Daily Inspiration: Meet Jacqueline “Jax” Hanna

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline “Jax” Hanna.

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since receiving a camera from my grandfather at the age of 7, I have documented my travels. Growing up in Germany for the first ten years of my life, I was fortunate to have family who exposed me to a wide range of experiences. Trips took me from Bulgaria to France, where I learned about my family’s history and European culture. My maternal grandfather’s family descended from French Huguenots, hence my French name. My grandfather, a true Renaissance man, was a huge inspiration. 

He was a painter, mason, woodworker, sculptor, photographer, home distiller, gardener, and calligraphy artist. I accompanied him on many trips, and he instilled in me the art of composition, which continues to resonate in my photography today. My grandmother was an incredible cook and baker (her cheesecake was legendary!). Also made jams, preserves, and juices from every imaginable fruit in their garden. Most of what we ate came directly from their land and their own care. 

This upbringing fostered my love and appreciation for food, stemming from the diverse flavors and cultures I experienced in Europe. Witnessing my grandmother spent most of her life in the kitchen further solidified my passion for food and beverages, spirits, and culinary delights from around the world. It also resonated with the stories of chefs, many inspired by family meals or the lack thereof, leading them to learn the craft themselves. 

Throughout school, I loved writing, starting as early as kindergarten. My writing talent earned me a partial scholarship to university, where I pursued mass communications and journalism. I ultimately spent nearly a decade in the healthcare field, which equipped me with invaluable skills: the ability to connect with anyone put strangers at ease, and, most importantly, understand the preciousness of life. 

During my time at the hospital, I became the unofficial family photographer for many staff members. I also freelanced as a content writer and hospitality auditor but realized I wasn’t pursuing my true passions. In 2008, a job offer to shoot a wedding in Cozumel proved to be a turning point. Upon my return, I left my full-time career with benefits to pursue photography full-time, a path I’ve followed ever since. I started JHP with only my IRA, which I cashed out. 

I had no idea how to market or run a business and knew I had to learn fast. Self-taught in all aspects of the business, I handle everything from bookkeeping to website maintenance. While I had a successful studio pre-pandemic, the world came crashing down during COVID-19, coinciding with my divorce. This period taught me the importance of slowing down and appreciating life’s simple pleasures: reading, hiking, camping, connecting with loved ones, and simply being present. 

As most of my major photography projects were put on hold, my focus shifted to food and beverage. Witnessing the local community rally behind small businesses during that time fueled my desire to contribute. During this period, I also met someone who shared my love for adventure, travel, and dining. As we began dating, we frequently dined out and traveled every month, and I became increasingly engaged in capturing our culinary and cocktail experiences. 

In July 2021, I created my first Instagram reel showcasing a trip to the La Jolla Tide Pools. My first food photo post came in November 2020, featuring a tempura-fried deviled egg with ponzu tobiko and red pepper from the brickyard, created by chef Aaron Rickel. My passion for spirits led me to join the USBG (United States Bartenders’ Guild) for further education. This involvement eventually led to the role of social media manager, further expanding my network within the industry. A solo trip to Tulum in February 2022 sparked a love affair with the local cuisine. 

The vibrant colors and rustic presentations resonated deeply with my artistic sensibilities. By March, my work caught the attention of Hermosa Inn and the Wrigley Mansion. Soon after, I was hired to do headshots and photograph new menu items for both. Driven by a desire to create and share, my new venture, fare expeditions, began to crystallize. Traveling extensively and seeking out unique restaurants, bars, plates, sips, and backdrops fueled this vision: to showcase the beauty of the gastronomy and hospitality industries. 

Three years later, I am invited to hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars to document their exceptional offerings. At heart, I remain a storyteller. I love capturing the backstories of individuals and businesses, their journeys, and their contributions to their respective fields. My photography style has always focused on visually narrating the food story within its environment. 

One of my most fulfilling projects involved a week-long stay at an eco-treehouse resort in Tulum, where I documented the experience, including participating in a cacao ceremony and capturing the local chef preparing cochinita pibil… This experience solidified my true calling and passion. Today, I run two successful businesses: Jacqueline Hanna Photography, specializing in portraiture and fare expeditions, offering comprehensive content creation packages that include photography, online reviews, hospitality audits, and even private bartending services. 

My involvement with the USBG, previous media work with spirits brands, and a stint with a local PR company as creative director led to brand ambassador roles for IZO spirits mezcal and carefree spirits (chakra vodka and carefree bourbon). One of the most rewarding aspects of being an ambassador has been curating activations and events centered around the spirits. Currently, I serve as the media manager and content creator for Arteflame Grills. 

I was also given the amazing opportunity to be hosted in Maui, in Lahaina, last year to promote tourism after the devastating fires. It gave me the opportunity to do something I really love. Storytelling. Showcasing beauty, as well as talking about tragedy and loss. Though my host owned a vacation rental, I was given free rein to design and create an Instagram page for the property as well as the local flavor. My next project involves collaborating with Kami Hill, a world traveler and blogger, to create a travel business geared toward singles seeking solo adventures with a local touch. 

