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Branding
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Creative Consulting
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Interships + education
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Visual Creations
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Private Studios
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Community events
o Branding o Creative Consulting o Interships + education o Visual Creations o Private Studios o Community events
welcome to Lotta Studio[s]-
where vision meets village
A space for makers, dreamers, and doers to tell their stories, shape culture, and leave behind something beautiful.
In a flexible studio space where cameras click, ideas spark, and community thrives. We’re part of the cozy engine behind Westville’s creative glow—lifting up artists, building visual legacies, and keeping New Haven inspired.
At Lotta Studio, our strength lies in the collective brilliance of our creative team—photographers, filmmakers, animators, illustrators, producers, and storytellers—each one bringing their unique craft to the table with heart and intention. We believe visual legacy shouldn’t be reserved for the elite, which is why accessibility is at the core of everything we do. Whether you're a small business owner, an emerging artist, or a family with a story to tell, we make high-quality creative work approachable, collaborative, and rooted in community. Together, we turn everyday narratives into lasting visual echoes—bold, honest, and deeply human.
How can we collaberate?
At Lotta Studio, collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We don’t just create for you—we create with you. Whether you arrive with a clear vision or just a spark of an idea, our team meets you where you are, ready to listen, build, and bring your story to life. From personal milestones to brand storytelling, from grassroots campaigns to experimental art, we believe every project is an opportunity for co-creation. Together, we shape visuals that reflect who you are, what you stand for, and the legacy you want to leave behind. You bring the passion—we’ll bring the lens.
Meet your lead
Mistina Hanscom
Creative Director | Photographer | Community Builder
Mistina Hanscom is a multidisciplinary artist and visual strategist whose work exists at the vibrant intersection of photography, storytelling, and community development. As the co-founder of Lotta Studio, a high-end editorial and commercial photography boutique based in New Haven, CT, Mistina brings a painterly sensibility and emotional intelligence to her work—balancing technical mastery with a deep commitment to narrative truth.
Rooted in the belief that visual language should be as evocative as the written word, Mistina’s portraiture explores color, motion, and humor with an intuitive eye—often crafting cinematic images that feel both timeless and profoundly human. Influenced by the theatricality of Annie Leibovitz and the raw honesty of Diane Arbus, her work tells entire storylines in a single frame—guiding the viewer’s eye like a neoclassical painter while chasing the impressionist's light.
With a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography and decades of experience as a freelance creative, Mistina has cultivated a rare hybrid of artistic excellence and entrepreneurial grit. At West River Arts, the brick-and-mortar artist collective she helped establish in Westville Village, Mistina continues to nurture a curated community of artists, activists, and cultural producers who contribute to the neighborhood’s creative and economic revitalization.
As a mother of three teenagers and a college professor, Mistina is deeply invested in the next generation of makers—welcoming interns and youth studio assistants into Lotta Studio to gain hands-on experience in professional creative practice. Her events and programming intentionally center “Artist Care,” providing mentally, creatively, and financially supportive environments that reflect her holistic, inclusive ethos.
Mistina's work—both in imagery and in impact—champions collaboration, accessibility, and sustained creative legacy. Whether she’s capturing the soul of a brand, organizing a neighborhood festival, or mentoring young artists, she is always painting with light—honoring photography’s roots while envisioning a more dynamic, expressive future.
Testimonials
