2022 Recap | Part 1

Before we get too deep into the new year, I have to give my 2022 clients some shine!

I didn’t get a chance to do many client features in real time last year, so I’m going to do a two part recap and eventually share some full galleries as well; there are just too many gems to sit on a hard drive somewhere!

The first half of 2022 was FULL of brand sessions! There were a few family and graduation sessions sprinkled in as well, but we had such a great time creating together 🧡

“My experience with DFinney Photography was just that- a whole entire experience! Her process has both finesse and years of experience woven all throughout. She gives advice on everything from how selecting the proper undergarments can affect your photos, to reminders on not forgetting to eat the morning of so that your energy stays up! She really has come across almost every scenario and in turn, uses what she's learned to help better her client's experience. Until you are a client, you only see the finished product, but once you book, you truly understand that her consistent high quality photos are no accident.”

-Vanessa Atuboyedia

“From start to finish, the process is fun, organized, exciting, and professional. Danielle is welcoming and reassuring. Her help was priceless and necessary for my outfit selection, and at the shoot, she even gave me tips for styling my hair for the best on-camera "lewks." The makeup artist was friendly and talented and did a great job. The shoot itself was playful and easygoing and we really had a ball. Above all else, the photos are amazing! I've been in public relations for over 20 years and I book a LOT of photographers for clients, usually accompanying them to shoots. This was the most fun, calm, organized, professional shoot I've ever been on and the best part was that it was for ME. I can't say enough good things about my DFinney Photography experience!”

-LiRon Anderson-Bell

“Danielle’s images are clean, crisp and timeless- exactly what I wanted for my branding. I have my own insecurities about being in front of the camera, and even though I tell my clients to relax, I have the same feelings that they do. Danielle helped keep me calm, gave me clear instructions, and just made the experience just amazing. I trusted her completely.”

-Samantha Davis

“I knew that I wanted a Black women to capture my 50th Birthday milestone because it's was important to have someone safe to capture this very special life event, and I knew DFinney would be the perfect match. I had the BEST experience. I felt cared for and valued.”

-Racquel Bruton

“I never felt like I photographed well partly because I'm a little shy and awkward...lol. But working with DFinney was easy, fun, and relaxing. She put me at ease from the very beginning and I enjoyed every moment of the experience.”

-Melissa DeShields

“Danielle was fantastic and very personable to work with! I was nervous about having to pose and look professional, but Danielle did a great job of helping me feel at ease by making everything very natural, giving good prompts, and engaging me in conversation.”

-Hannah Wang

“I found my experience with DFinney Photography to be absolutely amazing, from start to finish! The level of detail and communication was not only thorough, but it relaxed me about the process as well. It is abundantly clear that Danielle put time and thought into her client experience. During the session itself, Danielle impressed me with her ability to bring my natural light and confidence out. She encouraged me to simply be myself and more importantly, ENJOY myself. I felt beautiful and Danielle brought that confidence out in the most magical way.”

-Cherise Bernard

“My experience was great! From start to finish, her communication was everything and you can tell this is her passion. She over delivered. I have been telling so many people about Danielle. This was my favorite photo shoot thus far!”

-Lacresia Williams

“Danielle has a vision and just gets it every time! Sometimes I don’t know exactly what I want to get out of each shot but when I see the end results I’m beyond pleased!! I’ll continue to use DFinney Photography to capture all of my special moments.”

-April Van Overbeek

You see all these beautiful people! 😍

It was such a joy to create with them, and I’d love the opportunity to bring your photos to life too!

Books for Q1 are closed, but priority access for Q2 (Spring) opens on February 28!

Booking is done via waitlist so when you click the link above, you’ll receive an email with next steps 🧡

Thanks for checking out today’s post, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of our recap!

-Danni

Do I need a Deluxe Brand session?

The short answer: maybe.

If you are looking to do a full brand launch, a full rebrand, or just want a ton of photos 😅, then yep- the Deluxe Brand session is just what you need!

But… you know what I realized? I don’t think I’ve ever shared what a full Deluxe Brand session looks like! Today, that changes :)

Let’s take a look at a Deluxe Brand session from last fall with my client Samara ❤️

For a quick background- Samara has been a mental health professional for nearly 20 years! Her private practice opened in 2005 and since then, she has helped many to gain clarity, move forward with confidence, and she’s also poured into various organizations as a consultant, coach, and facilitator. Her new brand, Full Grown, was created specifically to empower black women over 40 to live boldly so we needed photos to convey the full scope of what that means!

