Recently, a close friend of mine has taken an interest in photography. They’ve been out on the streets, snapping shots, and occasionally sending me some of their results to review. They will send me a set of 2-3 photos, and ask me “which one is better?”

In late November, I had the pleasure of exhibiting my work in print for the first time. The gallery was held at Archangel Studios- a brand new photography studio here in Vancouver BC.

Yvonne Hanson shares some of her event photography secrets as social gatherings, corporate events, summits, and seminars gear up for the the fall season.

Summer has arrived in Vancouver and the city is opening up again in the wake of the pandemic. Long-postponed events like weddings, graduations, and summits are being held for the first time in years, giving folks a long-awaited excuse to look their best. Equipped with fresh haircuts, manicures, and mindsets, many clients are looking to book outdoor photoshoots while the weather permits.

The first two weeks of April were an odd mix of slow, endless days at the office and exhausting and exhilarating weekends at the studio.

March was an incredibly productive month for me, in terms of both quantity and quality. Between indoor and outdoor sessions, as well as three assorted gigs, I shot 19 sets with over 24 different models.

As Vancouver Fashion Week Fall and Winter 2022 fast approaches, I can feel my excitement for the weekend building by the day. My first experience at Fashion Week was so mind-blowing, I really can’t wait …

Last year, I photographed the first blooming cherry blossom of the season on March 13. It was an uninteresting picture, but I was so excited to see the tiny branch of flowers that I shelled out an instax-mini shot of it as well as a digital version. Even now, I get a little feeling of excitement looking at that photo, which occupies a space on my wall dedicated to instant photographs of flowers. 

Between the beautiful rainbow lighting and the glittery, glamorous outfits I shot this month, I was able to take a wide variety of photos and experiment with creative new editing techniques and now I feel recharged creatively and am armed and ready to take on another full month of shooting in March.

Good styling is one of the most important elements in a good photo. When I’m planning a conceptual shoot, or something based around one specific accessory or trend, styling becomes a very large part of my work. 

The best images are made before the picture is taken, through a careful process of pre-planning and collaboration. I am looking forward to seeing you in studio! 

The post-holiday glow at the beginning of the month and the hints of spring at the end have inspired a happier, more colourful tone in the photos I have been taking. 

Despite that, 2021 has been an incredible year for my photography and creative development. In 2021, I did 109 photoshoots, made 51 youtube videos, and uploaded 85 shorter videos on Instagram. Since buying my Nikon D780 in late July, I have taken 73,000 photos.

One of the more exciting concepts that I began exploring this year is the idea of three-dimensional suspended sets. As soon as this concept came to me, I became somewhat obsessed with it.

In December I hosted a large Christmas-themed collaboration with seven different models, all styled in various shades of gold, red, and white and used bags of gold objects to create a three-dimensional set that appeared to drip gold into the frame from every angle.

Since there were multiple photographers, they were able to invite almost a dozen models and several stylists, and there was never too much downtime between sets.