Hank Powell never intended to become a photographer. However, he decided to pick up a camera during a school photography course simply to try something new, and the rest fell right into place.
At first, photography was a hobby for Hank, but once other people began to ask him for photographs and even offered to pay, photography changed for Hank.
“He is a really good photographer for his age. We had him shoot for us this summer, and the photos turned out better than any of us could’ve expected,” said senior Micah Warren, founder of Precision Exterior Cleaning, LLC.
“I still think of photography as a hobby because I do it for enjoyment,” Powell said, “but it became more serious when people started requesting shoots, and I reinvested that money back into my gear.”
Powell’s very first job was fairly clear; he was hired to shoot photos of a family friend for thirty dollars.
Now he specializes in capturing real-life moments and developing an overall photography style.
“I focus on real-world moments and real people instead of poses,” Powell said. “I’m always looking for emotion and energy, then using lighting and composition to turn that into a story.”
Powell especially enjoys photographing sports and portraits.
“Hank is very talented in his craft, and he’s very good at capturing the moment from his gracious God-given talent,” said senior quarterback Max Pierce.
Influences like art teacher Tina Harpold, local photographer Mark Hawkins, and creators he follows online have helped shape his approach.
Currently, Powell operates his photography business independently with a very basic setup: a camera body, wide angle lens, a telephoto lens,and lighting equipment.
Powell handles everything himself, from shooting the images to editing them.
Most of his work comes through word of mouth, social media, and people he already knows, with senior portraits and small events making up the majority of his shoots.
“I want people to feel good about themselves when I take their photos,” Powell said, “rr feel like what I captured was real.”
The biggest challenge, he admits, is being young in a competitive field.
“Competing with more experienced photographers and being young makes it hard to get opportunities,” Powell explained.
Despite these challenges, Powell continues to build up his photography business and hopes to one day book larger projects with multiple clients and gain more experience and technical skills in doing so.
“It’s not just about taking photos,” Powell said. “It’s about communication, making people comfortable, and knowing when to capture the moment.”
For now, Powell intends to continue running photography as a part-time role, so it will always remain something that he truly enjoys doing, compared to having it feel like a chore.
While his client base continues growing, along with his inventory of equipment, Powell remains committed to his vision of creating genuine and authentic photographs.
“A great photo should always be authentic,” he said.
