Putting creativity into motion with creator Anna Wilhelm

If there’s one creator we instantly associate with stop motion, it’s Anna Wilhelm. Based in Berlin, Anna is a standout stop motion artist and product photographer with a natural talent for visual storytelling. Photography came easily to her from the very beginning, and that early passion shines through in the confident, polished work she creates today.

Anna has collaborated with Creatively Squared on multiple projects, bringing products to life through playful stop motion and beautifully considered photography. From campaigns for Penaten and Innocent Drinks to UGC content for Philips, she has a unique ability to turn everyday products into fun, engaging stories without ever losing that professional touch.

It’s this balance of creativity and consistency that makes Anna such a joy to work with, and a constant source of inspiration within our creator community.

Now, let’s dive into Anna’s journey and how she started putting her creativity into motion (quite literally).

Let’s chat with Anna

Hey everyone! My name is Anna Wilhelm. I got my very first digital camera back in school. I’ve always loved handmade: polymer clay, knitted notebooks, little toys and I used to take pictures of everything I made. I even had a small online group where I shared my creations and sometimes made things on request. So technically… my first “product photos” happened when I was 15, which feels pretty funny now 😃

Later, in my first year of university, I bought my first DSLR. I was working as a wedding decorator at the time and I got hired with zero experience just because they liked photos of my handmade. Since then, a camera has basically lived in my hands.

During COVID, I was cooking a lot at home and started taking pictures of my breakfasts. Those photos actually helped me land my first job in German e-commerce.

My whole life I’ve been balancing a “serious” job and creativity. I’m a Global Supply Chain Manager, managing production, transport and logistics and in between I make photos and videos. But in 2026, I finally decided to take a brave step and move fully into creative freelancing. Wish me luck, I’ll need it! 😅

I love mixing video with stop motion, it grabs the viewer’s attention immediately. I’m absolutely in love with stop motion and I think food is incredibly photogenic. So food + stop motion is my ideal combo.

My personal aesthetic would be clean, cozy European commercial style with a touch of stop-motion magic.

What are fun facts about you?

In my free time, I travel (I’ve visited 36 countries), learn languages and explore new cultures. I speak Russian, German, English, Portuguese and right now learning Chinese.

Journey with Creatively Squared

I heard about Creatively Squared from my colleague Julia at StopMotionEurope. I loved the idea of a creative community from all around the world, a place where you can ask for advice, connect with others and feel supported.

The most enjoyable project I had was definitely the Innocent ginger shots project. It had stop motion in it and since stop motion is my biggest creative crush, I enjoyed every moment of it.

Tools of the trade

I shoot with a Sony A7 IV and the equipment I use are a stable lighting and a C-stand. For my post-production, I use Dragonframe and the Adobe package.

Most of my favourite props are in my kitchen ceramic plates, wooden boards, natural fabrics, napkins. They feel warm and honest in the frame.

I also do all of my photo magic in my kitchen and my little home studio.

Anna’s creative process

For stop motion, I always sketch the movements or make a quick 2D animatic. It makes communication with clients easier and helps with planning.

Fun fact: Before bed I write down all my messy thoughts on paper. Usually I wake up with a clear idea or concept already formed in my head. I grab my phone and type it before it disappears.

During photoshoots, I mostly shoot alone. But I’ve built a small supportive group of stop-motion creators where we can ask questions, share doubts and help each other. They feel like a tiny creative family.

Finding inspiration

I am inspired by these creators!

• @storytelling_with_diana – I love all the tiny handmade details in her stop motion scenes
• @shu_katerina – her art feels comforting and emotional
• @pazukhin – asian minimalism in the stop-motion world

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[#cta]

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Top creative tip

Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t panic if the result isn’t exactly like the perfect image you had in your head. That picture exists only in your imagination, and it doesn’t have to be the final goal.

Lastly, what’s next?

In 2026 I really want to learn how to pitch to clients like a pro. So many cool ideas and brands get lost during pitching or briefing, and I want to get better at this part of the process.

Thank you Anna for literally moving us with your creativity! We love your work and appreciate all the inspiration you share with the community.

Follow Anna on Instagram @wilhellmann and check her portfolio on her website.