Samara booked the Deluxe Brand session because this was going to be a full brand launch. The vision was to capture the black girl magic of fully grown, mature women. To show internal joy, fulfillment, wisdom, and the essence of them living their best life.

So how did we bring the vision to life? Check out her full proof gallery below! You’ll also be able to see which images Samara selected for her final gallery as well.

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

Once Samara’s final gallery selections were retouched, her images went right to work! Check out her website! Note: Although you can view the site on mobile, you'll get the full experience on a desktop or laptop :)

Samara worked with The Chloe Brand for brand development and she did such a beautiful job incorporating the final photos into her design. Here are just a few additional graphics she created for instagram!

Ya’ll. It made me sooo happy to see everything come together so beautifully!

But let’s be honest, how I feel about it isn’t important lol. Check out Samara’s feedback re: her DFinney Experience:

“Where do I begin? Everything about my experience was above and beyond. I’ve worked with several photographers throughout my 18 years as an entrepreneur and never have I’ve 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 to improve the outcome of the shoot.

On the day of the shoot I was so 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 was compelled to purchase double of what I originally expected to buy. I’m just glad that I had the coin to invest in my own brand because her pictures knocked it out of the park!

I can honestly say that there was not one aspect of this experience that I would change. DFinney even welcomed to my two longtime best friends into the shoot to make sure that we could capture group dynamics that really fit with Full Grown’s brand. Thank you DFinney for everything that you do to help entrepreneurs, families and women feel beautiful and well represented visually.”

-Samara Stone

I was BEAMING after receiving her feedback! It really makes my heart happy when my clients enjoy themselves DURING the process, not just when they receive their final photos 🥰

So what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re in need (or want :) or new brand photos, you have the option of booking a Mini, Signature, or Deluxe session! BUT I have just 2 remaining dates for the year 😳 and my books will be closed for the start of 2023 (Jan and most of Feb).

Booking is done via waitlist so when you click the link above, you’ll receive an email with next steps 🧡

If you enjoyed today’s post, leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you :)

-Danni

I'm not photogenic! | Truthy Tuesday

Today is a big day. After a 3+ year hiatus, Truthy Tuesday is back!

I feel like I’m bursting at the seams with excitement lol. I have so much to share with you, so let’s dive right in!

Last week I posed a question on the gram: “if you are interested in taking photos, but haven’t, what’s holding you back?” and got some great feedback. Here’s a quick list of the responses:

  • Not sure I’ll photograph well/weight gain

  • Haven’t found a photographer I like

  • Budget/can’t afford it currently

  • Scheduling conflicts

  • Waiting for a special occasion

  • Not sure what to wear/need styling help

  • Don’t know my best angles/how to pose

  • Session planning anxiety/ time & effort required


All totally understandable concerns, right?

I’ll be honest- when I asked the question, I kind of figured that money would be the top answer, so I was a little surprised (but also encouraged) by the range of responses because a lot of these are things I can help with!

So let’s tackle the first one:

Not sure I’ll photograph well/ concern re: weight gain

This is easily one of the top concerns of just about everyone taking photos or thinking about taking photos. But let’s work through it… if this is an obstacle for you, how can we overcome it?

I have 6 tips- 3 for you and 3 for the photographer because you are not in this alone!

Let’s start with you:

  1. Book a photographer you trust
    You have to be confident that your chosen photographer will be the best to bring your photos to life. If you have any doubts or concerns about their ability or don’t feel like your personalities will work well together, don’t do it! Keep looking until you’ve found someone you’re confident in.

  2. Share your concerns with them
    Your photographer won’t know if you are feeling self conscious about weight gain or anxiety about not photographing well. Let them know! This gives them an opportunity to reassure you and also be aware of how best to direct you to a great final product.

  3. Be open to your photographer’s feedback
    Once aware of your concerns, your photographer may make suggestions re: wardrobe and/or session planning. Please be open to their feedback. Know that they’re pulling from years of professional experience and they want you to have an amazing final product!

For the photographer:

(I’m sharing these from my perspective :)

  1. Be helpful, kind, and encouraging
    It’s super important to me to be kind and reassuring to every client of course, but even more so when my client has expressed uncertainty re: feeling awkward in front of the camera, weight gain, or feels they’re just not photogenic. This gives me the opportunity to be encouraging right from the start and aware of how I can support you through the planning process and during the shoot itself.


