Hannah Schroeder

Hannah Schroeder, visual journalist and photo editor, The Keene Sentinel

Visual Journalist and Photo Editor, The Keene Sentinel

Education/Where you learned to shoot: I graduated with a double major in photojournalism and Spanish from Ohio University in 2019.

Number of years in photojournalism: Four years

What advice do you have for young professionals aspiring to become photojournalists?

Shoot as much as possible, especially as you’re starting, and study work you admire. There’s a lot of value in looking at photo books and the breadth of styles across the industry. It’s important to take risks and try new things, because as you shoot more, you will hone your style.

I think it’s important to be okay with being wrong and not knowing the answer to everything. This allows you to be curious and creative. You will learn so much from your peers, and your curiosity for the people you document will come across in your work. A genuine curiosity that goes beyond “getting the shot” is integral to building trust with your sources. Take an interest in your community and listen to what they have to say about the coverage gaps in your area.

It’s become increasingly important to build time into my schedule to reflect on my work so I can see where I am stuck in old patterns, self-critique and come up with new challenges for future assignments. I’ve also seen more photojournalists my age freelancing across the industry. We have a lot to learn from each other. Reach out to journalists and photojournalists you admire, and ask lots of questions. The journalists I know are eager to talk about their work and answer questions; take advantage of that and build community as much as you can!