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9/24/15

FOUR YEARS

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4 years ago today I felt nervous for the first time about photography.
September 24th was the day of my first ever paid photography shoot doing pictures
for sweet Liz and some of her family.
Since that day I have been blown away by how God has blessed my business far more abundantly
than I could ever ask or imagine!
I think honestly the thing I am most grateful for are the AMAZING people I have met through this.
People who were complete strangers and now are my friends, who text me videos of their baby crawling or awesome things they find at goodwill, who hang up on their walls the pictures I took, who laugh with me.
I am really blessed and can't believe that 4 years later I have somehow gotten to work with 175+ clients 
and how this little business has grown since the beginning, when I barely knew what I was doing.

So today, to celebrate, I am doing 4 giveaways -- because why not!!
The first 3 of them are on my Instagram feed, and be sure to find me (@HannahElisePhotography)
and enter if you haven't already!
(and if you don't have an Instagram account, today would be a good day to start one) :)
The last (and biggest one) I am doing is here on the blog!

How awesome is this leather tote?!!
Via Target, this two-toned bag is just what you need to help hold your life together whether you're a teenager,
out of highschool, mom or grandma! :)
HASHTAG you can never have enough bags in your life.
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This is gorgeous for the fall + winter months ahead,
and the outside is a more pinkish tone and the inside a solid purple.
Plus it is actually reversible so you can do both! :)
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And to give a sense of scale, I put a sour patch kids box next to it -- this is a big tote!
Unfortunately sour patch kids are not included, I need them as a prize for my piano students. :)
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TO ENTER : 
Comment on this post and share how you found my blog/work! Whether it was through a friend, google, Facebook, knowing me personally, etc. :) I always love to hear how people come across my site!!

RULES : One comment per person, and giveaway ends on Sunday September 27 at midnight CST,
winner announced on the blog next Monday morning so be sure to check back!

Thank you, thank you all for supporting my work here on this blog, Facebook Page, Instagram
Twitter + my Website -- I seriously appreciate it so much and how encouraging everyone has been over the years. 
I know it sounds super cliche to say that, but I really mean it!!
You guys are the best.

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**
connect on

61 comments:

  1. Yay for four years of photography!! I love seeing you work -- you inspire me!!
    I found your blog from my friend, Secily Emrich, who told me you are friends with her sister, Lydia. :D
    So glad she shared your blog with me!! ♡

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  2. Yesss!!! Wanna win + you are awesome, friend! I am so proud of all you have accomplished these past 4 years!!!
    Love,
    Allison B

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  3. ah!! you always have the coolest giveaways!!😉 your blog is one of my absolute favorites. your Tuesday Tips are always very practical and helpful and your work is absolutely beautiful!! also CONGRATS on 4 years!! #yougo
    I'm not exactly sure how I found your blog but I think it was through Chelsy Bontragers blog!!

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  4. Oh my goodness! Love it! I can't believe you've only been doing this for four years. You do such a great job, I assumed you'd been a pro for longer than that! Well, I found you and your work thanks to Grace and the Bright Lights trip to Ohio {what was the name of that town again?}. So glad we connected! I truly love your work. You are my main inspiration for the small bit of photography I've attempted recently. So keep it up, because I can use all the help I can get! :)

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  5. I love your blog, and that bag is super adorable!! I first heard of your blog and photography from Chelsy Bontrager's blog! I always learn something new about photography whenever I visit your blog and website!
    Thanks for doing the giveaways!
    ~Allison :)

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  6. Such a cute bag!
    I honestly don't remember how i found your blog, but ive been enjoying it for a couple years!
    -Alaina

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  7. I don't remeber when you actually started your blog, and if we started emailing before or after you started it. They say if you can make it past the first three years in business you're doing well. I hope that's true for you for as long as you'd like it to be. :)

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  8. I think I found your blog through the Bontrager Family Blog, or maybe my awesome Sister ;). Congrats on four years! That's awesome:). Btw, love the purple bag! •Natalia•

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  9. Well, I met you in person like 2 or 3 years ago as a friend
    Of Kelsey's and I'm so thankful I did😊 you've inspired me so much with your flourishing business and talent for photography! Every time I've been around you, you treat me like a best friend and I am so grateful you were able to visit this summer!
    Alaina

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  10. We became FB friends and I found your blog through that. I love seeing you use the creative gifts God has given you. And of course, I love your Score Thrifty posts! ♪ Jeannette

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  11. I found you through someone at your cchurch. We couldn't get pictures figured out this time but became fb friends and just met a week ago! Love reading your blog, such a talented lady!