This aligns perfectly with our shared values of discovering hidden gems, savoring local flavors and immersing ourselves in local cultures. Having guided countless friends and followers on activities, tourist destinations, and local eateries over the years, I’m incredibly excited about this new venture. 

At 45, I’ve finally found my true calling, a path that emerged from the unexpected twists of a divorce and a global pandemic. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building a business takes time. You have to keep putting the work in 100%. Networking, getting out there, and showcasing what you do takes time. Building relationships and connections. I am terrible at marketing myself, so I am still working on that. I have two kids – one that has lived outside the state. My parents live in Idaho. My sister is in Pennsylvania, and my German family is all in Germany. 

Challenges with being self-employed are finding time for your family, loved ones, and yourself. Being self-employed is very scary when you have yourself and children to support. You don’t always know when money is coming in, and if you don’t market yourself, then you rely on word of mouth, which my photography business still thrives on. I don’t think many business owners understand the intensive time it takes to create meaningful content. My average time spent at a restaurant is three hours. 

Add to that the time it takes to get there and get home, then hours of going through images and videos, piecing them all together after subtle edits, writing captions that are under 2000 characters, finding the appropriate hashtags, and sharing it all. Super time-intensive work that many businesses won’t pay for. Gift exchanges are common practice these days, and it is a major challenge that professional photographers like me deal with. 

Not only the time and effort it takes to create these posts and reels but the free advertising for the business that it creates makes me feel the narrative needs to change about the inherent value that a creator has. In short, the greatest challenge is convincing people that your services add value and that I should be compensated. A challenge I have never had as a professional portrait photographer. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Specialties in portraiture: newborns, headshots, couples, maternity, weddings, families, children, pets, corporate events. Specialties in content creation: commercial photography, food and beverage photography, landscapes and architecture, product photography, social media marketing, content creation, reviews, bios, and hospitality audits.

I am known for the vivid imagery and storytelling aspect of my photography and video reels. I am most proud of how my photography and writing skills combine to create a visual impact. I create and write based on what gets me excited about a brand or concept. What sets me apart is that I am truly invested in the clients I work with. 

I listen to what their needs are, give advice where and when I see fit, and love the collaborative aspect of creating together. I want to tell everyone’s stories, and that is very meaningful. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the sunshine and the perennial lightness that perpetual sunshine brings to people’s dispositions. I have watched this city evolve and change since 2001. I am amazed by the high caliber of restaurateurs, chefs, and bar owners who continue to open new concepts in the market. 

I love the innovation of people such as Jason and Kaylee Asher, who opened Century Grand with platform 18 and Undertow. The cave is probably in my top five, with cocktails created by Max Berlin and Paul Waxman featuring the world’s deserts. Or Barcoa, dreamed up by the man who brought you the taco festival and pizza fest, David Tyda, who, along with partner Ryan Oberholzer, has filled the speakeasy space with crafted products from Oaxaca down to leather menus. 

It is also the best destination in Phoenix for agave spirits education; it is truly magnificent. I love the multicultural offerings from Lalibela Ethiopian to Feringhee modern Indian cuisine; you can find Peruvian, El Salvadorian, Filipino, Balkan, and Korean. This city has something for everyone. I love chefs like Adam Allison, Jeff Kraus, and Matt Meyer – who cook with love and intention, hosting many fundraisers and charitable dinners where they offer their services in service of others. 

I love chef Ivan Jacobo, whose incredible fine-dining restaurant, Angelo, gives back to the community with scholarships and fundraisers. I love chefs like Christopher Gross, who combined James Beard’s awarded culinary delights with art. I love places like Glai Baan, by chef and owner Porn Supak “Cat” Bunnag, which creates immersive experiences with incredible food and an even better cocktail program. I love Gallo Blanco by Chef Doug Robson, who cooks up Oaxacan fare and makes you feel like you’re spending the day in Mexico City.  

I love chefs like Angelo Sossa of Tia Carmen and Kembara, who create these massive projects involving years of research and development; for Kembara, he traveled throughout Asia researching rural dishes and street foods, and both the design of the restaurant as well as the dishes are a cultural immersion. Tia Carmen is inspired by southwestern, with his signature 20-ingredient mole, but the space makes you feel like you’re in Tulum. 

I love the blend of cultures in Phoenix, infused with the flavors of the southwest. What I like least about the city is the poverty and crime and how many small businesses just don’t make it. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.farexpeditionsaz.com, jacquelinehanna.com
• Instagram: @fare_expeditionsaz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FareExpeditionsAz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdTmU0VfTX6z-eH20MH_4vA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jacqueline-hanna-photography-scottsdale-5

Image Credits
Michael Ham