THE BLOG

A selection of shoots, random thoughts & wedding planning tips.
(Tip: don't cheat at giant Jenga)

Dortmund Christmas Market

My boyfriend & I visited Dortmund in Germany at the beginning of December to see the Christmas Markets. It was lovely, full of gawdy lights, sparkling snow & lovely old buildings. Of course, it was absolutely freezing & I made the most of the snow boots my... read more

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hannah@hannahmia.com

07890 710201

Hannah Mia Photography

Wedding Photographer Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire wedding photographer, based in St Albans. Covering London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and all over the world!

Thoughts on being engaged… It’s funny to be p

Thoughts on being engaged…

It’s funny to be planning a wedding after nearly 13 years talking about and going to other people’s weddings for a living.

I have the benefit of knowing what I do and don’t want to bother with…and where to spend my money and where to budget.

I’ve set up a new Instagram @the_fat_bride to track this planning journey because, despite all my wedding knowledge, I can’t help the fact that there are maybe two uninspiring wedding dresses that I can actually try on in my size.

It’s making me think even more about how these big life events - like a wedding - magnify how you feel about yourself.

It would be so easy to take the fact I have to drive 2 hours away to find a sample size dress I can actually fit into as a personal failing. Like the universe telling me I need to cut those calories and maybe inject myself with some weightloss drugs for good measure.

It would be easy to tell myself that this isn’t made for people like me, so I shouldn’t even try to enjoy myself or try to have what other people do.

And it would be so so easy for me to allow these feelings to ruin the day for me too - for me to spend it holding my breath or dreading the double chin photos that are definitely coming.

My point is, I always empathised with the bruises wedding planning left on your body image and self-concept. But, I really get it now. And I’m even more determined to ensure that I make your wedding judgement free and a strong celebration of you rather than the outfit you squeezed into.

#fatbride #weddingbodyimage #weddingphotographerhertfordshire #bodyacceptancemovement

Exciting news - UK travel is now included in all m

Exciting news - UK travel is now included in all my packages. No more travel fees.

Why? Because I bought a van so we (my partner and the dog) want to get on the road more and use your delightful weddings as an excuse.

Oh and relatively drivable European weddings will be way easier too without the packing and airport stress. So hit me up with your fancy destination weddings.

Do I wish I had put some make-up on and not had a hormonal acne attack in this van pick up photo? Yup. But your body positive girl isn’t going to let that stop her.

It’s semi-converted so usable but not luxurious or photogenic, so there will be some love being poured into the van before you see the inside.

If you want van content (or have guidance - please!) let me know in the comments.

#weddingphotographer #ukweddingphotographer #weddingvanlife #weddingphotographereurope #travellingweddingphotographer

Ok team, it’s breaking all the rules to post a v

Ok team, it’s breaking all the rules to post a video this long to Instagram, right?

But…there was just SO much happening at this wedding, that I couldn’t bear to cut it down for easier viewing. I had hours and hours of clips I wanted to include so making this short highlight was a struggle enough.

Let me tell you a couple of things about Mark and Manj’s wedding…

They arrived in a pink Cadillac, had a cinema wedding with a horror film soundtrack and a Jem & the Holograms reading, had an epic 6 tier pink wedding cake, had 4 outfit changes, got remarried in drag, had a bridal wear walk off, their first dance was to the Twin Peaks theme, followed by a live garage singer, there was a a vogue booth which is my new favourite thing.

This was maybe the biggest party I’ve ever seen at a wedding and I left feeling like I had 250 new best friends and that I pulled off something outrageous not having paid to get into this amazing party.

This video is one of my iPhone highlight videos - I definitely don’t talk about these enough. They’re a cheap, lo-fi add on that might be perfect when you want a video but also don’t. And I, for one, have the most fun making them. My absolute favourite thing one of my couples said about them was, “you could actually show that to a friend who asked how your wedding was without them getting bored.”

