September Collection | #dfinneyheadwraps

It's Thursday!

And that means absolutely nothing, I'm just used to having an alliterative blog topic for the day of the week lol. BUT today I have something even more exciting!!

Over the past few months, I have been quietly working to bring to life a small idea that came to mind a while back... but I ignored it. Until I realized that it was not only a pretty decent idea, but a fairly doable one as well- my own line of headwraps!

I have been wearing headwraps for as long as I can remember! Long before headwraps were as cool as they are now, I can tell you that much lol.

Now that I think about it... it's been about 15 years! First using t-shirts, sheets, and random fabric I would come across at home, then moving on to colorful scarves, and eventually I made my way back to beautifully printed fabrics :)

The #dfinneyheadwraps hashtag on instagram has, until now, been a place where I would share different headwrap styles I wear personally and photograph on others, but now? It is an exclusive line of headwraps!

I'm excited to introduce to you, the first official DFinney Headwraps!

How exciting, right?!!

Check out the full collection here: www.dfinneyheadwraps.co

Inspired by the changing seasons, the September Collection combines the best of Summer and Autumn- bright colors and rich tones- with a good neutral thrown in there for good measure.

September is a month of transition and renewal. The seasons change, it's my birth month, AND my business anniversary month! So it was only fitting that this collection be named after a month that holds so much significance to me ❤

Each headwrap is named after some of my favorite songs! Which happen to make a pretty smooth playlist- featuring Erykah Badu, Haitus Kaiyote, Quadron, Robert Glasper, Chet Baker, and Stevie Wonder.

Take a listen on Youtube or Spotify.

Will this be a regular thing? Not quite. This *may* be a seasonal thing, or it may be a once in a while thing... we shall see :)

What I CAN guarantee is that each collection will be carefully curated with VERY limited quantities. Which, once sold out, will not be restocked. My goal is to select prints and patterns that you can't easily find elsewhere, to make your #dfinneyheadwraps both exclusive and unique.

I will add tutorials in the coming weeks, but as I tell everyone who asks, wrapping is different every time you do it and the only way to get good at it, is to practice :)

Wearing headwraps are a great way, not only to cover a bad hair day, but to accessorize an outfit, and add an extra "something" to your look! So I hope you enjoy the September Collection headwraps AND playlist! 

-Danni ❤

7 Years of DFinney Photography | Truthy Tuesday

Good Tuesday Afternoon to you ❤  

I just wanted to pop in with a quick (and overdue) Truthy Tuesday!  

Earlier this month, I quietly celebrated 7 years of DFinney Photography. And by quietly, I mean did nothing at all lol.  

There was no big celebration, no business special, no event... just thankfulness that I've been blessed with wonderful clients who have helped ensure the longevity of DFinney Photography.

It is no small thing to have an idea and to see it through to fruition- not solely because of your own efforts, but largely due to the consistent support of friends, family, clients, and even those "silent" supporters who may not have ever worked with me themselves, but who have referred folks my way. I see you ALL and I appreciate you tremendously!

Each year when my business anniversary rolls around words fail when I try to express just how grateful I am... and this year- well, today, specifically- I don't even have the mental energy to try lol.

Soo I'm going to share a quick look back at my 2009 vs 2016 :) A small sample of images from a few different portrait sessions where you can get a good look at how far things have come in the past 7 years!

If you'd like more information on HOW I was able to improve so drastically, check out this recent Throwback Thursday post on "Seeing the Light", and you can also check out my mentoring programs if you'd like to improve your natural light photography as well!

Back to the topic at hand :) Even though my earlier work (now) leaves much to desired when compared to the new, at no point during these past 7 years did I feel guilty for work I presented, because at the time, it was my best! So I am extremely thankful for the clients who have grown with me and who have allowed me the space to do so.

So thank you, thank you...

and I look forward to many more to come :)

-Danni ❤

The Struggle With... | Mental Health Monday

I battle often with what to share and what not to (most things don't get shared), but the fact that I even have those thoughts because I'm worried what people think, gets on my nerves.  

Sharing "the struggle" (with depression, anxiety, bipolar- whatever your mental illness may be) is hard. REALLY hard. But how else will your tribe be able to provide you with the support you need? And how else will the stigma be broken?  