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  12. Congrats on the 4 years! I found you on Facebook!

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  13. Hi! I found you through Evangeline Renee, and I love reading your blog and seeing your posts on Instagram. God has blessed with such an amazing talent! I hope that one day I can get my pictures done by you.:)
    -ca
    (Carol-Anne)

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  14. I have been following you since what feels like a forever ago! You are a major inspiration to me as a fellow business owner. May God continue to bless you and your business to prosper.
    -Hannah

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  15. I can't quite remember how I found your site, but while I was living in North Liberty, IA I searched for local photographers and found your blog. I have been so inspired by your posts and you have encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion for photography! I have my first paying client tomorrow, and I can't wait to see where this fun new experience in life takes me, just as it has been a blessing to watch you blossom and grow in your skills in the past couple years! Congratulations!

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  16. I'm not sure, I think I found you through a friend. Love following and seeing your work!

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  17. Hello Hannah! I found you through Chelsy Bontragor's Blog. I love your posts and your beautiful pictures!

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  18. Oh, and I forgot to mention... I found you by randomly scrolling through Instagram. :)))

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  19. I found you on a hay rack ride!! Haha!! Good memories. xoxo

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  20. I love you Hannah!! You're so inspirational and I'm so thankful I know you! :)

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  21. Congrats to 4 years of your AWESOME business! It's been great to watch you grow thru your work! Way to go!!! ��

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  22. I discovered your GORGEOUS work on Instagram! The color and life in your photos is so stunning that I could scroll through looking at them all day! Thank you for sharing with us your passion for what you do!

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  23. I already commented once, but I don't think it worked! So... I found you thru Instagram! I love all your pictures, you're a great photographer! :)

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  24. I found you on Instagram. And then you told me how many siblings you had. And I high fives you in my head. Now we're Insta friends, like it or not. ;) ;) ;)

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  25. I found you on Instagram. My sister tagged me in a comment for one of the giveaways.

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  26. I knew you personally from Harvest! I heard about you and admired your work so much it inspired me to push harder and make my business dreams a reality. You will always be my biggest photography role model! :)

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  27. Bethany AnnSeptember 24, 2015 at 7:58 PM
    Congrats on 4 years, Hannah! I found you through the Bontrager family blog, back when you did your blog event with Chelsy! Thanks for the opportunity to win this tote! I TOTEally agree, you can never have too many bags! ;)
    Blessings,
    Bethany
    Bethanyann1117{at}gmail{dot}com

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  28. I'm honestly not sure how I came to find your blog - I think through blog hoping from another photographer's site. Either way, I'm glad I found it, your work is inspiring to me!

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  29. Hmmm... let's see I found your blog probably through you :)

    Michelle L

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  30. I'm {pretty sure} I found your blog thru the Bontragers blog. Love the pictures~

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  31. Love this bag! But I love your photography even more. 💕

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    1. Oh and actually I'm pretty sure Kayla and David introduced me to your work on Instagram. :)

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  32. I am blessed to know you personally and have been a part of this from the very beginning. You have a gift Hannah continue to use it as the Lord leads and he will continue to bless it for his glory! Congratulations sweet girl!!

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  33. I think I first found your blog through Chelsy, maybe? Wow, it's difficult to remember before I met you + first saw your gorgeously inspiring photography/blog. You are such a blessing to so SO many!! Congrats on 4 years - the Lord has blessed you with so many gifts + you are amazing at what you do! "I think honestly the thing I am most grateful for are the AMAZING people I have met through this. People who were complete strangers and now are my friends, who text me videos of their baby crawling or awesome things they find at goodwill, who hang up on their walls the pictures I took, who laugh with me." << so great. Love ya + thanks for your example/standard of excellence!

