hannah elise butts

Real weddings, wedding photography advice, engagement & proposal stories, destination weddings around the world, and more.

the journal

Wedding Planning: 101

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Based in Washington, DC, Hannah Elise photographs weddings for couples who are the perfect mix of sophisticated and fun. Her style focuses on telling the story of your day while also paying attention to the smallest details and ensuring you always look your best.

hannah Elise butts

the latest

January 19, 2020

Let me just start by saying that a strong timeline is the single most important aspect in having a stress-free, relaxing wedding day. Knowing exactly when & where everything is going to happen throughout your day should be decided weeks in advance. For those of you who are Type A, this is probably music to […]

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qualities that make a wedding venue photogenic

January 7, 2020

The most important factors to consider in order to pick a photogenic wedding venue are probably not what you’d expect. Because most portrait photographers rely on natural light, the sun and sky are what determine a lot of decisions for wedding day portraits! So if you are a newly engaged couple who is venue shopping […]

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the latest

beautiful jamaica wedding venue

October 17, 2019

I have been to a huge variety of ceremonies, folks! Some as a guest, and many, many more as a photographer. I will be the first person to tell you that the most important part of your wedding day should be your ceremony. Putting a lot of thought and effort into what you are committing […]

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September 27, 2019

If you’re not already familiar with the term, a “first look” is when a bride and groom see each other privately before their ceremony. This is done away from all the guests, wedding party & family so that the moment can be shared between just the two of you. It is intimate, emotional and romantic […]

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the latest

September 8, 2019

Particularly if any part of your wedding is outdoors, the fear of rain has likely crossed your mind a couple times. Many couples (myself included!) worry about rain on their wedding day. And while there is no way to control Mother Nature, there are some very practical steps you can take to prepare for the […]

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September 1, 2019

Are you recently engaged and considering planning a destination wedding? YAY, congratulations! This is such an exciting time, and destination weddings are SO dreamy! Today, I’m sharing 6 things to consider before planning a destination wedding. I hope these tips will come in handy as you make a final decision about where your wedding will […]

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the latest

guarantee you choose the right wedding vendors

August 15, 2019

Your wedding day should be all about you two. It’s a day that not only should reflect your unique style & personalities, but also a day where you can truly relax and enjoy all the special moments. The team that puts it together is your key to a beautiful day that is relaxing, enjoyable, and […]

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June 10, 2019

In this article, you’ll learn how to plan for an engagement session with your dog or other special pet! Having your beloved fur baby at your session is important to us, too. At HBP, our goal is for you to love every aspect of your wedding & engagement photos – from the way you felt […]

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the latest

April 30, 2019

Choosing what to wear and how to coordinate with one another is probably the biggest challenge that couples face when planning for their engagement session. Your wardrobe suddenly seems so much smaller and more limited, doesn’t it? The good news is that there are so many ways to make outfits, old & new, look fantastic […]

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January 30, 2019

Your wedding day is a huge deal, and many couples desire to share it with the world! Particularly because I’ve been published many times before, couples often ask me if their wedding will also be published! While I make every effort to photograph the wedding beautifully, beautiful photographs only go so far in getting a […]

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the latest

December 30, 2018

Within the first few weeks of being engaged, you probably saw more wedding styles than you thought possible on Pinterest. Choosing colors, style, theme and design is overwhelming, and bringing your vision to life may seem daunting and even impossible (which is why I highly recommend a wedding planner!). Within this guidebook, there are tons […]

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washington dc engagement session locations

October 30, 2018

You might already know exactly what you want to do with your engagement photos, but for many couples, they aren’t sure how to make the most of those beautiful images! Even those who have planned to use them for one or two things may not realize how many ways these photos can be used in […]

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