#iphoneweddingvideo #weddingvideographerlondon #cinemawedding #pinkwedding #gaywedding #dragwedding #twinpeakswedding #gaylove #lgbtqiawedding #weddingcontentcreator

What’s next? The final prompt for the #adventwed

What’s next? The final prompt for the #adventweddingchallenge2023

Let’s be honest, it’ll probably be 6 months of Instagram silence. 😬

I’ve got a ton of super exciting weddings booked in for next year (but, I have space for about 5 more weddings in 2024, so still contact me about your 2024 wedding!). A new garden office to settle into and a lot more iPhone videos booked in (did you know I do highlight videos as an add on?)

Thanks so much to @kimwilliamsweddings for running this challenge. I have a nagging fear that I’m too inconsistent and this has proved I can stick to posting here everyday if I don’t over-think it too much.

Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll see you all in 2024 xx

#weddingphotographerhertfordshire #realweddingmoments #weddinggardengames

Thank you to everyone who made 2023 so amazing. Al

Thank you to everyone who made 2023 so amazing. All the glorious couples who invited me to their weddings, fed me cake, the families who welcomed me in, the bridesmaids who became my best friends and the second shooters who were my second set of hands.

I can’t wait for another year of laughter, colour and photos.

Here’s my “thank you” day contribution in the #adventweddingchallenge2023

Oh and this first video is from the amazing Vogue Booth @photoboothstar at the even more amazing wedding of Mark & Manj, that I can’t wait to share!

#weddingphotographerhertfordshire #weddingphotographerlondon #funweddingphotography #realweddingmoments #2023weddings

It’s quiet day in the #adventweddingchallenge202

It’s quiet day in the #adventweddingchallenge2023

I’ve always loved this shot of the brides dad napping in a corner while everyone else gets ready.

When we think of weddings we think of all the activity and emotion, but I also love these little quiet moments, where someone’s taking a breather for themselves.

#weddingphotographerlondon #nappingatawedding #realweddingmoments #candidweddingphotographer

It’s story time in the #adventweddingchallenge20

It’s story time in the #adventweddingchallenge2023 and I figured you might like to know more about me, right? So, here’s how my year went outside of doing 35 incredible weddings:

🪩 My boyfriend bought into my house so it’s now our house - which is a delightful confirmation of our @bumble_uki success story
🪩 My Mum turned 60 and we got to celebrate her in style
🪩 I started adult tap dancing lessons to reclaim my 10 year old joy and took part in my first tap show
🪩 I built a wardrobe from scratch and only cried once when a shelf fell on my head
🪩 I got laser eye surgery so I now have super human eyes
🪩 Our dog, Suki, continued to be the best
🪩 Got a stock tank pool and then it rained all summer
🪩 I met @jordhanphotography when she was second shooting at a wedding and it was love at first sight

#weddingphotographerhertfordshire #meettheartist

It’s like raaaaaaiiiiinnnnn day in the #adventwe

It’s like raaaaaaiiiiinnnnn day in the #adventweddingchallenge2023

This was one of the wettest weddings I’ve ever covered. Not necessarily because I’ve never seen heavier rain, but because it was such an outdoor wedding.

There really was no wet weather plan at this wedding. An outdoor ceremony and drinks reception meant we were simply grabbing umbrellas - and a gazebo - to keep dry-ish.

Literally the number one thing people worry about for their wedding seems to be the weather - “as long as it’s dry” they’ll say. And, I’m not going to lie, it’s easier if the rain holds off, you’ve got more outdoor spaces to spread into and depending on the type of venue you’re going for, you might have an outdoor ceremony or be able to make it to the loos without a mad dash under an umbrella.

But…it doesn’t actually matter. Even at the wettest wedding ever, it didn’t matter…people had the best time, there was some Glastonbury spirit and the dancefloor was heaving with damp bodies.

#rainyweddingday #weddingphotographerhertfordshire #candidweddingphotography

It’s intimate day in #adventweddingchallenge2023

It’s intimate day in #adventweddingchallenge2023 and I want to share F+J’s small and intimate wedding at The Fernery at Ashridge House.

It was such a gorgeous venue, the bride had a cape and more importantly I felt such a part of the small and connected day. There was no dancing, but a lounge set up in the evening to chat the night away in perfect surroundings.

I love a little wedding, when people invite only the people they really want and only do what they really want to.

#smallwedding #hertfordshireweddingphotographer #realweddingmoments #ashridgehousewedding #weddingcape

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