This is a weekly series where we feature our incredibly talented Adolescent members and their work! Sign up here to join the Adolescent Membership and be part of the @ family!

Hi, readers! This Thursday, we’re here to introduce you to Hannah Osofsky. A recent college graduate and perennial photographer, Hannah has shot for companies as big as Champion, Adidas, and Dunkin’ Donuts. She’s drawn to fashion, and she isn’t afraid to advocate for womxn. Keep reading to learn more about Hannah’s take on Boston’s creative scene, how she maintains her style in commercial shoots, and why color is such a huge part of her work.

Adolescent Content: What’s the creative scene like in Boston?

Hannah Osofsky: The creative scene in Boston is not as big and lively as it is in places like New York or LA, but it definitely exists! From August 2017 to June 2019, my friend and I created Let’s Shoot Boston, a collective of womxn seeking to collaborate with and fuel each other creatively through social events focusing on photography, fashion, art, and creativity! For a while, we hosted monthly portrait meets and networking events for female-identifying artists, and over the course of two years, we had over 500 different womxn of different ages attend! It was great while it lasted, but we’ve both since graduated from university and are focusing on different things. 

Adolescent: How did you get involved with photography?

Hannah: I was born and raised in Northampton, Massachusetts which is known for having an exceptional arts scene. I first got into photography in middle school and it was a hobby my friends and I all shared. At the time, I was really into microphotography and took a lot of up-close pictures of flowers. I knew I wanted to pursue photography professionally, but I was always intimidated and I didn’t have the confidence to identify myself as an artist. In April of 2014, my mother passed away from a brain tumor, and my therapist suggested that I start freelancing photography. When I first started freelancing I knew I liked photographing people, but I didn’t have much of a sense of where I wanted to take my work. At the time I was attending the University of Arizona, and I started advertising for senior portraits. Freelancing was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and I’ve grown so much since. 

Adolescent: You’ve worked with massive companies, from Champion to Adidas to Dunkin’ Donuts. How do you maintain your style and vision while doing these kinds of commercial shoots? 

Hannah: In my experience, to be a successful photographer in Boston you almost have to do everything because there isn’t a big enough entertainment scene, but after years of practicing and testing out different styles, I’m now confident enough to advertise myself as a commercial, editorial, and studio photographer. But because I’ve been freelancing for a bit I already have my name out there as an event photographer, so it’s hard to maintain my style when it comes to finding new clients. For example, Champion found me on Google and hired me to photograph their opening night party in Boston. Although I’d like to be working on more creative projects, I’m still grateful for the opportunity to be able to pursue photography full time. 

Adolescent: A pretty hefty portion of your work lies in fashion. What drew you to that kind of photography? Do you ever style your models?

Hannah: When I first started freelancing I knew I liked photographing people, but basic headshots and senior portraits got old and repetitive real fast. Fashion photography is a challenge. It’s fun, expressive, and always something new. I often collaborate with designers and stylists, but usually, we follow my creative vision and I have the final say on styling. 

Adolescent: Why is color so integral to your work?

Hannah: For me, photography is a way to get out of my head and focus on what's in front of me in a positive way. It's about having fun, making fun, seeing fun, sharing fun, and spreading fun. It's about being bold and taking up space. It's about being you 100% and nothing less!