Meet Hannah Smentkowski | Photographer & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Smentkowski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite quote is from Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

This quote has greatly inspired me to become someone I never thought I could be, an entrepreneur. I have very intense anxiety, so I wanted to go to college and get a solid job so I didn’t have to worry about insecurity. This only made me realize I wasn’t okay with security either. Sometimes, you have to really reach deeper and push away from what’s comfortable to really find what you are meant to do.

For me, that was always being outdoors, and photography. Creating photos again and branching out from the norm really made me feel alive again. It was only after this quote was sent to me by a family member in a birthday card that I realized what I had to do for myself. To become comfortable with the uncomfortable and try things I never thought were possible so I can become someone I was always meant to be.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a traveling photographer and videographer, and I capture events, business promotions, real estate, and travel. While I love to capture just about anything I can, I love creating with other business owners. Whether it’s creating videos for their website, capturing their products in action around the world, or even teaching business owners how to capture their own content. There are so many ways I can help people get great content. I believe one of the things that set me apart from other photographers and videographers is that I have an edge. I look different than most people because I think differently than most people do. I’ll take the challenging shot, I’ll try something different so you get a unique piece of work every time.

Getting to this spot has been quite overwhelming. It’s so difficult to know where to start on a business journey. From websites to connecting with clients it can be daunting. The only way to get over these challenges is to learn everything you can, then make practical goals to put everything you learn into action. Goal setting and scheduling your days are one of the most powerful tools for getting things done and making sure you stay on track. It has seriously changed my life. Set goals for the day, week, month, and year, so you can follow up with yourself and track your progress. I know it can sound intimidating, but trust me, it will make your business and day-to-day life so much more exciting and easier to manage.

One of the main things I want people to know about my story is that I was an extremely anxious introvert. I’ve always been afraid of everything, including myself and other people. And while I still deal with it every day, I’m actively trying to become a more calm and more outgoing person. Photography and videography have helped me connect with so many new people, especially with so many people that can relate. It can be difficult to reach out and ask for help with your business or even just to reach out to new people, but I’m here to help. And now I look forward to meeting all of my new clients and connecting with them because every new piece of content means another step forward for not only your business but for my personal progress.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Diego has so many great spots to check out, I mean, it’s one of the top 5 tourist destinations in the US. However, living here for a while now, it’s nice to know some of the more interesting areas to visit such as Ocean Beach. OB isn’t a typical tourist spot, but it’s local the hippy beach vibe is such a nice change of pace. The best place for food I would say is Mike’s Tacos, they have great fish and shrimp tacos. For a drink with a view of the ocean, I would go for Wonderland, but for a good regular bar, Sunshine is the best.

Another great area to take literally anyone visiting San Diego is Mission Bay. Starting at Beaumont Amusement Park and walking down the boardwalk toward Pacific Beach. This whole area has a great view of the ocean, street vendors to check out and great restaurants and bars all around. A classic drink to grab is the 32oz margarita at the Baja Beach Cafe, just be sure not to drink it on the beach. PB is also a great place to grab some surf lessons if you’re interested in learning.

I personally love hiking, so if anyone was looking for some classic San Diego hikes, number one is the Torrey Pines area. Here you will see the one-of-a-kind Torrey Pine and an incredible view of the ocean over the sea cliffs. Going there at sunset makes for a very romantic spot. Another great hike is potato chip rock. That one is definitely intense, but worth the climb because at the top, you will find a strange flat rock to take your classic Potato Chip Rock selfie on.

Another great area that you can’t miss in San Diego is downtown. The Gaslamp district has very interesting bars, restaurants, and shops to check out. Plus, the waterfront area is a great place to check out some large ships such as the Midway aircraft carrier and the Star of India, an old wooden pirate-looking ship.

You really can’t have a bad time in San Diego, with so many famous places to see like the San Diego zoo, the beautiful beaches, and some of the best fish tacos on earth, it’s really the best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Day to day you don’t realize how far you’ve come, but looking back just over the last couple of years I can’t believe everything I’ve done. I want to give a big shoutout to my family, who have supported me even when I quit college and decided to do my own business. My sister, Sarah, always encourages me through everything and get’s me excited to get to work. My brother and sister-in-law, Aaron and Naomi for their financial support and nonstop enthusiasm. My brother Jared, for simply being a positive part of my life. And my father, Greg, for not always understanding what I’m doing, but still pushing me to go for what I really wanted.

I also want to thank one of my photography peers, Cody, for giving me so many photography jobs that really helped me practice my craft and help me improve my skills behind the lens. Lastly, I want to thank my boyfriend, Steve. He has been my rock, always staying calm and telling me I can do anything. He also takes care of all of my day-to-day nonsense so I can focus on my business. He has been instrumental in my success.

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Website: https://unbounddigitalproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbound_digital_productions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-smentkowski/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unbounddigitalproductions

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/unbound-digital-productions-san-diego