Photography Life

F*ck the Boxes: Your Photography, Your Art, Your Rules

Too many photographers lose themselves trying to follow the rules. This is a love letter to anyone still fighting to create art that feels real, raw, and free — and a reminder that the only "right way" is the one you carve yourself.

Photography Life

The Week I Didn’t Create Anything (And Still Felt Everything)

I didn’t write. Didn’t post. Didn’t “create.” But I lived. And maybe that counts more. The backend work. The ferry ride. The forgotten battery. The soft light. The doubt. That’s where the art lives. If you’re in the quiet right now—you’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Photography Life

Why I Don’t Care About Wedding Photography Awards (Even Though I’ve Won Them)

I’ve won the big awards. And no—it didn’t change everything. This post isn’t a takedown. It’s a reminder that your most honest work might never win anything… and that might be exactly why it matters.

Creative Process

Make Work That Actually Matters (Or Stop Wasting Your Time)

Tired of making work that looks good but feels hollow? This manifesto is for the photographers, artists, and creatives ready to create with soul—not for likes.

Storytelling

Photography Isn’t a Checklist—So Why Do We Treat It Like One?

Wedding photography was supposed to be storytelling. Instead, we’ve turned it into another formula, another shot list. We complain when clients send us Pinterest boards, but we created this problem. It’s time to do better.

Storytelling

LOVE, LOSS & THE STORM THAT SHAPED IT ALL | First Look

Two lovers. A storm tearing through the Danish coastline. This wasn’t a love story bathed in golden light—it was something heavier. The cold, the wind, the weight of it all—nothing was staged, everything was felt. The full story, unseen moments, and the choices behind them—inside.

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Storytelling Featured

LOVE, LOSS & THE STORM THAT SHAPED IT ALL

Workshops Featured

I Almost Forgot How Much I Fucking Love This.

Five years since my last workshop. 120 slides on storytelling. A fucking storm. And a reminder of why I love this so much.

Newsletter

“Story is Dead”?! Are You Kidding Me?! (Special Edition Rage Mode)

Hey, it’s me. Back in your inbox sooner than planned because I just saw something so ridiculous, so out-of-touch, that I had to stop everything and write this. This morning, I opened my inbox to this absolute gem of a headline from LENSEL: Thanks for reading For The Hearts

Newsletter

Why Creating Alone is Holding You Back

Hey you, You know that feeling when you’re just going through the motions? Like, you’re doing the work, showing up, delivering—but something feels… off. The spark is quieter. The ideas aren’t hitting as hard. You’re creating, but you’re not feeling it the way you

Newsletter

Rebellion Arises from Hope – Why Remembering Matters Now

Hey, Today, we’re diving into something heavy—something that affects all of us, even though we’d often rather look away. No romantic pictures, no light-hearted words. This is about politics. About memory. About responsibility. And yes, it’s also about hope. Because without hope, there’s no change.

Newsletter

The Fig Tree, Perfectionism, and Just Getting Shit Done

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a

Newsletter

How I Found the Joy in Editing Again (And Why You Should Too)

From Burnout to Breakthrough: My Honest Journey with Editing and AI

Newsletter

For All the Creators Who Think They’re “Not Good Enough” – Let’s Talk

Hey there, It’s Friday, and if you’ve got a few minutes, let’s talk about some things that have been on my mind lately. This week’s edition dives into that familiar feeling of “not good enough,” the pressures and noise around us, and a surprising place I’

Newsletter

Silence Is Complicity—It’s Time to Take a Stand

I know, or better said, I hope that, if you’re reading this, you’re not here for just pretty pictures. Photography is about capturing real stories, stories that matter, stories that reflect truth. And I’ve realized something: staying quiet about my values is no longer an option. I

Newsletter

Shaking Things Up: A Challenge to Your Comfort Zones

Hey fellow rebels, how’s the beautiful chaos treating you? Seriously, hit me up—I want to hear the wild stories that are making your heart race! I just got smacked by a reality check that knocked me off my feet—and it’s high time we all strip away

Newsletter

Surviving the Chaos: The Real Magic Behind the Mess

The Tradition of Chaos Why do we cling to traditions that don’t serve us? On my birthday, I choose chaos over cake. For most people, birthdays are a day to relax, maybe enjoy a surprise party or two, and soak in all the well-wishes. But for me, birthdays have

Newsletter

Skynet’s Got Nothing on Us: How AI Editing is Changing Photography (Without Ending Humanity)

Ahoy, Rebels of the Wedding World! A New Chapter Unfolds: Trading My Lightsaber for a New Weapon of Choice Big shifts are happening here at Hafenliebe, and I’m beyond stoked to share some frontline updates. After years of wielding Sony—and before that, Canon—I’ve decided it’s

Newsletter

The After-Vacation Glow

Unlock New Creative Heights by Shifting Your Perspective

Newsletter

Lessons from the Road

Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

Newsletter

Waves, Wind, and Wild Hearts

How Bikepacking Taught Me the Beauty of Simplicity and Being Present

Newsletter

Slaying the Hustle, Embracing Freedom, and Mental Health

Ahoy, my fellow rebels, Hope you're all basking in the summer glow. Before I set sail on a much-needed vacation, I've got some thoughts to share. In this edition, we'll dive into the unexpected joy one email can bring, my latest Netflix obsession that&

Newsletter

Surviving the Sepia Bride Carnage: Raw Lessons from a Viral Nightmare for Every Photographer

The Sepia Bride Incident Imagine pouring your soul into capturing a client's wedding day, creating images with your signature style, only to have your work ripped apart on social media by the very client who initially praised it. This nightmare became a reality in the recent Sepia Bride

Newsletter

Kill the Snapshot: Unmissable Advice for Wedding Photography

Hey, friends! Okay, I admit it—I totally clickbaited you. But hey, you're here now, so let's talk about something that's been buzzing in my brain: the ever-evolving landscape of wedding photography. Thanks for reading For The Hearts Still Beating! Subscribe for free to

Newsletter

Welcome to the Madness: A New Chapter Begins

Confessions of a Wedding Photographer