Hannah White is the owner of Hannah White Creative and Hannah White Photography in Cedar Rapids. “I’m a family photographer and a website and graphic designer. I’ve been a photographer for 15 years and love getting to photograph families with young kids the most. It’s beautiful and chaotic but, as a mom, I have such an appreciation for how quickly the years go by and getting to document them for people is a gift.” Learn about Hannah White…
Follow at: @hannahwhitephoto; @hannahjanewhite
Hometown: Cedar Rapids
First job: Camp counselor and a barista.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in IA: Growing up, I wanted nothing to do with the Midwest. I love Iowa now though and can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. It’s gorgeous, the people are kind and creative, and there is always something to do. I love being outside with my family – hiking, kayaking, biking, taking our dogs for a walk around the block and going to parks. We have a great community in Cedar Rapids so getting together with friends, going out to eat and entertaining at our home are some of our favorite things to do.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: My biggest accomplishment is being a mom! I have so many great career accomplishments, but nothing has been as challenging as raising my son. He is 6 and a half and I absolutely adore him, but it has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. His wild, free-spirited self has tested me in a million ways – parenting changes at every single age and moment, and learning and loving with patience and grace is so hard.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: A few years ago, my son and I were in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. My son was OK, but it took months of physical therapy and vision therapy for me to get to a place where I could walk without a cane and survive an eight-hour work day without migraines. Surviving a near-death experience challenged me to make better boundaries in my life — to work less and live more, to really cherish my family and friends, because we just aren’t promised tomorrow.
Someone who inspires you and why: My mom inspires me always. She has taught me all I know about loving people. She accepts and adores people for who they are, is the best encourager and champion of her children. I’m inspired by her tenacity for life, love of her family, and strong, honest faith.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Find a great therapist or mentor who can help you make time for yourself in the midst of starting a business. Being a business owner is all consuming and it’s very easy to blur the lines between work and home. Keep your head down and focus on your own work! Especially in a saturated industry like photography, it’s easy to get discouraged. You have to find what you love and confidently keep doing that.
Favorite quote: “What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.” -Hagrid, from Harry Potter
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I married my college sweetheart, and we’ve been together for almost half our lives.
What makes someone fabulous: Fabulous people care about others with profound love and acceptance.
Photo credit: Hunter Berry Photography