We recently connected with Dara Krovetz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dara, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was a Halloween pop-up I created specifically for children, in exchange for toy donations benefiting Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
The idea came from wanting to use my photography in a way that directly supported kids who would be spending the holiday in a hospital setting. I wanted to create something joyful and memorable for children in the community while also helping children who might not get to experience Halloween in the same way.

Instead of a traditional paid mini-session or family portrait event, I designed a completely free pop-up experience focused only on individual children’s Halloween portraits. Families were asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy as their “entry,” which I collected and later donated to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

What made the project especially meaningful was seeing how simple the exchange became for families. Children would arrive excited in their costumes, take part in a quick, fun portrait experience just for them, and then proudly place a toy in the donation bin knowing it was going to another child. It created a very direct connection between their moment of joy and someone else’s.

On my side, it shifted the entire purpose of the work. It wasn’t about bookings, packages, or sales—it was about creating a positive experience for each child while building something that extended beyond the set. Every portrait felt like part of a larger act of giving rather than a standalone session.

After the event, delivering the collected toys to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital was the most meaningful part. Seeing how many donations were gathered from a simple community pop-up reinforced how willing people are to give when the opportunity is clear and accessible.

What stayed with me most is how powerful it was to focus the entire project on children—both the ones I photographed and the ones who would receive the toys. It reminded me that photography can be more than documentation; it can be a way to create joy in the moment and compassion beyond it.

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 background and context?

I’m a children and family photographer based in South Florida, and my path into photography started in a very organic way through my first business—a children’s boutique.
When I owned my boutique, I began photographing children wearing my clothing for marketing and styling purposes. At first, it was purely functional—I needed images for my products—but I quickly found myself drawn to the photography side much more than I expected. I loved working with children, directing them in a gentle way, and capturing their personalities in real moments rather than stiff poses. Over time, the photography naturally took on a life of its own and became the direction I chose to pursue more seriously.
As my focus shifted from retail to photography, I built my work around children’s portraiture and family-focused imagery. Today, I specialize in children’s photography for schools, preschools, and private clients, along with themed mini-sessions and creative pop-up events. My services include school picture days, personality portraits, seasonal sessions (fall, holiday, spring), and child-focused studio or on-location sessions designed to feel fun and natural rather than traditional or overly posed.
What I provide for clients goes beyond just delivering images. A big part of my work is creating an environment where children feel comfortable enough to show their real personalities. I’ve learned that the best photos happen when kids feel relaxed, seen, and free to be themselves—so I focus heavily on connection, patience, and making the experience enjoyable for them first.
What sets my work apart is that it is rooted in both creativity and experience with children in real environments. My background in running a boutique also gave me a strong sense of styling, presentation, and attention to detail, which carries into how I approach every session and school project. I’m very intentional about capturing images that feel timeless but still full of personality.
One of the projects I’m most proud of was a Halloween pop-up I created specifically for children, where I offered free portrait sessions in exchange for toy donations for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. It was a children-only experience, and it became something really meaningful—kids came in excited in costume, had a fun, personalized photo experience, and then donated a toy that went directly to another child in need. That project really reinforced for me how photography can be used not just to document moments, but to create connection and community impact.
What I’m most proud of overall is how my business evolved from a boutique into a full creative practice centered on children. Everything I do now is built around capturing authentic childhood moments while also making the experience enjoyable, respectful, and meaningful for both the child and the family.
For anyone getting to know my work, I want them to know that my focus is always on the child—their personality, their comfort, and their experience in front of the camera. The images are the final product, but the real goal is creating a moment where children feel confident, seen, and completely themselves.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that I should constantly bend my business boundaries to keep clients happy or avoid negative feedback.
When I first transitioned from owning a children’s boutique into photography, I approached my work with a very service-first mindset. I naturally go above and beyond for clients—I put a lot of care into the experience, I’m very accommodating, and I genuinely want every family and child I work with to have a great outcome. Early on, I believed that if I was flexible enough and gave enough of myself, that would automatically lead to understanding, trust, and mutual respect.
Over time, I learned that isn’t always the case in a small business setting. A recurring challenge has been clients not fully reading or listening to what is included in a session, the pricing structure, or the process for ordering images. In some cases, expectations are formed incorrectly from the beginning, and then I find myself in situations where I’m being asked to make exceptions that go beyond what was clearly outlined. As a small business owner, it can be difficult not to give in, especially when there is pressure around reviews or the fear of being perceived negatively.
One of the hardest parts of that experience has been receiving feedback where clients say things like I am “too expensive” or claim they did not receive their images, when in reality the images were tied to a separate order that was not completed or paid for. Those situations can feel very personal, even when they are not, because I care deeply about my work and the families I serve.
What I’ve had to learn is that being professional sometimes means holding firm boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable. I still care about every client experience, and I still go above and beyond in terms of service, communication, and effort—but I no longer compromise the structure of my business or the policies that protect it.
That shift has been important for me. It’s helped me separate kindness from compliance. I can be generous, attentive, and deeply committed to my clients without overextending myself or putting my business at risk. It’s also helped me better appreciate the clients who do respect the process and understand the value of what is being provided from the beginning.
Ultimately, the lesson I had to unlearn is that “going above and beyond” does not mean saying yes to everything. It means delivering high-quality work, creating a meaningful experience, and maintaining boundaries that allow me to sustain my business and continue serving families at a high level.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What I think helped me build my reputation within my market is consistency in both the quality of my work and the experience I provide, especially when working with children.
My path started in a children’s boutique, where I began photographing kids in my products for marketing purposes. That experience taught me very early how to work with children in a way that feels natural and relaxed, and how important it is to capture real personality rather than forced poses. When I transitioned fully into photography, I carried that same approach forward and built my business around it.
Over time, I focused on becoming very reliable and detail-oriented—especially in environments like school photography, where things need to run smoothly, efficiently, and consistently across large groups of children. Parents and schools trust me not just for the images themselves, but for how I manage the process from start to finish.
I also think what has helped build my reputation is that I go above and beyond for clients in terms of effort and experience. I care deeply about making sure children feel comfortable and that families feel they are getting something meaningful, not just photos. At the same time, I’ve learned how important it is to maintain clear structure and expectations in my business, so everything is communicated upfront and handled professionally.
Another major factor has been word of mouth. In children’s photography, trust is everything. Schools, parents, and repeat clients share their experiences, and that has helped my work grow organically over time.
Lastly, I’ve built a reputation for creating sessions that feel fun for kids. Whether it’s school picture day or a themed session, my goal is always to make the child feel at ease so their personality comes through naturally. I think that combination of consistency, professionalism, and genuine care is what has set my work apart in my market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darasblingphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darasbling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarasBlingPhotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dara-k-780b0b1b0/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darasblingphotography3332

Image Credits

dara’s bling photography