Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Hurlbut.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have a master’s degree in English, completed work towards an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and was an English teacher for about fifteen years before starting my creative business. I have four children, and when I had my third child I decided to stay home and be home with them while they were little. Right around that time, I had several people tell me that they loved the pictures I took and that I should start a business. At first, I thought they were crazy, but I have always been passionate about photography, and at the time I was equally passionate about the power of the birth story, so I decided to start my business and I focused completely on documentary birth stories and babies. I was in heaven.
Being on call for births was not easy, especially with babies of my own at home, but my husband supported what I was doing and made it easy for me to be present for the labors and deliveries. Also, all I had to do for some perspective was think of my own midwife and the countless nights that she has spent in the hospital over the years, and my little task seemed pretty simple. Plus, I absolutely loved it. It is an incredible honor to be invited into that sacred time and space with a family as they welcome their child into the world, and the deep appreciation they have for having those photographs is humbling.
Not too long into my birth and newborn photography work, I began teaching myself how to do film work, and I soon found perhaps an even deeper passion of mine: filmmaking. I am incredibly moved by the power of a story told through motion. There is simply nothing quite like it in its ability to almost completely bring you back to that moment in time, to the sounds, to the way a child moved his hands or feet, or to the fleeting baby-ness of his voice. I believe that film has magical powers to tell quiet stories that are afraid to be told, to give them a thundering voice that cannot be ignored.
My creative interests and passions continued to get the better of me, and so when I realized that my business was no longer simply a photography business, I changed the name to Anno Studios, and slowly began to integrate graphic design elements into my work as I took courses at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). I now do an array of work, from portrait, documentary, and product photography to documentary and marketing films, logo design, and fine art prints.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ha! Of course not! I had never run my own business before, as I had always taught English. I was teaching myself all of these skills, and I did not have money to simply purchase all of the gear that I needed. So, I took it slowly. One client, one project at a time. In a client-driven business, the work is not always steady, so the business piece became very important. And when you do art because you are passionate about it, the pesky business side can take away from that time! However, it is necessary. I have learned a lot about the business side of living a creative life, and I have a lot more to learn as well. In order to live the life you truly want to live, there will inevitably be challenges. If I had not faced the many challenges that I have had to confront, I would not know just how deeply passionate I am about living my true, creative life.
I am very fortunate, because my husband is a teacher and is home a lot of the time, present all of the time, and hands-on with our gaggle of kids. Also, he supports my dreams and you can’t ask for more than that. Without those gifts, my challenges would be much greater.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Anno Studios – what should we know?
As I mentioned earlier, I started as a photography business and then began to integrate videography/film work and graphic design, so my business began as “Anno Photography” but has now grown into “Anno Studios.” Most clients will tell me that I have a unique eye for capturing their children in a very honest, real way. Whether I am documenting a family seeing their first child for the very first time, or capturing a child playing in the backyard as on any other, I look to capture the soul of that very moment. This is what gives me great joy, and then passing the images along to families is an even greater joy. I would have to say that is probably what sets me apart, and people always say that it is fun and very easy to have me around. We have a good time
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh gosh, of course. I have had family members in my life who have helped me with any number of things, from helping me with gear to watching the kids, sharing my work on social media, and simply being there during the many hours when I need to be shooting, filming, creating, or editing. As I said before, my husband is my biggest supporter. Without him, it would be very hard to pursue these wild dreams of mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annostudios.com/
- Phone: 508-944-9130
- Email: ahurlbut@me.com
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