  2. Photograph flatteringly
    Because I’m aware of my client’s concerns, I am alert to potential issues and address them in real time. This can look like a lot of different things during the course of a shoot- reminding you to make slight adjustments (lower chin, relax shoulders, smooth out clothing, etc) and also requires that I do my part to place you in the best light, help you feel comfortable, and photograph you from the most flattering angles.

  3. Retouch mindfully
    Awareness of client concerns doesn’t end after the shoot! When retouching, I keep those things in mind as well. Worried about a double chin? All good, I can bring that up a bit. Worried that your arms look a tad larger than you’d prefer? Got you, I can bring them in a little. When editing, I consider the image as a whole and make slight tweaks to ensure a flawless final product- a gallery of photos that show you in your best light 🧡


What does this look like in practice? Let’s consider a real life example with Lakeya!

In her initial inquiry, Lakeya shared that she felt really awkward taking photos, but she was open to feedback and suggestions. This was huge! Right from the beginning, I knew the support I needed to provide. During the planning process, Lakeya also let me know when she was feeling anxious and having wardrobe challenges- as a result, I had the opportunity to reassure her and we worked through it together! That helped to calm a bit of her anxiety and on the day of her session, I checked in throughout and encouraged her to make sure she didn’t get stuck in her head thinking about being awkward or uncomfortable.

What was the result? She can tell you!

Now, this blog is running long (and it could honestly run even longer because I have a TON of client experiences I could share!) but let me tie things up a bit.

If your reason for not moving forward with taking photos is because you’re not sure you’ll photograph well or you’re worried about weight gain, please let me assure you that it’s worth it to work through the discomfort. Allow your photographer to guide you through the process and you’ll come out on the other side with an amazing set of photos to remember this time in your life 🧡

I have just a few spots left for Q4 and this week only, the gates are open so to speak :) You don’t need to be on the waitlist to book, just shoot me an email if you’d like to snag one of the remaining spots for 2022 and we’ll get you all set!

Let me know what you thought of today’s Truthy Tuesday!

It's fall ya'll!

Fall is officially here and so am I with an overdue check in! How was your summer?

Mine was pretty low key, nothing exciting to write home about… I did start working with a personal trainer at the start of summer and although I don’t have a new chiseled physique to show for it lol, I am happy to be making small healthy adjustments and feeling a bit stronger day by day :)

Things have been really up and down for me, but this time of year always seems to feel a bit like a renewal, so I’m leaning all the way in to that :) Today is my attempt to catch you up on all the things!

First up? Truthy Tuesday is coming back! 

If you’ve been around for a while, you may remember that I used to blog quite a bit more than I currently do. In 2013 I started a recurring series called Truthy Tuesday (originally posted on tumblr) where I shared a more of the personal side of DFinney Photography… and next Tuesday it’ll be back!

I’m really excited because I’ve missed writing and sharing… Often I hold back because I tend to be really self critical, but part of “the work” I’ve been doing has been making a real effort to not overthink and to show up imperfectly vs opting out.

This week on the gram, I posed a question: “if you are interested in taking photos, but you haven’t, what’s holding you back?” and I got some great feedback! The responses helped realize that I have really helpful tools I need to share. The first Truthy Tuesday will speak directly on how to overcome those obstacles to taking photos!

Next up: Scheduling.

So… I’m not sure what’s been going on lately, but I can tell you this much: I have never had as many cancellations as I have these past couple months! Granted that’s not saying a lot because I rarely have them, but it’s definitely been noteworthy so… I’m going to give something new a try :)

From now until the end of the month, if you’d like to book a fall session, just shoot me an email- no waitlist required.

Now the fine print here is that the waitlist has already scooped up most of the available Q4 dates so this is definitely a time sensitive opportunity, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with you if you haven’t been able to secure a session yet!

And finally, something that has absolutely nothing to do with photography but it brings me joy and I want to share it with you :) If you aren’t already on the Abbott Elementary bandwagon, I’m scooting over to make space for you! This is easily one of my favorite shows- ever. It’s warm, funny, relatable, endearing, and just plain feel good TV- something you don’t get too often these days. And as of last week, Abbott Elementary is now an Emmy winning show! The second season started yesterday and they picked right back up with an amazing first episode. So this is my note reminding you to sprinkle some joy in your day and watch Abbott Elementary 

That’s it for today’s update! I know I packed a lot in here, but it was all good stuff lol.

I hope to have the opportunity to work with you soon, but even if I don’t, I look forward to catching up with you here on the blog more often :)

-Danni

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