From saving lives to capturing love: How Henry Tiêu transformed his calling into a six-figure luxury elopement business
Career pivots rarely happen overnight, and few are as dramatic as the leap from working in the medical field to traveling all over the world, capturing wedding day magic.
Yet for HoneyBook Awards winner Henry Tiêu, his transition from Seattle ICU nurse to sought-after elopement photographer didn’t feel like a huge leap. Instead, it was a natural evolution of his calling to serve others.
But what connects a hospital room to an intimate mountaintop ceremony, you might ask? For Henry it all stems from the same fundamental principle: being present for people during their most significant moments. While the settings may have shifted, his core mission remained unchanged: creating meaningful experiences through genuine care and attention.
Great, personalized, and caring client relationships have been the cornerstone of Henry’s photography business since its inception. By prioritizing personalized service and genuine connections, he’s scaled his photography business to over $800k in annual revenue, proving that caring for clients isn’t just fulfilling work—it’s profitable work.
His journey from healthcare to being a leading elopement photographer shows how passion, purpose, and strategic business tools can transform a creative pursuit into a six-figure enterprise.
Here’s his story.
From ICU nurse to photographer
For years, Henry worked as a cardiac nurse in the ICU. One day, one of his young patients passed away. “His death shook me awake and left me asking, ‘When was the last time I truly lived?’” he recalls.
The profound weight of that experience lingered long after. “We all think we have time,” Henry continues. “But we don’t really know how much time we have. Anything can happen to anyone.”
This awakening led to an honest conversation with his husband about what truly mattered. Together, they made a conscious decision to live their lives with more intentionality. They started bringing a camera along to document their adventures, and Henry discovered an unexpected pull toward capturing these precious moments.
“I had no clue how to work a camera,” he admits with a laugh. But his desire to preserve fleeting memories sparked something deeper. He dove into learning photography, building a creative foundation and photographing friends and couples that he knew. This would eventually transform into his elopement photography business.
“The joy I felt directing a couple, making them feel seen and cherished, it was different,” he says. “That’s when I knew this is what I was meant to do.”
Growing a business—all on HoneyBook
When Henry took the leap of faith and made the career pivot to elopement photography, he wasn’t sure where to get started. He booked a mentorship with a fellow photographer who told him all about HoneyBook.
“At the time, I didn’t even have a client booked,” said Henry. “But through my mentor I knew how important having a CRM was for a professional business.”
And HoneyBook proved to be one of the best decisions Henry made. Not only did HoneyBook help him manage contracts, communications, and clients more efficiently—it was a catalyst for him as his business rapidly grew and changed.
For Henry, two of the most impactful HoneyBook features for his business’ growth were automations and Smart Files. Here’s how he’s used each feature to grow his business.
Streamlining the client experience with automations
Henry’s elopement photography goes far beyond capturing beautiful moments. Through HoneyBook’s automation features, he’s able to manage everything from initial client introductions to comprehensive elopement logistics—including permits, vendor recommendations, and detailed planning checklists. Since his approach is all about creating personal and meaningful moments with clients, delivering a seamless experience is essential to his brand.
It all starts the moment a new client inquires. The client immediately receives an automated brochure with a built-in scheduling link—one email that introduces who Henry is, explains how he can help, and outlines what services he offers.
“With HoneyBook everything moves faster—from scheduling to invoicing and getting paid.”
Once booked, clients automatically receive an elopement questionnaire and comprehensive checklist, ensuring they feel supported throughout their entire journey.
“I had zero background in marketing or business,” Henry explains. “But with some initial setup work on my files and HoneyBook automations, it was easy to automate so many parts of the client journey.”
He continues: “What I love with HoneyBook is that everything moves faster—from scheduling to invoicing and getting paid.”
How did this help Henry’s business grow rapidly? The answer is simple: more time saved equals more opportunities to focus on what matters most.
As Henry puts it, “I get time back every day to focus on growing my business—what’s more valuable than that?”
Build custom workflows that nurture leads, book clients, and keep projects moving—all without lifting a finger.
Building a personalized brand through elevated file templates
For Henry, creating a personalized and luxurious experience extends far beyond the initial booking. It’s woven into every intentional detail and moment of his attentive service.
“Your brand isn’t just your website or email language. It’s how attentive you are as a service provider,” he explains. “True luxury is in the details.”
This commitment to delivering a luxury experience from start to finish has become a cornerstone of Henry’s growth and business success.
A key feature that has elevated his approach is HoneyBook’s Smart Files. These enable Henry to send beautifully branded brochures, welcome guides, checklists, and questionnaires that maintain perfect consistency in color, typography, and tone. The result? An instantly elevated first impression that reinforces his expertise and professionalism at every client touchpoint.
Despite running a lean operation, Henry delivers the same level of detail, care, and consideration that clients typically expect from much larger businesses—making his work stand out in a crowded field of elopement photographers.
HoneyBook’s impact on Henry’s growth
- 800k in revenue
- 80% faster bookings
- Converting clients in as little as six hours
- Time freed up to build a second brand
By using HoneyBook from the very beginning and leveraging it to create an intimate and personalized experience, Henry’s photography business has seen rapid growth and expansion.
What once was just a hobby has turned into a thriving business where clients consistently praise his attentiveness and transparency. And equally as important, HoneyBook gives Henry the time to focus on what truly matters: growing his business, creating, and connecting.
HoneyBook has saved him so much time that he’s been able to build a secondary source of income, launching a second brand with his business partner Maddie Mae called The Art of Adventure Weddings and Elopements, where he offers one-on-one mentorships, workshops, and online courses.
“A lot of photographers aren’t going after their dreams because of fear,” Henry explains. “My goal is to help them break down that fear and get to the other side—and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without HoneyBook.”
Expanding his impact and business
As Henry’s elopement photography business continues to flourish with the help of HoneyBook, Henry’s excited to invest in his secondary business of educating fellow photographers. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of launching a creative business—from imposter syndrome to unclear systems and inconsistent branding—he understands the obstacles that hold creatives back.
This year, Henry is expanding his impact through video content and YouTube, sharing the lessons, tools, and strategies—including his workflows in HoneyBook—that propelled him from zero bookings to a thriving luxury brand. By showcasing his own processes, he aims to help other photographers build both the confidence and systems necessary to create businesses that authentically reflect their values and the care they invest in their craft.
“We all think we have time, but we don’t know how much of it we really have,” Henry reflects. “The way I work in both of my businesses, the way I approach each client—it all comes from knowing that every moment matters—and that has been the true difference maker.”
