Joel | Artist Spotlight

Happy Wednesday!

I can’t believe this month is almost done! Well I mean I can, because February IS the shortest month, but still lol. 

So what’s on tap for today? A brand new Artist Spotlight! :D Today I want to introduce you guys to a talented writer and all around creative being, Joel! 

I began following Joel on twitter, early last year I believe, after seeing some of his beautifully inspiring tweets! I appreciated that he consistently had a positive tone and often had something upbuilding to say- and if you are on twitter, you know that that is not often the case lol. 

So rewind to a few months back- Joel made a trip down to DC for his photo session and interview and we had a great time! I will forever love linking up with fellow creatives who are passionate about what they do and will continue to share them with you :)

So without further ado, meet Joel!

What is your name?
My full name is Joel Daniels. I go by Joel. Some folks call me MaG (my old artist name). Some call me J, or Joey…I call myself blessed though.

Where are you located?
I am located in the birthplace of Hip-Hop: Bronx, NY. It’s where I was born and raised.

What do you do?
Well, that’s a tricky question. My daytime 9-5 is that of a Discharge Planner for a nonprofit organization in New York City. Formerly incarcerated individuals who suffer from psychiatric disorders are referred to my office following their release from jail. It’s my job to connect and link them to other services within their respective communities.

But, what I REALLY do is make art. I act, I write, I rap…art over everything.

How long have you been a writer?
I guess I’ve been a writer for as long as I knew what putting words together to form a thought on paper actually meant. I was writing poetry around the 2nd grade. I was freestyling in my mama’s bedroom at around the age of 5. I used to write for the sports section of my elementary school’s newspaper. I had a rhyme/poetry journal by the end of 5th grade. I’ve never known anything else but writing; anything else other than rhyming words together.

How did you become interested in writing and when did you know you wanted to make a career out of your passion?
I guess it started very early on when my mom made sure I had a book in my hands. I always loved words. I was ordering books from Scholastic since kindergarten. My mom would buy me comic books and such. There is so much beauty in language.

I can honestly say that writing as an actual career didn’t seem like an option until 2013 when I won the Bronx Council of the Arts BRIO grant in poetry. I felt like that gave me credentials, and solidified that I could actual make money off of something I’d do if I was sleeping in a cardboard box.

Rapping didn’t really become a career choice until after college when I came back from school and realized fully that theater and acting wasn’t where I wanted to be at the time, and decided to throw myself into the music scene – showcases, recording, collaborating, and learning the ropes of the business. The DIY process of the music industry taught me A LOT about myself.

Who are some of your influences/inspirations?
D’Angelo, Nas, Yasiin Bey, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Newman, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Cobain, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Toni Morisson, Junot Diaz, Sam Cooke, Gil Scott-Heron, Jay Z, Andre 3000…I’m just a big ass fan of art and lovers of art culture, also, those who can tell their stories through their mediums.

What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far?
By far it’s my latest musical release (that dropped January 10th 2015 aka my birthday. Shameless artist and birthday plug! Go me!!!), “songs for charles”. It serves as sort of an ode to my father, as well as a depiction of where I am in my life currently. I think that project best reflects my growth as an artist, a Black man, and a human being.

What other types of creative work do you do?
Well, I’ve done some voiceover and commercial work. I’ve also done some modeling. I emcee different events in NYC. I’ve been doing more public speaking at middle and high schools in 2014 about creativity and finding your voice through your creativity. Wrapped up shooting in a short film I was acting in; did some theater stuff at the NYU Gallatin School earlier in this year.  I just try and go where the art is.

What inspires you?
Life inspires me. Love inspires me. The world around me inspires me. Women inspire me. Other artists and their art inspire me. My mother inspires me. I’m in a constant search for inspiration wherever I may go, at all times. I try to keep my eyes open as much as I possibly can.

What keeps you motivated?
My purpose keeps me motivated. Knowing that I have a higher calling and that my source, which is love, is the catalyst for the all the art I attempt to create. My desire is to help create and shape a better, newer, world for ourselves and future generations. So that alone is enough to keep the blood pumping and juice flowing on a daily basis.

