December 04, 2020
MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Hanna Hillier
Hanna Hillier is the magical eye behind the Arithmos photography! Based in London and having worked with the likes of Sephora, NARS and Charlotte Tilbury, Hanna took the time to chat all things beauty, self-care and her work as a photographer.
When and how did you know you had an interest in photography?
Flicking through Vogue & Elle when I was around 13 years old! I was hugely inspired by Emma Summerton's early i-D covers!
What type of photography you are specialised in?
I started off more in fashion but discovered my love of beauty photography about 4 years ago - and now it's all I shoot! I also am obsessed with still life beauty products, which I've been focusing way more time on since lockdown in March, & loving it!
What is your favourite part of what you do?
I love getting the selects back from the client, and seeing them go live on the clients instagram/website! I also love doing creative testing with models & products too!
What is your favourite Arithmos body oil aroma and why?
Jasmine is probably my ultimate fave, I feel so much more relaxed going to sleep in the evenings now!
What are three beauty products you can’t live without?
3 is way too hard! UPLIFT Arithmos, Espressoh mascara + Kosas 10 second eyeshadow in Globe.
What learnings will you be taking away from this year and bringing into the new year 2021?
Be prepared for whatever life throws at you!!
What career advice would you give your younger self?
If a client criticises anything regarding your work, you have to embrace it with an open heart. They are pushing you to be better and you need to embrace the feedback and learn to be better, instead of feeling down about it, use the opportunity to improve.
What beauty advice would you give your younger self?
I was a mess! There was no internet so I just tried to do looks from Elle or copy my mum. I used to wear foundation 3 shades too dark, way too much blusher, lip gloss and I used heavy black eye pencil but never realised that you were supposed to blend it in! I definitely should have studied it in books.
You have worked with many projects with big name brands and celebrities. What’s the most memorable one so far?
I have been so lucky to work with so many incredible founders, brands & celebrities, Nars, Normani, Sephora, Urban Decay, Jessica Alba, H.E.R, Charlotte Tilbury. Jessica Alba really changed my life in so many ways, as it was Jessica who asked me to shoot for her brand Honest Beauty, which was my first ever beauty campaign. Jessica is such an incredible & inspiring human, it was amazing to be on set with her. I owe so much to Normani, who pushed me for Urban Decay, who I then went on to shoot with multiple times until I sadly had to leave Los Angeles due to the pandemic :( !! Normani is such an incredibly inspiring artist it was so amazing to work with her. I am surrounded by so many incredibly smart + talented women, from founders to producers to makeup artists, it's an amazing environment to be in + I am so grateful!
What’s the secret to your success?
I love what I do to a ridiculous level. I literally live, breathe and dream beauty. In my spare time I just do massive 200 page keynotes of creative ideas for shoots. I like to cook and pre-pandemic I loved restaurants but that's all I do in my life. To some people that may sound boring but to me it's heaven
