Professional Photographer and Academy Graduate Gabriela Hasbun Shares Experiences and Insight
 Chances are, you’ve probably seen a photograph taken by Academy alumna Gabriela
Hasbun before. The School of Photography graduate’s work has been featured in diverse
publications from
7x7 to
Forbes to
Teen People to
Vibe! Since she was a teenager, Gabriela has always wanted
to make a living from photography. Now, equipped with the knowledge and skills she picked up at the
Academy, she’s fulfilling this dream.
AAU: How have you developed as an artist since graduating from the
Academy? In what ways did the Academy prepare you for future endeavors?
GH: At the Academy I learned to stay true to myself and to not be afraid to show my unique
vision through my images. Since then I’ve learned so much. Because I’m working with clients, I need
to be more concise about my vision and scout locations ahead of time, so on the day of the shoot I
can focus on my subject fully.
AAU: You’ve photographed a lot of well-known musicians, artists and
celebrities. Who was your favorite person to photograph? Who was the most reluctant to be
photographed?
GH: One of the hardest persons I’ve had to photograph is Bay Area rapper Too $hort. He showed
up 5 hours late to the shoot. When he finally arrived, his mind was elsewhere so I couldn’t get him
to focus much less have a conversation with me.
By far, everyone in my Fat, Fit & Flabulous photo essay was so much fun to
photograph and get to know. They are all so full of life and energy I was intoxicated by them – in
a great way.
AAU: The series on Mission District [in San Francisco] storeowners
is fascinating. What was this series for? How did you come up with the concept? What was the
experience like?
GH: The Mission story is a very dear story to me. The idea was brought to my attention by a
friend who had started to do research on the subject. We had decided to collaborate on this
project. I’d take the photos and she’d do the writing. Except, after a few months, she was too busy
to do any collaborating so I started doing research on my own regarding the stores and restaurants.
Every time I would visit a new shop I would get a brief history of the area and they’d point
me in the direction of the next storeowner I should include in my project. The series in the end
turned out to be a huge success in my portfolio. People responded really well to the idea behind
the images and to the images themselves.
AAU: You’ve been published in a lot of nationally syndicated
magazines. How have you gotten these opportunities?
GH: First off, I met a few local photo editors while I was a photo assistant in the city.
They gave me some of my first assignments. Then I met others at photography workshops like Eddie
Adams who continued to enjoy my work so they would hire me from time to time. The photo community
is a small world. Once you get to know an editor at one magazine, its very likely she’ll hire you
again if she moves to another magazine. Self-promotion and marketing is always a great way to get
your name and work known, so I work hard in those areas. It’s also important to send out
promos and make sure your work is seen.
AAU: Do you have any advice for current students at AAU?
GH: Learn as much as you can from your teachers while you’re in school. Ask them about their
careers in the field and about the financial aspects of the industry. Because without any business
skills you will not survive in the industry, regardless of how talented you are.
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