My bucket list is Del Water Gap. I fortunately had the opportunity to photograph a bunch of my favorite artists. Del Water Gap is one that I have been meaning to cover. Or Joe Keery (Djo), he's on tour, but he is not going anywhere near me, but I will figure out a way to photograph him. I have been to a few of Del Water Gap's shows. He is always up and moving around. His photographer Amanda is a big inspiration to me. Being in a photo pit with her would be amazing. I would love to photograph him one day.

If you had one piece of advice for your younger self, what would it be?

Always be nice to everyone, not in a mean way, but never take no for an answer. See if you can work around it and find another way to get a photo pass. Attend a show in a different way instead of just being a photographer. Connect with people and try to find a photographer on tour, then say, 'Hey, I love your photos! I would love to photograph this artist the next time they're in town.' When I go to shows, I try to figure out who the photographer is and see if we have any mutual connections. That's what I did for Somber when he was here with Daniel Seavey. I knew the photographer before he went on tour. I DM'd him, telling him how much I loved his photos and advice. Always keep those photography connections. You never know when they might need a photographer for just one day, and they might think, 'I know this one person in this city. Let me reach out to them!'

Also, treat the opening act like the main act, because you never know when the opener might become bigger than the headliner. I act like I'm their biggest fan, and it makes them feel special. Then you can say you knew who they were because you saw them opening for someone else. When I go to a show, I fall in love with the opener, and the whole cycle continues