Any advice to fellow creatives (in your industry or otherwise)? 
Be patient with yourself and your craft. Trust yourself. If you don’t see what it is you want in the marketplace, create it. Don’t sit on your ideas, you’ll think of new ones. Fail often and repeatedly, learn from those failures, and move forward. Be honest with yourself about the intentions behind whatever it is you’re creating. And share your art. Anything created and not shared is still a hobby; some folks say if you’re not making money, then your art is your hobby. BS. If you’re TRYING to make money off of your art, it ain’t a hobby no more.

Any other fun tidbits we should know about you? 
Well, I love to read, and eat food. I really love me some naps. I like walking, A LOT. I meditate, I have a life coach, I shoot content for Beardbrand.com’s YouTube page and write for the Postbadbeard’s website. I’m also single, and like eating mangos.

Where can we find you online?
twitter: @JoelakaMaG
instagram: @JoelakaMaG
tumblr: thisismag.tumblr.com
music: mrmag.bandcamp.com

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Joel a little better! Please be sure to keep up with him on social media and go listen to his music- you will enjoy it :) I did! My slight contribution to Black History Month was doing an Artist Spotlight every week this month :) But I don’t want you to get used to this being a weekly feature lol. I will keep it regular, but it will end up being monthly or bi-monthly so stay tuned for the next talented creative next month!

Have a great Wednesday!

-Danni

[CLOSED] Giveaway | DC Group Mentor Session

Sooo how about a little something to brighten your Tuesday afternoon? :)

Due to unforeseen circumstances with an attendee, I now have an opening for the upcoming DC Group Mentor Session on Friday, March 6! So instead of letting the spot go to waste, I’d like to give the seat away to someone deserving!

Available and interested? All that’s needed is to send a simple email to me (danielle@dfinneyphoto.com) telling me why you deserve to win the seat! That’s it!

The winner will be chosen and notified on Friday so this is a quick giveaway :)

Nominations are accepted, but multiple emails do not count for multiple entries. Because I’m certain there will be a number of stories that move me, the winner will be chosen at random from the pool of those most deserving. 

NOTE: Please only enter if you are certain you can attend as it is on a weekday.

I do apologize in advance that I won’t be able to extend this offer to everyone, but I am always happy to share where I can and I look forward to reading all of your amazing stories ♥

I hope your Tuesday ends on a wonderful note!

-Danni

Bianca | Washington, DC Lifestyle Photographer

Happy Tuesday!

More beautiful people coming your way today :)

Today? The next in line of fellow creatives whose full sessions I never shared from their artist spotlight features. Today you get to check out the complete mini session from my fun shoot with Wardrobe Stylist, Bianca from September 2013! 

Bringing these sessions out of the archives has made me a bit nostalgic. We need to link up and make some magic Bianca! Take a look at some of our past work together!

It was a long time coming getting Bianca in front of the camera but she finally obliged (because she needed headshots lol) and she found it wasn’t bad at all :) So glad I got to capture Bianca’s fun & funky personality!

Details! Look at that necklace! And those shoes  ♥ 

If you’re interested in booking a session and would like to have the DFinney Experience yourself, email me and schedule yours today! Currently booking: March and April 2015. 

Mariah Memories | Music Monday

Happy Monday beautiful people!

I am feeling top notch today and I can’t wait to share why next week :D I hope you’re having a pleasant start to your week!

Today I want to revive a feature I intended to have as a regular one, but we see how well that worked out lol. So I’m bringing back Music Monday! Music is such a huge part of my life so I will try and make this feature not so sporadic :)

For the past month, I have been on a heavy 90’s music kick! And for the past few days I can’t stop listening to early 90’s Mariah! That’s my favorite Mariah lol. 

These are my absolute favorite albums of hers! Not that late 90’s- 2000’s and beyond Mariah isn’t awesome, but this Mariah? No comparison in my opinion. Kind of how I feel about Toni Braxton’s first CD… Nothing that came after that compared. I’d like songs here and there, but for albums that I can just listen to straight through? Those were some of the best!

