As a female-founded and run company, we revel in our ability to connect
with and elevate women who are shaping our world for the better. In
this series, we’ll be spotlighting some of the extraordinary ladies in
our community who inspire us daily.

Hannah Lasure is a 24-year-old photographer, model, and musician based in Austin, TX. She grew up in Orlando, FL, and went to college for Forensic Science, before deciding to drop out to pursue art. She moved to Vermont at age 19, where she taught herself to play guitar and started taking vocal lessons; eventually leading her to move to Austin a.k.a "The live music capital of the world". Within a couple of months of moving, a local photographer asked Hannah to model for them, and the rest is history. From modeling, to creatively directing and styling shoots, to photographing them myself now she's a force to be reckoned with and we're honored to have been able to chat with her about her journey.

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1. As model, photographer, and art director you take on a lot of
roles. What came first? And how has your creative work evolved over
time?

 

Modeling came first. I learned pretty quickly that I didn't want to just show up and have pictures taken of me- I had ideas. I was always pitching shots and concepts to whatever team I was working with; they were always receptive, and the photos turned out great. I decided to start styling and creatively directing shoots as well, and eventually, I started doing photography. Now I often produce entire shoots where I fill the role of photographer, stylist, set designer, and creative director. I love working with other creatives to make magic, but it's reaffirming to know I can be self-sufficient if I need to be.

I'm usually inspired by whatever I'm going through in my personal life at the time, music I'm listening to, or the book I'm reading. I'm really big on symbolism, and love to try to take the music I'm hearing or words I'm reading and create a visual manifestation of them. I also like to walk around craft stores aimlessly looking for inspiration, like props I can use or color palettes that resonate with me. This is one of my favorite things to do, but usually results in "are you okay" 's and worried looks from store employees.

3. Who are a few of your creative idols?

I'm all about the Renaissance man/woman persona, and the first person that comes to mind is Tyler, The Creator. He's a great rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, designer, director, etc.... it takes a special person to have so many interests and do them all so well. I want to be an Ace of all trades, not a Jack. However, as cheesy as it sounds, the people I look up to most are my friends. I'm so incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such amazing, multi-talented people who hold themselves and the people around them to high standards. They're always there to cheer me on or to give me constructive criticism, but most importantly, they lead by example. Getting to experience their drive and resolve firsthand is the best inspiration I could ask for.

4. Which of your projects have been the most rewarding and why?

My most rewarding project was the first photo project I ever did, a 35mm film series called Colors (see below). I had just started doing photography, and was using a $50 hand-me-down film camera from a friend, that I barely knew how to work. Film is scary because you don't know how the pictures look until after they're developed, and usually only have a roll of 24 exposures- but this taught me a lot about intention. You have to make every shot count, and be deliberate about what you're capturing. I was so terrified to take pictures of people (my only practice was taking pictures of architecture or nature around town) but I was amazed by how willing people were to model for me, and how supportive and patient they were as I was figuring everything out. That series taught me a lot about the creative community here in Austin.

5. What’s your take on the creative community in Austin in regard to
diversity, inclusion, and community? (how inclusive really is it, is
there a need for improvement, how does it compare to that of other
cities etc).

I think Austin is one of the most amazing creative communities in the nation hands down. It's intimate, and it's not perfect- but the majority of people here genuinely want to see each other succeed- and are willing to put in the work to help; whereas, in most other major cities, it's insanely competitive and cutthroat. I don't know that I would be the creative I am today without the Austin community there to support and nurture me. 

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Thanks to Hannah for taking the time to chat with us, her raw and passionate approach to her artwork inspires us so much. For more inspo and to see her work please check out her Instagram pages:

@happyhannahkkuh (modeling)

@in.hansland (photography/direction)

Lana Alhakim as yellow/blue for her first series "Color"