Hannah is one of the most golden people I’ve ever met. She is full of light and love and offers it up to all those around her. She is one of the most talented photographers I’ve met, take a minute and browse through her website.You will fall in love with what you see and the magic she captures. Get to know just a bit about her business and a tad about her life here. 

What is a fear/challenge you have overcome?
I set a goal at the beginning of last year to “Be Brave”. It’s harder than it sounds and more complicated than it reads, but living that just a little bit more each day has helped me overcome fears of judgement and miss-representation and of failure and of competition.

What is the first life lesson you remember learning?
When I was three, the neighbor girl and I were playing in the sandbox together. She pooped on my white, saltwater sandal (it was on my foot at the time). I remember going to the door and crying to my mom, not knowing what to do. Mom calmly cleaned me up and sent me back out to play. I learned that I should never poop on other people’s feet, and that bad situations are never permanent.

How did you come up with Etre for the name of your photography business?
Etre (eh-truh) is the French verb meaning “to be”. Using the French verb seemed classier than calling my business “To Be Photography”. I believe that photographs serve the purpose of reminding us. Reminding us who we were, how we felt, what we looked like, and what our relationships looked like in a snapshot moment of our lives. My business model is based on a belief that people are beautiful because life is beautiful and worth being well documented. If I mask that moment with too many special effects, it no longer takes my clients back to “that moment” they deemed worthy of remembering. So my brand name is kind of an understatement of all of that, or at least it was meant to be.

What have you learned most about people since starting your business?
That happy people are the most attractive people.

What are your most favorite things?
My husband, BareMinerals makeup (total game changer ya’ll), Chicken Tika Masala, yoga, and photography.

Who was your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Fox- 3rd grade. I think she was my favorite in part because she was always laughing, in part because her teaching style was geared toward creatives, and in part because it was the only year of school that my twin brother and I got to be in the same class.