But singing along with all of these songs this past weekend totally transported me back in time and I remembered just how much I loved to sing (I still do, I was just MUCH less afraid of doing so in public!). I remember singing “Hero” as apart of a chorus for our 6th grade graduation in elementary school (totally just gave away how young I am lol) and then singing the same song again for my high school graduation with 3 other girls! I remember trying to decide what we wanted to sing and then when it was decided that we’d do “Hero” I was like “Oh… great.” Lol clearly they love “Hero” at graduation ceremonies. 

(eek!) thinking back, I can’t believe I actually did that! Lol I’m so nervous singing in front of people now. And I remember being disappointed with how it turned out because the music person played the wrong version of the song, so instead of singing to the instrumental we had to sing along to HER version :/

I had a chance to redeem myself though because I was the salutatorian so I think my speech went better than that song did lol.

Anyway, this year makes 10 years since I graduated! :D

Somehow this post morphed into graduation memories when it was supposed to be about Mariah Carey, but yeah… that’s it. I just wanted to share how much I loved early 90’s Mariah lol! 

So do yourself a favor and go listen to those early albums if you haven’t already or if you haven’t in a while.

That’s it for today! Stay tuned for more blog awesomeness this week :)

-Danni

Gina | Artist Spotlight

Good Thursday morning!

I hope this week has been good to you :) Today I have another super inspiring creative to share- wonderfully talented writer, Gina!

I linked up with Gina on instagram after someone I follow, posted her work and I’ve been hooked ever since! GG has such a warm and genuine spirit that truly transcends the realm of social media. Her writings made me feel like I knew her, so much that when we did finally meet in person, it was like chatting with an old friend :)

Her awesome hair can’t go without mention either, because it’s probably no secret that I love hair! Just not on my own head of course lol. GG and I had a great time together and her interview is one of my new faves!

So, without further ado, meet Gina!

What is your name?
I go by GG Renee online but most people call me Gina or GG.

Where are you located:  
DMV

What do you do?  
I’m an independent author and coach.  I help women explore their complexity and layers through writing.   I never would have guessed that my career would take such a drastic turn.  I worked in financial services for 12 years before I quit in 2013 to work for myself.  I’d started blogging in 2009 and that was where this journey started.  

How long have you been a writer?  
I started freelancing professionally in 2012.  My first paid gig was blogging for Carol’s Daughter’s natural hair blog.  I think that was when I started seriously considering what life would be like as a full-time writer.   But I struggled with believing in myself.  I compared myself to “real writers” and I didn’t think I was worthy of the title, even after I was getting paid to do it.  Eventually, I realized that I was letting fear and self-doubt stop me from doing what made me happy.  There was a shift in my mindset and since then - even when I was still working the 9 to 5 - I started identifying as a writer and when people asked me what I did, that is what I said.  I had to own it. Claim who I was and who I wanted to be.

How did you become interested in writing and when did you know you wanted to make a career out of your passion?
 I’ve always loved to write but I never took it seriously as a potential profession.  When I was younger, I wrote stories and plays. Long love notes, letters and poems.  I kept affirmations, quotes and scriptures posted up all around me everywhere all the time.  This was just what I did, and I didn’t think of it as a passion or calling.  My mother pushed me towards business and science and even though those things didn’t inspire me, I never considered that I could do anything else until my late twenties. As an adult, I lost touch with my imagination and I told myself that I wasn’t a creative person.  I reached a scary low point in my life and I went to see a therapist who encouraged me to start writing again.  Writing helped me find purpose in my struggles and I discovered a passion for leveraging my own problems to help others. Soon after, I started blogging and I found my sweet spot in helping women wake up from unsatisfying lives, fall in love with themselves again and live more creatively.  