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  34. Is it open internationally? I don't even remember how long I have been following your blog... I suppose I just stumbled upon it, and followed because it is inspiring.

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  35. Wow 4 years! It's seems like yesterday when I figured out you started doing photography via Facebook! I love your work, it's beautiful and tells a story! Thanks for inspiring me! :)

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  36. From one Iowa girl to another: your photography captures the Midwest spirit and I love it. I found your blog via instagram & I'm so glad I did!

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  37. Love this. Found you on FB through a friend! Can't even tell you how glad I am that I did. I've never had family photos hold such a special place in my heart until I met you. Yourc talent has blessed many, including us!

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  38. I found your blog through Chelsy's blog. Thanks for having a giveaway. Congratulations on having your business for 4 years. :)
    Love,
    Ashley

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  39. I found your blog a while back (probably through a friend of a friend of a friend lol), abd I've been following ever since! :-)

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  40. Oh hmm.. it may have been through a comment from you on my blog, or a fellow blogger. :D I've been following you for about 2 years now, so I can't remember perfectly. LOL! :D Cool giveaway. :)

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  41. Wellll....I guess I found your blog because I've known about you from the very beginning of it! =)
    The sour patch kids part of this post made my day. love your humor. =)

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  42. Hey Hannah, we meet two years ago (wow, how time flies!) at a Bright Lights conference in Michigan. I love your blog (especially the score thrifty posts :) and your photography is amazing!

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  43. Ahh CONGRATULATIONS! This is such a fun birthday ;) I first discovered you and your lovely photography on Instagram. I was looking through suggested posts I might like and came across the most {precious} picture of a little blonde haired fella. And then I found saw you were a Christian and that you came from a large family and that you loved thrifting (!!) - I loved it. <3
    Naomi Eve Waldron

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  44. I found your blog several years ago whenJessica Shae shared her Summer Adventure Recap post & have enjoyed it ever since! Congrats on 4 years!

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  45. I found u as u had taught my son piano lessons and u were referred to me by local Amana families...ur blog I discovered through your photography work that u have done for us. U are great at all u do! Thank u! Haley King

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  46. I think I first read your blog after I met you at the Bontragers.

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  47. Hi! I found out about you from my mom, she stumbled across your Insta account and told me to check it out because she knew I'd be interested. I take pictures. :) love the bag. Look forward to reading your blog now.

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  48. Congratulations on four years Hannah! Can't wait for you to photograph my family and capture some of our special moments together! I met you at and found out some time afterwards that you did photogrpahy! ~Paige Eastburn

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  49. I might have found your blog through Chelsy Renee. I can't exactly remember. Congrats on 4 years and the many more to come!! Sarah Spies

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  50. I know you personally and am so blessed and priveleged to be your friend :-)
    Love you Hannah!!
    -Kels. K

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  51. I found you a long time ago when I saw you on Jessica Shae's blog! I would love to win! And I love your work! :)

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  52. I met you through Harvest and have been blessed to have you as my photographer 3 times!! And if I remember correctly I was your first redhead to shoot :), and I think Patrick and I were your first engagement and wedding session as primary photographer! I continue to follow your work and am encouraged by your talent and faith in Christ...and the way you glorify Him through your gift :)

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  53. The last four years have been fantastic. I am so grateful that I have gotten to be around from the very start. <3

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  54. I believe that I found your Instagram profile through another contact. I like your photography because it manifests your talent, and it makes me feel cheerful. I would love to have you as a follower. :)

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    Replies
    1. I believe that I found your Instagram profile through another account. I like your photography because it manifests your talent, and it makes me feel cheerful. I would love to have you as a follower back. :)

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    2. I believe that I found your Instagram profile through another account. I like your photography because it manifests your talent, and it makes me feel cheerful. I would love to have you as a follower back. :)

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  55. This bag is ALMOST as beautiful as you! ;) I believe we found you via Facebook after you'd taken photos of some mutual friends... and oh how I'm glad we did! You are a wonderful photographer and a beautiful person. Congratulations on four years! *confettimoji*

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please leave a comment -- I would love to hear your thoughts on this post!! :)