Brand photos in action!

It’s been a couple months (almost to the day!) since my last post and I’m back with something fun :)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been sharing full proof galleries with my email list and I realized I had to get the blog in on it too! So today we're going to take a look at the process (almost) from start to finish with a couple of my longtime clients, Kristian & Xanthia.

For a little background: Kristian & Xanthia are each licensed therapists with their own practices, but recently they began a new venture together- the Compassionate Anti-Racism Project, so of course they needed photos for their website and marketing! They opted for a Mini Brand Session (just one outfit), but to give them a bit more variety we did photos both indoors and out.

They wanted their photos to convey both the seriousness of the work they do, but also the warmth, fun, and compassion that is intrinsic to their approach. In their words, “We take our work very seriously, but we have fun too! We want to elicit hope in the photos… trust, encouragement, and empowerment…” Check out the full gallery below to see how we did:

Disclaimer: Although no password is required to access this gallery, all client proof galleries are password protected.

What happens next? Once proofs are received, it's time to review the photos and choose which images you'd like for your final gallery! From there, the selections are fully retouched and delivered within a week!

In Kristian & Xanthia's case, their images went right to work after they received them! Want to see how they're being put to use? Check out their website! Note: Although you can view the site on mobile, you'll get the full experience on a desktop or laptop :)

That's pretty cool right! I'm super excited to share more of these with you soon and give you a better idea of what to expect when you work with me :)

Would you like to work together this Spring? Tuesday, March 1 is your time to shine! Add your name to the waitlist below for booking access:

Thanks for checking out today’s post! If you’re so inclined, I’d love to hear from you :) Leave a comment and let me know what you though after you check out Kristian & Xanthia's gallery and website!

-Danni

2021 Part 2: Recap

2021 is alllmost out the door!

I gotta be honest though, I’d be lying if I said I was looking forward to the new year… not because I want 2021 to hang around! But mostly because this whole living in a pandemic thing is really really hard.

Despite the challenges that these past 2 years have brought us, I am grateful for all of the good things that have happened during that timeframe as well. It’s just such a strange thing to be simultaneously grieving several (ongoing) losses while at the same time trying to navigate daily life and infuse joy in moments where you can.

Truthfully, that’s what makes me enjoy what I do so much more- because even if for just those couple of hours that we’re together, my clients and I are able to carve out a few light and joyful moments, and we really need that.

Today I’m sharing Part 2 of the 2021 recap- my Q3 sessions! I decided to split up the second half of the year because it would have been a massive undertaking otherwise and I’m trying to simplify where I can lol.

Check out some of what we captured this past summer & hear from my clients directly re: their DFinney experience 💚

I’m so grateful to work with Danni because the entire experience from start to finish literally feels like luxury. I feel like I am being supported and taken care of from make up to all of the nuances that I may not always think about when it comes to shooting. Danni surpasses all of my expectations every single time!

-Maya Johnson

I've worked with Danni for brand photos as well as several times to capture my family, and the work that she puts in on the front end really makes all of the difference. I always walk into every session confident that not only that we're going to have some amazing photos but that we are going to have a great time. Every session with Danni exceeds our last! She has a easiness about her that's disarming, it promotes an atmosphere were we can relax and just enjoy the experience.

-Tykesha Burton

It was a wonderful experience! Danielle thought of everything and prepared you along the way. Leading up to the shoot, Danielle provided tips for things I should do, previewed my outfit, and provided options for shooting based on my needs and the look I was going for. I couldn't be more pleased. And the shoot... it was so much fun because she puts you at ease and hypes you up along the way! I was more relaxed than I had anticipated because of her prep work... and as a type A that is hard to come by :)

-TaWanna Berry

Danielle made the photo session feel like more of an experience and a treat. I know anyone who works with her will leave feeling special and like a queen because that is how I felt by the end of the day! She has such a personal touch to what she does while remaining professional at the same time. It was such a good experience.

-Rachelle McLeod

We really enjoyed our session, Danielle is very professional and laid back. She’s a great instructor and we felt extremely comfortable with her during our session. We LOVE our images!! Our experience was perfect, I would not change anything!

-Danielle Moore

An incredible experience from start to finish- from the initial planning and wardrobe selection to the day of the shoot, and receiving my photo gallery afterward. Everything about the process was seamless. Working with DFinney was an absolute joy! I highly recommend.

