Meet Steven Hankins | Photographer/ Owner at Steven Hankins Photography

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steven Hankins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steven, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was pretty creative in high school. I took a year of photography in high school. Back then we actually had to develop film, Also, I would video our church’s high school youth group and then edit the videos. In college I did a lot of shooting videos and editing. After I graduated from the University of Colorado I moved to LA to work in entertainment. I got my first DSLR some years after college and started taking photos of friends and posting on Facebook. Then, somewhere around 10 years ago or so I was on a Christian men’s retreat and I was praying and I just sort of felt a leading to do something with photography. Not, that photography would be my only income (it might at some point, but it’s not my only income now). Somewhere around 2015 I started up my photography business Steven Hankins Photography. At first I’m not sure I knew what I wanted to specialize in, but somehow I fell upon specializing in business headshots.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what set’s me apart from my competition is my dedication to delivering high quality work. When I have a headshot, family photo or event photography client. I try and ensure they are happy with my work. This might mean that I spend extra time on getting the photos just right. I’m proud of a few things, getting to shoot take photos of my friend Actor Doug Jones who is a seasoned actor. He is known for roles as the amphibious creature in “The Shape of Water” and the Silver Surfer in “Fantastic Four.” Plus, I shot the cover photos for “The Incredible Stories of Skid Row: From Homeless to Hopeful in the City of Angels”. Description of the book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Stories-Skid-Row-Homeless/dp/0615492010
Also, I took a headshot for a friend that ended up on digital billboard in Time Square. Here is a link to that blogpost: https://www.stevenhankinsphotography.com/blog/exciting-career-milestones-for-brian-lubocki
I got to this place in my career by doing a lot of my own SEO. I proud of myself as this get’s people calling me after finding my photography business on a Google Search. It hasn’t been easy and I’m still not there. It would be nice to make a significant amount of my income as a photographer. But the key here for me is perseverance and to find other ways to market myself. That’s why I’m very grateful to have an opportunity to be in Shoutout LA.
One of the lessons I’m learning is that I need to keep working on getting new clients. Whether is be in doing things to improve my SEO like writing a blog post or reaching out to potential clients over LinkedIn.
I want people to know that I’m a dedicated photographer who does quality work based out of Santa Monica, but will travel all across Los Angeles for a client.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my best friend to a few different places. I would take him to the beach in Santa Monica, lay out and then play volleyball, then we could go get some of the best Mexican food in LA, in my opinion, at Holy Guacamole on Main Street in Santa Monica. It’s kind of a hole in the wall and you order at the counter, but the food is pretty delicious. We would then go grab some drinks at Ye Old Kings Head in Downtown Santa Monica. Another day we could do all of the tourist stuff like visiting Rodeo Drive and heading up to Hollywood to see the Walk of Stars. Then probably head to downtown LA and grab food and drinks at The Perch LA at Sunset. I love being high up on buildings and seeing the sunset.

Another day we would go walk around the boardwalk in Venice Beach and see all of the interesting street art vendors and then drive up the coast to for dinner Gladstones near Malibu.

Another day we would go to a Rams game at SoFi and after the game go to my favorite brewery call Three Weavers in Inglewood.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A shoutout to God as I feel like Jesus lead me to do something with photography. I also want to thank all of my past clients as they have allowed my photography business to grow.

Website: https://www.stevenhankinsphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenhankinsphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhankins

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shankinsphoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenhankinsphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/steven-hankins-photography-santa-monica

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkohHtMzTj7Wx8QJR18Er2A