Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danaya Wattanapan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Danaya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
When I was six, almost seven, I immigrated to America with my family from Thailand. We took very little with us when we came here. One day a school project required us to bring baby photos to class, I was always disappointed I didn’t have any. This happened multiple times during my childhood. Though I was young, I recognized that my family was different, special. We had a story. I desperately wanted to capture the little life we were living. The first thing I saved up for at the age of 12 was a digital camera camera. I spent my high school years in the Communications Magnet which is essentially a film program and eventually went to college for film. This sharpened a love for visual story telling through various mediums such as polaroid, pack film and medium format photography. Photography has been such a massive tool for me to learn about myself and the world around me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My current favorite style of photography resembles documentary film. When I photograph people, I tend to spend a bit of time getting to know them, getting to know what they are passionate about. I explore their homes and study what chair they sit in the most. I look at the quality of light and how it changes throughout the day. I love to shoot people in their environment, with existing light, often indoors which can be quite challenging with film. To me this feels the most honest. I love to capture people in motion, doing a tasks that are part of their day to day. I often let my subjects take the lead and I find moments within it. Doing this has taught me that everyone has a story and even the most mundane tasks can have meaning.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
This is not your typical answer because I am not currently running a successful photography business. I work in the film industry as a union camera assistant to supplement my income. This is a career path that is incredibly lucrative while still relevant to my goals. It also allows me to network with people I can bring onto future projects. If you are an independent artist or independent contractor like me, learn to save your money and keep your monthly expenses low. Work with the things you have, its ok to not have every tool in the box when you are starting out. This will allow you to spend less time worrying about covering your basic needs and more time creating art. I shoot or direct my own projects when I have enough money to fund it. I want to set realistic expectations about what it means to be an artist. You do not suddenly “make it” one day. You can work on a massive project and have nothing lined up for the next four months. Though I know there are clever ways to get investors to give you money for projects, it is also important to find collaborators who align with you and believe in what you are creating together.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
To be a creative is to constantly ask questions and problem solve. It is a massive privilege to have the time to think in order to create. Everyday I contemplate my existence, I think about the world, I think about injustice and inequality and how my immigrant voice matters within this space regardless of how many people view my work. If nothing else I am living a life that is authentic to who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danaya.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danayaaw/
Image Credits
Sten Olson (for the photo of me)