-Tiffany FitzGerald

Ok so… compiling this recap and reading everyone’s feedback together has me feeling a little emotional. I’ve always strived to provide a good experience for my clients, but it’s taken many years to get to the point where I am now. This was a year of many firsts for me (most were behind the scenes), but I can finally say that I’m happy with the experience I’ve created for my clients. So to have them echo those sentiments? 😭

Thank you 💚

The final 2021 recap (for Q4) will be coming soon-ish. I know better than to put an exact timeframe on it because it may come next week or in 8 weeks… but it’ll definitely be shared within the next 6 months lol.

If you’d like to work together in 2022, click here to add your name to the waitlist. Late Q1 dates will be available for booking (to the waitlist only) in a couple weeks, so that’s where you’ll want to be 🧡

Thanks for checking out today’s post! If you’re so inclined, I’d love to hear from you :) Leave a comment and let me know what you thought!

-Danni

Let me brag on my clients real quick!

I hope your fall season has been treating you well!

Mine has been pretty busy, but after this week I’ll be over the hump and moving ever closer to my winter break 😅 I’ll probably end up doing a big recap at the end of the year because the way my time and energy has been set up lately? I’m quite confident it won’t happen any sooner lol.

But that leads me to today’s post…

I want to take a moment to brag on my clients! I’m seriously SO grateful to have such amazing clients. Not only are they good people, but they are doing some really dope things in the world!

This post could legit turn into a long-standing series (and maybe it might when I find the time lol), but for now I want to share 6 of my 2021 clients with you:

Takiyah is the founder of Brown Girls Do Ballet, a nonprofit that started in 2013 as a personal photography project to highlight black and brown ballet dancers. Brown Girls Do Ballet has since expanded in some pretty amazing ways, and that brings me to today’s share: Recently, Brown Girls partnered with Athleta and Janie & Jack on exclusive apparel collections!

Check out each of them at the links below and stock up on your favorite pieces!

Athleta x Brown Girls Do Ballet Collection

Janie & Jack x Brown Girls Do Ballet Collection

Kahran & Reg are the couple behind CreativeSoul Photography. Known for their stunning child photography, Kahran & Reg highlight black greatness in every one of their shoots! They legit take some of the most awe-inspiring photos I’ve ever seen and they make it look so easy 😅

Just a few weeks ago, their new book, The Me I Choose to Be, was released! Their annual calendar, along with their first book featuring their gorgeous photography are also available for purchase HERE!

Maya is the founder and maker behind Herpothecary. I’ve shared Maya with you a couple times before and will continue to at every opportunity lol. I don’t know where my wellness routine would be without her. You can check out Maya’s maker feature here to learn more about her story 🧡

This one is a bit time sensitive because her last restock of the year is tonight at 7p EST!

If you see this after 7p on 11/7, definitely still check out the site to see what’s left, but be warned, her products go fast and for good reason!

Ayo is the founder and maker behind Soultanicals- a hair and body care company specializing in 100% vegan products that are good for you and the earth! Just yesterday Ayo celebrated Soultanicals’ 9 year anniversary! So I wanted to continue the celebration and share her amazing brand with you 🎉

You can shop Soultanicals products HERE and in stores at Sally’s Beauty Supply, Target, and CVS to name a few!

Nicole is the mama behind The Polished Playhouse, where she shares ideas and interiors that inspire playful learning and living. Although I don’t have little ones, I love seeing the fun activities that she shares on Instagram! Nicole has also created Sunshades Book Box Co, a monthly subscription box for young children featuring diverse stories and engaging activities based on the book!

Would your little ones benefit from such a subscription? You can learn more and sign up HERE for the next box!

And last but certainly not least: DEI Strategist, my dear Amber Cabral. You may remember I shared last year that she wrote a book and our photo ended up making the cover! Amber also has a podcast called You Can Have Whatever You Want and it’s legit one of my favorite podcasts ever- her episodes are short, to the point, and always give you something to think about!

Amber’s in the process of writing her second book now (which is no easy feat), so I just wanted to send some good vibes her way and encourage you (if you haven’t already) to purchase her first book HERE!

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You see how cool my clients are? Lol! I hope to have introduced you to some new faves or maybe even given you some gift ideas :)

Thanks as always for rocking with me, I hope you have a beautiful week!

-Danni

Twelve whole years!

10 days ago DFinney Photography turned 12! My baby is now in her last year as a tween 😌

Truthfully, the day came and went without fanfare.

