We believe that photography can open worlds.
We believe that many voices enable powerful storytelling.
We are Hannah and Melanie, the founders of And Then, A Socially Minded Photography Agency. We are experienced photographic practitioners, project developers and facilitators.
We deliver socially-engaged projects, social research and therapeutic photography workshops. We facilitate photographic learning opportunities, to activate spaces, create local events and support opportunities for powerful, collective storytelling.
We partner with individuals, community groups, not for profits, councils, social researchers and grant bodies. We work with vulnerable groups and with those whose stories are often untold, and then.
Hello, I’m Hannah
I began making images as a small kid desperately trying to see the world in all the ways that my dog could. Image-making became a way of being, it was sanctuary for a kid that never felt they made any sense. I remain compelled by these different ways of looking and by the possibilities of revealing these quiet worlds, the ones that exist outside language.
Image-making has been many things in my life and during the past 15 years of professional practice I have enjoyed a meandering journey that has seen me become a photographer, social-practice artist, curator, mentor, teacher and creative program-facilitator.
In the aftermath of a life changing accident, I found myself exploring image-making in the processing of trauma. This path led to further shifts in direction and intention, and I wanted to investigate ideas for deeper engagement and collaboration with subjects and collective storytelling. Something that had been sitting in my mind for years. And then I met Mel.
And I’m Melanie
For me, image making was an unexpected gift.
I used to dwell in an entirely different work world — one focused on food, featuring hospital wards, private practice rooms and corporate offices. It was here that I began to be drawn into people's stories. I learned to come alongside people, to teach, to support and later to write, to project manage and generally make great things happen.
Life shifted when I became a parent. I found it particularly challenging and during the chaos of those early days, I began taking one photo every day. What started as a daily grounding ritual sparked a creative renaissance. In the years that followed I left behind my health career and began to wholeheartedly engage with photography.
It was while working as a photographer that I began to question my role in the documentation and authorship of other people's stories. I wondered if it was possible to shift the power balance between myself, the photographer and the subject. Was it possible to enable people to represent themselves and their stories in the way they wanted?
And then, life found us independently questioning our purpose and serendipitously brought us together.
It was the beginning of our deep exploration of socially-engaged image-making practices which led us to understand the richness of authentic collaboration. We had always known about the powerful dialogical potential of photography, but now, our shared vision for this new way of working became the foundation for our partnership.
Embodying the words of Anne Frank “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”, we co-founded And Then, a different kind of photo agency.
We’ve opened up a new way of seeing, a new way to move forward.
And then, we weave our varied perspectives, lived experiences and skills, harmoniously in an empathic, participant-centric way. Together, our perspectives broaden, we walk alongside people, working to extend and impact in a more meaningful way.