GREATEST: Hannah Sider
New York-based photographer and director credits travel as her source of inspiration and education.
Hannah Sider shares how growing up in different cities has shaped her global perspective and how receiving a camera at a young age triggered her love of photography.
What was it like growing up in Malawi and Toronto? What are some things you remember about living in each city and how has that influenced your perspective?
I feel so blessed to have spent so many years growing up in Malawi. It’s a very colorful country with beautiful people, landscapes and wildlife. My parents were there helping with food distribution during a severe famine. Seeing firsthand the living conditions and poverty that people experience there has made me extremely grateful for everything I have and has given me a generous heart for people in need.
Toronto was very different, obviously. I was there until I finished university and some of my best friends are from there. Toronto is where I developed an interest in fashion and photography which led me to New York.
You’ve been shooting since you were 12 years old. What was your learning process like around that age?
My parents got me a point-and-shoot film camera for Christmas. I think it was purple. I used to dress my sisters up in my mom’s clothes and take photos of them as models. There was definitely a lot of trial and error.
Who is Valentine Uhovski and how has he helped you shape your work? Do you have any other mentors or sources of inspiration you look to?
Valentine is the Head of Culture and Fashion at Tumblr. He was one of the first people to recognize my work and promote it on the platform. He’s amazing when it comes to connecting people and has helped me and so many other young artists. He’s built a positive community of creative people beyond the Tumblr platform.
Do you see yourself filling those shoes as a mentor one day?
I can only hope!
You’ve mentioned your photos are spontaneous. How do you get your subject to be comfortable?
I spend a lot of time talking to people, getting to know them and vibing with them. I always have a fire playlist on set too.
Juggling traveling, living in New York, photography - what’s your photography workflow process like?
My workflow is flowing a little too quickly for me most of the time. I have some superstar assistants and a dedicated manager that help.
How has travel affected or inspired your work? Do you meet with other photographers when you travel?
Travel is education and inspiration. I think moving a lot when I was younger instilled this desire. Occasionally I meet with other photographers but I more so hit up artists, people that I want to shoot, people that want to show me the underground of a new city.
You’ve mentioned establishing and maintaining an identity within your work. Does that apply to your own style and the clothes you wear?
I’ve always been interested in fashion but always had a very weird style. I got teased a lot in high school for my style but what was more important to me was that I was different from all the kids wearing the same brands. I think part of why New York was so attractive to me was because everyone was unique and it was cool to be different.
What’s your earliest memory or interaction with sneakers?
Can you walk us through your sneaker preferences? How do you choose what shoes to wear for the day?
I often build an outfit around one thing I want to wear, which sometimes can be a sneaker. I’m lucky now that I work with so many sneaker brands and have many shoes to choose from. It depends on my mood and outfit but my go-to is an Air Force 1.
Do you like your sneakers looking brand new or worn-in?
I mean, I like them looking brand new, but with my lifestyle, my sneakers and my cameras get used and abused.
What music are you listening to at the moment? Do you listen to music while you work?
Always! Music affects me on such an emotional level. I like many different genres of music. When I’m working on my computer at home I like to listen to funk and soul maybe some jazz or reggae. When I’m on set it’s usually my own version of Rap Caviar. I love finding new music and artists and spend a lot of time listening.
You shot Nigel Sylvester for Issue 02 of GREATEST and a lot of the BTS footage showed you shooting while laying down on a sidewalk. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get a shot?
My assistant always jokes that half her job is making sure I don’t fall off a ladder or get hit by a car. Probably the craziest thing that I do all the time is going to obscure locations to meet strangers in foreign cities to get a photo of them.
Have you ever been starstruck while meeting an artist?
Yes, Lil B.
If you were to give your younger self photography advice - what would that be?
The equipment you have doesn’t matter.
What’s next for you?
A book launch in New York and a lot of traveling to Europe this summer for some exciting projects.
Photography by Michael Knapp and Interview by Art Derecho