I don't want it to seem like I'm all doom and gloom and my life sucks, because it doesn't. And I know that. I am immensely thankful for the support that I have. Loving family and friends. For the fact that I'm able to make a living doing work that I love. That I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a car to drive... just to name a few. Blessings I do not take lightly, so when I share something about my day being hard, it is not discounting those things. I'm just talking about the difficulty of living with *this*. And I'm talking about it because few others are.  

Even with that though, there's this "thing", this unspoken thing where I worry that people are tired of hearing about this. Tired of the "awareness" and wish I would stop talking about it. This may be (and I'm sure it partially is) projecting, but the feeling is still there. I do wish I was better. I do wish I didn't have to deal with these thoughts and feelings, mood and energy shifts... But I do, and countless others do too. And we can't do this alone. I don't WANT to do this alone.

So... I'll continue to do my part by TALKING about it. Things won't change unless we #talkaboutuncomfortablethings. I've had so many people reach out since my first post back in March, and I can't tell you how much that means to me. Folks dealing with mental health issues themselves, folks wanting to offer support where they can... none of this would be possible if I kept up the facade that everything was okay.

It's okay to not be okay.

I'm still learning this, but each time I share, each time I accept assistance and encouragement, each time I give assistance and encouragement, the lesson is reinforced.

So I challenge you this week... Speak up if you're feeling overwhelmed. Speak up if you feel like you're crumbling, unsure of how to cope... Be honest with the people in your life that you love and that love you. Stop pretending to have it all together. And you'll see how "freeing" that is. Not completely obviously, but having that extra layer of facade removed will be one less burden to bear. From there, maybe you'll feel stronger to be open with more people. You'll be surprised at how much untapped support you have 💚 

-Danni

P.S. If you feel like sharing publicly, use the hashtag #talkaboutuncomfortablethings, I'd love to help support where I can as well.

Fall Minis + Mentoring | News & Updates

Good Wednesday afternoon to you ♥

Stopping in with a few updates as I've been slacking in the news & updates department...

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FALL MINIS

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First up? Tomorrow will be the official start of Fall and with that comes all sorts of warm and fuzzy thoughts... Pumpkin everything, apple everything, cozy sweaters, family time, aaaand of course FALL MINIS! :) 

2016 Fall Minis will be held on November 5th and 6th!

Booking for Fall Minis will begin on October 3 (for those on the mailing list) and October 5 for everyone else. If you're interested in snagging a session, I would highly suggest signing up for the mailing list because for the past couple years, all spots have sold out before booking opens to the general public! Sometimes there may be 1 or 2 left, but I wouldn't chance it.

You can view more information on the mini special here (details are for summer), but the package info will be the same. Fall info will be added once booking opens up :)

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FALL GROUP MENTORING

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My work travel is still on hiatus/very limited, but I am still holding group mentoring sessions here in DC :)

The next scheduled classes will be held on Nov 11 (101) and Nov 12 (102).

If you'd like to attend, please shoot me an email and I'll get you all set up! You can view more information on the sessions here. And view recaps of past sessions right here on the blog!

If you're interested in a one-on-one session, you're free to schedule those at any time! Just email me and we can get you on the calendar :)

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That's it for today! I hope the remainder of your week treats you well ♥

-Danni

Walters Family | Washington, DC Family Photographer

Happy Family Friday to you!

I hope you're enjoying the beautiful weather we've been having this week! I am a little sad to see summer go because I love having longer days, but I am looking forward to the cooler weather and colorful trees that are soon to come :)

Today I have a special family session to share with you! 

My friend Nicole reached out for family photos a couple months ago and I was so excited to work with her again! Last year Denyelle and I worked with her for new headshots-

and we had such a great time together! So I knew their family session was going to be fun!

Nicole and Josh (aka The Hubbin) have 3 beautiful girls, affectionately known as "The Tinies"- BigTiny, MidTiny, and The Puffin :) At the time of their family session, they had been their foster daughters for the past 2 years, but just a few short weeks later, the adoption was finalized and The Tinies are now officially theirs!

After viewing the photos, Nicole said she was in tears  because this was her first time actually seeing herself as a mom ❤

That meant soo much to me! I was excited to hear the news, and truly thankful to Nicole for trusting me with documenting such an important moment in their lives! It just made an already great session, even sweeter :)

So I'd like to introduce you to the Walters Family!

If you’re interested in a session with your family and would like to have the DFinney Experience yourself, email me and schedule yours today! Currently booking: October and November 2016.