Often it’s hard for me to celebrate milestones because I feel like there’s always something to work on that keeps me from acknowledging what I HAVE accomplished 🤦🏽‍♀️ but today’s post is me taking a baby step to help overcome that :)

I want to first take a moment to express how truly grateful I am for all of the wonderful people that have made twelve years a reality. Not just my clients, but truthfully, anyone who has shown even the smallest bit of interest in DFinney Photography!

It’s really hard for me to put into words just HOW grateful I am.

When I started my business in 2009, it was not with any real goal or plan to do this full time. I fully expected that photography would be a temporary thing for me until I found another full time position, then it would go back to being a side gig.

But for that to have turned into 12 years?! Like… I legit cannot imagine my life any other way. I can honestly say that I am doing what I love for a living and it is such a blessing.

I get to document love stories, personal and professional milestones, growing families, brand stories, project launches, you name it! I am so so grateful for all of the amazing people that my photography has connected me with over these past 12+ years.

If we’ve had the privilege of working together, THANK YOU! I am forever grateful for your trust in me to tell your story. If we haven’t worked together in a while (or if we’ve yet to work together), I’d love to create with you when you’re ready 💛

And because an anniversary post wouldn’t be complete without a look back, here are a few "then & now” comparison photos :)

This first set of photos are actually 14 years apart! In 2007, I was very new to photography and had no idea how to get “that blurry look” so I created it in photoshop lol.

The rest of the “before” photos below were taken between 2009 and 2010. I was all about funky editing, serious expressions, and interesting angles 😅

Ok so these photos are inspiring me to write another blog post, so I need to wrap it up lol.

But I will say this: If you are just getting started on your photography journey (or even if you’ve been at it for a while), please don’t give up. It takes TIME and regular practice to improve, not only your technical skills, but also your creative eye (and your eye for detail).

Before I wrap, let me end on a note of gratitude once more: thank you, thank you, thank you for being here, and for allowing me the space to create. I really appreciate you 🧡

-Danni

2021 Part 1: Recap

It’s time for another edition of “I haven’t been keeping up with blogging, so here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to!” lol.

The 2021 Spring season was a ride! I had the opportunity to work with some amazing new clients and a number of repeat clients as well- all while managing a big move 🥴

At the start of the year I made some pretty substantial adjustments to my business on the back end and I’m really happy with how they’ve transformed my workflow. I’ve been able to take on less clients per month, give each of them more attention, and get final photos in their hands sooner!

So let’s take a peek at some of the photos we shot from March through June :)

Today’s recap is formatted a bit differently than previous ones- instead of photos being shared by month, I’m doing a bit more of a color/vibe collage format and sharing reviews as well!

Check it out and let me know what you think!

“Danielle masters lighting and connects with subjects in a way that translates the mood, the personality, love and light through photo. We were so incredibly pleased with our photos and absolutely understand why she is in such high demand!”

-Carmen Gill Bailey

“From the beautiful well laid out planners to the reminders and communication... my experience with DFinney Photography was stellar. I don't know how she does it, but she is able to see the little details and make shifts to capture the best parts of you.”

-Keisha Kells

“Danielle was incredible to work with! We couldn’t be happier with our photos, and look forward to working with her in the future.”

-Caroline Kirk

“Danielle made it look like I was natural in front of the camera, and created images that were my real personality!”

-TaKiyah Wallace

“I've worked with Danielle a few times in the past and have always had an amazing experience. I appreciate having styling assistance and the care with which she chose locations, light, and time to align with the vision for the shoot!”

-Keila Hill-Trawick

“The level of organization, preparation and professionalism is by far one of THE best photography experiences I've had. The fact that I traveled from out of state and everything went so smoothly is still amazing to me! Every interaction, every shot, every final picture exceeded ALL of my expectations!”

-Denise Thomas

“Danielle paid attention to every detail from location, to outfit, and props. Her direction on the day of the shoot made me relaxed and comfortable and it shows in my photos. They were all so beautiful, I had a hard time choosing!”

-Nicole Cole

Super cool right?!

I hope to share more from these amazing sessions over the next few months as I make my way back to sharing on the gram semi-regularly lol.

NOTE: My calendar is currently closed, but it will reopen on Monday, July 26 for September & October! Booking is done via waitlist so you can add your name here if you’re interested in working together.

I hope the next blog post won’t be another monster recap, but we shall seee lol. Thanks for checking it out!

-Danni