Meet Hannah Kiviranta

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Kiviranta. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hannah, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I’ve never felt like I had a super clear “purpose” in life, and for a long time I felt behind because of that. I think my purpose emerged slowly through my exploration of photography, and I feel like my purpose continues to evolve as I grow as an artist. Photography became a way for me to pay attention to people, moments, and to small things that often go overlooked. It also gives me a way to keep moving forward even when my health or confidence wavers, and it’s turned into this steady point of connection that I have, both to myself and to others.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m an editorial and documentary photographer based in Toronto. I love portraiture and intimacy, so my work focuses on people typically with more sensitive subject matter. I’m especially drawn to stories that sit in the in-between; the quieter realities that shape how people live and see themselves.

What feels most exciting to me is the trust that photography can create between myself and someone I’ve never spoken to before. So much of my work involves entering spaces where people are often misunderstood or overlooked, and taking the time to represent them and their story with as much care and accuracy as I can. I’m interested in honesty and complexity, not perfection.

Professionally right now, I’m continuing to expand my editorial practice while also developing longer-term personal projects like a self-published zine I’ll be working on this year. I’m increasingly focused on building a career that allows for depth rather than constant output, because I think I felt pressure for a long time to be constantly creating when that’s not my reality as someone living with a chronic illness.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Lighting- I think my understanding of light and different light sources is one of my strongest technical skills that I developed over time. I spent years working as a first assistant and gaffer- so the photographers I worked for would explain to me how they wanted their light to look on set and I would set up and control all the lights. The way light falls on a person can completely change how they’re perceived, and I’m very careful to use it in a way that feels respectful and honest.

2. Emotional intelligence- understanding when to step forward, when to pull back, and how to make people feel seen and heard without being intrusive is essential. Photographing sensitive subject matter often requires stepping into vulnerable and unfamiliar situations and being able to read a room, listen carefully, and respond with empathy. Often when I go in to shoot someone, I don’t even bring out my camera until I feel like I’ve been able to make my subject feel at ease through conversation first.

3. Patience- possibly the most important skill, because it often means waiting for the perfect shot rather than intervening and manufacturing it. Some moments can’t be rushed and learning when to wait is truly just as important as knowing when to press the shutter- for film photographers especially.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The challenge I am currently facing is a challenge I feel like I have been facing for years- which is self-doubt. When I’m commissioned for a project, I don’t always feel a sense of accomplishment in the moment. I often find myself waiting for external feedback before allowing myself to feel confident in my work. Positive responses are validating and reassuring, but relying on them actually makes the process itself harder, especially during the quiet moments when I’m shooting and questioning my own instincts.

Something I find helpful in trying to overcome this is to take some time away from my photos- not looking at them immediately after shooting, and coming back to my work with fresh eyes allows me to be more objective and not as critical.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannahkiviranta.com
• Instagram: @hannahkiv

Image Credits

by file name, photos of me:

Hannah-bts1 – Yiannis Boutsalis
Hannah-bts2 – Stefanie Neves
Hannah-bts3 – Amanda Ouelette
Hannah-bts4 – Yiannis Boutsalis

The other 4 files are taken by me Hannah Kiviranta, just 4 of my favourites