Who are some of your influences/inspirations?  
My big sister inspires me as a woman, an entrepreneur and a constant source of support and love. My writing career has been strongly influenced by other writers who I have seen leverage blogging and social media to create their own path and build their dream careers.  Seeing others do this gave me courage to carve out my own space and create my own dream job too.  Creatively, I am inspired by so many.  I love the radical self-expression work of Akilah Richards.  The consciousness and desire work of Danielle Laporte.    The concise expansiveness of Nayyirah Waheed.    There are too many to name.  All in all, I feel most connected to creative non-fiction writers who delve deep into the hearts and minds of women.  

What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far?  
My first print book, The Beautiful Disruption.  It’s my favorite because it was my first and because it’s so raw and personal. It’s written in free verse, like a stream of consciousness. The book takes an intimate look at what is going on in the main character’s mind as she’s trying to make sense of a difficult situation and expand from it.  It’s part of my story and part of every woman’s story who has struggled with their past, with self-worth and speaking up for themselves.  It’s about that epic heartbreak, disappointment or rock bottom that triggers us to wake up.   Ultimately, I see myself with a platform of artful, introspective books that capture nuances of the feminine emotional experience.

What other types of creative work do you do?  
I create workbooks, e-books, guided journals, and online courses. I coach women one on one.  I make t-shirts. I’ve recently started cultivating a line of essential oil blends to help women naturally enhance their emotional health and well-being. This year, I will also be focusing on becoming a dance and fitness instructor.  Dance is another passion of mine that I neglected for many years and I want to incorporate into my livelihood.  

What inspires you?  
My children. Being around creative, self-possessed women. Seeing people follow their dreams. The old me, because she shows me how far I’ve come.  People who are not afraid to fully express themselves and be passionate.  My Aunt Mi-Mi because she is 79 years old and she’s an active mixed media artist and a healer and she doesn’t live with any limitations.

Photo by Aycee Brown Photography

What keeps you motivated?  
My children.  Mortality.  Wanting to suck as much life in and pour as much of myself out while I can.   The desire to wake women up who were like me, unhappy and unsatisfied and scared to figure out why.  My mom.  She has schizophrenia and went undiagnosed for years.  Warning signs were swept under the rug.   People didn’t talk about their emotional issues.  I want to be a part of changing that and encouraging women to value their mental, emotional, spiritual and creative health as much as their physical health.  I believe that what’s good for your mind and spirit is good for your body and vice versa.

Any advice to fellow creatives (in your industry or otherwise)?  
For other writers and/or bloggers who are struggling to find their niche in the landscape:  Keep writing.  Write everyday.  Challenge yourself.  Share your work.  Believe in it even when no one else does.  You have to read and write consistently to get better and you have to share your work consistently to develop a thicker skin and become more confident.  Don’t compare yourself.  Start each day fresh, no matter how wonderful or horrible the day before was.  Don’t be too affected by praise or criticism.  Strive for authenticity and personal growth, not perfection.

Any other fun tidbits we should know about you? 
My most important role is being a mama.  I live under the influence of three kids - 12, 9 and 4.  One boy, two girls. Their father and I are long-time partners, college sweethearts. I love music and I’m always dancing and wiggling.  I love big hair and natural beauty products and I could talk about both all day.  I live in t-shirts and jeans.  I’m an introvert and becoming more and more so, the older I get.  I’m social, but I need lots of alone time or I get cranky.  My favorite places are libraries and book stores, thrift shops, dance studios, beaches, cozy boutiques with handmade products, my friends’ living rooms and anywhere my kids can let loose and be free without breaking anything.  I love women’s circles, breaking bread with people, inspiring conversation, exchanging energy with vibrant souls.  I am endlessly curious about the complexity of women.  How strong we are.  How deep our love is.  How we hold the world together.  I write to help women remember how powerful they are.

Where can we find you online?
blog:  All the Many Layers
wwitter:  @ggreneewrites
instagram:   @ggreneewrites
facebook:  All the Many Layers

I hope you enjoyed getting to know GG a little better! These features are really one of my absolute favorites to do. There are so many awesomely talented and inspiring creatives out there so I am super happy that I get to meet and share the ones I know with you :) Please make sure you follow GG on social media at the links above and let her know how much you enjoyed her feature! -Danni