2021 Part 3: Recap

Hey friend!

I’m so excited to get back to the blog after a few months… I kind of don’t know where to begin because I have so much I want to share!

In true Danni fashion though, I have to do things in order, so before I can get to all of the amazingness that has happened in the first half of 2022, I need to finish the 2021 recap!

Yep, the one I said wouldn’t take me 6 months… and it didn’t! It actually took seven 😂

I’m not too mad though because the timing works out- the 2022 Q4 calendar is set to open at the end of next month, so what better way to get ready for fall than with a recap from last Q4! My power of rationalization is top notch lol.

Below you’ll find photos from each of my fall 2021 sessions and you’ll hear directly from these beautiful people re: their DFinney experience 🤎

“The DFinney experience is like NO other. For someone that gets nervous in front of camera, Danielle has a knack for making you comfortable and landing the perfect shots. She has a very creative eye and the ability to bring your vision to life. I hated that the session ended, but the experience lasts forever! “

-Valerie McDonald

“Shooting with Danni is so much fun! It feels like two friends just shooting the breeze and Danni brings such a peace and ease with her that shooting is super effortless and comfortable. I’m so grateful to work with her because she is always on top of it. When it comes to the reminders, the outfit selection and assistance, it’s second to none! 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 was absolutely blown away by Danielle's website and the quality of her work. The booking and session reminders were extremely helpful. I'm not sure I would have had a successful session without the great guidance. I had reservations because of a recent weight gain but I was honest with Danielle and she put me at ease, and made feel comfortable. I appreciate her down to earth nature, she wasn't robotic. She was fully engaged and I enjoyed seeing her creative juices flow :) I had SO MUCH FUN shooting with Danielle!”

-Alleathea Perkins

“I was quite impressed with my overall experience. Danielle was a pleasure to meet and work with; she set me at ease without having to try too hard as I typically don't enjoy taking pictures at all!”

-Leslie Marant

“From booking to delivery of my final images, service and communication were top-notch. The process was simple and definitely put me at ease going into my very first photo shoot ever! It was clear to me that I was going to be handled with care and consideration. I knew right away that making this investment into myself and my business with Danielle was going to be worth it. [The day of the shoot], I was anxious, but I knew what to expect because of the planning guides and clear communication. Danielle is fun, lighthearted, personable, and a true expert on her artistry. I had an amazing time, and I was so in love with the images, I just had to extend my package to get more!”

-Joscelyn Reed

“My experience with DFinney Photography was seamless, professional, and exceptional from start to finish. Danielle ensured that we were well-prepped for every stage of the session and provided photos tailored to my family's specific needs, including a more relaxed session for my son who is autistic and accommodating my preference for more documentary-style images. I am thrilled at how our images turned out and I can't wait to hire her again for our next photo session.”

-Leslie Kershaw

“Danielle is one of the best photographers I’ve ever seen, but especially when it comes to photographing POC. I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of what to expect and how to prepare for our session. Having a makeup artist as part of our package is such a huge relief for me as I’m not used to doing makeup on myself, so I love having someone professional to help me look my best. I also appreciate that Danni helps to coordinate outfits with the location. She handles everything so thoroughly, and I love that! I also feel that her personality is so laid back, so we feel very comfortable and relaxed during the shoot.”

-Lisa Stevenson

“Everything about my experience was above and beyond. I’ve worked with several photographers throughout my 17 years as an entrepreneur and never have I been able to see how the systems are in place to ensure a successful shoot. Danielle has literally thought about everything and it gives you a sense of comfort in knowing that she’s already a step ahead of you in helping you to make key decisions. On the day of the shoot I was so at ease in her presence, I loved how she made sure that she was getting the shot her eye envisioned, and the result was absolutely amazing. She did such a good job with the photos that I was compelled to purchase double what I originally expected to buy. I’m just glad that I had the coin to invest in my brand because her pictures knocked it out of the park!”

-Samara Stone

“This is our third time working with Danni and the experience is always professional, fun and comfortable. She’s personable and approaches each session with such ease that you almost forget that you’re in the middle of a photo-shoot. The experience is so natural that even my five year old engages without getting antsy. We’ve literally enjoyed every time we’ve worked with Danni and the pictures are always AMAZING!!!”

-Michelle Williams

Sooo good, right! This is bringing back some sweet memories because honestly, much of 2021 was a blur for me. It was a year filled with lots of adjustments and much of it was spent in autopilot, so compiling this made me reflect a bit and brought to mind a few really nice moments 🧡

So what’s next? Lots!

Now that I’ve officially completed the 2021 recap, I have so many things to share with you! Some really good books and TV shows, playlists, art, home organization, and of course client photos- a little of everything!

Thanks for checking out today’s post! Leave a comment and let me know what you thought! P.S. Thanks also for hanging with me and being patient with my here and there blogging :)

Until next time,

-Danni

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