This month, we spotlight Vancouver-based photographer Anna Soriano-Harrington, who fell in love with photography at age 12 and has been a pro shooter for the last seven years, all while juggling daily life and six grandkids, five adult kids and a teenager, a husband, a cat and a dog.

What made you first decide to be a photographer?

I grew up seeing my uncle’s massive collection of film camera gear, and he would take me to model for him or just watch him shoot landscape images. It was the first time I saw the magic of print and it sparked my interest in photography.

What is your primary concentration?

I am a portrait photographer. The human emotion and form is, and has always been, a matter of deep interest for me in telling a story. Connecting with the subject and bringing their guard safely down by establishing trust is what allows me to capture the core of their truth.

What do you do to market yourself and set your business apart from your competition?

I am very present on Facebook and Instagram. Every photograph I post comes with a story and this is what makes my audience connect with the kind of work that I do. Allowing them to identify with my subjects makes them develop a certain amount of trust that leads to commissioned work. I have built a network of clients where word of mouth from their experience has been instrumental in increasing the growth of my business.

Who are some of your favorite photographers and why?

Sue Bryce, because her style isn’t only about the technical aspect of portrait photography but learning to capture the emotional connection that a subject has with the lens.

Felix Kunze, because everything I know about using light to intensify the mood or emotion I want to portray I owe to his simplified method of instruction.

Platon, because his images speak so much intensity in their simplicity and make you stop and think about the character behind the image.

Jerry Ghionis, because when I attended my first WPPI in 2016, his keynote spoke of his humble beginnings and he wore his heart on his sleeve. I think the fact that he is so in touch with his emotions is what make his images connect with me and with everyone else.

What’s the best part of your job?

Doing what you love and earning income from it is the best perk of all. Two years ago, I made a declaration that I would run a successful portrait studio to sustain my lust for travel, take care of my home needs and allow me to help raise my grandchildren. Doing what I do now allowed me to make a difference in people’s lives and this has given me purpose, whether in photographing or mentoring. The full control I have for time also gave me the opportunity to harness my creative skills in so many more. I build sets, lights and sew my own studio wardrobe, which has spun off in another business, House of Coutulle. I walked away from a lucrative corporate job and have never looked back with regret.

Would you like to be featured as a WPPI Member of the Month? Send five to ten recent images, with a bio, to [email protected].

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